Wiper and seal assembly for a pump

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10077616-B2
Application number	US-201414530461-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 31, 2014
Priority date	Nov 1, 2013
Publication date	Sep 18, 2018
Grant date	Sep 18, 2018

Abstract

A tubing pump includes a seal housing insertable into a production string of tubing with a seal assembly mounted in an interior of the seal housing. The assembly includes at least an upper seal and seal holder and a lower seal and seal holder, each seal energizable by fluid to provide a fluid-tight seal around a reciprocating tubular member. The seals and holders are isolated from each other in a manner whereby the lower seal remains un-energized until the seal above it fails.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A seal for use in a downhole pump for sealing an annular area around a reciprocating plunger, the seal comprising:
an annular sealing element, the sealing element having an inner surface for contacting and sealing against an object and an outer surface having an upper smaller outer diameter portion and a lower, greater outer diameter;
a seal holder for housing the seal, the holder having an inner surface with a larger diameter portion and a smaller diameter portion therebelow, whereby, when the seal is inserted into the seal holder an annular space is formed between the upper smaller diameter portion of the seal and the larger diameter portion of the seal holder.

2. The seal of claim 1 , wherein the annular space is constructed and arranged to be filled with pressurized fluid in a manner that urges the seal away from the inner surface of the seal holder and into sealing contact with the object.

3. The seal of claim 2 , further including an inwardly extending formation on the inner surface of the seal holder separating the larger uppermost diameter and the remaining smaller diameter portions thereof, the inwardly extending formation constructed and arranged to provide an interference fit between the seal and seal holder thereby retaining the seal in the holder.

4. The seal of claim 3 , wherein a plurality of seals are stackable in a manner whereby the seal holders contact each other while the seals remain isolated from each other.

Assignees

• Weatherford Lamb Inc
• Weatherford Tech Holdings Llc

Inventors

• Stachowiak Jr John Edward

Classifications

• E21B43/126 Primary

  Adaptations of down-hole pump systems powered by drives outside the borehole, e.g. by a rotary or oscillating drive (powered by fluid E21B43/129) · CPC title

• F04B47/00

  Pumps or pumping installations specially adapted for raising fluids from great depths, e.g. well pumps (by using positive or negative pressurised fluid medium acting directly on the liquid to be pumped F04F1/00) · CPC title

• E21B17/1042

  Elastomer protector or centering means · CPC title

• E21B33/08

  Wipers; Oil savers · CPC title

• F04B47/02

  the driving mechanisms being situated at ground level (F04B47/12 takes precedence) · CPC title