United States Patent [19]
`Rutledge, Jr. et al.
`
`Patent Number: Re. 32,865
`(11] E (cid:9)
`[45] Reissued Date of Patent: Feb. 14, 1989
`
`(cid:9) (cid:9)
`
`[54] FIBERGLASS SUCKER ROD
`CONSTRUCTION
`[75] Inventors: Woodrow T. Rutledge, Jr.; Russell P.
`Rutledge; Jon B. Freeman; Stephen D.
`Clark, all of Big Spring, Tex.
`[73] Assignee: Fiberflex Products Ltd., Houston,
`Tex.
`[21] Appl. No.: 33,414
`[22] Filed: (cid:9)
`Apr. 1, 1987
`
`Related U.S. Patent Documents
`Reissue of:
`[64] Patent No.: (cid:9)
`Issued:
`Appl. No.: (cid:9)
`Filed: (cid:9)
`[51] Int. C1.4 (cid:9)
`[52] U.S. Cl.
`
` 403/267
`
`174/179 X
`403/275 X
`403/361
`
`4,198,538 4/1980 Lusk (cid:9)
`
`4,205,926 6/1980 Carlson (cid:9)
`
`4,315,699 2/1982 Lusk (cid:9)
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`1072191 2/1980 Canada (cid:9)
` 403/268
`2511809 9/1976 Fed. Rep. of Germany (cid:9)
` 174/179
`1210779 10/1959 France .
`681550 10/1952 United Kingdom (cid:9)
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`"Fiberglass Sucker Rods in Beam-Pumped Oil Wells",
`a paper by D. L. Watkins & John Haarsma presented to
`the SPE-AIME in Nov. 1977 and published in the May
`1978 issue of Journal of Petroleum Technology, pp.
`731-736.
`Primary Examiner—James Kee Chi
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Pravel, Gambrell, Hewitt,
`Kimball & Krieger
`[57] (cid:9)
`ABSTRACT
`A fiberglass sucker rod construction is disclosed com-
`prising a cylindrical fiberglass rod having a steel con-
`nector member adhesively bonded to each end thereof.
`The steel connector members are basically identical in
`their manner of being affixed to each end of the fiber-
`glass rod, each connector member having an internal
`receptacle defining a series of tapered annular spaces for
`receiving an epoxy adhesive material which bonds the
`fiberglass rod in the metal connector member, thereby
`forming a unitary sucker rod having a male thread con-
`nector at one end and a mating female connector at the
`other end thereof. The epoxy adhesive cures, forming a
`sleeve having a series of annular tapering surfaces defin-
`ing annular wedges that are oriented such that tension
`applied to the rod causes the wedges to be compressed
`between the rod and connector member, resulting in a
`radially inwardly directed force to retain the rod in
`position against such tension.
`This is a Reissue of a Patent which was the subject of a
`Reexamination Certificate No. B1 4,360,288, dated Dec.
`13, 1983, Request No. 90/000,318, Jan. 20, 1983.
