US 12,078,039 B2
Automated plunger catcher actuator and method
Glenn Weldon Thorpe, Spring, TX (US); and Richard A. Beers, Choctaw, OK (US)
Assigned to JBT Products, Inc., Houston, TX (US)
Filed by JBT Products, Inc., Houston, TX (US)
Filed on May 31, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/204,335.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/347,109, filed on May 31, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2023/0383630 A1, Nov. 30, 2023
Int. Cl. E21B 43/12 (2006.01); E21B 33/068 (2006.01)
CPC E21B 43/122 (2013.01) [E21B 33/068 (2013.01)] 13 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An apparatus to operate a plunger catcher used with a plunger-assisted gas lift system, the apparatus, comprising:
a case having a mounting member for coupling the case in a fixed position relative to a lubricator on a wellhead, the case having an aperture to receive a plunger rod;
an electric motor connectable to a source of electrical current and having an output shaft controllably rotatable by the electric motor, at least a portion of the output shaft being within an interior of the case;
a current sensor to detect the current being provided to the electric motor and to generate a signal corresponding to the sensed current;
a processor/controller activatable by a signal from a plunger sensor disposed proximal to the lubricator of the wellhead, to receive the signal from the current sensor, to compare the signal from the current sensor to a set point, and to generate a control signal to the electric motor to generate a predetermined amount of torque to the output shaft; and
a lever arm coupled to the output shaft of the electric motor at a first end of the lever arm, and coupled to the plunger rod at the second end of the lever arm;
wherein rotation of the output shaft by the electric motor rotates the lever arm to extend the plunger rod outwardly from the case; and
wherein upon producing the predetermined amount of torque to the output shaft, the electric motor continues to produce that amount of torque until the control signal is changed.