Lubricant Structure and Lubricant Method for Belt Pumping Unit

Abstract

An assembly for dispersing a lubricant upon a long stroke oil well rig's chain coupling roller trolley, the assembly incorporating a track frame receiving the roller trolley for leftward and rightward rolling motions; at least a first dip bucket fixedly attached to a lower end of the track frame; a front nozzle connected operatively to the at least first dip bucket for rearwardly emitting portions of the lubricant; an underlying lubricant well adapted for receiving and filling the at least first dip bucket; a rear conduit positioned for collecting the rearwardly emitted portions of the lubricant; a collection pocket underlying the rear conduit; a rear nozzle connected operatively to the collection pocket for forwardly emitting the portions of the lubricant toward the roller trolley.

Claims

1. A lubrication assembly for a belt pumping unit comprising: (a) a frame, a drum, and a belt extending over the drum, wherein ends of the belt are connected to a sucker rod and to a balance weight, wherein the balance weight moves vertically in the frame guided by a plurality of pulleys; (b) chain connected to the balance weight by a steering block; and (c) a plurality of nozzle adapted vessels, said vessels being adapted for lubricating the steering block, said plurality of vessels being operatively mounted beneath and rearwardly from the reversing block, wherein said plurality of vessels reciprocatingly performs oil filling and oil spraying actuated by up and down movements of the balance weight.

2. The lubrication assembly for a belt pumping unit of claim 1 wherein the plurality of vessels comprise an oil box mounted below the balance weight, comprising a nozzle operatively mounted upon the oil box, the nozzle being adapted for spraying lubricating oil onto a wall of the frame, wherein the lubricating oil flows downwardly along said wall into an oil collecting box mounted upon the frame wall, and comprising another nozzle, wherein the another nozzle is mounted operatively upon the oil collecting box, and wherein the another nozzle is adapted for spraying lubricating oil onto the steering block.

3. The lubrication assembly for a belt pumping unit of claim 2 wherein outlet ends of the nozzles are provided with flexible oil outlet conduits, and comprising angle adjusting assemblies operatively mounted to the flexible oil outlet conduits.

4. The lubrication assembly for a belt pumping unit of claim 3 wherein each angle adjusting assemblies comprises a bottom plate having a through hole adapted for operatively receiving a regulating rod, wherein the regulating rod is movably connected to said each assembly's flexible oil outlet conduit.

5. The lubrication assembly for a belt pumping unit of claim 4, wherein the through holes are oblongated and extend arcuately.

6. The lubrication assembly for a belt pumping unit of claim 1 comprising a plurality of sequentially set oil baffles which are positioned for receiving oil from the another nozzle.

7. The lubricating assembly for a belt pumping unit of claim 1 wherein the oil collecting box comprises a vertically elongated portion communicating with the another oil spraying pipe, said vertically elongated portion being adapted for increasing fluid pressure within the another nozzle.

8. A method for lubricating a belt pumping unit steering block comprising steps of: (a) installing below a balance weight an oil box for up and down movements with the balance weight; (b) immersing the oil box within oil upon downward movements of the balance weight; (c) spraying the oil from the oil box toward a frame wall upon upward movements of the balance weight and the oil box; (d) collecting downward flows of the oil within an oil collecting box mounted upon said frame wall; and (e) respraying the oil from the collecting box toward the steering block.

9. An assembly for dispersing a lubricant upon a long stroke oil well rig's chain coupling roller trolley, said assembly comprising: (a) a track frame receiving the roller trolley, the track frame facilitating leftward and rightward rolling motions of said trolley; (b) at least a first dip bucket fixedly attached at a lower end of the track frame; (c) a front nozzle connected operatively to the at least first dip bucket, said nozzle being adapted for rearwardly dispersing portions of the lubricant; (d) an underlying lubricant well adapted for receiving and filling the at least first dip bucket; (e) a rear conduit positioned for collecting the rearwardly dispersed portions of the lubricant; (f) a collection pocket underlying the rear conduit; and (g) a rear nozzle connected operatively to the collection pocket, said nozzle being adapted for forwardly dispersing the portions of the lubricant toward the roller trolley.

10. The assembly of claim 9 further comprising a rear case wall having a forwardly facing surface, wherein the rear conduit comprises said surface.

11. The assembly of claim 10 further comprising a front conduit and counterweight having a rearwardly facing surface, the counterweight being fixedly attached to and extending upwardly from the track frame, wherein the front conduit comprises the counterweight's rearwardly facing surface.

