US4413676A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Oil well monitoring device
Assignee: MONITEC Corp A CORP OF KENTUCKY
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Filing: 1981-09-04
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Granted: 1983-11-08
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Expires: 2001-09-04
Abstract
Abstract An automatic oil well control and monitoring system is disclosed which controls energization of a motor for an oil well pump jack. A first timer intermittently energizes the pump motor so that fluid flows from the well. A total pumping time clock is energized, as is an oil pumping time clock. If the pump begins to pump water, then a probe senses the water rather than oil, and this causes cessation of the oil pumping time clock energization and de-energization of a green indicator lamp. Upon pump-off of the well, a switch sensing fluid flow from the well is opened and the pump motor is de-energized. If no fluid is produced from the well after a time period following initial motor energization, a second timer is actuated to indicate a malfunction condition and a red light is illuminated. Also, the control circuit is continuously energized to maintain a lockout of the pump motor starter. The foregoing abstract is merely a resume of one general application, is not a complete discussion of all principles of operation or applications, and is not to be construed as a limitation on the scope of the claimed subject matter.
Inventors
- 👤 Kendall G. Kervin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 13:07
CPC Classifications
F; F04; F04B; F04B47/00; E; E21; E21B; E21B47/00; E21B47/008; E21B47/009
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
195 words
An oil well monitoring device for an oil well having a motor-driven pump controlled by a first control switch, comprising, in combination: a housing adapted to be connected in the fluid flow exit from the pumped well; a fluid flow switch in said housing adapted to be actuated upon fluid flow from said well; a resistance probe in said housing to sense the resistance of the pumped fluid relative to the housing wall; and an electrical circuit for said motor; said electrical circuit including first means connected to said fluid flow switch for determining the existence of fluid flow from the well, said first means including hold-in contact means connected across the first control switch to maintain pump actuation despite first control switch opening, a total flow indicator controlled by said first means, second means including said resistance probe for determining the difference between oil flow and water flow and controlling an flow indicator, third means including a time switch to terminate pump motor energization upon an absence of fluid flow from the well despite the closed first control switch, and fourth means to maintain said third means energized despite de-energization of said pump motor.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
195 words
An oil well monitoring device for an oil well having a motor-driven pump controlled by a first control switch, comprising, in combination: a housing adapted to be connected in the fluid flow exit from the pumped well; a fluid flow switch in said housing adapted to be actuated upon fluid flow from said well; a resistance probe in said housing to sense the resistance of the pumped fluid relative to the housing wall; and an electrical circuit for said motor; said electrical circuit including first means connected to said fluid flow switch for determining the existence of fluid flow from the well, said first means including hold-in contact means connected across the first control switch to maintain pump actuation despite first control switch opening, a total flow indicator controlled by said first means, second means including said resistance probe for determining the difference between oil flow and water flow and controlling an flow indicator, third means including a time switch to terminate pump motor energization upon an absence of fluid flow from the well despite the closed first control switch, and fourth means to maintain said third means energized despite de-energization of said pump motor.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
An oil well monitoring device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first control switch is a periodically actuated time switch.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
An oil well monitoring device as set forth in claim 1, including a semiconductor in said first means biased between on and off conditions with actuation of said fluid flow switch.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
An oil well monitoring device as set forth in claim 1, including a transistor in said first means biased between on and off conditions with actuation of said fluid flow switch.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
An oil well monitoring device as set forth in claim 1, including an electromagnetic relay in said first means energizable to actuate said hold-in contact means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
An oil well monitoring device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first means includes rectifier means connected to charge capacitive means by the closed condition of said fluid flow switch.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
An oil well monitoring device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said second means includes indicator lamp means to indicate the difference between oil and water flowing from the pumped well.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
41 words
An oil well monitoring device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said second means includes comparator means to compare the electrical resistance of the fluid flowing from the well with a reference to determine the presence of oil or water.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
An oil well monitoring device as set forth in claim 8, including a transistor connected to be made conductive by the output of said comparator means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
An oil well monitoring device as set forth in claim 9, including a relay connected to be actuated by the output of said transistor.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
105 words
An oil well monitoring device for an oil well having a motor-driven pump controlled by a first timer-controlled switch, comprising, in combination: a fluid flow switch adapted to be mounted to be actuated upon fluid flow from said well; first means connected to said fluid flow switch for determining the existence of fluid flow from the well; second timer means; means to energize said second timer means only during pump-energized and non-flow conditions of the well; and said second timer means including a time switch to terminate pump motor energization upon an absence of fluid flow from the well despite the closed first timer-controlled switch.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
105 words
An oil well monitoring device for an oil well having a motor-driven pump controlled by a first timer-controlled switch, comprising, in combination: a fluid flow switch adapted to be mounted to be actuated upon fluid flow from said well; first means connected to said fluid flow switch for determining the existence of fluid flow from the well; second timer means; means to energize said second timer means only during pump-energized and non-flow conditions of the well; and said second timer means including a time switch to terminate pump motor energization upon an absence of fluid flow from the well despite the closed first timer-controlled switch.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
An oil well monitoring device as set forth in claim 11, wherein said second timer means includes normally-closed contacts of said time switch connected in series with said first control switch.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
29 words
An oil well monitoring device as set forth in claim 11, wherein said energization means includes a normally-closed contact of a flow relay responsive to said fluid flow switch.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
26 words
An oil well monitoring device as set forth in claim 11, wherein said energization means includes a non-flow relay and normally-open contacts on said non-flow relay.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
29 words
An oil well monitoring device as set forth in claim 14, wherein said energization means includes normally-open contacts of said second timer means in series with said non-flow relay.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
95 words
An oil well monitoring device for an oil well having a motor-driven pump controlled by a first timer-controlled switch, comprising, in combination: first means adapted to be connected to the well for determining the existence of fluid flow from the well; second timer means including a time switch to terminate pump motor energization upon an absence of fluid flow from the well despite the closed first timer-controlled switch; and lockout means to maintain said second timer means energized despite de-energization of said pump motor to prevent cycling of the pump motor with a malfunctioning well.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
95 words
An oil well monitoring device for an oil well having a motor-driven pump controlled by a first timer-controlled switch, comprising, in combination: first means adapted to be connected to the well for determining the existence of fluid flow from the well; second timer means including a time switch to terminate pump motor energization upon an absence of fluid flow from the well despite the closed first timer-controlled switch; and lockout means to maintain said second timer means energized despite de-energization of said pump motor to prevent cycling of the pump motor with a malfunctioning well.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
24 words
An oil well monitoring device as set forth in claim 16, wherein said time switch is connected in series with said first timer-controlled switch.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
36 words
An oil well monitoring device as set forth in claim 16, wherein said lockout means includes a non-flow means responsive to the absence of fluid flow from the well to maintain said second timer means energized.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
38 words
An oil well monitoring device as set forth in claim 16, wherein said lockout means includes normally-open contacts of a non-flow relay connected to energize said second timer means upon the absence of fluid flow from the well.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
36 words
An oil well monitoring device as set forth in claim 16, wherein said first means includes normally-closed contacts of a flow relay connected to energize the pump motor upon existence of fluid flow from the well.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1986-11-07 | 1987-05-09 | 1987-11-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-11-07 | 1991-05-09 | 1991-11-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-11-07 | 1995-05-09 | 1995-11-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |