Center rod plunger with clutch assembly

Abstract

Described herein are embodiments of systems, apparatuses, and methods that include a center rod plunger, wherein movement of the center rod between an open and a closed position is at least partially controlled by a clutch. The center rod has a shaft whose diameter may vary such that the clutch imparts a corresponding varying degree of friction on the center rod and such that less friction is imparted when the center rod is in its open and/or closed position.

1 . A center rod plunger assembly for removing liquids in a well, said assembly comprising:
 a body have a bore there-through;   a center rod mounted in the bore to move between an open position and a closed position, where flow from the well travels through at least a portion of the bore in the open position, and flow from the well does not travel through at least a portion of the bore in the closed position;   a clutch receptacle in said bore; and   a clutch mounted in the clutch receptacle;   wherein said clutch interfaces with the center rod to retard movement of the center rod between its open position and its closed position by exerting a frictional force on the center rod.   
     
     
         2 . The center rod plunger of  claim 1  wherein the center rod includes a first region of reduced diameter. 
     
     
         3 . The center rod plunger of  claim 2  wherein the clutch exerts less frictional force on the center rod when the clutch interfaces with the center rod's first region of reduced diameter. 
     
     
         4 . The center rod plunger of  claim 3  wherein the center rod is in its open position when the clutch interfaces with the center rod's first region of reduced diameter. 
     
     
         5 . The center rod plunger of  claim 4  wherein the center rod includes a second region of reduced diameter. 
     
     
         6 . The center rod plunger of  claim 5  wherein the clutch exerts less frictional force on the center rod when the clutch interfaces with the center rod's second region of reduced diameter. 
     
     
         7 . The center rod plunger of  claim 6  wherein the center rod is in its closed position when the clutch interfaces with the center rod's second region of reduced diameter. 
     
     
         8 . The center rod plunger of  claim 7  wherein the body includes a first end and a second end, and wherein the first end includes a ramped surface for mounting the clutch in the clutch receptacle. 
     
     
         9 . The center rod plunger of  claim 8  wherein the bore has a first inside diameter and the clutch receptacle has a second inside diameter, where the second inside diameter is greater than the first inside diameter. 
     
     
         10 . The center rod plunger of  claim 9  wherein the clutch is a one-piece unit. 
     
     
         11 . The center rod plunger of  claim 9  wherein the clutch is a one-piece unit having an outside diameter and an inside diameter, where the inside diameter of the clutch is sized to create a frictional interface with the center rod, and wherein the clutch includes a spiral cut in at least a portion of its outside diameter. 
     
     
         12 . The center rod plunger of  claim 9  wherein the clutch is a one-piece unit having at least one inside diameter sized to create a frictional interface with the center rod and at least one slot so that the entire inside diameter of the clutch does not impart a frictional force on the center rod. 
     
     
         13 . The center rod plunger of  claim 9  wherein the clutch is a one-piece unit having height, an outside diameter, and an inside diameter, where the inside diameter is sized to create a frictional interface with the center rod, and wherein the clutch further includes a gap extending from its outside diameter to its inside diameter along its entire height.