Bypass valve and downhole pump

Abstract

A pump comprising a body assembly and a plunger assembly slidably received in the body assembly. The body assembly comprises a standing valve, a discharge valve, and a pump barrel cooperating to define a pump chamber. The standing valve opens to permit fluid to flow into the pump chamber from outside the tubing responsive to a negative pressure gradient across the standing valve. The discharge valve opens to permit fluid to flow out of the pump chamber and into the tubing responsive to a positive pressure gradient across the discharge valve.

1 . A pump comprising:
 a body assembly comprising:
 a standing valve having an inlet, an outlet, a channel therebetween, and a valve mechanism, wherein the valve mechanism is opened to permit fluid to flow through the inlet responsive to a negative pressure gradient across the inlet and wherein the valve mechanism is closed to prevent fluid from flowing through the inlet responsive to a positive pressure gradient across the inlet; 
 a discharge valve having an inlet, an outlet, a flow channel therebetween, a valve mechanism, and at least one discharge port extending from the valve mechanism to an outer surface of the discharge valve, wherein the valve mechanism is opened to permit fluid to flow through the at least one discharge port responsive to a positive pressure gradient across the at least one discharge port, and wherein the valve mechanism is closed to prevent fluid from flowing through the discharge ports responsive to a negative pressure gradient across the discharge ports; and, 
 a pump barrel having an inlet, an outlet, and a channel therebetween; 
 wherein the standing valve, discharge valve, and pump barrel securely engage one another such that the channel of the standing valve, the channel of the discharge valve, and the channel of the pump barrel cooperate to define a pump chamber; 
   a plunger assembly slidably received within the body assembly; and   wherein sliding the plunger assembly in an upward direction relative to the body assembly creates a negative pressure gradient across the inlet of the standing valve so as to open the standing valve and creates a negative pressure gradient across the at least one discharge port of the discharge valve so as to close the discharge valve; and,   wherein sliding the plunger assembly in a downward direction relative to the body assembly creates a positive pressure gradient across the inlet of the standing valve so as to close the standing valve and creates a positive pressure gradient across the at least one discharge port of the discharge valve so as to open the discharge valve.   
   
   
       2 . The pump of  claim 1 , wherein the standing valve comprises:
 a valve body having a first end, a second end, and a central axis therebetween, the valve body further having an inlet, a valve channel, and an outlet channel, the inlet formed through the first end of the valve body, the valve channel having a first end in fluid communication with the inlet, a second end terminating within the valve body, and a central channel axis angularly-disposed from the central axis of the valve body, the outlet channel extending from the valve channel to an outer surface of the valve body, the valve body further having an opening between the valve channel and the outlet channel such that the valve channel and the outlet channel are in fluid communication, the opening having a width less than the minimum internal dimension of the valve channel;   a substantially-spherical valve member disposed within the valve channel of the valve body, the valve member sized to be movable within the valve channel while being prevented from passing through the opening between the valve channel and the outlet channel of the valve body; and   a valve seat disposed within the valve body and adjacent to the first end of the valve channel, the valve seat having a substantially-circular orifice defined therethrough, the orifice having a maximum internal dimension smaller than the diameter of the valve member;   wherein the valve member is movable between a first position engaging the valve seat and a second position adjacent to the second end of the valve channel, and wherein the valve member in the first position substantially seals the orifice in the valve seat so as to substantially prevent fluid from flowing between the inlet and either of a portion of the valve channel or the outlet channel, and wherein the valve member in the second position permits fluid to flow from the inlet to at least one of a portion of the valve channel or the outlet channel.   
   
