Rod guide with improved stator

Abstract

A rod guide is provided for use in a rotating rod string ( 12 ) for powering a progressive cavity pump ( 14 ) for pumping downhole fluids through tubing string ( 16 ) to the surface. The rod guide includes a rotor sleeve ( 20 ) secured to the rod string. A stator sleeve ( 40 ) is positioned over the rotor sleeve, and has a sleeve body ( 42 ) with a generally circular configuration with opposing circumferential ends ( 44, 46 ) spreadable to position the stator sleeve about the rotor sleeve. A plurality of ribs ( 48 ) extend outward from the stator sleeve body. One circumferential end of the stator sleeve has a catch member ( 52 ), and an opposing circumferential end of the stator sleeve has a receiving cavity ( 54 ) for receiving at least a portion of the catch member. The circumferential ends of the stator sleeve are connected by the catch member and the receiving cavity.

1 . A rod guide for positioning on a rotating sucker rod for powering a progressive cavity pump for pumping downhole fluids, the rod guide comprising:
 a rotor sleeve secured to the sucker rod;   a stator sleeve positioned over the rotor sleeve, the stator sleeve having a sleeve body with a generally circular cross sectional configuration and opposing circumferential ends spreadable to position the stator sleeve about the rotor sleeve, the stator sleeve having a plurality of ribs extending outward from the sleeve body for passing fluid between the stator sleeve body and production tubing and circumferentially between the plurality of ribs;   the rotor sleeve including upper and lower stop surfaces for limiting axial movement of the stator sleeve relative to the rotor sleeve; and   one circumferential end of the stator sleeve body having a catch member and an opposing circumferential end of the stator sleeve body having a receiving cavity for receiving at least a portion of the catch member, such that the circumferential ends of the stator sleeve body define a circumferential gap held closed by connecting the catch member and the receiving cavity.   
   
   
       2 . A rod guide as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the catch member and the receiving cavity are configured to repeatedly connect and disconnect the circumferential ends of the stator sleeve body. 
   
   
       3 . A rod guide as defined in  claim 1 , wherein each of the catch member and the receiving member is positioned radially between a radially inner generally cylindrical surface of the stator sleeve body and a radially outer generally cylindrical surface of the stator sleeve body. 
   
   
       4 . A catch member as defined in  claim 1 , wherein each of the catch member and the receiving cavity has a substantially rectilinear configuration. 
   
   
       5 . A rod guide as defined in  claim 1 , wherein each of the catch member and the receiving cavity has a substantially ball-shaped configuration. 
   
   
       6 . A rod guide as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the rotor sleeve is molded on the sucker guide. 
   
   
       7 - 8 . (canceled) 
   
   
       9 . A rod guide as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the receiving cavity has an entrance throat with a narrowing neck portion for guiding the catch member within the receiving cavity. 
   
   
       10 . A rod guide as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the catch member and receiving cavity are provided along substantially the entirety of an axial length of the stator sleeve body. 
   
   
       11 . A rod guide as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the circumferential ends of the stator sleeve body substantially seal an interior of the stator sleeve from fluids radially exterior of the stator sleeve body. 
   
   
       12 . A rod guide for positioning on a rotating sucker rod for powering a progressive cavity pump for pumping downhole fluids, the rod guide comprising:
 a rotor sleeve secured to the sucker rod, the rotor sleeve including one or more stop surfaces for limiting axial movement of a stator sleeve relative to the rotor sleeve;   the stator sleeve positioned over the rotor sleeve, the stator sleeve having a sleeve body with a generally circular cross sectional configuration and opposing circumferential ends spreadable to position the stator sleeve about the rotor sleeve, the stator sleeve having a plurality of ribs extending outward from the sleeve body for passing fluid between the stator sleeve body and production tubing and circumferentially between the plurality of ribs;   one circumferential end of the stator sleeve body having a catch member and an opposing circumferential end of the stator sleeve body having a receiving cavity for receiving at least a portion of the catch member, such that the circumferential ends of the stator sleeve body define a circumferential gap held closed by connecting the catch member and the receiving cavity; and   each of the catch member and the receiving member is positioned radially between a radially inner surface of the stator sleeve body and a radially outer surface of the stator sleeve body.   
   
   
       13 . A rod guide as defined in  claim 12 , wherein the rotor sleeve is molded on the sucker guide. 
   
   
       14 . A rod guide as defined in  claim 12 , wherein the receiving cavity has an entrance throat with a narrowing neck portion for guiding the catch member within the receiving cavity. 
   
   
       15 . A rod guide as defined in  claim 12 , wherein the catch member and receiving cavity are provided along substantially the entirety of an axial length of the stator sleeve body. 
   
   
       16 . A method of providing a rod guide on a rotating sucker rod for powering a progressive cavity pump for pumping downhole fluids, the method comprising:
 securing a rotor sleeve to the sucker rod;   positioning a stator sleeve over the rotor sleeve, the stator sleeve having a sleeve body with a generally circular configuration with opposing circumferential ends spreadable to position the stator sleeve about the rotor sleeve, the stator sleeve having a plurality of ribs extending outward from the stator sleeve body for passing fluid between the stator sleeve body and production tubing and circumferentially between the plurality of ribs; and   providing one circumferential end of the stator sleeve body with a catch member and an opposing circumferential end of the stator sleeve body with a receiving cavity for receiving at least a portion of the catch member; and   connecting the circumferential ends of the stator sleeve body about the rotor sleeve by closing a circumferential gap between the circumferential ends of the stator sleeve body and connecting the catch member and the receiving cavity.   
   
   
       17 . A method as defined in  claim 16 , further comprising:
 positioning each of the catch member and the receiving member radially between a radially inner surface of the stator sleeve body and a radially outer surface of the stator sleeve body.   
   
   
       18 . A method as defined in  claim 16 , further comprising:
 positioning one or more stop surfaces on the rotor sleeve for limiting axial movement of the stator sleeve relative to the rotor sleeve.   
   
   
       19 . A method as defined in  claim 16 , further comprising:
 providing the catch member and receiving cavity along substantially the entirety of an axial length of the stator sleeve body.   
   
   
       20 . A method as defined in  claim 16 , wherein the circumferential ends of the stator sleeve body substantially seal an interior of the stator sleeve body from fluids radially exterior of the stator sleeve body.