Method and apparatus for rod alignment

Abstract

An aligning apparatus may include a housing configured for arrangement about a reciprocating rod, a bore extending through the housing and having a size configured to allow the reciprocating rod to pass through the bore in a reciprocating and longitudinal motion, and a plurality of rolling elements arranged along the bore and configured to guide the rod through the bore during reciprocation operations, wherein the housing includes a plurality of portions and is configured for lateral removal from the reciprocating rod. A wellhead assembly having an aligning apparatus and/or a pump jack with an aligning apparatus may also be provided.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An aligning apparatus, comprising:
 a housing configured for arrangement about a reciprocating rod;   a bore extending through the housing and having a size configured to allow the reciprocating rod to pass through the bore in a reciprocating and longitudinal motion; and   a plurality of guide assemblies arranged along the bore and configured to guide the rod through the bore during reciprocation operations.   
     
     
         2 . The aligning apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the housing includes a plurality of portions and is configured for lateral removal from the reciprocating rod. 
     
     
         3 . The aligning apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the guide assemblies include one of rolling elements and low friction bumpers and 
     
     
         4 . The aligning apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the rolling elements include a plurality of wheels with a surface contour adapted to engage an outer circumference of the reciprocating rod. 
     
     
         5 . The aligning apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the wheels are arranged in a radial pattern about the bore. 
     
     
         6 . The aligning apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein an axle of each of the plurality of wheels is arranged generally tangentially and spaced apart from the surface of the reciprocating rod. 
     
     
         7 . The aligning apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the axle is spaced apart by a distance substantially equal to a radius of the wheel. 
     
     
         8 . The aligning apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of rolling elements are replaceable from an outside of the housing. 
     
     
         9 . The aligning apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of rolling elements are secured to the housing with a clamp mechanism accessible from the outside of the housing. 
     
     
         10 . The aligning apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the clamp mechanism further provides for adjustability of the wheel position relative to the bore. 
     
     
         11 . The aligning apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the aligning apparatus is arranged around a reciprocating rod of a pump jack system. 
     
     
         12 . The aligning apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the aligning apparatus is arranged around a reciprocating rod of a hydraulic rod pumping system. 
     
     
         13 . The aligning apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the aligning apparatus is arranged on a progressing cavity pump drive head. 
     
     
         14 . The aligning apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of portions of the housing each comprise a plurality of bores for receiving fasteners to secure the portions to one another. 
     
     
         15 . A wellhead assembly, comprising:
 a blowout preventer arranged at the surface of a well;   a stuffing box arranged on the blowout preventer for creating a seal around a reciprocating rod entering the well; and   an aligning apparatus, comprising:
 a housing configured for arrangement about the reciprocating rod; 
 a bore extending through the housing and having a size configured to allow the reciprocating rod to pass through the bore in a reciprocating and longitudinal motion; and 
 a plurality of rolling elements arranged along the bore and configured to guide the rod through the bore during reciprocation operations. 
   
     
     
         16 . The wellhead assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the housing includes a plurality of portions and is configured for lateral removal from the reciprocating rod. 
     
     
         17 . The wellhead assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the rolling elements include a plurality of axle mounted wheels arranged in the housing and extending into the bore to engage the reciprocating rod. 
     
     
         18 . The wellhead assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the plurality of rolling elements are replaceable from an outside of the housing. 
     
     
         19 . The wellhead assembly of  claim 18 , wherein the plurality of rolling elements are secured to the housing with a clamp mechanism accessible from the outside of the housing. 
     
     
         20 . A pump jack, comprising:
 a pivoting beam;   a head arranged on the pivoting beam;   a reciprocating mechanism configured to pivotally reciprocate the pivoting beam;   a reciprocating rod coupled to the head and extending into a wellbore for powering a pump to pump fluid from the wellbore;   a stuffing box arranged at the top of the wellbore and having a bore with the reciprocating rod extending therethrough; and   an aligning device arranged at or around the stuffing box with the reciprocating rod extending therethrough and including rolling elements configured to maintain the reciprocating rod in alignment with the bore of the stuffing box.