12. The assembly of claim 11 further comprising a pair of dip buckets, said pair of buckets comprising the at least first dip bucket, said pair of buckets being spaced laterally from each other.

13. The assembly of claim 12 further comprising a catch tray having a floor, said floor underlying the front conduit and overlying the chain coupling roller trolley, and further comprising at least a first lubricant passage port opening the catch tray at said floor.

14. The assembly of claim 13 wherein the track frame has an upper transverse member, and wherein the catch tray's floor comprises said upper transverse member.

15. The assembly of claim 12 further comprising a drive sprocket and a continuous loop chain combination overlying the lubricant well, wherein said combination's continuous loop chain is fixedly attached to the roller trolley, and further comprising a pair of lateral nozzles connected operatively to the pair of dip buckets, said lateral nozzles being adapted for dispersing portions of the lubricant upon the drive sprocket and upon the continuous loop chain.

16. The assembly of claim 15 wherein the collection pocket has a lateral dimension greater than the dip bucket pair's lateral spacing.

17. The assembly of claim 16 wherein the collection pocket has a “V” floor having a vertex, wherein the rear nozzle extends from said vertex.

18. The assembly of claim 17 wherein the continuous loop chain has a pair of vertical flights, and wherein the rear nozzle is positioned for dispersing the lubricant between said chains' flights.

Description

ILLUSTRATION WITH DRAWINGS

[0028] In order to illustrate an embodiment of the invention, drawings of structures that may be incorporated in the inventive assembly are introduced below.

[0029] FIG. 1 is schematic diagram of an embodiment of the instant invention.

[0030] FIG. 2 is a partial and magnified schematic diagram of structures appearing in FIG. 1.

[0031] FIG. 3 is a partial and magnified schematic diagram of an adjustable oil spraying assembly within the FIG. 1 structure.

[0032] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the instant invention, the view showing derrick tower casing, lubrication well, and sprocket and chain drive components in broken lines.

[0033] FIG. 5 is an opposite perspective view of the derrick tower casing component of FIG. 4, the view showing a wall mounted oil collection pocket component.

[0034] Numeric labels in FIGS. 1-3 are as follows:

[0035] 1—rack, frame, or casing; 2—drum or roller; 3—belt; 4—sucker rod or polished rod; 5—balance weight or counterweight; 6—guide pulley or roller; 7—reversing block, steering block or roller trolley; 8—oil box or dip buckets; 9—oil injection pipe or forward nozzle; 10—oil collection box or pocket; 11—oil guide pipe or rear nozzle; 12—continuous loop chain; 13—adjustable oil outlet conduit; 14—oil outlet regulating assembly; 15—base plate; 16—adjusting slide rod; 17—through hole; and 18—oil baffle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

[0036] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the invention provides a lubrication structure or assembly mounted within the frame or casing of a long stroke vertical column belt type pumping unit, comprising a frame or case 1 and a drum or roller 2 and a belt 3 extending over the drum 2, the belt 3 being guided by the drum 2. The ends of the belt 3 are connected to a sucker rod or polished rod 4 and to a balance weight or counterweight 5. The balance weight 5 moves freely within the frame or case 1, guided by a plurality of guide pulleys 6. A continuous loop chain 12 is connected to the balance weight 5 through a reversing block or roller trolley 7. The assembly for lubricating the steering block 7 is operatively mounted between the balance weight 5 and reversing block 7 structure, and the rear wall of the case 1. The lubrication assembly performs oil collecting and filling and oil injection or spraying functions in response to continuous up and down movements of the balance weight 5.

[0037] The lubrication assembly includes an oil box or dip buckets 8 which are fixedly installed at a position underlying the balance weight 5. The oil box or dip buckets 8 are provided with an oil injection pipe or nozzle 9 for spraying lubricating oil rearwardly onto the inner surface of the rear wall of the frame or case 1. The oil box or dip bucket 8 is repeatedly immersed below a lubricating oil liquid level within an oil containing well or reservoir situated at the bottom of the case 1, the oil immersion occurring at each arrival of the dip buckets 8 at their lowest points of travel.

[0038] The lubricating oil which is sprayed onto the inner surface of the rear wall of the frame or case 1 flows freely along such wall under the action of gravity. Such oil temporarily gathers within a collecting box or pocket 10 which is mounted upon the inner surface of the rear wall of the frame or case 1. The oil collecting box or pocket 10 is provided with an oil guide pipe or nozzle 11 for spraying the collected lubricating oil forwardly. The steering block or roller trolley 7 is thereby lubricated when it moves vertically across the path of such forwardly resprayed oil.

