US1720514A - Pumping power unit for oil wells - Google Patents

Description

July 9, 1929. I DRESSER 1.720.514

PUMPING POWER UNIT FOR OIL WELLS Filed May '7, 1927 ,4 sneetsaheet 1 Jilly 9, 1929. v DRESSER I 1.720.514

PUMPING POWER UNIT FOR OIL WELLS Filed May '7, 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 awwewcoz R. A. DRESSER 1.720.514

PUMPING POWER UNIT FOR OIL WELLS July 9, 1929.

4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May '7, 1927 4 L 43 45 40 m a 46 4 43 3 44 0' a l I 3 37 I avwe wcolz July 9, 1929. R. A. DRESSEF Q PUMPING YOWER UNIT FOR OIL WELLS Filed May '7, 19 7 '4 Sheets-Sheet 4 avwemtoz @M a m JAM flt bcvm Patented July 9, 1929.

UNHTED STATES ROBERT A. DRESSER, F BRADFORD, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNDR TO PETROLEUM ENGINEERING CORPORATION, OF OF PENNSYLVANIA.

BRADFORD, PENNSYLVAJFTIA, A CORIORATION PUMPING POWER UNIT FOR 011; 'WEIJLS.

Application filed May 7,

My invention consists in the novel features hereinafter described, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which. show one form of the invention selected by me for purposes of illustration, and the said invention is fully disclosed in the following description and claims.

In the pumping of oil wells, it has been customary to operate pumps located in each of a plurality of wells, by means of a central power plant, connected mechanically with the pinup rods of the wells, usually by connecting rods or cables, frequently extending over wide acreage and interfering with or preventing the cultivation thereof, and the arrangement is not ordinarily economic, as different wells require diiierent power, and some wells may be profitably pumped during a longer or shorter period of time than others. The extension of lines carrying electric current available for power purposes has brought electric power in many instances into proxi mity to the location of oil wells. My in vention comprises a cheap, simple and eilicient pun'iping power unit which can be readily in stalled upon and supported. by the casing of an individual oil well, and arranged to operate the pump rod thereof, means being provided :tor detachably mounting therein. an electric motor of the power required for the particular well, and operated by electric current supplied from a contiguous power line under the control of usual electric controlling means which may be located at the well, or at a point more or less remote from the same, the construction providing, preferably, an oil. sump in which the gearing between the motor and pump rod may continuously run, and which is entirely separated from the motor com partmeat. My invention therefore provides at each well, a cheap and eilieient pumpiu g unit, which can be readily installed without interfering with the cultivation of the surroundiug acreage, and which can be operated only during such periods as may be found profitable. thus minimizing the expense of operation.

In the accompanying; drawings,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of an electric punming power unit embodying my inventiou.

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the same.

Fig. 3 is a vertical, sectional view of the power unit.

1927. Serial No. 189,578.

Fig. 3 is a detail plan view of clamp for the casing head.

Fig. 4; is a top plan view of the pumping power unit.

Fig. 5 represents a horizontal section through the housing on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

In the embodiment of my invention, which I have selected for purposes oi. illustration, 1., represents the lower portion oi? the housmg, or casing, adapted to contain the motor and connecting gearing, and preferably formed in two parts for convenience of assembling the parts, the upper portion of the ising being indicated at 2, and said parts being secured together by cap screws or belts, in any usual or desired manner. The casing may be formed. oi cast metal or sheet metal, as iron or steel, preferred. .ln the present instance it have shown iteoi'istructed oi. cast metal. The lower portion of the casing is provided with a motor compartment, indi cated at 3, which is separatedfrom the other portions of the housing by a trout partition wall, i, and a longitudinal partition wall, 5, extending :t'rom the wall, l, to the rear end of the casing, and the motor compartment is also provided with a horizontal partition, 6, above the same. The partitions, l and 5, separate the motor compartnlent from the other portions oi? the interior of the casing, iinlieated at 7, which consl antes an oil sump. and may be partially tilled with oil, as llereina'fter described, and with the horizontal partition, 6, entirely protect the motor :lronithe oil. The motor coinpartment, 3, is provided at its rear end with an openii'lg, indicated at 8, which is of a size sullicient to permit the endwise insertion and removal of the elec tric motor, indicated. at 9, without disturbing any other part of tha i'lpplll'zltllfi, so that the ren'iaining parts of the apparatus may be com 'iletely assen'iblrnl, and the motmn which is provided with a detachable coimling memher, indicatedv at 10, on the motor shaft, 11, ot' the required power tlior the 'uirtieular installation, may be inserted in and secured in the motor compartment either before shipment or alter the power unit has been in stalled on the well casing, as may be preferred. The aperture, 8, at the rear end of the motor compartment may be conveniently closed by a detachable cap or cover, indicated at 12. to protect the motor from the weather, and the cap or cover will. be provided with a a supporting ill) suitable ventilating aperture, indicated at 13. I also prefer to provide the side wall of the casing, adjacent to the motor compartment, with a ventilating aperture, indicated at 14:, in Fig. 1, for the purpose of co-operating with the aperture, 13, and permitting a draught longitudinally through the space between the motor armature and field magnets to keep the motor cool. Forward of the motor compartment I provide a worm shaft, 15, mounted in suitable bearings in the front wall of the casing member, 1, and in the partition wall, 4, carrying a worm, 16. The worm shaft extends into the motor compartment, and is provided with a coupling member, indicated at 17, for engaging the coupling member, 10 on the-motor; These coupling members may be of any desired type and are preferably so constructed as to compensate for slight variations in the alignment of the motor shaft and worm shaft, and I conveniently employ coupling members, provided with interengaging projections, 18, of fibrous or other material, which loosely engage each other, so that a slight variation of alignment of the worm shaft and well shaft will not interfere with the proper operation of the device, and this construction also permits the motor to be engaged with the worm, by simply pushing it into the motor compartment fromthe rear end, so as to bring the coupling members into operative relation with each other, and bolting the bed of the motor to the bottom of the casing member, 1. In this way a motor of any desired power, according to the requirements of any particular well may be inserted in the unit, it being understood that if the motors vary in the position of their armature shafts, the motor bed would have to beblocked up in a well known way, so as to bring the motor shaft and worm shaft in substantial alignment.

, Above the worm shaft, and extending transversely across the casing, is a counter-shaft, indicated at 19, mounted in bearings, which are conveniently formed or supported with their, axes coincident with the line of division between the casing members, 1 and 2, and the shaft, 19, is provided with a worm wheel, 20, engaging the worm 16, and with a pinion, 21, engaging a gear wheel, 22, on the crank shaft, indicated at 23, which consists preferably, for economy of manufacture, of a straight piece of shafting mounted in bearings in the upper and lower members of the casing, and parallel with the shaft, 19. The casing 1S provided with a plurality of registering apertures in the bottom, the horizontal partition, 6, and in the top of casing, 1, through which the pump rod, or polish rod, indicated at 2-1:, extends, as clearly shown in the drawings. The pump rod, therefore, passes through the motor compartment, just forward of the motor, and does not pass through the oil bath, so that the use of stuffing boxes will be ordinarily unnecessary, thus reducing friction. The pump rod, 2 1, extends above the casing, and passes through a transverse bar or erosshead, indicated at 25, to which it is secured in any desired manner, as by means of clamps, 26, se-

cured to the pulnp rod above and below the crosshead, as indicated in the drawings, the crosshead being guided in its forward movements by any suitable means. For economy of manufacture, I prefer to provide the upper member of the casing with vertical rods, 27, which may be made by cutting oil the required length from steel shail'l'ing, for example, such rods being supported in bosses, 28 fornual on or connected with the upper member, 2, of the casing, and said rods exl ending through suitable guiding apertures in the crosshead. The outer ends of the crank sha it are provided with suitable cranks, indicated at 29, secured to the crank shaft, rill, by keys, set screws, or in any other desired manner, and providei'l with the crank pins, 30, which may be formed integrally with the crank, or separately and screwed or otherwise connected therewith, as preferred. 31 represents pitmen connecting the crank pins, 30, with pivotal studs, 32, at the outer ends of the crosshead, 25. As the power required to be exerted upon the pump rod is mainly or entirely in one direction, that to say in a direction to lift the pump rod, I preferably provide the crank shaft, 23, with heavy counter-lialance arms or weights, indicated at 33, secured to the crank shaft in any desired manner, and constructed of such size, weight and length, that they will substantially counter-lnilance the weight of the pump rod, and connected sucker rods, which of course extend to a point near the bottom of "the well, so that the power of the motor may be applied, as uniformly as possible, in reciprocating the pump rod and plunger through its effective stroke.

I provide the power unit casing with means for supporting it directly over the well with which it is to be used, and preferably upon the casing head of the well. In this instance I have shown the using head. provided with a clamping bracket or spider, indicalml at 34-, and shown in detail in Fig. 3, the said clamp being provided with a plurality of perforated ears, indicated at to receive the hook bolts, 36, for engaging a. flange of the casing head, which is indicated at 37, and clamping the clamp or spider thereto by means of the nuts, 88. The clamping bracket is also provided with a plurality of support ing arms, indicated at 39, to which are attached vertical standards, 10, bolted thereto, and lo the bottom of the casing member, 1, and thus supporting the entire power unit in operative relation with the pump rod, or polish rod, 21-. The clamping bracket, 31, will be provided with a central aperture, 41. through which the well pipe, 4-2, passes, said pipe being provided at its upper end with the usual stulllllt) ing box, indicated at 43, for the polish rod, or pump rod, 24:, and said pipe, 42, being pro vided with a conducting pipe, 44, for corn ducting the oil to the point of delivery, or storage. The motor will be electrically connected with a suitable electric controlling device, which may be mounted on or adjacent to the casing, or located at a distance therefrom, as preferred. ltn the present instance I have shown. a conventional. rheostat, indicated at i5, provided with a lever, 46, for controlling the cm'rent supplied to the motor from the power lines, which will be connected to the rheostat in any desired way.

lit will be understood that where a considerable number of wells are located in the same locality, each well will be provider with one oil my improved power units, equipped with a motor of the appropriate power, for operating the particular well and cacl'i well an be pumped the necessary number of hours at appropriate intervals according to the circinnstances of the acciunulation of oil therein, and each power unit can be shut off without affecting the operation of the others, and will of course c msume cur rent only during the periods oi? rnrofitable operation. The construction of .my pumping unit is extremely simple, as will. be seen, so that the first cost of these small units low, and they will require very little attention beyond starting and stopping the motor. .lt will be uni'lerstood that the sump, indicatcd. at 7, will be filled with suitable lubricant, as indicated, for example, by the dotted. line X, in l? 3, thereby securing the lubrication of the gearing between the motor and the crank shaft while the lubricant will be prevented from passing into the motor comnirtnient. If necessary, the bearings for the work, which will be below the liquid level in the oil. hath, may be provided with the customary :ielt washers, d7, held in place by retaining rings, 4-8, similar to those ennployed in connection with the rear wheels of automobiles, to prevent the escape of lubricant :lirom the casing or into the motor compartment.

lit will be seen that, according to my construction, the motor, while dctachably and removal'ily supported in the motor compartment, oi? the casing, is nevertheless directly connected with the worm shat't, so that the use oi? gearing, sprocket chains, and the like, between the motor and gearing leading to the crank shaft is dispensed with, which simplifies the construction and renders it less liable to get out of order.

llhat ll claim and desire to secure by Lettors Patent is 1. ln a pumping power unit, the combination with a casing having its lower portion provided with an oil sump, and. with a motor compartment, and a partition wall scparating the motor compartment from the sump, ail-electric motor in said motor compartment, a crank shaft mounted in said. casing, gearing for transmitting motion. from the motor to the crank shalt, including a shattlocated in said sump substantially coaxially with the motor shaft, and having a portion extending into the motor C()]1'l1)t1l;- inent, means for directly connecting said shaft with the motor shaft, and connections from the crank shaft in'oviiiled with means for connecting them to a verti ial pump rod for imparting reciprocati ug movement thereto, said casing being lTiOVltlQtl with vt tically registering apertures .in vertical alignment with portions of the motor compartment tor the passage of the pump rod therethrough, and means for supporting said casing above the well with said registering apertures disposed coaxially with respect to the pump rod.

2. In a pun'iping power unit, the combina tion with a casing having its lower portion provided with a transversely disposed and a longitudinally disposed partition jliori'l'iing an oil sump, and a motor compartment separated therelirom, a crank shaft mounted in said casing above the motor compartment and transversely thereof, a worm shaft sup ported in the oil sump and having a portion extending through said transverse partition. a worm on. said worm shaft, gearing connect ing said worm with the chank shali't comprising gear members extending into the oil sump, an electric motor detachably mounted in said motor compartment and having its shaft arranged coaxially with the worm shatt, means for detachably col'lnecting said motor and. worm shaft, and connections om said crank shajli't provided with means ifor detachably engaging a vertically reciprocating pump rod.

In a pumping power unit, the combination with a casing having its lower portion provided with a transversely disposed and a longitudinally disposed partition, forming an oil sump, and a motor compartment separated therefrom, a crank shaft mounted in said casing above the motor compartment andtransversely thcreotl, a worm shalt supported in the oil. sump and having a portion extending through said transverse partition,

a worm on. said worm shaft, gearing connecting said. worm with the crank shaft com.- prising gear members extending into the oil sump, an electric motor detachably mounteiil in said motor con'ilnn'tmentand having its shalt arranged coanially with the worm shait't, means for detin-hably connecting said motor andv worm shaft, crz-inlqs carried by the crank shaft, and located on opposite sides of the casing, a vertically movable crosshead provided with means for detachably securing it to the pump rod, coi'mections from said cranks to said crosshead, saidcasing being provided with vertically aligned apertures tor the passage of the pump rod therethrough,

and means forsupporting said casing above the well casing with said apertures in coaxial alignment with the pump rod.

4. In a pumping power unit, the combination with a casing having its lower portion provided wit-ha transversely disposed and a longitudinally disposed partition forming an oil sump, and a motor compartment sepa rated therefrom, a crank shaft mounted in said casing above the motor compartment and transversely thereof, a worm shaft supported in the oil sump and having a portion extending through said transverse partition, a WOl'll'l on said worm shaft, gearing connecting said worm with the crank shaft comprising gear members extending into the oil sump, an electric motor detachably mounted in said motor compartment and having its shaft arranged substantially coaxially with the worm shaft, means for detachably con necting said motor and worm shaft, cranks carried by the crank shafhand located on opposite sides the casing, a vertically movable crosshead provided with means for detachably securing it to the pump rod, connections from said cranks to said crosshead, said casing being provided with vertically aligned apertures for the passage of the pump rod therethrongh, in vertical alignment with a portion of the motor compartn'ient for the passage of the pump rod vertically through the casing, and the motor compartment thereof out of contact withthe oil in the oil sump, and means for supporting the casing above the well with said apertures in coaxial alignment with the pump rod thereof.

5. In a pumping power unit, the combination with a casing having its lower portion provided with a transversely disposed and a longitudinally disposed partition forming an oil sump, and a motor compartment separated therefrom a crank shaft mounted in said casing above the motor compartment and transversely thereof, a worm shaft supported in the oil sump and having aportion extending through said transverse partition, a worm on. said worm shaft, gearing connecting said worm with the crank shaft comprising gear members extending into the oil sump, an electric motor detachably mounted in said motor compartment and having its shaft arranged substantially coaxially with the worm shaft, means for detachably connecting said motor and worn shaft, cranks carried by the crank shaft at opposite sides of the casing, a rotatable counter-weight rigidly connected with the crank shaft for counter-balancing the weight of the pump rod and sucker rods, a crosshead provided with means for connecting it with the pump rod above said casing, vertically disposed guides secured to the casing and engaging the crosshead, connections from. said cranks of the crosshea'd, said casing being provided with vertically registering apertures, and means for supporting the easing above the well with said apertures arranged coaxially with respect to the pump rod thereof.

6. In a pumping power unit, the combination with a casing having its lower portion provided with an oil sump, and a motor compartment, a motor in said compartment provided with a motor shaft and a parlition wall separating the motor compartment from the sump, a worm and worm shaft mounted in the oil sump, said worm shaft having a portion extending into the motor compartment in axial alignment with the motor shaft, a crank shaft mounted in said casing and extending transversely thereof. gearing for connecting the worm with said crank shaft, including gears extending into said sump, cranks formed separately from said crank shaft and secured thereto on opposite sides of the casing, a vertically movable crosshead provided with means for attaching it to a pump rod, vertical guides for the cross head secured to the casing and extending above the same, connections from said cranks to the crosshead, said casing being provided with vertically registering apertures for the passage of the pump rod vertically therethrough, a supporting bracket adapted to he supported upon the casing head of the well, means for clamping said lHtH'lflFl to the casing head, and supporting devices secured to said bracket and to the casing of the power unit and supporting the same with said registering apertures in coaxial alignment with the. pump rod of the pump.

