Patent Publication Number: US-9841017-B1

Title: Extraction device

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates generally to an extraction device. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a device for extracting a plunger from a pump which eliminates pinch points potentially injurious to a user while removing the plunger from the pump. 
     BACKGROUND 
     User safety inevitably becomes a chief concern in any industry where over-sized and weighty machinery, such as fluid pumps, are used. This is the case in the oil industry where large and heavy high pressure pumping systems are indispensable, and thus widely used. These high pressure pumping systems often employ plunger pumps which have at least one cylindrical plunger sliding through a stationary high-pressure seal to create the high pressure necessary to force material through the pump. Far from maintenance free, these pumps often need to be stripped and have several parts replaced due to the general wear of the internal components and the contamination of the plungers. 
     Stripping the pumps and replacing pump parts involves a series of dangerous and arduous tasks when considering that the pump body, including the plungers and other internal components, often weigh in excess of three thousand pounds. Such removal and manipulation often requires an enormous amount of brute force to be exerted by a mechanic. As a best attempt to remove, replace, and manipulate the pump parts and the industrially-sized fasteners retaining them within the pump, mechanics employ an array of crude tools, such as sledge hammers, rods, and wrenches. 
     As a result, the mechanic often struggles to engage each tool effectively while avoiding the placement of his extremities at a pinch point wherein they can be severely injured, such as between the tool and the body of the pump. Further, more than one mechanic is often necessary to remove pump components. For example, in practice, a first mechanic might align a rod against the component, while a second mechanic swings a sledge hammer towards the rod to create the force used to remove and replace the pump parts. However, the second user might fail to strike the rod and injure himself or the first mechanic. 
     One such task involved in stripping the pump requires the removal and replacement of one or more plungers and its associated packing from a pump housing. Removal of the plunger is traditionally accomplished using an elongated rod inserted through an opening at the surface of the pump housing into a plunger well. Once the rod is positioned against the plunger, a hammer is used to strike the rod and forcefully direct the plunger out a second opening at the opposing surface of the pump housing. 
     However, because of the pinch points created between the handle of the rod and the hammer, the mechanic is often unable to drive the plunger from the pump housing in a safe and effective manner. The mechanic may struggle to hold the rod against the plunger, while trying to both avoid striking his fingers and hit the rod with enough force to direct the plunger from the pump housing. As a result, the user is often left with one or more crushed fingers. Further, the user can also miss the rod entirely and strike the surface of the pump causing damage to the pump housing. 
     Yet further, while methods exist for the complete removal of one side of the pump housing to enable access to all of the components therein, such methods are time consuming and physically draining to perform given the massive size and weight of the pump housing. 
     While these procedures and tools may be suitable for the particular purpose employed, or for general use, they would not be as suitable for the purposes of the present disclosure as disclosed hereafter. 
     In the present disclosure, where a document, act or item of knowledge is referred to or discussed, this reference or discussion is not an admission that the document, act or item of knowledge or any combination thereof was at the priority date, publicly available, known to the public, part of common general knowledge or otherwise constitutes prior art under the applicable statutory provisions; or is known to be relevant to an attempt to solve any problem with which the present disclosure is concerned. 
     While certain aspects of conventional technologies have been discussed to facilitate the present disclosure, no technical aspects are disclaimed and it is contemplated that the claims may encompass one or more of the conventional technical aspects discussed herein. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY 
     An aspect of an example embodiment in the present disclosure is to provide a complete solution for extracting plungers from a plunger pump housing. Accordingly, the present disclosure provides an example embodiment of an extraction or a plunger pushing device including a plug for anchoring the device at a first side of a pump housing and a driving component extending through the plug for pushing the plunger out a second side of the housing. 
     Another aspect of an example embodiment in the present disclosure is to provide a device which eliminates pinch points potentially injurious to a user while enabling the removal of a plunger from a pump housing. Accordingly, the present disclosure provides an example embodiment of a plunger pushing device wherein the driving component includes a leveraging handle distal to the pump housing where a driving force is inputted by a user, and an opposing driving end proximal to the pump housing where the driving force is outputted against a plunger for removal from the housing. 
