US2180400A - Method and apparatus for controlling fluid operated pumps - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 21, 1939. c.'.1. coBERLY 2,180,400

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING FLUID OPERATED PUMPS Filed May 13, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet l I/vvE/vroR CLARE/vee J COBERLY ATTORNEY foal @ffm 4Nov. 2l, 1939.

C. J. COBERLY METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING FLUID OPERATED PUMPS Filed May 13, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 J/v Vf/v TOR CLARENCE Lf COBERLY A TTOR/VEY.

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING FLUID OPERATED PUMPS Filed May 13, 19:56 :s sheets-sheet S /JOQ [NVE/v70@ CLARE/VCE d Cofm. y

Patented Nov. 21, 1939 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROL- LING FLUID OPERATED PUMPS Clarence J. Coben-ly, Los Angeles, Calif., assignor to Roko Corporation, Reno, Nev., a corporation of Nevada .Application May 13,1936, Serial No. 79,475

18 Claims.

My invention relates to the art of pumping ulds from wells, and relatesv in particular to the pumping of oil from deep wells.

In the pumpingof oil from wells it is found that there is. much diiliculty encountered in operating the pump in accordance with the capacity of the well. By capacity of the well is meant the rate at which the oil ows from the formation into the well. If a pump of greater capacity than that loi? the well is employed, the well will be continually pumped off; that is, the oil will be pumped down to the level of the inlet of the pump. On the other hand, if a pump of smaller capacity is employed,` a production in keeping with the full capacity of the well will not be attained.

An object of my present invention is to provide an automatic control for a pumping device which will automatically deliver from the well its entire capacity without the Well being pumped oil'.

It is an object of the invention to provide a method of pumping wherein the capacity ofthe oil pump is reduced when the Well has been pumped down to a deilnite or prescribed. level, and the capacity of such pump is again increased when the oil in the well rises to a prescribed high level.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a method of the above character wherein control of the pump capacity is accomplished through the variation in the power required to operate the pump. lFor example, as the level of oil in the well drops, the pumping head is increased, with the result that more power must be consumed in operating the pump. Accordingly, when the power required approaches a prescribed high value, the capacity of the pump will be reduced automatically and will operate at a lowered capacity until the pumping head is decreased by the rise in the level of the oil in the well.

A further object of the invention is to provide a method and apparatus for pumping a well in which a pump is operated by a fluid delivered thereto under pressure, and in which the control of the capacity of the pump is accomplished through the variations in pressure in the high pressure fluid delivered to the pump for operation of the same.

A further object of the invention is to provide a method and apparatus of the character prescribed in the preceding paragraph, in which the vvolume of pressure fluid delivered to the pump for its operation is automatically varied in accordance with prescribed pressure conditions.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be made evident throughout the. following part of the specication.

Referring to the drawings, which are for illustrative purposes only:

Fig. 1 is a schematic view showing a preferred form of my invention in which the capacity of the pump is reduced to zero value when the pumping head reaches a predetermined high value, or thelevel ofthe oil in the well reaches a predetermined low point.

Fig. 2 is a view to be substituted for that por- 4 area of Fig. 1 indicated by the dotted line 2,

showing still another alternative form of the nvention.

Fig. 5fis an additional view to be substituted for the area of Fig. 1 indicated by the dotted line 2, showing a form of the invention in which means are provided responsive to the increase in the pumping head of the well for reducing the capacity of the pumping equipment, with means, other than pressure operated, for restarting the pump at a later time.

Fig. 6 is a schematic view showing an alternative form of control mechanisml which may be used inthe practice of the invention.