7. In a pumping power unit. the combination with a. casing having its lower portion provided with an oil sump and a motor compartment, a motor in said compartment provided with a motor shaft and a partition wall separating the motor compartment from the sump. a worm and worm shaft mounted in the oil. sump, said shaft having a. portion extending into the motor com mrtinent, a. crank shaft mounted in said casing and extending transversely thereof, gearing for connecting the worm with said crank shaft, including gears extending into said sump, cranks formed se1 arately from said crank shaft and. secured thereto on opposite-sides of the casing, a vertically movable crosshezul provided with means for attaching it to a pump rod. vertical guides for the crossheiul secured to the casing and extending above the same, connections from said cranks to the crosshead. said casing being provided with vertially registering apertures for the passage of the pump rod vertically therethrough. a supporting bracket adapted to be supported upon the casing head of the well, means for clamping said bracket to the casing head. supporting devices secured to said bracket and to the casing of the power unit and supporting the same with said registering apertures in coaxial alignment with the pump rod of the pump, and an electric motor detachably secured within said motor compartment, with its shaft in substantially coaxial. relation, with the worm shaft, said worm shaft and the motor shaft being provided with interengaging coupling members for connecting said shafts and compensating for slight variations in the alignment thereof with each other.

8. In a pumping power unit, the combination with a casing having its lower portion provided with an oil sump and a motor compartment, a motor in said compartment provided with a motor shaft and a partition wall separating the motor con'ipartment from. the sump, a worm and worm shaft mounted in the oil sump, said shaft having a portion extending into the motor compartment, a crank shaft mounted in said casing and exti-mding transversely thereof, gearing for connecting the worm with said crank shaft, including gears extending into said su1'np,cranks formed separately from said crank shaft and secured thereto on opposite sides of the casing, a vertically movable crosshead provided with means for attaching it to a pump rod, vertical guides for the crosshead secured to the casing and extending above the same, connections from said cranks to the crosshead, said casing being provided with vertically registering apertures for the passage of the pump rod vertically therethrough, a supporting bracket adapted to be supported upon the easing head of the well, means for clamping said bracket to the casing head, supporting devices secured to said bracket and to the casing of the power unit and supporting the same with said registering apertures in coaxial alignment with the pump rod of the pump,

said motor compartment being provided with ventilating apertures in the walls of the easing out of communication with the sump, for cooling the motor, weighted counter-balance arms secured to said crank shaft for counterbalancing the weight of the pump rod and sucker rods, and means for detachably securing an electric motor in the motor compartment with its axis in substantial alignment with the worm shaft, and means for detachably connecting the motor shaft thereof with the worm shaft.

9. In a pumping power unit, the combination with a casing including a base wall, side walls and an end wall, a partition wall extending from the base wall and separating said easing into sump and motor compartments, said partition wall serving as a cover for the motor compartment, gearing in the sump compartment including a shaft having a portion extending into the motor compartment, a motor in the motor con'ipartment connected to said gearing, and means for connecting the gearing to a pump rod for reciprocating the same.

10. In a pumping power unit, the combina tion with a casing including a base wall, side walls and an end wall, a partition wall eX- tending from the base wall and separating said easing into sump and motor compartments, at top enclosing the sump compartn'ient and resting on the end wall and pmrtition wall, said partition wall serving as a cover for the motor compartment, gearing in the sump compartment including a shaft having a portion extending into the motor contipartment, a motor in the motor c nnpartment connected to said gearing, and means for connecting the gearing to a pump rod for rcciplocating the same.

1l. in a pumping power unit, the combination with a casing including a base wall, a partition wall separating said easing into sump and motor compartments, gearing in. said sump compartment including a shaft extending through the partition wall and having a coupling element thereon, and. a motor removably mounted in the motor compart-. mentand having a coupling element on its armature shaft engageable with the coupling element on the shaft in the sump compartment, together with means for connecting the gearing to a pump rod for reciprocating the same.

12. In a pumping power unit, the combination with a casing including a base wall, side walls and an end wall, a partition wall separating said easing into sump and motor compartments, said partition wall serving as a cover for the motor con'ipartment, a motor removably mounted on the base wall in the motor compartment, gearing, a portion of which is located in the sump compartment, and includes a worm shaft journalled in the end wall and partition wall and extending through the latter, a detachable connection between the motor and the worm shaft, means for connecting the gearing to a pump rod for reciprocating the same, and a cover resting on the end, side and partition walls for protecting the gearing.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

ROBERT A. DRESSER.

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