   
       3 . The pump of  claim 1 , wherein the discharge valve comprises:
 a valve body having a first end, a second end, and a central axis therebetween, the valve body further having an inlet, a flow channel, a valve channel, and at least one discharge port, the inlet formed through the first end of the valve body, the flow channel in fluid communication with the inlet and extending from the inlet to the second end of the valve body, at least a portion of the flow channel offset from the central axis of the valve body, the valve channel having a first end in fluid communication with the inlet, and a second end disposed within the valve body, the at least one discharge port extending from the valve channel to an exterior surface of the valve body;   a substantially-spherical valve member disposed within the valve channel of the valve body, the valve member sized to be movable within the valve channel while being prevented from passing through the at least one discharge port; and,   a valve seat disposed within the valve body and adjacent to the first end of the valve channel, the valve seat having an orifice defined therethrough, the orifice sized to prevent the valve member from passing therethrough; and,   wherein the valve member is movable between a first position engaging the valve seat and a second position adjacent the second end of the valve channel, and wherein the valve member in the first position substantially seals the orifice in the valve seat so as to substantially prevent fluid from flowing out of the valve body through the at least one discharge port, and wherein the valve member in the second position permits fluid to flow out of the valve body through the at least one discharge port.   
   
   
       4 . The pump of  claim 1 , wherein the plunger assembly comprises:
 a traveling valve having an inlet, an outlet, a channel therebetween, and a valve mechanism, wherein the valve mechanism is opened to permit fluid to flow through the inlet responsive to a negative pressure gradient across the inlet and wherein the valve mechanism is closed to prevent fluid from flowing through the inlet responsive to a positive pressure gradient across the inlet; and,   wherein sliding the plunger assembly in the upward direction further creates a positive pressure gradient across the inlet of the traveling valve so as to close the traveling valve; and,   wherein sliding the plunger assembly in the downward direction further creates a negative pressure gradient across the inlet of the traveling valve so as to open the traveling valve.   
   
   
       5 . The pump of  claim 4 , wherein the traveling valve comprises:
 a valve body having a first end, a second end, and a central axis therebetween, the valve body further having an inlet, a valve channel, and an outlet channel, the inlet formed through the first end of the valve body, the valve channel having a first end in fluid communication with the inlet, a second end terminating within the valve body, and a central channel axis angularly-disposed from the central axis of the valve body, the outlet channel extending from the valve channel to an outer surface of the valve body, the valve body further having an opening between the valve channel and the outlet channel such that the valve channel and the outlet channel are in fluid communication, the opening having a width less than the minimum internal dimension of the valve channel;   a substantially-spherical valve member disposed within the valve channel of the valve body, the valve member sized to be movable within the valve channel while being prevented from passing through the opening between the valve channel and the outlet channel of the valve body; and   a valve seat disposed within the valve body and adjacent to the first end of the valve channel, the valve seat having a substantially-circular orifice defined therethrough, the orifice having a maximum internal dimension smaller than the diameter of the valve member;   wherein the valve member is movable between a first position engaging the valve seat and a second position adjacent to the second end of the valve channel, and wherein the valve member in the first position substantially seals the orifice in the valve seat so as to substantially prevent fluid from flowing between the inlet and either of a portion of the valve channel or the outlet channel, and wherein the valve member in the second position permits fluid to flow from the inlet to at least one of a portion of the valve channel or the outlet channel.   
   
   
       6 . The pump of  claim 5 , wherein at least a portion of the valve channel adjacent to the second end of the valve channel is conically shaped. 
   
   
       7 . The pump of  claim 5 , wherein the central channel axis of the valve channel of the standing valve is angularly disposed from the central axis of the valve body of the standing valve by between about 14 degrees and about 16 degrees. 
   
   
       8 . The pump of  claim 5 , wherein the valve member of the discharge valve is substantially-spherical and the length of the valve channel of the standing valve is between about 1.65 and about 1.85 times the diameter of the substantially-spherical valve member. 
   
   
       9 . The pump of  claim 5 , wherein at least a portion of the flow path defined between the valve body and the valve member of the standing valve has a reniform cross-section. 
   
   
       10 . The valve of  claim 5 , wherein the cross-section of at least a portion of the outlet channel of the standing valve is defined by an arcuate interior wall portion and a pair of substantially-straight interior wall portions of the valve body, each substantially-straight interior wall portion on a side of, and cooperating with, the arcuate interior wall portion. 
   