In Fig. 1 a strainer pipe II is shown in the oil producing zone of a well, with oil therein at a level I2. Into this body of oil a pumping device I3 is extended. In the form of the invention disclosed, the pumping device I3` comprises a discharge pipe I4 and a fluid operated pump I5 having its discharge openings I6 and Il placed so as to deliver the discharge of the pump into the production pipe I4. The uid operated pump I5 is -fed` with a uid under pressure through a pressure uid delivery pipe I8 into which a pressure fiuid such as clean oil is pumped by means of a pump I9 driven by a motor 2 I. As diagrammatically shown, a pressure actuated switch 22 is connected to the delivery pipe I8, this switch having a movable contact 23 and stationary contacts 24 and 25. Assuming `that the electric motor 2I is of constant speed type, it will be perceived that the pump I9 will deliver a constant volume of pressure fluid into the delivery pipe I8.

Under ordinary conditions of operation, the capacity oi the pump I3 will be such that the volume of pressure nuid delivered thereby willy be suilicient to actuate the iluidv operated pump I5 at such .speed that oilwill be pumped from the well a little faster than it enters the well from the formation so that'the oil level I2wi1l graduallyidrop. As theiluid level I2 drops, the Vheight orhead against which the oil mus't be pumped upwardly through the discharge pipe I4 increases, and as this head increases. the pressure in the delivery pipe I8 likewise increases. 'I'his increase, and the subsequent decrease, in the pressure in the delivery pipe I8 may be employed to control the operation oi' the pumping equipment so as to reduce the capacity thereof in accordance with the drop in the level I2 of the oil in the well. In the 'form of the invention shown, the movable contact 23 of the pressure switch 22 moves rightwardly as the pressure in the delivery pipe I8 increases, and when the level of the oil inthe well has dropped t'o a plane'26, the increased pressure in the delivery pipe I8 will have swung the movable contact 23 into engagement with the contact 25. The contacts 24 and 25 may both be adjustable so as to vary the pressures at which engagement therewith is made by fthemovable contact 23. When the contact 23 engages the contact 25, current will ilow through a conductor 21 and a conductor 28 so thata solenoid windingA 23.which is connected to the conductor 28 will be energized. The energization of the coil 29 will attract an armature 3| so as to pull a latch dog 32 upwardly out of engagement with a shoulder member 33 which is connected through a rod 34 with switch blades 35 which are at the present time held in closed position as shown by full lines. The release of the y latch 32 will permit the blades 35 to be swung ,cally reduced to zero value.

into open position, as indicated by dotted lines 3 5, by the pull of a spring 31. Therefore, when the level I2 of the oil in the Well has reached the yprescribedlow point or plane 28 so that the pumping head corresponds to a dimension H2, the switch of the motor 2| will be automatically opened. In other words, the capacity :of the pumping equipment will be automatically reduced, andin this instance it will be automati- The eii'ect may be stated in another way; that is, the volumeof the actuating iluid .delivered by the pump I9 through the delivery pipe I8 will be automatically reduced.

The pump I 5wil1 now stop, and due to the cessation of the pumping action the level of oil in the wellwill gradually rise toward the plane 3.8. As the 1evel of oil I2 rises in the well, the pumping.` head will be gradually decreased, and the stored energy of the pressure'i'luid in the delivery pipe I8 will either slowly or intermittently opery. ,ate the pump as the pumping head decreases so that there will vbe a gradual drop in the "pressure in the `fluid in the delivery pipe I8 to such point that themovable contact 23 will move leftwardly and will ilnally engage the stationarygcontact i 24, with the result that currentv will pass through the conductor 21, a-conductor 39, and a solenoid winding 4I so thata solenoid core 42 mounted on the rod34 will ybe moved leftwardly to carry the switch blades 35 into closed position, whereupon the latch 32 will reset and hold the rod 34 in its leftward position. The motor 2I will'nowbe venergized andthe pump I 9 will be driven so as to again deliver pressure fluid through the delivery The fouowing is in explanation of the action which takes place during the rise in the oil level I2 from the plane 23 zto the plane 38. The pressure iiuid in the delivery pipe I8 is under pressure and accordingly is compressed to a smaller volume than it would have at atmospheric pressure. Likewise, the pipe I8 is expanded, ywith the result that even though the pump I8 may stop, there is still considerable pressure in and on the iluid in the pipe I8 tending to move the Y power piston 43 o! the pump I5 and thereby actuate the pumping piston 44 against the head charge of pressure :fluid from the delivery pipe Il so that the pressure existing in the pipe I8 will reduce substantially in proportion to the rise in the level I2 of the oil in the well. Also, the reduction in pressure in the'pipe I8 may be iniluenced by small leakages of pressure fluid through the joints of couplings in `the pressure pipe I8 such as indicated at 45, and also by leakages of pressure fluid past the valve parts of the fluid operated motor which are not shown in this diagrammatic-view but are of the character disv closed in my copending application Serial No..