[0039] Upwardly angled oil outlet conduits 13 may be mounted at the outlet ends or distal ends of the fuel injection pipe or nozzle 9 and oil guide pipe or nozzle 11. By adding the oil outlet conduits 13, the trajectories of the sprayed oil may be directed upwardly to increase the horizontal travel of the sprayed oil. The oil outlet conduit 13 may be equipped with an angle adjusting assembly 14 which is capable of adjusting the spray angle of the oil. The adjustment assembly 14 may include a base plate 15, on which a through hole 17 for installing the adjustment slide rod 16 is set. The other end of the adjustment slide rod 16 is movably connected with the oil outlet conduit 13, and a limited position element is set at the connection between the adjustment slide rod 16 and the through hole 17. In the depicted embodiment, the angle of the oil outlet pipe is effectively adjusted by changing the extension of the slide rod. The oil outlet pipe has shape plasticity in order to cooperate with the adjustment process. The through hole 17 may be an oblong hole or alternatively, may be configured as an oblong arc hole to allow a larger range of angle adjustment.

[0040] In operation of the instant inventive assembly, the sprayed lubricating oil may be required to traverse an excessive distance between the rearward nozzle and the steering block 7. To accommodate for such situation, a plurality of sequentially arranged oil baffles 18 may be installed at an elevation which coincides with the path of the forwardly resprayed oil. The lengths of the oil baffles 18 may be gradually shortened from a side of the case 1 close to the oil collecting box 10 toward the other side of the case. The oil baffles 18 may be located on both sides of the case and may be bent inwardly to form curved surface structures. As the steering block passes the baffles 18, the steering block may thereby receive more lubricating oil.

[0041] In the event that there is insufficient oil spraying static pressure at the lower output of the pocket 11, such pocket may be configured as a vertically elongated tube, as depicted in FIG. 2. Such tube functions as a pressure enhancing stand pipe. The ratio of the vertical height of such pressure enhancing tube with respect to the diameter of the nozzle is preferably not less than 10:1. The static pressure is increased by adjusting the effective vertical length of the pressure adjusting tube.

[0042] According to the method of instant invention, an oil box or dip bucket is installed at a position underlying the balance weight or counterweight so that the dip bucket moves up and down with the balance weight. When the balance weight moves to the bottom of the case, the dip bucket is immersed in a body of lubricating oil which is stored at the bottom of the case, filling the oil boxes or dip buckets with oil. When the balance weight raises, the lubricating oil in the oil box or dip bucket is carried upwardly and is sprayed rearwardly toward the inner surface of the rear wall of the case through the dip buckets' oil injection or spraying pipes or nozzles.

[0043] Thereafter, the lubricating oil flows downwardly down along the rear wall under the action of gravity to enter the oil collecting box or pocket which is mounted on the rear wall of the case. The lubricating oil collected within the pocket is then ejected or sprayed forwardly, the oil emitting from the pocket's upwardly angled oil guide pipe or outlet nozzle.

[0044] Thereafter, upon vertical movements of the steering block or roller trolley across the elevation of the oil collecting box or pocket, the arcuately forwardly traveling lubricating oil emitting therefrom is applied directly onto the steering block or upon the overlying counterweight, achieving needed lubrication.

[0045] Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, an alternative embodiment of the inventive belt pumping unit lubrication assembly is referred to generally by Reference Numeral 101. The inventive lubricating assembly of FIGS. 4 and 5 embodiment resides within the vertical tower or derrick of a commonly or conventionally configured long stroke oil well rig, such tower or derrick having an outer casing or housing 102 which is designated by broken lines. The casing 102 has a rear wall 104 which functions, as explained below, as an integral oil conveying component of the instant inventive assembly.

[0046] A counterweight 106 reciprocatingly moves upwardly and downwardly within the hollow interior of the derrick casing 102, such counterweight being guided by vertically extending roller tracks 108. Rollers 110 which are fixedly mounted to the upper and lower ends of the counterweight 106 are received within and roll along the vertical tracks 108.

[0047] Upper roller and belt components of the FIGS. 4 and 5 pumping rig are not shown within the views of FIGS. 4 and 5. In operation, the rearward end of such belt attaches to the counterweight's upper attachment eye 112, and such belt's forward end attaches to a vertically reciprocating wellhead sucker rod or polished rod (also not depicted within views).