`
`16 Claims, 1 Drawing Sheet
`
`4,360,288
`Nov. 23, 1982
`76,373
`Sep. 17, 1979
` F16B 11/00; FO4B 47/02
` 403/268; 403/267;
`403/275; 403/361; 174/176
`[58] Field of Search (cid:9)
` 403/268, 275, 267, 361,
`403/266, 265; 174/179, 176, 186, 177
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`1,064,764 6/1913 Parker (cid:9)
`
`1,689,281 10/1928 Forssell (cid:9)
`
`2,266,357 12/1941 Cooke (cid:9)
`
`2,652,231 9/1953 Smith (cid:9)
`
`2,825,752 3/1958 Knutz et al. (cid:9)
`
`2,874,937 2/1959 Higgins (cid:9)
`
`2,874,938 2/1959 Higgins (cid:9)
`
`3,018,140 1/1962 Portz et al. (cid:9)
`
`3,362,731 1/1968 Gasche et al. (cid:9)
`
`3,461,539 8/1969 Napple (cid:9)
`
`3,477,335 11/1969 Gold et al. (cid:9)
`
`3,534,989 10/1970 Yonkers (cid:9)
`
`3,549,791 12/1970 Yonkers (cid:9)
`
`3,655,226 4/1972 Cowan (cid:9)
`
`3,661,388 5/1972 Leslie (cid:9)
`
`3,737,556 6/1973 Cunningham (cid:9)
`
`4,024,913 5/1977 Grable (cid:9)
`
`4,127,741 11/1978 Bauer et al. (cid:9)
`
`4,195,691 4/1980 Newling (cid:9)
`
`
`[56] (cid:9)
`
`403/267
`403/265
`403/268 X
`403/268 X
`174/176 X
`403/265
`403/265
`403/268 X
`285/212
`403/268 X
`85/62
`174/176 X
`174/179
`403/361 X
`403/265 X
`174/19
`403/275 X
`403/268 X
`166/378
`
`9.
`
`&4,
`
`;
`
`pe (cid:9)
`
`r (cid:9)
`
`r %//// # •WA'1,7 / Ar# ..V.t.'
`
`or A a re- #A f • .17 ;
`
`A
`
`X
`
`Petitioners' Exhibit 1013
`John Crane v. Finalrod
`IPR2016-01786
`Page 1 of 7
`
`(cid:9)
`

`
`U.S. Patent (cid:9)
`
`Feb. 14, 1989 (cid:9)
`
`Re.32,865
`
`12
`
`figi
`
`17
`
`40
`
`/a ---L._
`.......40b
`
`Page 2 of 7
`
`

`
`1
`
`Re.
`
`FIBERGLASS SUCKER ROD CONSTRUCTION
`
`Matter enclosed in heavy brackets E 3 appears in the
`original patent but forms no part of this reissue specifica-
`tion; matter printed in italics indicates the additions made
`by reissue.
`
`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`The present invention relates to an improved sucker
`rod construction, and more particularly to a sucker rod
`comprising a fiberglass rod portion epoxy bonded to
`steel connecting members on each end thereof.
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`Steel sucker rods have been used for decades in pro-
`ducing oil wells to actuate petroleum pumps, located in
`a well bore of a producing, but not pressurized oil well.
`A series of sucker rods are connected together to form
`a string extending down into the well bore and are
`connected to the petroleum pump at one end and to a
`cyclic or reciprocating drive mechanism at the well
`head to actuate the petroleum pump to cause oil to be
`pumped up the well bore and into a pipe line.
`Steel sucker rods providing tensile strength to with-
`stand thousands of cyclic axial forces are inherently
`heavy, thereby requiring a sizable reciprocating drive
`mechanism at the well head to effectively actuate the
`pump down in the well bore, which, of course, requires
`more energy to operate. In addition, the corrosive ef-
`fects of steel contributed significantly to the cost of oil
`production, in that steel sucker rods had to be replaced
`periodically.
`It is therefore an object of the present invention to
`provide a sucker rod construction of considerably less
`weight than its all-steel counterpart, thereby requiring
`less energy to operate.
`It is another object of the present invention to pro-
`vide a sucker rod construction having improved corro-
`sion resistant characteristics, thereby greatly extending
`the useful life thereof.
`It is a further object of the present invention to pro-
`vide an improved sucker rod construction having im-
`proved elasticity characteristics, resulting in increased
`efficiency.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`The present invention is directed to a sucker rod
`comprising:
`(1) A cylindrical fiberglass rod,
`(2) A steel connecting member affixed to each end
`thereof,
`(3) A collet positioned about the fiberglass rod and
`threadedly engaging each connecting member so
`as to retain the rod in functional engagement with
`each of the connecting members, and
`(4) A quantity of adhesive material positioned within
`an annular chamber defined by the end of the fiber-
`glass rod inserted into an axial elongate receptacle
`of each of the connecting members.
