Patent ID: 8764406
Filing Date: 2014-07-01
Classification: E21B,F04B,F04D,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A fluid level control mechanism comprising: a float assembly, a flow line assembly, an upper centralizer, and a lower centralizer; said float assembly comprising a cylindrical outer float tube and a cylindrical inner float tube, wherein an upper portion of the outer float tube is connected to an upper portion of the inner float tube by an upper end plate disposed between the outer and inner float tubes and a lower portion of the outer float tube is connected to a lower portion of the inner float tube by a lower end plate disposed between the outer and inner float tubes, thereby forming a sealed cavity between the outer float tube and the inner float tube, the float assembly having an upper bumper attached to an upper portion of the float assembly, wherein the upper bumper tapers to a diameter narrower than the diameter of the float assembly and further comprises a liquid reservoir portion capable of containing a liquid; said flow line assembly positioned below the float assembly and comprising a main flow line capable of passing a fluid therethrough, a diverter flow line in fluid communication with the main flow line, and a diverter valve disposed within the diverter flow line, wherein the diverter valve is connected to the lower end plate of the float assembly via a lever arm; wherein the float assembly is disposed along a length of the main flow line and capable of sliding movement along the length of the main flow line, wherein a downward movement of the float assembly opens the diverter valve and an upward movement of the float assembly closes the diverter valve; and wherein the lower centralizer is positioned along the main flow line below the flow line assembly and the upper centralizer is positioned along the main flow line above the float assembly, wherein the upper and lower centralizers each have a diameter larger than the float assembly.