Clutch Assembly for Bypass Plungers

摘要

A bypass plunger combines a unitary or one-piece hollow body-and-valve cage, retains a dart valve within the valve cage portion of the hollow body using a threaded retaining nut secured by crimple detents. A series of helical grooves surround the central portion of the outer surface of the hollow body of the plunger to control spin during descent. A canted-coil-spring disposed within the retaining nut functions as a clutch. The valve cage includes ports that may be configured to control flow through the plunger during ascent. Other embodiments include clutch assemblies using canted-coil springs with split bobbins, and valve stems surfaced to achieve specific functions. Combinations of these features provide enhanced performance, durability and reliability at reduced manufacturing cost, due primarily to the simplicity of its design.

主权项

1. A clutch assembly for a bypass plunger having a valve cage and a reciprocating dart valve, the dart valve having a round stem and disposed within the valve cage, the clutch assembly comprising:
a partition nut, threadably installed within an internal thread of an open end of the valve cage following installation of the dart valve in the valve cage; a split bobbin assembly having first and second hemispherical halves, each half of the split bobbin assembly having formed there around at least one circumferential groove, and the assembly installed on the stem of the dart valve; a coil spring disposed in each circumferential groove to secure the split bobbin assembly around a stem of the dart valve, thereby forming the clutch assembly; a retaining nut threadably installed within the internal thread of the valve cage following installation of the clutch assembly within the valve cage; and at least first and second crimples formed into the outer surface of the valve cage and extending into relieved spaces formed in an external thread formed on each one of the retaining nut and the partition nut.