Plunger lift assembly

Abstract

The present application includes a plunger assembly having an internally coupled clutch assembly within a cage. The clutch retainer assembly is free from direct impact with objects at the bottom of the well that may cause damage to the clutch assembly. The clutch assembly includes a multi-piece clutch to contact a stem within the cage. One or more retainers are used to maintain the orientation and alignment of the clutch within the cage. The cage includes a linear taper to increase wall thicknesses and further includes one or more flow cuts along the exterior surface of the wall to increase the volume of fluid that can enter through the one or more ports in the cage.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A plunger assembly for use in a well, comprising:
 a mandrel;   a cage coupled to the mandrel, the cage and the mandrel forming a body;   an internal stem configured to translate within the cage and outside of the mandrel, the stem configured to selectively regulate the flow of fluid through the mandrel; and   an internal clutch assembly coupled internally within the cage, the internal clutch assembly including a clutch configured to engage the stem.   
     
     
         2 . The plunger assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the clutch is partitioned into a plurality of equally sized radial portions. 
     
     
         3 . The plunger assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the clutch includes at least three radial portions. 
     
     
         4 . The plunger assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the three radial portions are equally sized. 
     
     
         5 . The plunger assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the clutch includes a groove configured to accept a ring, the ring configured to maintain the alignment and orientation of the clutch. 
     
     
         6 . The plunger assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a ring configured to maintain the alignment and orientation of a clutch within the internal clutch assembly, the ring housed within a groove in the clutch.   
     
     
         7 . The plunger assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the internal clutch assembly further includes a band configured to wrap around a central body of the clutch, the band being configured to hold the clutch together. 
     
     
         8 . The plunger assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the band is retained around the body of the clutch and restricted from sliding off the central body of the clutch. 
     
     
         9 . The plunger assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the internal clutch assembly uses one or more dissimilar bands. 
     
     
         10 . The plunger assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the bands of the internal clutch assembly are layered to vary the pressure applied to the stem. 
     
     
         11 . The plunger assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the band may be at least one of a low load unobtrusive band and an elastomeric bands. 
     
     
         12 . The plunger assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the cage is configured to gradually taper from an upper end in communication with the mandrel to a lower end opposite the upper end, the taper configured to maintain a linear reduction in surface area, the linear reduction permits for an increased thickness to assist in absorbing impact forces at the bottom of the well. 
     
     
         13 . The plunger assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the cage includes one or more flow cuts formed into the outer surface of the cage, the flow cuts being reduced thickness areas in the wall of the cage. 
     
     
         14 . The plunger assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the flow cut is configured to reduce the distance between a portion of the cage and an internal surface of the well so as to permit for the increased flow of fluid into the mandrel. 
     
     
         15 . The plunger assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the cage includes at least two flow cuts. 
     
     
         16 . The plunger assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the flow cuts are equally spaced radially around the cage. 
     
     
         17 . The plunger assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the cage includes one or more ports in the wall of the cage and configured to permit the passage of fluid into the mandrel. 
     
     
         18 . The plunger assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the one or more ports are located in a flow cut of the cage, the flow cut being a reduced thickness portion of the cage. 
     
     
         19 . The plunger assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the internal clutch assembly is configured to control external pressures applied to the internal stem.