Patent · US Expired

Speed control

US4145161A · kind A · utility

78Cited by
4References
5Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateAug 10, 1977
Grant dateMar 20, 1979
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 10, 1997

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
  • CPC primaryF04B2203/0209
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

This is a method and apparatus for controlling an oil-well beam pumping unit in a manner which allows increased oil production. The AC electric motor of the beam pumping unit is supplied power through a variable frequency power supply, whose frequency (and voltage) is controlled by circuitry to automatically adjust to whatever flow enters the wellbore by varying the speed of the pumping unit to maintain the speed generally proportional to the real power consumed by the pump. As the level in the wellbore can be maintained at an essentially constant minimum level, despite the relatively large hour-to-hour variations in in-flow which normally occur, the total flow from the formation into the wellbore in a given period of time is increased.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.