Dart and clutch assembly

Abstract

Described herein are embodiments of systems and apparatuses that include a dart and/or a clutch for a dart plunger. In an exemplary embodiment, the clutch consists of a one-piece unit having a length, an outside diameter, and an inside diameter where at least a portion of the inside diameter is sized to create a frictional interface with a dart. The clutch may also include a gap, a slot, and/or a spiral cut. The dart may include a shaft having opposite ends and a shaft diameter that varies between the opposite ends.

1 . A clutch for a dart plunger, comprising:
 one-piece unit having a length, an outside diameter, and an inside diameter where at least a portion of the inside diameter is sized to create a frictional interface with a dart; and   a spiral cut in at least a portion of the outside diameter of the clutch.   
     
     
         2 . The clutch of  claim 1  wherein the spiral cut extends from the outside diameter to the inside diameter. 
     
     
         3 . The clutch of  claim 2  wherein the spiral cut begins on a top surface of the clutch and ends on a bottom surface of the clutch. 
     
     
         4 . The clutch of  claim 3  wherein the inside diameter is shaped so the entire inside diameter does not create the same frictional interface with a dart. 
     
     
         5 . The clutch of  claim 4  wherein the inside diameter includes an undulating surface so the entire inside diameter does not create the same frictional interface with a dart. 
     
     
         6 . The clutch of  claim 5  wherein the inside diameter includes at least one groove. 
     
     
         7 . The clutch of  claim 6  wherein the inside diameter includes at least two grooves. 
     
     
         8 . The clutch of  claim 7  wherein the inside diameter includes a surface between the at least two grooves for creating at least a portion of the frictional interface with a dart in the dart plunger. 
     
     
         9 . The clutch of  claim 8  wherein the surface between the at least two grooves has a radial curvature substantially equal to a radius of a dart in the dart plunger. 
     
     
         10 . The clutch of  claim 9  wherein at least one of the grooves extends along the entire length of the one-piece unit. 
     
     
         11 . The clutch of  claim 10  where the outside diameter is less than an inside diameter of the dart plunger. 
     
     
         12 . The clutch of  claim 11  wherein the outside diameter is less than an inside diameter of a nut for the dart plunger.