   
       11 . The pump of  claim 5 , wherein the discharge valve comprises:
 a valve body having a first end, a second end, and a central axis therebetween, the valve body further having an inlet, a flow channel, a valve channel, and at least one discharge port, the inlet formed through the first end of the valve body, the flow channel in fluid communication with the inlet and extending from the inlet to the second end of the valve body, at least a portion of the flow channel offset from the central axis of the valve body, the valve channel having a first end in fluid communication with the inlet, and a second end disposed within the valve body, the at least one discharge port extending from the valve channel to an exterior surface of the valve body;   a substantially-circular valve member disposed within the valve channel of the valve body, the valve member sized to be movable within the valve channel while being prevented from passing through the at least one discharge port; and,   a valve seat disposed within the valve body and adjacent to the first end of the valve channel, the valve seat having an orifice defined therethrough, the orifice sized to prevent the valve member from passing therethrough; and,   wherein the valve member is movable between a first position engaging the valve seat and a second position adjacent the second end of the valve channel, and wherein the valve member in the first position substantially seals the orifice in the valve seat so as to substantially prevent fluid from flowing out of the valve body through the at least one discharge port, and wherein the valve member in the second position permits fluid to flow out of the valve body through the at least one discharge port.   
   
   
       12 . A valve comprising:
 a valve body having a first end, a second end, and a central axis therebetween, the valve body further having an inlet, a valve channel, and an outlet channel, the inlet formed through the first end of the valve body, the valve channel having a first end in fluid communication with the inlet, a second end terminating within the valve body, and a central channel axis angularly-disposed from the central axis of the valve body, the outlet channel extending from the valve channel to an outer surface of the valve body, the valve body further having an opening between the valve channel and the outlet channel such that the valve channel and the outlet channel are in fluid communication, the opening having a width less than the minimum internal dimension of the valve channel;   a substantially-spherical valve member disposed within the valve channel of the valve body, the valve member sized to be movable within the valve channel while being prevented from passing through the opening between the valve channel and the outlet channel of the valve body; and   a valve seat disposed within the valve body and adjacent to the first end of the valve channel, the valve seat having a substantially-circular orifice defined therethrough, the orifice having a maximum internal dimension smaller than the diameter of the valve member;   wherein the valve member is movable between a first position engaging the valve seat and a second position adjacent to the second end of the valve channel, and wherein the valve member in the first position substantially seals the orifice in the valve seat so as to substantially prevent fluid from flowing between the inlet and either of a portion of the valve channel or the outlet channel, and wherein the valve member in the second position permits fluid to flow from the inlet to at least one of a portion of the valve channel or the outlet channel.   
   
   
       13 . The valve of  claim 12 , wherein the valve body and the valve member cooperate to define a single flow path from the inlet to the outlet channel. 
   
   
       14 . The valve of  claim 13 , wherein at least a portion of the flow path defined between the valve body and the valve member is at least partially reniform in cross section. 
   
   
       15 . The valve of  claim 14 , wherein the cross-section of at least a portion of the outlet channel is defined by an arcuate interior wall portion and a pair of substantially-straight interior wall portions of the valve body, each substantially-straight interior wall portion cooperating with the arcuate interior wall portion to define the flow path. 
   
   
       16 . The valve of  claim 15 , wherein the length of the valve channel along the channel axis is between about 1.65 and about 1.85 times the diameter of the substantially-spherical valve member. 
   
   
       17 . The valve of  claim 16 , wherein the length of the valve channel along the channel axis is about 1.75 times the diameter of the substantially-spherical valve body. 
   
   
       18 . The valve of  claim 12 , wherein at least a portion of the valve channel adjacent to the second end of the valve channel is conically shaped. 
   
   
       19 . The valve channel of  claim 12 , wherein the central channel axis of the valve channel is angularly disposed from the central axis of the valve body by between about 14 degrees and about 16 degrees.