Composite sucker rod assembly for underground wells

Abstract

A composite sucker rod assembly is provided for use in down-hole wells. The sucker rod assembly includes a plurality of parallel composite strands forming an elongate rod. Preferably, both ends of the rod are fitted with metallic terminus fittings. Each terminus fitting has a tapered cavity with a proximal opening to receive a rod end. The cavity is tapered so as to flare outwardly from said cavity's proximal opening toward the cavity's distal end. The sucker rod assembly further includes a spreader plate, preferably made up of a plurality of pieces, which has holes to receive and splay out the plurality rod strands. A hardened material, such as a hardened resin, is introduced into the cavity and allowed to harden to affix the rod to the terminus fitting. Preferably the hardened resin is compressed by a connection member.

1 . A composite sucker rod assembly for underground wells comprising:
 a plurality of strands of forming an elongate rod having first and second ends;   at least one terminus fitting having a proximal end and a distal end, said terminus fitting having a central cavity which extends to said terminus fitting's proximal end to form a proximal opening for receipt of said elongate rod into said cavity, said cavity being tapered flaring outwardly from said fitting's proximal end toward said fitting's distal end;   a first spreader plate positioned within said cavity, said first spreader plate having a plurality of holes receiving said plurality of strands so as to splay out said strands in a widened orientation compared to where the strands pass through said terminus fitting's proximal opening; and   a hardened material within said cavity, said hardened material adhered to said strands and maintaining said strands in a splayed out condition so as to form a plug which prevents said rod from withdrawing from the terminus fitting's proximal opening.   
     
     
         2 . The composite sucker rod assembly for underground wells of  claim 1  further comprises:
 a connection member having a male threaded end; 
 said cavity extends to the terminus fitting's distal end to form a distal opening, said distal opening including a female thread; 
 said connection member's male threaded end threadably engaging the cavity's distal opening's female thread, said connection member projecting into said distal opening into said cavity sufficient such that said connection member engages said hardened material to place said hardened material in a state of compression. 
 
     
     
         3 . The composite sucker rod assembly for underground wells of  claim 1  wherein said first spreader plate is comprised of two or more pieces wherein each piece includes an engagement edge for engaging an engagement edge of an adjoining piece. 
     
     
         4 . The composite sucker rod assembly for underground wells of  claim 1  wherein said first spreader plate is comprised of three pieces wherein each piece includes an engagement edge for engaging an engagement edge of an adjoining piece. 
     
     
         5 . The composite sucker rod assembly for underground wells of  claim 3  wherein said engagement edges includes one or more indents for engaging indents formed in said engagement edges of adjoining pieces so that said indents of adjoining pieces form one or more holes receiving said plurality of strands. 
     
     
         6 . The composite sucker rod assembly for underground wells of  claim 3  wherein each piece of said first spreader plate includes a peripheral edge where said piece does not engage an adjoining piece, and said peripheral edge includes one or more detents for receiving one or more strands so as to splay out said strands in a widened orientation compared to where the strands pass through said terminus fitting's proximal opening. 
     
     
         7 . The composite sucker rod assembly for underground wells of  claim 6  further comprises:
 a connection member having a male threaded end; 
 said cavity extends to the terminus fitting's distal end to form a distal opening, said distal opening including a female thread; 
 said connection member's male threaded end threadably engaging the cavity's distal opening's female thread, said connection member projecting into said distal opening into said cavity sufficient such that said connection member engages said hardened material to place said hardened material in a state of compression. 
 
     
     
         8 . The composite sucker rod assembly for underground wells of  claim 1  further comprises:
 a second spreader plate positioned within said cavity, said second spreader plate having a plurality of holes receiving said plurality of strands so as to splay out said strands in a widened orientation compared to where the strands pass through said terminus fitting's proximal opening. 
 
     
     
         9 . The composite sucker rod assembly for underground wells of  claim 8  wherein said second spreader plate is comprised of two or more pieces wherein each piece includes an engagement edge for engaging an engagement edge of an adjoining piece. 
     
     
         10 . The composite sucker rod assembly for underground wells of  claim 8  wherein said second spreader plate is comprised of three pieces wherein each piece includes an engagement edge for engaging an engagement edge of an adjoining piece. 
     
     
         11 . The composite sucker rod assembly for underground wells of  claim 9  wherein said engagement edges includes one or more indents for engaging indents formed in said engagement edges of adjoining pieces so that said indents of adjoining pieces form one or more holes receiving said plurality of strands. 
     
     
         12 . The composite sucker rod assembly for underground wells of  claim 9  wherein each piece of said second spreader plate includes a peripheral edge where said piece does not engage an adjoining piece, and said peripheral edge includes one or more detents for receiving one or more strands so as to splay out said strands in a widened orientation compared to where the strands pass through said terminus fitting's proximal opening. 
     
     
         13 . The composite sucker rod assembly for underground wells of  claim 12  further comprises:
 a connection member having a male threaded end; 
 said cavity extends to the terminus fitting's distal end to form a distal opening, said distal opening including a female thread; 
 said connection member's male threaded end threadably engaging the cavity's distal opening's female thread, said connection member projecting into said distal opening into said cavity sufficient such that said connection member engages said hardened material to place said hardened material in a state of compression. 
 
     
     
         14 . A composite sucker rod assembly for underground wells comprising:
 a plurality of strands forming an elongate rod having first and second ends;   at least one terminus fitting having a proximal end and a distal end, said terminus fitting having a central cavity which extends to said terminus fitting's proximal end to form a proximal opening for receipt of said elongate rod into said cavity, said cavity being tapered flaring outwardly from said fitting's proximal end toward said fitting's distal end, said cavity extends to the terminus fitting's distal end to form a distal opening, said distal opening including a female thread;   a first spreader plate positioned within said cavity, said first spreader plate having a plurality of holes receiving said plurality of strands so as to splay out said strands in a widened orientation compared to where the strands pass through said terminus fitting's proximal opening, said first spreader plate being comprised of two or more pieces wherein each piece includes an engagement edge for engaging an engagement edge of an adjoining piece, said engagement edges including one or more indents for engaging indents formed in said engagement edges of adjoining pieces so that said indents of adjoining pieces form one or more holes receiving said plurality of strands, said first spreader plate pieces also including a peripheral edge where said pieces do not engage an adjoining piece, and said peripheral edge includes one or more detents for receiving one or more strands so as to splay out said strands in a widened orientation compared to where the strands pass through said terminus fitting's proximal opening;   a hardened material within said cavity, said hardened material adhered to said strands and maintaining said strands in a splayed out condition so as to form a plug which prevents said rod from withdrawing from the terminus fitting's proximal opening;   a connection member having a male threaded end, said connection member's male threaded end threadably engaging the cavity's distal opening's female thread, said connection member projecting into said distal opening into said cavity sufficient such that said connection member engages said hardened material to place said hardened material in a state of compression.