     A further aspect of an example embodiment in the present disclosure is to provide a device which enables the use of a continuous and substantial force to remove a plunger from the pump housing. According, the present disclosure provides an example embodiment of the driving component having a threaded exterior surface configured for providing the mechanic with a significant mechanical advantage that slowly and powerfully pushes the plunger as the driving component is rotated. 
     Yet a further aspect of an example embodiment in the present disclosure is to provide a device which can be anchored to an opening of the pump housing and which does not need to be held by the mechanic when pushing against the plunger. Accordingly, the present disclosure provides an example embodiment a plunger pushing device including a plug having a diameter substantially the same as the diameter of the opening within the pump housing and a threaded exterior surface for mating with the threaded interior surface of the opening. 
     Accordingly, the present disclosure describes an extraction device for use in servicing a pump having a pump housing with a first side, a second side, and a channel extending between the first side and second side. A plunger is located within the channel, and the channel has a threaded opening at the first side. The device includes an externally threaded plug and a driving component selectively extending through the plug. The device is anchored to the pump housing by threading the plug into the threaded opening at the first side. The driving component is then extended into the channel, through and beyond the plug, to engage the plunger and push it out of the housing at the second side. 
     The present disclosure addresses at least one of the foregoing disadvantages. However, it is contemplated that the present disclosure may prove useful in addressing other problems and deficiencies in a number of technical areas. Therefore, the claims should not necessarily be construed as limited to addressing any of the particular problems or deficiencies discussed hereinabove. To the accomplishment of the above, this disclosure may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Attention is called to the fact, however, that the drawings are illustrative only. Variations are contemplated as being part of the disclosure. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In the drawings, like elements are depicted by like reference numerals. The drawings are briefly described as follows. 
         FIG. 1  is a diagrammatic perspective view of an example embodiment of an extraction device, according to the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 2A  is a side elevational view of an example embodiment of the extraction device including a driving component and a plug, according to the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 2B , similar to  FIG. 2A , is a side elevational view of an example embodiment of the extraction device including the driving component extending through and beyond the plug, according to the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 2C  is a side elevational view of another example embodiment of the extraction device including the driving component having a plate for engaging a plunger when extracting it from a pump housing, according to the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 3A  is a side elevational view, with parts broken away, of an example embodiment of the extraction device anchored within the pump housing before the plunger is extracted, according to the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 3B  is a side elevational view, with parts broken away, of an example embodiment of the extraction device anchored within the pump housing, with the driving component extending through and beyond the plug component such that the plunger is partially extracted from the pump housing. 
         FIG. 4  is a diagrammatic perspective view showing the orientation of the extraction device before it is anchored within a pump housing, according to the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 5A  is a diagrammatic cross-sectional view of the plug including a central bore having an internally threaded portion, according to the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 5B  is a diagrammatic cross-sectional view of the plug including a fastener operably coupled thereto, the fastener having an internally threaded portion, according to the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     The present disclosure now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, which show various example embodiments. However, the present disclosure may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the example embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these example embodiments are provided so that the present disclosure is thorough, complete and fully conveys the scope of the present disclosure to those skilled in the art. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       FIG. 4  illustrates an example embodiment of an extraction device  10  for removing plungers from a plunger pump housing  12 . The pump housing  12  includes a first side  14 F, a second side  14 S, at least one channel  16  extending from the first side  14 F to the second side  14 S, and a plunger located within the channel  16 . As further illustrated, the channel  16  has a threaded opening  16 A at the first side  14 F. While described within the context of removing plungers from a pump housing, it is understood that the extraction device is configured for use in removing another item, including similarly retained pump parts from within the pump housing. 