720,061, illed April 11, 1934, and entitled Fluid operated deep well pump.

In Fig. 2, which is to be substituted for the portion of Fig. 1 in the area outlined by the dotted line 2 in order to produce the complete pumping` equipment, I haveshown means wherein the reduction of the pump capacity is not to zero value but may be to` any prescribed low value. In Fig. 2 the pressure pump' I3 is equipped with a variable speed motor 2Ia which is of suillcient a torque at either-speed to operate the pump I3. against the maximum Vpressure in the delivery` pipe I8. 'I'he electric wires 41 through which the motor 2Ia is energized are carried into a diagrammatically shown speed-changing switch 48 having an external lever 43 adapted to move from the position L as shown in full lines to the position H as shown in dotted lines. Connected to the lever 49 is an armature 5I adapted to be moved between two extreme positions by electromagnetic windings52 and 53. When the movable contact 23 oi' the pressure switch 22 is moved into engagement with the stationary contact 25 as the result of the rise in iluid pressure in the delivery pipe I8, current will flow through f the conductor 21 and the conductor 28 whichV energizes the magnet winding 52, with the result -that thecontrol lever 43 is pulled leftwardly into L or low speed position, so that when a predetermined high pressure otiiuid is produced in the pipe I8 as'the result of the drop in the y oil level I2 to the plane 28, the motor 2Ia will be reduced in speed so that the pump'will be oper` vated at reduced speed, and the volume of oilw delivered into the pressure pipe I8 will be of reduced value, with the result that the speed of `operation of the pump I5 inthe well will be reduced to a 'low value wherein the quantity of oil pumped from the well will be less than the quantity of oil flowing into the well from the formation. Accordingly, the level I2 will rise, and as this level I2 rises. the pumping head v the pipe I8 will have resulted in the movement ot the contact 23 leftwardly into engagement with thestationary contact so as to close a control circuit consisting of the conductor 21,I conductor 38, and the 'magnet winding 53, the energization' of which magnet winding will result in the, movement of the armature I rightwardly so as to carry the lever 49 into high position H, where-` upon the motor 2Ia will be driven at high speed, and likewise the speed of the pump I9 and the volume of iiuid delivered thereby into the pipe I8 will be increased to bring the capacity of the pumping equipment to a point a little greater than the capacity of the well, or, in other words, the rate of ilow of oil from the formation into the well. By use of a device such as shown in either Fi'g. 1 orFlg. 2, the entire capacity of the well may be produced, and this may be accompllshed without the well being pumped oil. Also, the production of the well will be at maximum if the level in the well is held constantly at a point slightly above the inlet of the pump. At this time it should be pointed out that it is oi' exceptional importance to maintain a definite level ofoil in the well above the inlet openings of the pump, since gas conditions may bein this manner best controlled. There is under lsuch condition of operation a minimum liability for the formation of a gas lock in the intake of the pump and a minimization of danger of the pump racing due to the entry of a body of gas into the pumping cylinder.