`Each of the connecting members receptacles is de-
`fined by a series of outwardly converging tapered sur-
`faces which are filled with the adhesive material to
`bond or otherwise steel connector member. These an-
`nular converging surfaces are tapered such that a ten-
`sion load along the axis of the fiberglass rod creates a
`wedge or cam-like effect to direct a compression force
`radially inwardly through the adhesive material toward
`
`32,865
`
`2
`the rod axis to retain the fiberglass rod in position
`within each of the steel connecting members against
`such tension load.
`The wall of each connecting member laterally adjacent
`5 the tapered internal surface nearest the portion of the rod
`outside the receptacle is gradually tapered so that the wall
`is less thick near its portion adjacent the receptacle opening
`than at portions nearer and laterally adjacent the upper
`reach of that tapered internal surface.
`
`10
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`Other objects and advantages of the invention will
`become apparent upon reading the following detailed
`description and upon reference to the drawing, in
`IS which:
`FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view of a first connect-
`ing member and fiberglass rod end of the sucker rod of
`the present invention; and
`FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the second con-
`necting member and fiberglass rod end of the sucker rod
`of the present invention.
`
`20
`
`25
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
`Referring now to the drawings and first to FIG. 1, a
`sucker rod 10 of the present invention is shown. The
`sucker rod 10 comprises a cylindrical rod element 12
`(partially shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2), and first and
`30 second connector members 14 and 54, respectively. The
`first and second connectors members 14 and 54 are
`basically identical, except for the gender of their
`threaded couplings. Therefore the first connector mem-
`ber 14 and its method of attachment to the cylindrical
`35 rod element 12, will be described in detail, with the
`understanding that a like description should also apply
`to the second connector member 54 and its method of
`attachment to the cylindrical rod element.
`As shown in FIG. 1, the first connector member 14 is
`40 formed to define an axial receptacle 16 for receiving a
`first end of the sucker rod cylindrical element 12. The
`axial receptacle 16 is defined by a series of axially spaced
`apart outwardly converging tapered surfaces 18, as
`illustrated, of substantially equal angles of taper, which
`45 cooperate with the external cylindrical surface of the
`rod element 12 to further define a series of wedge
`shaped or tapered annuluses 20 about the rod element
`when the rod element is in position as shown. The base
`frustrums of these outwardly converging tapered frustocon-
`50 ical internal surfaces, as illustrated, have equal diameters,
`and immediately adjacent to the plane of such base frus-
`trums are cylindrical internal surfaces or lands which have
`a diameter equal to the diameter of such base frustrums.
`The connector member 14 includes an external cylindri-
`55 cal surface 22 terminating in an externally threaded end
`24 for threadedly engaging the next successive sucker
`rod to define a string of sucker rods for lowering into a
`well bore. The first connector member 14 also includes
`a pair of diametrically opposite flat surfaces 26 for en-
`60 abling an oil field operator to attach a standard sucker
`rod wrench thereto for connecting and/or disconnect-
`ing the individual sucker rods 10 from one another.
`The first connector member 14 includes a chamfered
`surface 28 located at the end adjacent the rod element
`65 12, the function of such chamfered surface to be de-
`scribed hereinbelow. An internally threaded section 30
`is located adjacent the chamfered surface 28 for thread-
`edly receiving a first collet 32 therein to align the cylin-
`
`Page 3 of 7
`
`

`
`Re. 32,865
`
`20 (cid:9)
`
`55 (cid:9)
`
`3
`drical rod element 12 with the first connctor member
`14.