     Referring simultaneously to  FIGS. 1 and 5A , the extraction device  10  includes a driving component  22  and a plug  24  through which the driving component  22  extends for gradually pushing the plunger out of the second side  14 S of the housing  12 . The plug  24  includes a barrel  26  having a top  26 A, a bottom  26 B, and an externally threaded surface  28  extending between the top  26 A and the bottom  26 B. The externally threaded surface  28  enables a mechanic to securely anchor the device  10  within the housing  12  by threading the barrel  26  into the threaded opening  16 A of the channel  16  at the first side  14 F of the housing  12 . The plug  24  further includes a central bore  60  having an internally threaded portion  60 A. The central bore  60  is coaxial with the barrel  26  and extends fully between the top  26 A and the bottom  26 B. 
       FIG. 1  further illustrates an example embodiment of the plug  24  having a hand wheel  30  operably coupled to the top  26 A of the barrel  26  for providing leverage while rotating the barrel  26  to fasten the plug  24  within the threaded opening  16 A of the channel  16 . The hand wheel  30  includes an outer rim  32  and a plurality of spokes  34 . In an example embodiment, the outer rim  32  is concentric with, and larger in diameter than the barrel  26 . The spokes  34  are angled with respect to the top  26 A of the barrel  26  to space the outer rim  32  away from the barrel  26 , and consequently, away from the pump housing  12 , as illustrated in  FIG. 3A . With the spokes  34  thus configured, the device  10  effectively reduces the presence of pinch points when it is engaged for use. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 5B , another example embodiment of the plug  24  further includes a fastener  62 , such as a nut, coupled to the top  26 A of the barrel  26 . However, it is understood that the fastener  62  may also be operably coupled to the bottom  26 B of the barrel  26 . The central bore  60  continues into the fastener  62 , wherein the internally threaded portion  60 A of the central bore  60  is located within the fastener  62 . Further, in this example embodiment, the spokes  34  of the hand wheel  30  can extend from the outer rim  32  towards the fastener  62  for operably coupling the hand wheel  30  to the top  26 A of the barrel  26 . 
       FIG. 2A  illustrates the plug  24  having a diameter equal to the diameter of the opening  16 A within the housing  12  such that the plug  24  is securely anchored therein and does not need to be held against the plunger by the mechanic when pushing the plunger through the housing  12 . 
       FIG. 2A  further illustrates an example embodiment of the driving component  22  including a pushing rod  42  having a proximal end  22 P, a distal end  22 D, and a length extending therebetween. At least a portion  44  of the rod  42  is threaded. The threaded portion  44  of the rod  42  is sized and configured to fit within, and engage the internally threaded portion  60 A of the central bore  60 , as seen in  FIGS. 5A and 5B . When mated with the internally threaded portion  60 A of the central bore  60 , the threaded portion  44  of the rod  42  provides the mechanic with a significant mechanical advantage which continuously and powerfully pushes the plunger from the housing  12  as the device  10  is rotated, as described hereinbelow. Further, the diameter of the plug  24  can be substantially larger than the diameter of the rod, as illustrated. Yet further, while the barrel  36  is substantially cylindrical, it is understood that the barrel  36  can be variably shaped for enabling compatible use of the device  10  with a wide array of pumps and channel openings. 
       FIG. 3B  illustrates an example embodiment of the rod  42  of the driving component  22  extending through and beyond the bottom of the plug  24  to engage a plunger  52  within the pump housing  12 . More particularly, the rod  42  is sufficiently long to extend through the barrel  26  anchored within the first side  14 F of the housing  12 , and to push the plunger  52  through the channel  16  until it is at least partially extracted from the second side  14 S of the housing  12 . Likewise, the selective removal of the rod  42  from the barrel  26  enables the interchangeability of the plug  24  such that variably-sized and shaped plugs can be operatively used with the rod  42 . 