In Figs. 1 and 2 I have shown forms of my invention wherein the change in the capacity of the pump device is accomplished through changes inthe speed of the driving motor. This same desirable eilect may be accomplished in other ways. For example, as shown in Fig. 3, a multicylinder pressure pump I9a may be employed, and this pump may berdriven by a constant speed motor 2lb. Each of the cylinders 55, 58, and 51 is shown connected through pipes 58 with an inlet header 59. Discharge pipes 6I, 62, and 83 are shown connecting the cylinders 55 to 51 with the pressure pipe I8. A valve 64 is shown at the upper end of the discharge pipe 8| where it leads into the header-or delivery pipe I8 for preventing a reverse i'low downwardly through the discharge pipe SI into the cylinder 55. A by-pass 65 having a valve 66 therein connects the discharge pipe 6I with the inlet header 59. The valve 66 may comprise a casing 88 of cylindrical form having diametrally opposed ports 69 which are closed when a valve piston 1I is in raised position as shown in Fig. 3. At this time all three cylinders, with the pistons operating therein,

will discharge into the delivery pipe I8 to operate pump I5 in the well at its maximum capacity. As thepressure increases in the pipe I8, the movable switch contact 23 will move toward the stationary contact 25 of the pressure switch 22. and when engagement ofthe contacts 23' and 25 is accomplished, a solenoic'l'winding 12 will be energized, and an armature 13 will be moved downwardly so as to carry the piston 1I of the valve 8E- to such position that a diametral port 14 therein will align with the ports 89 so that fluid may pass freely from the discharge pipe 6I back into the inlet header 59. Accordingly, there will be no pumping of fluid from the cylinder 55 into the delivery pipe I8, and accordingly the quantity of pressure fluid delivered by the pump 3 I8a into the delivery pipe I8 will be reduced. Likewise, the capacity of the pumping equipment will be reduced as the result of the slowing down of the fluid operated pump I5. The pump I5 will then operate at reduced capacity until the level I2 of oil in the well rises to the prescribed high point, such, for example, as the plane 38, 'at which time the movable cotact 23 will have will move the armature 1.3 upwardly so as to carry the valve member 1I into such position that'the ports 69 will be closed and the production of the cylinder 55 will then be caused to pass through the valve 84 into the delivery pipe I8. thereby restoring the capacity of the pumping device to its original high value, which is ordinarily to be greater. than the capacity of the formation to deliver oil into the well.

In the form of the invention shown in Fig. 4, the pressure switch 22 is not employed, but the change in the wattage consumed by a motor .2Ic is employed to vary the capacity. of thepumpng system. In this form of the invention a variable speed motor is employed with a speed controller 48a connected therewith through wires 80. Connected into the electrical circuit comprising conductors 8I leading into the speed changing device 48a is a wattmeter 82 having an indicating lever 83 which is so constructed that it will close electrical vcontrol circuits at-different positions. For the purpose of explanation only, I have shown the lever 83 as consisting of a movable contact adapted to engage stationaryoradjustable contacts 84 and 85. Assuming that the lever 86 of the speed controller 48a. is in high speed position I-I so that the pump I9 will be driven at high speed and cause high speed operation of the pump I5 in the well so that theoil level I2 drops in the well, the pumping load will be increased, and the electrical consumption of the motor 2Ic will likewise increase, with the result that the movable contact 83 will move rigmwarmy toward the Contact a4. When'the load has increased to such a point that the contact 83 engages the contact 84, current will pass through a. conductor 81, a conductor 88, a relay magnet winding 89, and a return conductor 9|. A relay contact 92 will then be swung relatively downwardly from the position in which it is shown so as to engage a stationary contact 93 so that current will iiow through the conductor 9|, the contact 92 which is connected thereto,

a conductor 94, a solenoid windingV 95, and a During this will gradually decrease, and the movable contact 83 will move leftwardly and will engage the contact 85 so that current will flow through a conductorv 98, a relay magnet winding 99, and the conductor 9| The relay contact 92 will then be swung relatively upwardly into engagement with a contact |80 so' that current will now iiow through the conductor 9I, the vmovable relay |62, and the conductor 96, energizing the winding |02 and causing movement of the solenoid 91 rightwardly into high speed position IIthereby resuming high speed operation of the "motor 2|c until such time as the increase in the pumping pumping unit |3 in the well. Connected to they pipe I8 is a pressure actuated switch 22a having a single contact a insteadof a pair of contacts as shown in Figs.- 1, 2, andl 3. The motor 2|a which drives the pump I9 has a speed controlling element 48a equipped with a lever 49a,