`The collet 32 includes a bore 34 therethrough for
`receiving an end of the cylindrical rod element 12, and
`also includes external engaging threads 36 for engaging
`mating threads 30 of the first connector member 14 to
`retain the collet in position, which in turn retains the
`cylindrical rod element 12 in alignment within the first
`connector member. The first collect 32 is basically cy-
`lindrical shaped, having an exterior cylindrical surface
`38, terminating at one end in a first chamfered surface
`40 and at the opposite end in a second chamfered sur-
`face 42, which second chamfered surface cooperates
`with chamfered surface 28 of the first connector mem-
`ber, the function of which will be described hereinbe-
`low. The first collet 32 also includes an annular con-
`verging tapered surface 44 integrally formed with the
`internal bore 34 therethrough, which functions in a
`manner identical to the annular outwardly converging
`tapered surfaces 18 of the first connector member 14.
`The sucker rod construction of the present invention
`includes a sufficient quantity of adhesive material 46 to
`completely fill the annuluses 20 defined by the first
`connector member outwardly converging tapered sur-
`faces 18 and the outer cylindrical surface of the rod
`element 12 for adhering or otherwise interconnecting
`the fiberglass rod cylindrical rod element 12 to the steel
`connector member 14. Initially in a liquid state, this
`adhesive material 46 is poured into the connecting
`member axial receptacle 16. Next, the fiberglass rod 12
`is inserted into the receptacle, displacing much of the
`liquid adhesive 46 and forcing it into the annulus sur-
`rounding the rod, where it subsequently cures, forming
`an annular wedge which is bonded to the rod and the
`receptacle tapered surface 18.
`The sucker rod construction of the present invention
`also includes a second connector member 54 at the
`opposite end of the rod element 12 from the first con-
`nector member 14. The second connector member 54 is
`essentially identical to the first connector member;
`therefore, the same reference numerals are used to indi-
`cate identical parts on each connector 14 and 54. The
`difference between the first and second connector mem-
`bers 14 and 54 is the gender of their mating threaded
`connections: the first connector member 14 (FIG. 1) is
`a male member having an external threaded end 24, and
`the second connector member 54 (FIG. 2) incorporates
`a housing 56 having female internal threads 58 for en-
`gaging the externally threaded end 24 of the first (male)
`connector member of the next successive sucker rod.
`As best shown in the drawings, the sucker rod con-
`struction 10 of the present invention is formed by posi-
`tioning the cylindrical rod element 12 within the first
`connector member axial receptacle 16, threadedly in-
`serting the first collet 32 in position about the cylindri-
`cal rod element and into the first connector member.
`The end of the rod 12 is in close fitting relation with a
`blind bore 17 defining the end portion of the receptacle
`16. Likewise, the outer cylindrical surface of the rod is
`in close fitting relation with the collet bore 34. Those
`skilled in the art will readily appreciate that these
`spaced points of close fitting engagement function to
`align the rod 17 concentric with the collet 32 and con-
`nector member 14.
`The cylindrical rod element 12 is held in position
`within the connector member 14 or 54 by a body of
`adhesive material which fills the annular chamber de-
`fined by the cylindrical rod element exterior surface and
`
`4
`the series of connector member outwardly converging
`tapered surfaces 18. In constructing the fiberglass rod
`sucker rod 10 of the present invention, it is preferable to
`introduce a suitable quantity of adhesive material 46, in
`5 its initial liquid state, into the connector member recep-
`tacle 16 prior to the insertion of the cylindrical rod
`element 12. As aforementioned, inserting the rod 12 into
`the receptacle 16 forces the liquid adhesive into the
`annular chamber surrounding the rod. With the rod 12
`10 in position within the connector receptacle 16, the col-
`let member 32 is next positioned about the rod to
`threadedly engage the connector member 14 or 54. As
`best shown in the drawings, as the collet 32 is screwed
`into position, its annular converging tapered surface 44
`15 serves to compress any residual liquid adhesive material
`46 within the annular chamber and otherwise squeeze
`any excess material out into the annulus defined by the
`exterior surface of the cylindrical rod 12 and the collet
`bore 34.