     Referring back to  FIG. 1 , the proximal end  22 P of the driving component  22  also includes a leverage handle  54  for manually rotating the rod  42  to advance the distal end  22 D through the bottom  26 B of the barrel  26 , as described hereinabove. The handle  54  can be a T-bar oriented substantially perpendicularly to the length of the rod  42 , as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . Alternatively, the handle can be any shape or size which enables the mechanic to safely and continuously advance the driving component through the plug, such as a spherical knob.  FIG. 2B  illustrates an example embodiment of the device  10  including the pushing rod  42  which is fully threaded between the proximal end  22 P and distal end  22 D. Accordingly, the length of the rod  42  can likewise be fully extended through the central bore, such as via the rotation of the T-bar leverage handle  52 , until the handle  54  and the hand wheel  30  are adjacent to each other. 
       FIG. 2C  illustrates another example embodiment of the device  10  including a contact plate  56  operably secured to the distal end  22 D, for engaging the plunger  52 . The contact plate  56  is of a slightly larger diameter than the diameter of the rod  42  for engaging a larger surface area of the plunger  52 . The contact plate  56  thereby enables the rod  42  to exert a more equally distributed pushing force on the plunger  52  as it is advanced through the housing. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates the orientation of the extraction device  10  before it is anchored within the pump housing  12 , and an example method of use. The example method of use includes anchoring the plug  24  to the pump housing  12  by orienting the bottom  26 A of the barrel  26  towards the housing  12  and threading the barrel  26  into the threaded opening  16 A at the first side  14 F of the housing  12 . The step of threading the barrel  26  into the threaded opening  16 A includes manually turning the hand wheel  30  until the plug  24  is secured therein. The device  10  is then configured to engage the plunger within the channel  16 . The step of engaging the plunger within the channel  16  includes extending the distal end  22 D of the pushing rod  42  through the plug  24  and beyond the bottom  26 B of the barrel  26  by rotating the leverage handle  54  to engage the threaded portion  44  of the rod  42  with the internally threaded portion  60 A of the central bore  60  until the rod  42  comes into contact with the plunger. Yet further, the step of pushing the plunger through and out of the channel  16  at the second side  14 S of the housing  12  includes continually rotating the leverage handle  54  and advancing the rod  42  through the plug  24 . 
     It is understood that when an element is referred hereinabove as being “on” another element, it can be directly on the other element or intervening elements may be present therebetween. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly on” another element, there are no intervening elements present. 
     Moreover, any components or materials can be formed from a same, structurally continuous piece or separately fabricated and connected. 
     It is further understood that, although ordinal terms, such as, “first,” “second,” “third,” are used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections, these elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer or section from another element, component, region, layer or section. Thus, “a first element,” “component,” “region,” “layer” or “section” discussed below could be termed a second element, component, region, layer or section without departing from the teachings herein. 
     Spatially relative terms, such as “beneath,” “below,” “lower,” “above,” “upper” and the like, are used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature&#39;s relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. It is understood that the spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is turned over, elements described as “below” or “beneath” other elements or features would then be oriented “above” the other elements or features. Thus, the example term “below” can encompass both an orientation of above and below. The device can be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly. 
     Example embodiments are described herein with reference to cross section illustrations that are schematic illustrations of idealized embodiments. As such, variations from the shapes of the illustrations as a result, for example, of manufacturing techniques and/or tolerances, are to be expected. Thus, example embodiments described herein should not be construed as limited to the particular shapes of regions as illustrated herein, but are to include deviations in shapes that result, for example, from manufacturing. For example, a region illustrated or described as flat may, typically, have rough and/or nonlinear features. Moreover, sharp angles that are illustrated may be rounded. Thus, the regions illustrated in the figures are schematic in nature and their shapes are not intended to illustrate the precise shape of a region and are not intended to limit the scope of the present claims. 
     In conclusion, herein is presented an extraction device. The disclosure is illustrated by example in the drawing figures, and throughout the written description. It should be understood that numerous variations are possible, while adhering to the inventive concept. Such variations are contemplated as being a part of the present disclosure.