Patent ID: 6039546
Filing Date: 2000-03-21
Classification: F04F

Abstract:
A pneumatic pump which separates a first and second fluid within a well, where the first and second fluid each have a specific gravity and the specific gravity of the second fluid is less than the specific gravity of the first fluid, comprising:an outer tube forming an outer chamber therein;an inner tube forming an inner chamber therein, the inner tube disposed within the outer chamber of the outer tube;an inlet manifold in proximity to a second end of the inner and outer tubes, the manifold having an internal fluid passage with first and second ends the second end of the fluid passage being connected by a second fluid passage to the outer chamber, the inlet manifold having a valve to enable fluid flow in a first direction from the first end of the fluid passage to the outer chamber and inhibiting fluid flow in an opposite direction;a well float having a floating fluid inlet disposed in proximity to an interface between the first and second fluids and having a specific gravity such that the well float floats in both the first and second fluids and the inlet remains in proximity to the interface between the first and second fluids, the float including the floating fluid inlet formed thereon for receiving at least one of the first and second fluids;the conduit providing fluid passage between the floating fluid inlet and the first end of the internal fluid passage;a fluid separator at a first end of the outer tube, the separator defining a fluid passage between the inner and outer chambers, where in a first configuration, the first fluid exits the pump from the outer chamber while the second fluid remains within the outer chamber, and in a second configuration, the first fluid is sealed from entering the pump from an area exterior to the pump and the second fluid may be discharged from the pump; anda discharge housing to exhaust air from the pump to enable entry of fluid into the outer chamber and to introduce air into the pump to enable discharge of fluid from the outer chamber via the inner chamber, the discharge housing also having a fluid passage to communicate fluid from the inner chamber of the pump.