`As shown in the drawings, when the adhesive mate-
`rial 46 cures, it forms a sleeve having a series of axially
`spaced apart annular tapering surfaces defining a series
`of annular wedges positioned between the rod 12 and
`the receptacle tapered surfaces 18. This hardened adhe-
`25 sive sleeve 46 forms a bond with the fiberglass rod 12 to
`resist the shear force resulting when tension is applied
`to the rod, as if to withdraw it from the connector mem-
`ber. Additionally, tension applied to the rod 12 causes
`the annular wedges of cured adhesive material 46 to be
`30 forced into compressive engagement with the rod outer
`cylindrical surface and with the connector member
`tapered surfaces 18 and with the collet tapered surface
`44. This results in a compression force directed radially
`inwardly to the center line axis of the rod 12 to com-
`35 press the annular wedges of adhesive material 46 against
`the rod to retain the rod in position with the connection
`member against the action of such tension applied to the
`rod.
`The second connector member 54 is interconnected
`40 to the opposite end of the cylindrical rod element 12 in
`an identical manner to form a sucker rod construction
`10 having a male connector member 14 at one end
`thereof and a female connector 54 at the other end
`thereof.
`In operation, a plurality of sucker rods 10 of the pres-
`ent invention are interconnected to form a string ex-
`tending down into the well bore and are connected to a
`pump positioned in the oil bearing region of the well
`bore at the lower end thereof. The upper end of the
`50 sucker rod string is connected to a device for providing
`reciprocating pump action to the sucker rod string, and
`the sucker rods are used in the customary manner to
`actuate the pump to produce oil from the producing,
`but otherwise unpressurized oil well.
`The abovementioned chamfered surfaces 40, 42 and
`28 on the collet 32 and connector members 14 and 54
`provide a gradual taper from the smaller diameter of the
`fiberglass sucker rod to the larger diameter of the con-
`nector members, in order to prevent the sucker rod
`60 from binding or otherwise catching the connector mem-
`ber on pipe or casing joints within the well bore or at
`the well head as the sucker rod cycles back and forth
`within the well bore.
`The fiberglass sucker rod construction of the present
`65 invention imparts an elasticity to the sucker rod string
`not found in conventional all-steel sucker rods. In a
`reciprocating environment, this elasticity inherent in
`pre-stressed fiberglass, results in an increased effective
`
`45 (cid:9)
`
`Page 4 of 7
`
`

`
`Re. 32,865
`
`15 (cid:9)
`
`20
`
`30 (cid:9)
`
`5
`stroke length, and an increased stroking force over that
`of a steel rod having a comparable surface stroke. This
`effect is best illustrated by observing the effect of a
`rubber band having a weight affixed to its lower end. As
`the upper end cycles through a reciprocating vertical 5
`movement of specified stroke length, it will be seen that
`the weight at the lower end of the rubber band experi-
`ences a stroke length greater than that of the upper end
`of the rubber band. In a cyclic condition, the weight on
`the rubber band creates a lower downstroke, due to the
`elasticity of the rubber band, and a higher upstroke, due
`to the resiliency of the rubber band, than a like weight
`on a comparable inelastic material. Obviously, the rub-
`ber band illustration results in a much more drastic
`effect than a fiberglass sucker rod; however, the princi-
`ple is the same and therefore the effect is the same al-
`though on a smaller scale, resulting in increased produc-
`tion from a string of fiberglass sucker rods as compared
`to a string of all-steel sucker rods due to the increased
`pump stroke that is obtained.
`The fiberglass sucker rod of the present invention
`may also be used with lighter weight, less expensive
`surface equipment, because the sucker rod itself is ligh-
`ter weight and requires less structure and less energy to 25
`reciprocate a given length of fiberglass rod within the
`well bore than a comparable length of all-steel sucker
`rod. Additionally, the lighter weight fiberglass sucker
`rod results in greater ease of handling for oil field sur-
`face crews.