' adapted to be moved by an armature5|a which moves within solenoids 52a land 53a. As the pressure in the pipe I8 lincreases, the movable contact 23a of the pressure actuated switch 22a moves rightwardly and engages the contact 25a,

closing a circuit consisting of a wire 21a, a wire 28a, the solenoid 52a, and a wire 30a. The solenoid 52a, being thus energized, moves the core 5|a leftwardly and swings the lever 49a of the speed controlling element 48a leftwardly into low speed position L. An extension |||l connected to the armature 5|a is at this time moved leftwardly and permits the closing of a switch contact so that a timing device ||2 may be caused to operate. This timing device may be of the synchronous motor character, and the same may be energized through a circuit consisting of wires |`|3 and ||4. The motor 2|a will be now driven at slow speed for a period oi' time predetermined by the characteristics of the timing device ||2. This timing device I|2 is shown with a movable contact ||6 adapted .to engage stationary contacts II1 and ||8. When the movable contact ||6 is raised from the position in which it is shown into engagement with the contacts II'I and II8, current will flow through wires ||9 and |20, through the solenoid 53a, and through the wire 30a, energizing the solenoid 53a and moving the armature 5|a rightwardly so as to swing the control lever 49a of the speedcontrol element into high speed position H. The rightward movement of the armature 5|a moves the extension ||0 so as to open the switch I, but the circuit through the timing device ||2 is maintained by a conductor |2|` which connects the contact with the contact ||6. l The circuit which feeds the timing device ||2 is lkept closed until the contact ||6 is moved to lowered position by a flow of current through the wire Ils. and the contact I I6, the wire |2|, and the wire ||4; therefore, the timing device ||2 does not stop with4 the contact |I6 in enjgagement with, the contacts II'I and ||8 but value. Although Fig. 5 shows an automatic timing means for again increasing the volume of the pressure fluid, it will be recognized that the lever 49a, after being automatically moved to low speedposition L, may be subsequently returned manually to high speed position H.

In Fig. 6 I have 'shown a form of the inventionin which the pressure of fluid in the pipe I6 contact 92, a conductor |0I, a solenoid winding acts directly to reduce .the volume of pressure fluid delivered into the pipe I8 and subsequently to the fluid operated pump unit I3. A casing |25 is provided having a bore |26, an inlet passage |21 connected to a source of fluid under pressure, and an outlet passage |28 to which the pipe I8 is connected. The passages-`|21 andj|28 y connect with the bore |26 in offset relation, land in the bore |26 is a movable member |29 which, to'avoid the use of separate packing means, is ground to a close fit in thevbore |26. The member- |29 has a recess |3| leading upwardly from an annular shoulder |32 which, in ordinary operation of the device, is disposed slightly below the upper shoulder |33 of an annular shoulder |34" at the .inner end of the inletpassage |21. 'Ihe upper part of the `channel or groove |3| in the member |29 is at all times in communication with by a wall |38, and the chamber |39 formed be' tween this wall |38 and the lower end |4| of the The 'passage |36 exf member |29 is connected to the channel |3| of the member`|29 through an axial passage |42 and radial passages |43. Accordingly, the pressure of the fluid in the pipe I8 and in the channel |3| is transmitted to the downwardly presented faces of the member |29, and tends to force the member |29 upwardly, or outwardly, in the bore |26 of the casing |25. This outward movement of the member V|29 is resisted by a lever |45 which is Vhinged at |46 and has a weight |41 connected to the outer end thereof. The downward offset of.

the shoulder |32 relative to the shoulder `|33 is determined by the position of an adjustment nut |46 which is threaded on the upper end of the member I 29 and is adapted to engage the shoulder |49 formed in the upper part of the bore |26'.

The weight |41 is computed so that the lever |45 will bear downwardly against the upper end of the member |29 with a force calculated to resist a predetermined fluid pressure in the chamber |39 at the lower end ofthe member |29, this `pressure in the chamber |39 representing the maximum pressure which is to be permitted in the pipe I8.

