METHOD OF GENERATING POWER AT REMOTE OIL PUMPING INSTALLATIONS

METHODE DE PRODUCTION D'ENERGIE A DES INSTALLATIONS ELOIGNEES DE POMPAGE DU PETROLE

English Abstract

A method of generating power at remote oil pumping installations. A firsts step involves selecting a remote oil pumping installation that utilizes a prime mover with a rotating flywheel. A second step involves providing an electric generator having an input shaft. A third step involves coupling the input shaft of the electric generator with the flywheel, such that rotation of the flywheel rotates the input shaft of the electric generator, thereby generating electricity.

French Abstract

Méthode de production d'énergie à des installations éloignées de pompage de pétrole. Une première étape consiste à choisir une installation éloignée de pompage de pétrole qui utilise un appareil moteur doté d'un volant rotatif. Une deuxième étape consiste à fournir un générateur électrique doté d'un arbre d'entrée. Une troisième étape consiste à coupler l'arbre d'entrée du générateur électrique avec le volant, afin que la rotation du volant active la rotation de l'arbre d'entrée du générateur électrique, produisant ainsi de l'électricité.

Claims

4
THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. A method of generating power at remote oil pumping
installations, comprising the steps of:
selecting a remote oil pumping installation that utilizes
a prime mover with a rotating flywheel;
providing an electric generator having an input shaft on
which is mounted a friction wheel;
coupling the input shaft of the electric generator with
the flywheel by bringing the friction wheel into engagement
with the flywheel, such that rotation of the flywheel rotates
the input shaft of the electric generator, thereby generating
electricity.
2. The method as defined in Claim 1, the generator being
mounted on a pivotal arm of a support.
3. The method as defined in Claim 2, the arm being biased to
urge the input shaft of the generator into engagement with
the flywheel.
4. A method of generating power at remote oil pumping
installations, comprising the steps of:
selecting a remote oil pumping installation that utilizes
a prime mover with a rotating flywheel;
providing an electric generator having an input shaft;
coupling the input shaft of the electric generator with
the flywheel by mounting a friction wheel onto the input shaft
of the electrical generator and bringing the friction wheel
into engagement with the flywheel, such that rotation of the
flywheel rotates the input shaft of the electric generator,
thereby generating electricity.
5. A method of generating power at remote oil pumping
installations, comprising the steps of:
selecting a remote oil pumping installation that utilizes

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a prime mover with a rotating flywheel;
providing an electric generator having an input shaft;
mounting the generator on a pivotal arm of a support;
coupling the input shaft of the electric generator with
the flywheel by mounting a friction wheel onto the input shaft
of the electrical generator and biasing the pivotal arm of the
support to urge the friction wheel into engagement with the
flywheel, such that rotation of the flywheel rotates the input
shaft of the electric generator, thereby generating
electricity.

Description

CA 02344725 2001-04-19
1
TITLE OF THE INVENTION:
Method Of Generating Power At Remote Oil Pumping
Installations
's FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a method of generating
power at remote oil pumping installations
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Oil pumping insta:l.lat:ions located at remote well sites
have no access to electrical power from public utilities . This
causes operational problems, especially under cold weather
operating conditions. Due to a lack of power, remote well
sites presently do not. have the same lights, injector pumps,
1~~ controls and the like a s oil pumping installations that are
serviced by utilities. When power is required at remote sites
for such things as heat tape t=o prevent freezing, such power
is obtained through the use of generators powered by gasoline
or diesel engines. This is an expensive source of power.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
What is required is a low cost alternative method of
generating power at remote oil pumping installations.
According to the present invention there is provided a
method of generating power at remote oil pumping installations .
A first step involves selE:cting a remote oil pumping
installation that utilizes a prime mover with a rotating
flywheel. A second ;step involves providing an electric
generator having an input shaft. A third step involves
coupling the input shaft of the electric generator with the
flywheel, such that roi:.ation of: the flywheel rotates the input
shaft of the electric generator, thereby generating
electricity.
The method, as des~~ribed above, transforms the existing
energy of the rotating flywheel into low cost electricity which

CA 02344725 2001-04-19
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can be used on site.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
These and otluer features cf the invention will become more
apparent from the follow:Lng description in which reference is
made to the appended drawings, the drawings are for the purpose
of illustration only and are not intended to in any way limit
the scope of the invention to the particular embodiment or
1C embodiments shown, wherein:
FIGURE 1 is sid:~ elevation view of a remote pumping
installation which has been equipped with an electric generator
according to the teacl~.ings of the present method.
FIGURE 2 is a detailed s~_de elevation view of a support
15 for the electric generator illustrated in FIGURE 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The preferred met.h.ad of generating power at remote oil
pumping installations w:il=L now be described with reference to
2C FIGURES 1 and 2.
Structure and Relationship of Parts:
Referring to FIGURE l., there is provided a method of
generating power at remote oil pumping installations 10, which
25 includes selecting a rvemote oil pumping installation 10 that
utilizes a prime mover _1.2 with a rotating flywheel 14. 7.n the
illustrated embodiment, remote pumping installation 10 includes
a pumpjack 16 mounted on a ba~~e 18. Referring to FIGURE 2,
an electric generator 20 with an input shaft 22 is provided.
3C Generator 20 is mounted on a pivotal arm 24 of a support 26.
Referring to FIGURE 1, input shaft 22 of electric generator 20
is coupled with flywheel 14 by mounting a friction wheel 28
onto input shaft 2 of electrical. generator 20 and biasing
pivotal arm 24 of support 26 to urge friction wheel 28 into
35 engagement with flywhe~°:l_ 14, such t-hat rotation of flywheel 14
rotates input shaft :?2 of. elect=ric generator 20, thereby
generating electricity. Referring to FIGURE 2, the biasing of

CA 02344725 2001-04-19
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pivotal support arm 29 is achieved by the weight of electric
generator 20 and is fmrther enhanced by the use of a biasing
spring 30.
Operation:
Operation in accordance with the teachings of the method
will now be described with reference to FIGURES 1 and 2.
Referring to FIGURE 1, when power is required at remote oil
pumping installations 1.0, support 26 is secured to base 18.
Generator 20 is mounted on pivotal arm 24 with friction wheel
28 engaging flywheel 14. Spring 3C> is secured to both pivotal
arm 24 and base 18. As flywheel. 14 rotates, it imparts a
rotary motion to frictir_>n whee=L 28 to rotate input shaft 22 of
generator 20. Generatow 20 generates electricity which can be
used to power insta~.lations on site. By following the
teachings of this met=hod, the existing energy of rotating
flywheel 14 is transformed into low cost electricity.
In this patent document, the word "comprising" is used in
its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word
are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not
excluded. A reference t:o an element by the indefinite article
"a" does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the
element is present, unless the Context clearly requires that
there be one and only one of the elements.
It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that
modifications may be made to the illustrated embodiment without
departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as
hereinafter defined in the Claims.

Representative Drawing