Standing valve assembly for an oil well pump

Claim 2

An improved apparatus for use with a well pump, the pump being of the type having reciprocating pump means located at the end of a string of production tubing and actuated by a sucker rod within the tubing, the apparatus comprising in combination: a sub connected to and closing the lower end of the tubing to confine a column of production fluid therein; the sub having a first passage extending axially through the center of the sub and a second passage to the side of and parallel to the first passage; a single straight metal tube of single-piece construction secured to the sub and extending away from the first passage in alignment with the first passage; a piston closely and reciprocally received in the tube, the upper end of the piston being connected to the sucker rod for reciprocating the piston in the tube, the lower end of the piston being connected to the pump means for reciprocating the pump means in unison with the piston; the dimensions of the piston and tube being selected so as to seal the hydrostatic pressure resulting from the column of production fluid; and standing valve means in communication with the second passage for permitting upward flow of production fluid during upstroke of the pump means through the second passage and into the tubing, but preventing reverse flow therethrough during downstroke of the pump means; and centralizer means secured to the tube above the sub and in contact with the production tubing to maintain it in the center of the production tubing.

Claim 3

An improved oil well pump for attachment to the end of a string of production tubing and activated by a sucker rod within the tubing, comprising in combination; a sub connected to and closing the lower end of the tubing to confine a column of production fluid therein, the sub having a first passage extending axially through the center of the sub and a plurality of second passages on the side of and parallel to the first passage; a single straight metal tube of single-piece construction secured to the top of the first passage and extending upwardly along the axis of the sub; centralizer means above the sub and in contact with the production tubing for maintaining the tube in the center of the production tubing; a piston of length greater than the tube closely and reciprocally received in the tube, the upper end of the piston being connected to the sucker rod for reciprocating the piston in the tube; the dimensions of the piston and tube being selected so as to seal the hydrostatic pressure resulting from the column of production fluid; a barrel secured to the lower end of the sub; a plunger slidable in the barrel and connected to the lower end of the piston for reciprocal movement in unison with the piston; the plunger having a passage communicating production fluid below the plunger with production fluid above the plunger; traveling valve means in the passage of the plunger for allowing upward flow of production fluid but preventing downward flow; and a standing valve housing mounted to the top of each second passage, each housing having an axial bore, a side wall, and slots extending through the side wall; a seat located in the bore; and a ball carried in the bore above the seat, the ball seating in the seat to prevent downward production fluid flow, and unseating when the pressure in the production fluid column to allow fluid from the barrel to flow through the second passages, bore and slots into the production tubing.

Claim 4

An improved oil well pump for attachment to the end of a string of production tubing and activated by a sucker rod within the tubing, comprising in combination; a sub connected to and closing the lower end of the tubing to confine a column of production fluid therein, the sub having a first passage extending axially through the center of the sub and a plurality of second passages on the side of and parallel to the first passage; a single straight metal tube of single-piece construction secured to the top of the first passage and extending upwardly along the axis of the sub; centralizer means above the sub and in contact with the production tubing for maintaining the tube in the center of the production tubing; a piston of length greater than the tube closely and reciprocally received in the tube, the upper end of the piston being connected to the sucker rod for reciprocating the piston in the tube; the dimensions of the piston and tube being selected so as to seal the hydrostatic pressure resulting from the column of production fluid; a barrel secured to the lower end of the sub; a plunger slidable in the barrel and connected to the lower end of the piston for reciprocal movement in unison with the piston; the plunger having a passage communicating production fluid below the plunger with production fluid above the plunger; traveling valve means in the passage of the plunger for allowing upward flow of production fluid but preventing downward flow; and a standing valve housing mounted to the top of each second passage, each housing having an axial bore, a side wall, and slots extending through the side wall; a seat located in the bore; and a ball carried in the bore above the seat, the ball seating in the seat to prevent downward production fluid flow, and unseating when the pressure in the production fluid column to allow fluid from the barrel to flow through the second passages, bore and slots into the production tubing.

Claim 5

The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the tube is at least 2 feet in length.

Claim 6

The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the centralizer comprises: a hub secured to the top of the tube; and a plurality of lateral members extending laterally outward, the lateral members being equal in length and contacting the inner wall of the production tubing to maintain the tube in the center of the production tubing.

Claim 7

The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the slots are elongated, with lengths that exceed the diameter of the ball; the width, length and number of the slots being selected so as to provide a total unrestricted area in excess of the area defined by the inner diameter of the ring.