In the operation of this form of the invention,`

the drop of the level of oil in the well and the consequent increase in the pumping head will cause an increase in the pressure of fluid in the pipe I8 and in the chamber 39, until the upward pressure against the member |29exceeds the downward pressure exerted thereon by the lever |45, at which time the member |29 will move upwardlyl so as to carry the shoulder |32 upwardly past the shoulder |33 and cut of! the flow of pressure fluid from the inlet passage |21 to the outlet passage |28 of the flow controlling device shown in Fig. 6.

Although I.have herein shown and described my invention in simple and practical form, it is recognized that certain parts or elements thereof are representative of other parts, elements or mechanisms which maybe used in substantially the same manner to accomplish substantially the same results; therefore, it is to be understood thatv the invention is not to be limited to the details disclosed herein but is to be accorded .the full scope of the following claims.

I claim as my invention;

1. A method of operating a well pump so as to obtain substantially the maximum capacity of the well, comprising: operating the pump so that its capacity is greater than the capacity of the well whereby the level of liquidin the well will drop; reducing the capacity of the pump when the power required to operate the same reaches a predetermined high value; `continuing the operation of the pump at such reduced capacity so that the level of liquid in the .well will again rise so as to reduce the power required to operate the pump; and then increasing the capacity of said pump when the power required to operate the same reaches a predetermined low value.

2. A method of the character described for operating a well pump, comprising: operating the pump so that its capacity will be near the capacity of the well; noting the power required to operate said pump and reducing the capacity thereof when the power required for its operation increases to a value indicating that the liquid in the well hasdropped to a prescribed low level;

operating the pump at reduced capacity so that the level of liquid in the Well rises; and increasing the capacity of the pump when the level of liquid in the well hasA reached a prescribed high level.

operating a well pump, comprising: operating the pump so that its capacity will be near the capacityof the well; noting the power required to operate said pumpv and reducing the capacity thereof -When the power required for its operation increases to a value indicating that the liquid in the well has dropped to a prescribed low level, so that the level of liquid in the well will rise; and increasing the capacity of the pump when the level of liquid in the well has reached a prescribed high value.

4. Amethod of pumping a well by the use of a pump actuated by a fluid operated motor fed with a cw of pressure fluid to drive the same.

ythe pump and motor being positioned in the well and operating to pump fluid from. the well comprising: reducing the ow of pressure fluid to the motor when the pressure thereof reaches t a prescribed high value in response to an increase in load on said motor. y

5. A method of pumping `a wellby the use of a pump .actuated by a fluid operated motor fed with a flow of pressure fluid to drive the same, comprising; continuing the operation of said pump until the level of liquid in the well drops; reducing the iiow of pressure fluid when the pressure thereof reaches a prescribed high value so that the capacity of the pump will be less than the capity of the well; allowing the level of fluid to lrise in the well; and then increasing the flow of pressure fluid.

6. A method of pumping a well by the use of a pump actuated by a uid operated motor fed with a flow of pressure iiuid to dri/ve the same, comprising: feeding a flow of pressure fluid to said motor to operate said pump; discontinuing the feeding of said flow of pressure uid to said motor when the pressure of the fluid reachesv a predetermined high value; allowing the liquid in the well to rise to a higher level; and resuming the feeding of said flow of pressure 'fluid to said motor.

'1. A method of pumping a well by the use ofV a. pump actuated by a fluid operated motorv fed 3. A method of the character described for and operating to pump fluid from the well comprising: reducing and increasing the volume of said flow of pressure fluid to the motor as the pressure of ,said pressure fluid respectively increases and decreases in response to increases and decreases in the load on said motor.

8. A method of pumping a well by the use of a pump actuated by a fluid operated motor fed with a flow of pressure fluid to drive the Same, comprising: continuing the operation of said pump until the level of liquid in the well drops;

reducing the ow of pressure uid when the pressure thereof increases in response to a drop 1n the level of iiuid in the well; and increasing the volume of said ow of pressure iiuidqwhen the decrease in the pumping head reduces the pressure of said flow of pressure uid.

