Internal valve plunger

Abstract

A bypass plunger includes a plunger body that includes a head portion located at one end of the plunger body and a tail portion located at an opposite end of the plunger body. The head portion includes at least one flow port, and the tail portion includes at least one passageway. A valve component is disposed within an internal bore of the plunger body and is moveable between an open position and a closed position. At least one plug is located within a respective one of the flow ports and/or a respective one of the passageways, and is configured to reduce or prevent flow through the respective flow port or the respective passageway.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A bypass plunger, comprising:
 a plunger body including:
 a head portion located at a first end of the plunger body, the head portion having a side wall; 
 a tail portion located at a second end of the plunger body opposite the first end, the tail portion including an opening defining at least one passageway; 
 a central portion located between the head portion and the tail portion, the central portion having a cylindrical side wall enclosing an internal bore; and 
 at least one flow port in the head portion, the at least one flow port extending through the side wall and making a fluidic connection with the internal bore; and 
   a valve component disposed within the internal bore of the plunger body and moveable between an open position and a closed position.   
     
     
         2 . The bypass plunger of  claim 1 , wherein the valve component is configured to move from a first side of the at least one flow port to a second side of the at least one flow port in moving from a closed position to an open position. 
     
     
         3 . The bypass plunger of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one flow port is at least two flow ports. 
     
     
         4 . The bypass plunger of  claim 1 , wherein the plunger body includes an end cap connected to the tail portion. 
     
     
         5 . The bypass plunger of  claim 4 , wherein the end cap includes the at least one passageway. 
     
     
         6 . The bypass plunger of  claim 4 , wherein relative rotation between the end cap and the plunger body is locked by at least one crimple detent. 
     
     
         7 . The bypass plunger of  claim 6 , wherein the at least one crimple detent includes a dent formed in a wall of the plunger body or a wall of the end cap, and the dent extends radially inward into the wall of the other of the end cap or plunger body. 
     
     
         8 . A bypass plunger, comprising:
 a plunger body including:
 a head portion located at a first end of the plunger body, the head portion having a side wall; 
 a tail portion located at a second end of the plunger body opposite the first end, the tail portion including an opening defining at least one passageway; 
 a central portion located between the head portion and the tail portion, the central portion having a cylindrical side wall enclosing an internal bore; 
 at least one flow port in the head portion, the at least one flow port extending through the side wall and making a fluidic connection with the internal bore; and 
 a ball located within the internal bore of the plunger body and moveable along a length of the internal bore between an open position and a closed position. 
   
     
     
         9 . The bypass plunger of  claim 8 , wherein the ball is configured to move from a first side of the at least one flow port to a second side of the at least one flow port in moving from a closed position to an open position. 
     
     
         10 . The bypass plunger of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one flow port is at least two flow ports. 
     
     
         11 . The bypass plunger of  claim 8 , wherein plunger body includes an end cap connected to the tail portion. 
     
     
         12 . The bypass plunger of  claim 11 , wherein the end cap includes the at least one passageway. 
     
     
         13 . The bypass plunger of  claim 11 , wherein relative rotation between the end cap and the plunger body is locked by at least one crimple detent. 
     
     
         14 . The bypass plunger of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one crimple detent includes a dent formed in a wall of the plunger body or a wall of the end cap, and the dent extends radially inward into the wall of the other of the end cap or plunger body.