`While there has been illustrated and described a sin-
`gle embodiment of the present invention, it will be ap-
`preciated that numerous changes and modifications will
`occur to those skilled in the art, and it is intended in the
`appended claims to cover all those changes and modifi-
`cations which fall within the true spirit and scope of the
`present invention.
`The invention having been described, what is claimed
`is:
`1. A sucker rod construction for use in producing oil 40
`wells, said sucker rod construction comprising:
`a [first] connector member having an outer surface
`and being formed to define a rod receptacle having
`a closed axially [outer] inner end and an open
`axially [inner] outer end, said rod receptacle hav- 45
`ing a plurality of integrally formed axially spaced
`apart outwardly converging tapered frusto-conical
`[annular] annular internal surfaces, [each of said
`surfaces having substantially the same taper] each
`of said surfaces having substantially the same taper, 50
`said outer surface of said connector member and said
`internal surfaces defining between them a rod recepta-
`cle wall, said outer surface being substantially cylin-
`drical laterally adjacent all said frusto-conical inter-
`nal surfaces except the one most near said axially 55
`outer open end of said rod receptacle, the outside
`surface of the connector member laterally adjacent
`that one internal surface most near the said open end
`having a gradual axially convergent taper whereby the
`rod receptacle wall along said one internal surface is 60
`less thick at portions nearer said open end than at
`portions nearer and laterally adjacent the axially
`upper reach of said one internal surface;
`a cylindrical fiberglass rod having an end having a
`uniformly cylindrical uninterrupted outer surface 65
`being received within said rod receptacle through
`said [inner] outer end and cooperating therewith
`to define an annular chamber between said outer
`
`6
`surface of said end of said rod and said outwardly
`converging tapered frusto-conical surfaces;
`and a body of initially liquid adhesive material filling
`said annular chamber that cures to bond to said
`outer surface of said end of said rod and to harden
`to form a plurality of shear and compression resis-
`tant frusto-conical wedges to cooperate with said
`frusto-conical surfaces.
`2. The sucker rod construction as set forth in claim 1,
`10 including a collet connected to said connector member
`adjacent said open axially [inner] outer end of said rod
`receptacle and having an axial bore therethrough retain-
`ing said end of said rod in coaxial position within said
`rod receptacle.
`3. The sucker rod construction as claimed in claim 1,
`including:
`a bore coaxially formed in said [first] connector
`member adjacent said axially outer] inner closed
`end of said rod receptacle [outwardly] axially
`inward of said frusto-conical [annular] surfaces,
`said bore fitting closely with said surface of said
`end of said rod;
`a collet connected to said [first] connector member
`adjacent said axially outer open end of said rod
`receptacle, said collet having a passage there-
`through coaxial with said rod receptacle, said pas-
`sage fitting closely with said surface of said end of
`said rod, whereby said bore and said collet support
`said end of said rod at axially spaced apart points
`coaxially within said rod receptacle.
`4. The sucker rod construction as claimed in claim 3,
`wherein [said first connector member has a cylindrical
`outer surface and] said collet includes an axially ex-
`tending tubular portion having an outside diameter
`35 [substantially less] not greater than the outside diame-
`ter of the portion of said first connector member laterally
`adjacent said open end of said rod receptacle.
`5. The sucker rod construction as claimed in claim 3,
`wherein said collet and said first connector member are
`formed of substantially the same metallic material.
`[6. The sucker rod construction as claimed in claim
`1, wherein said axially inner open end of said rod recep-
`tacle includes an internally threaded portion and said
`construction further comprises a collet having an upper
`portion threadedly engaged with said threaded portion
`and a lower axially extending tubular portion having a
`passage therethrough coaxially aligned with said rod
`receptacle closely engaging said rod.]
`[7. The sucker rod construction as claimed in claim
`6, wherein said tubular portion includes an axially upper
`portion having a cylindrical outer surface having a
`diameter less than the outer diameter of said first con-
`nector member, and an axially lower portion having a
`frusta-conical outer surface sloping from said cylindri-
`cal outer surface toward said rod.]
