Backflush valve

Abstract

A backflush valve may open a traveling valve and a standing valve both at the same time so production tubing and a rod pump can be backflushed. The backflush valve may be adapted to connect to a pump barrel between the traveling valve and the standing valve and may be actuated by collapsing the pump.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A backflush valve adapted to connect to a pump barrel between a traveling valve and a standing valve, and comprising:
 a. a hollow cylindrical housing having an upper end adapted to connect to a pump barrel and a lower end adapted to connect to a standing valve assembly comprising a standing valve ball and valve seat;   b. a push rod disposed and centralized within the housing, the push rod having an upper end and a lower end, wherein the lower end comprises a ball wedge;   c. wherein the push rod may reciprocate within the housing from a relaxed position where the ball wedge is positioned away from the standing ball valve to a deployed position where the ball wedge displaces the standing ball valve off the standing valve seat;   d. a spring contained within the housing and acting on the push rod to bias into its relaxed position.   
     
     
         2 . The backflush valve of  claim 1  wherein the push rod is centralized by at least one centralizing insert inserted into the housing and defining at least one flow passage. 
     
     
         3 . The backflush valve of  claim 2  comprising two centralizing inserts, together defining a spring cavity for retaining the spring. 
     
     
         4 . The backflush valve of  claim 3  further comprising an alignment pin which aligns the two centralizing inserts to align their at least one flow passages. 
     
     
         5 . The backflush valve of  claim 1  wherein an upper end of the push rod is adapted to engage a gas locking relief device. 
     
     
         6 . A method of backflushing a reciprocating pump assembly having a backflush valve adapted to connect to a pump barrel between a traveling valve and a standing valve, the backflush valve comprising a pushrod having an upper end and a lower end comprising a ball wedge, comprising the steps of:
 a. collapsing the pump such that the traveling valve falls and contacts the push rod, thereby opening the traveling valve; and   b. urging the push rod downwards such that the ball wedge contacts the standing valve ball, displacing it off the standing valve ball seat.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the pushrod is centralized by a centralizer within a housing, the centralizer defining at least one flow passage. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the pushrod is upwardly biased within the housing. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the backflush valve comprises two centralizing inserts, together defining a spring cavity for retaining a spring which biases the pushrod upwards.