Progressive cavity fluid pump and associated methods

Abstract

A fluid pump can include a tubular housing and multiple stator sections. Each of the stator sections has a helical stator profile formed therein. Deformation of the housing secures each respective stator section in the housing. A method of producing a fluid pump can include securing multiple stator sections to each other, each of the stator sections having a stator profile formed therein, and securing the stator sections in a tubular housing. The securing steps can be performed without any welding. The step of the securing the stator sections in the housing can include deforming the housing toward the stator sections.

1 . A fluid pump, comprising:
 a tubular housing; and   a stator having a helical stator profile formed therein,   in which at least one deformation of the housing secures the stator in the housing.   
     
     
         2 . The fluid pump of  claim 1 , in which the deformation of the housing extends into a recess on the stator. 
     
     
         3 . The fluid pump of  claim 1 , further comprising a lining installed in the stator. 
     
     
         4 . The fluid pump of  claim 3 , in which the lining comprises an elastomeric material. 
     
     
         5 . The fluid pump of  claim 1 , in which the stator comprises multiple stator sections, and in which relative rotation between adjacent ends of the stator sections is prevented. 
     
     
         6 . The fluid pump of  claim 1 , further comprising a rotor configured to produce fluid flow between the rotor and the stator in response to rotation of the rotor in the stator. 
     
     
         7 . The fluid pump of  claim 6 , in which the rotor is configured to contact the stator as the rotor rotates in the stator. 
     
     
         8 . The fluid pump of  claim 6 , in which the rotor is configured to contact a lining in the stator as the rotor rotates in the stator. 
     
     
         9 . The fluid pump of  claim 1 , in which the stator comprises multiple stator sections, and in which the stator sections are secured to each other without any weld. 
     
     
         10 . The fluid pump of  claim 1 , in which the stator comprises multiple stator sections, and in which the stator sections are secured to the housing without any weld. 
     
     
         11 . A method of producing a fluid pump, the method comprising:
 providing a stator having a stator profile formed therein; and   securing the stator in a tubular housing,   the step of securing the stator in the housing being performed without any welding.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising forming the stator comprising a non-elastomeric material. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 ,
 in which the stator comprises multiple stator sections, and   further comprising rotationally indexing the stator sections relative to each other, and securing the stator sections to each other.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , in which the rotationally indexing comprises engaging index structures on respective adjacent ends of the stator sections. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , in which the rotationally indexing comprises installing an alignment mandrel in the stator sections. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , in which the securing the stator in the housing comprises deforming the housing toward the stator. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , in which the securing the stator in the housing comprises deforming the housing into at least one recess formed on the stator. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , in which the securing the stator in the housing comprises injecting a material between the housing and the stator. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising installing a lining in the stator. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , in which the installing comprises injecting a material between the stator and an externally profiled mandrel in the stator. 
     
     
         21 . A method of producing a fluid pump, the method comprising:
 providing a stator having a stator profile formed therein; and   securing the stator in a tubular housing,
 in which the securing the stator in the housing comprises deforming the housing toward the stator. 
   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising forming the stator comprising a non-elastomeric material. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 ,
 in which the stator comprises multiple stator sections, and   further comprising rotationally indexing the stator sections relative to each other, and securing the stator sections to each other.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , in which the rotationally indexing comprises engaging index structures on respective adjacent ends of the stator sections. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 23 , in which the rotationally indexing comprises installing an alignment mandrel in the stator sections. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 21 ,
 in which the stator comprises multiple stator sections,   further comprising securing the stator sections to each other, and   in which the steps of securing the stator sections to each other and securing the stator in the housing are performed without any welding.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 21 , in which the deforming comprises deforming the housing into at least one recess formed on the stator. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 21 , in which the securing the stator in the housing comprises injecting a material between the housing and the stator. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising installing a lining in the stator. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , in which the installing comprises injecting a material between the stator and an externally profiled mandrel in the stator.