[0048] A lower drive sprocket 114 is shown in broken lines, such sprocket having a central rotary power input 116 which also is shown in broken lines. A horizontal surface 118 upon which the depicted derrick structure 101 may be mounted commonly comprises a skid, base, or foundation structure (not shown within views), such structure extending rearwardly from the lower end of the derrick tower 102. An electric motor (also not depicted within views) and a gear train assembly (also not depicted within views) is commonly mounted upon such skid or base immediately behind the tower 102, such electric motor and gear train being connected operatively to the drive sprocket's rotary power input 116.

[0049] Powered clockwise turning of the drive sprocket 114 may forcefully downwardly draw a rightward flight 120 of a continuous loop chain, such chain engaging the lower aspect of sprocket 114 and continuing upwardly along a leftward flight 122. Such continuous loop chain 120,122 similarly spans over an upper rotatably mounted idler sprocket (not shown within views).

[0050] In order to maintain a secure mechanical linkage of the counterweight 106 with the continuous loop chain 120,122 during its cycling motion over and under the idler and drive sprockets, a reciprocatingly movable roller trolley 124 is provided. Through lateral reciprocating motions, such trolley 124 serves as a mechanical linking member which spans between the chain 120,122, and the counterweight 106. Upper and lower rollers 126 and 128 are rotatably mounted to the upper and lower ends of the central block or body of the roller trolley 124, such rollers being guided by and rollably moving leftwardly and rightwardly along upper and lower roller tracks 130 and 132. A roller trolley capturing and supporting frame is fixedly attached to the lower end of the counterweight 106, such frame suitably comprising an upper transverse member 134 and a lower “U” member 136.

[0051] A central chain linking journal axle 138 is mounted rotatably upon the trolley's central block, such axle having a chain attachment knuckle 140 fixedly attached to its distal end. The knuckle 140 preferably fixedly anchors the distal end of the journal axle 138 at a specific point or link upon the continuous loop chain 120,122.

[0052] In operation of the chain coupling roller trolley 124, powered clockwise rotation of the drive sprocket 114 forcefully downwardly pulls against the rightward flight 120 of the continuous loop chain 120,122, such pulling force simultaneously upwardly drawing chain's leftward flight 122. The resultant upward drawing of the chain's leftward flight 122 pulls the chain knuckle 140 along with axle 138 and the trolley 124 leftwardly and upwardly about the drive sprocket 114, such motion causing the trolley to simultaneously roll leftwardly along tracks 130 and 132 within the track frame 134,136. A simultaneous lifting force is applied to the chain's leftward flight 122 via the rigid linkage of the track frame 134,136, with the lower end of the counterweight 106. Such lifting action continues until the knuckle 140 reaches the upper idler sprocket, there passing over the upper aspect of such sprocket while the roller trolley 124 travels rightwardly within the frame 134,136. Immediately thereafter, all structures mechanically linked to the chain, including the counterweight 106, follow such chain's rightward downward flight 122. During such downward passage, kinetic energy of the counterweight 106 translates to upward oil pumping force via the overlying belt and pulley. As the continuous loop chain 120,22 continuously cycles about the upper and lower sprockets, the roller trolley 124 continuously reciprocatingly shifts leftwardly and rightwardly within frame 134,136 while continuously vertically raising and lowering the counterweight and the wellhead's polished rod.

[0053] During the continual mechanical cycling motions described above, frictional wear is known to occur at the toothed engagement of the drive sprocket 114 with the continuous loop chain 120,122. Needed lubrication at the chain and drive sprocket's wear points is known to be provided by installation of a lower or underlying lubricant well 140 beneath the counterweight 106 and beneath the trolley frame 134,136.

[0054] A pair of or left and right dip buckets 142 and 144 are known to be provided in conjunction with such well 140. Such dip buckets are attached at the lower end or surface of frame member 136, such buckets being situated at the left and right ends of track frame member 136. Downward motion of the counterweight 106 along roller tracks 108 extends the lower end of the frame member 136 along with the left and right dip buckets 142 and 144 into the oil lubricant which is contained within the well 140, such extension causing the lubricant to fill the dip buckets 142 and 144 via upwardly opening inlet ports 146 and 148.

[0055] Upon subsequent upward travel of the counterweight 106, the dip buckets 142 and 144 emerge from the lubricant contained within well 140, and the collected portions of the lubricant immediately begin to emit rightwardly and leftwardly through nozzle adapted outlet ports 150 and 152. Rightward and leftward emissions of lubricating oil from the left and right nozzle ports 150 and 152 respectively travel through the air space rightwardly and leftwardly. Upon continued upward travel of the counter-weight 106, such emitting flows of lubricant intersect and bathe the lower drive sprocket 114 along with chain flights 120 and 122.

