Progressive Cavity Pump Rod Guide

Abstract

A rod guide receiver is molded directly onto the sucker rod and a rod guide or spinner is then molded directly onto the rod guide receiver, the spinner having a plurality of blades or fins molded as an integral part of a spinner body that is free to turn about the rod guide receiver. The rod guide receiver serves in the manner of a bearing race, having a pair of opposing stops to retain the spinner subsequently molded thereon. The spinner may also be referred to herein as a centralizing sleeve. The rod guide receiver and the spinner are both formed of polymeric materials, but of materials different from one another so that the rod guide is free to rotate about the rod guide receiver. Further, the vanes of the rod guide are formed in a zig-zag pattern to enhance the strength and effectiveness of the vanes in bearing against the inside surface of the well tubing.

1 . A rod guide assembly on a sucker rod having an axis, the assembly comprising:
 a. a rod guide receiver molded to the sucker rod along an axis, the receiver having an upper stop and a lower stop and a cylindrical body joining the upper and lower stops; and   b. a rod guide spinner molded onto the rod guide receiver, the receiver and spinner defining a gap therebetween, and the spinner having a body with plurality of vanes extending radially outwardly from the spinner body.   
     
     
         2 . The rod guide assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the receiver and the spinner are molded of dissimilar materials. 
     
     
         3 . The rod guide assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the receiver is formed of a fiberglass reinforced polyphenylene sulfide compound and the spinner is formed of non-glass filled synthetic molding resin containing polymers and copolymers of polyamides. 
     
     
         4 . The rod guide assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the vanes define a zigzag pattern along a line parallel to the axis of the sucker rod.