9. A well pumping device of the character described, including: a pump positioned in a well and adapted to ypump uid therefrom; a fluid` operated motor also positioned in said well for 0perating said pump; means for feeding a pressure fluid to said motor to drive the same; a pressure responsive element connected to said pressure iiuid feeding means,` said pressure responsive element having a part moving back and forth in accordance with the rise and fall of the pressure of said pressure fluid; and control means con-V nected to said moving part so as to be actuated thereby for reducing the flow of said pressure,

fluid when the pressure thereof rises to a prescribed value and increasing the flow of said uid and adapted to be actuated in response to a rise in pressure of said uid; and control means operatively connected between said element and said electric motor for stopping said electric motor when the pressure of said fluid rises'to a predetermined high value.

11. A Well pumping device of the character described, including: a pump for placement in a well; a fluid operated motor for operating said pump; pressure tubing connected to said motor and adapted to supply pressure fluid to said motor to actuate it; power means adapted to supply said fluid to said tubing under pressure; a variable speed electric motor operatively connected to said power means; a pressure responsive element communicating with said pressure uid and adapted to be actuated in response to a rise in pressure of said fluid; and control means operatively connected between said element and said electric motor for decreasing the speed of said electric motor when the pressure of said fluid rises to a predetermined high value.

12. A well pumping device of the character described, including a pump positioned in a well and adapted to pump uid therefrom; a uid operated motor also positioned in said well for operating said pump; means adapted to supply pressure fluid to said motor to actuate it; and means operating in response to a rise in pressure of said pressure uid to divert aportion ot the ilow of said pressure iiuid so as to reduce the now of pressureiluid to said motor.

13. 4A method of pumping a iluid from a well. which comprises:` pumping said fluid from said well at a rate faster than said well will .normally produce:` reducing the rate ot said pumping asl soon as the power required to pump said well -rises to a predetermined high value dueto the lowering of the iiuid level in said well; Yallowing the iluid to ilow into the well for a deilnite time interval; and increasing the rate of said pumpt ing at kthe end of said time interval.

1,4; A method of operating a iiuid operated kpump in a well, including the steps ci: supplying pressure iluid to actuate said pump so that the 'capacity o! said pump will `be greater than the capacity of the well; and reducing the supply of said pressure fluid when the pressure ci said iluid reaches a predetermined `high value.

15. A method of operating a fluid operated pump in a well, including the steps ci: supplying pressure iluid to actuate said pump so that the capacity of said pump will be greaterthan the n capacity ofthe well; reducing the supply of said `pressure iiuid when the pressure o! said uid `reaches a predetermined high value; and increasing the" supply oi said pressure iiuid when the pressure of said "iluid, reaches a predeter- 16. A method of operating a'fiu'id operated pump in a well, including the steps of: supplying i pressure iluid to actuate said pump so that the capacity of said pump will be greater than the capacity oi' the well: reducing the supply of said pressure iluid when the pressure of saidfiiuid reaches a predetermined high value; .continuing iluid operated motor, there being power means for delivering high pressure iluid to the `uid' motor to actuate it, the power means being actuated lby an electric motor, including: electric switch-means for de-energizing said electric m0-l tor; and means operatively connected to said switchmeans and operable in response to a pre determined increase in the pressure of said pres-` sure iluid to operate said switch means tendeenergize said electric motor. w

18. A device for controlling the operation `of a pump in a well, the pump being actuated by a fluid operated motor, there being power means for delivering high pressure duid to the iluidmo-y tor to actuate it, the power means being actuated by an electric motor, including: electric switch means for reducing the speed of said i electric motor; and means operatively connected to said switch means and operable in response to a predetermined increase in the pressure oi to reduce the speed of said electric motor.

CLARENCE J. coBEaLY.

30 said pressure fluid to operate ysaid switch means i

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