[0056] The nozzles 150 and 152 which extend laterally from the rearwardly extending ends of the dip buckets 142 and 144 may easily effect gravity flow actuated lubrication of the drive sprocket 114 and the chain 120,122, since the nozzles 150 and 152 travel vertically along and past such structures. In contrast, the roller trolley 124 moves with the underlying nozzles 150 and 152. As a result of such roller trolley positioning, lubricants emitting from nozzles 150 and 152 mounted upon the rearwardly extending dip buckets 142 and 144 will not normally flow toward the overlying roller trolley 124. Notwithstanding, lubrication of the roller trolley's moving, rolling, and rotating parts is needed.

[0057] The instant inventive assembly solves such deficit or problem posed by the dip bucket's orientation below the roller trolley by further associating with the left and right dip bucket vessels 142 and 144 at least a first and preferably a pair of rearwardly extending nozzle configured ports 154 and 156. In operation of such additional nozzles, lubricating oil dispensed from the dip buckets 142 and 144 additionally emits and disperses rearwardly from such nozzles' rearwardly distal ends. As the filled dip buckets 142 and 144 rise out of the body of lubricating oil contained within the lubricant well 140, such rearward oil dispersion immediately commences.

[0058] Referring simultaneously to FIGS. 4 and 5, during the portions of the vertical travels of the dip buckets 142 and 144 which are above the drive sprocket 114, oil emitting rearwardly from nozzles 154 and 156 traverses the air space between the distal ends of such nozzles and the forwardly facing surface of the case's rear wall 104. Such oil, denoted in FIG. 5 by Reference Numerals 160, adheres to the rear wall 104, and flows downwardly therealong. Accordingly, the instant invention utilizes the forward face of the case's rear wall 104 as a fluid capturing and conveying conduit. A lubrication oil capturing vessel in the form of a collecting pocket 162 is fixedly mounted to the wall 104 in the flow path of the oil 160, such pocket 162 defining an upwardly opening interior space 164. In the preferred embodiment, the pocket 162 utilizes a portion of the forwardly facing surface of the case's rear wall 104 as a pocket completing rear wall.

[0059] The pocket 162 preferably has a “V” shaped floor 166 which conducts collected oil centrally, the floor 166 forming a lower vertex 168 which serves as a point of central oil fluid concentration. A rear oil return nozzle 170 extends forwardly from an outlet port 172 at the pocket's vertex 168.

[0060] In operation of the instant inventive assembly, portions of the oil supplied by the lower well 140 which are emitted rearwardly from nozzles 154 and 156 temporarily collect upon the forward face of the rearward wall 104, such oil flowing in streams 160 downwardly into the collection pocket 162. Such oil 160 then centrally collects and reverses course, re-emitting forwardly through the forwardly extending rear nozzle 170. The forwardly emitting oil traverses the air space in front of nozzle 170 to contact and collect upon the roller trolley 124 and upon the rearwardly facing surface 107 of the counterweight 106. Accordingly, portions of the oil emitting forwardly from nozzle 170 may directly lubricate the roller trolley 124.

[0061] Similarly with the initial downward flows 160 of the oil over the forward face of the rearward wall 104, portions of the rearwardly re-dispersed oil flow downwardly in a stream 174 along the rearwardly facing surface 107 of the counterweight 106. Since the roller trolley 124 underlies the counterweight's rearward surface 107, such downward flow 174 is properly oriented and directed for lubricating the underlying trolley 124 and its rolling and movable parts 126,128,130,132.

[0062] In a suitable embodiment, an upwardly opening oil capturing vessel or tray 176 is provided, such tray being rearwardly bounded and defined by a dam or flange 178. The floor of such upwardly opening tray 176 may comprise the upper surface of upper frame member 134. In such embodiment the tray 176 is opened by at least a first, and preferably a plurality of lubricant passage ports 180 whose lower ends communicate with the immediately underlying trolley 124. Oil flowing downwardly from tray 176 through lubricant passage ports 180 advantageously falls directly onto and over the roller trolley 124, effectively lubricating the trolley along with its rolling and moving parts.

[0063] While the principles of the invention have been made clear in the above illustrative embodiment, those skilled in the art may make modifications to the structure, arrangement, portions and components of the invention without departing from those principles. Accordingly, it is intended that the description and drawings be interpreted as illustrative and not in the limiting sense, and that the invention be given a scope commensurate with the appended claims.