`[8. The sucker rod construction as claimed in claim
`7, wherein said collet includes an outwardly tapering
`frusto-conical inner surface positioned outwardly of
`said tubular portion.]
`9. A sucker rod, which comprises:
`a first connector having an outer surface and formed to
`define a receptacle including an axially [outer]
`inner closed end and an axially [inner] outer open
`end, said receptacle including a plurality of inte-
`grally formed axially spaced apart outwardly con-
`verging tapered frusto-conical internal surfaces,
`[each of said frusta-conical surfaces having sub-
`stantially same angle of taper with respect to the
`
`Page 5 of 7
`
`

`
`Re. 32,865
`
`8
`7
`the portion of said rod which proximately extends from
`axis of said connector] each of said frusto-conical (cid:9)
`surfaces having substantially the same angle of taper (cid:9)
`said rod receptacle.
`[[12. The sucker rod construction of claim 1, wherein
`with respect to the axis of each said connector, said (cid:9)
`said frusto-conical internal surfaces each have substan-
`outer surface of said first connector and said internal (cid:9)
`tially the same angle of taper]]
`surfaces defining between them a rod receptacle wall, 5
`13. The sucker rod construction as set forth in claim 1
`said outer surface being substantially cylindrical kit- (cid:9)
`[[or 12]3 wherein the base frustrums of said outwardly
`erally adjacent all said frusto-conical internal sur- (cid:9)
`converging tapered frusto-conical internal surfaces have
`faces except the one most near said axially outer open (cid:9)
`equal diameters, and wherein said frusto-conical internal
`end of said rod receptacle, the outside surface of the (cid:9)
`first connector laterally adjacent that one internal 10 surfaces are axially spaced apart partially by a cylindrical
`internal surface of said rod receptacle which has a diame-
`surface most near the said open end having a gradual (cid:9)
`ter equal to the diameter of said base frustrums
`axially convergent taper whereby the rod receptacle (cid:9)
`[[14. An assembly which comprises•
`wall along said one internal surface is less thick at (cid:9)
`a metallic connector member having an outer surface
`portions nearer said open end than at portions nearer
`and including a rod receptacle having an axially inner
`and laterally adjacent the axially innermost reach of 15
`closed end and an axially outer open end, said rod
`said one internal surface, said connector including
`receptacle including a plurality of integrally formed
`an integrally formed threaded coupling member;
`axially spaced apart frusto-conical internal surfaces,
`a second connector identical to said first connector, a
`each tapering outwardly convergently, said outer sur-
`cylindrical fiberglass rod including [an end] distal
`face of said connector member and said internal sur-
`ends, each end having a uniformly cylindrical unin- 20
`faces defining between them a rod receptacle wall,
`terrupted outer surface contained within [said
`said connector outer surface being substantially cylin-
`receptacle] one of said first and second connector
`drical laterally adjacent all said frusto-conical inter-
`receptacles and extending through said open end of
`nal surfaces except the one most near said axially
`said receptacle;
`outer open end of said rod receptacle, the connector
`a first connected to said first connector adjacent said 25
`member outside surface laterally adjacent that one
`open end of said receptacle thereof, said collet hav-
`internal surface most near the said open end having a
`ing a passage therethrough coaxial with said recep-
`gradual axially convergent taper whereby the rod
`tacle and closely fitting with said outer surface of
`receptacle wall along said one internal surface is less
`said rod, said collet including a tubular portion
`thick at portions nearer said open end than at portions
`extending axially along said outer surface of said 30
`nearer and laterally adjacent the axially innermost
`rod, said tubular portion having an outside diame-
`reach of said one internal surface;
`ter not greater than the outside diameter of said
`a resin bonded glass fiber reinforced rod including an
`connector laterally adjacent said open end of said rod
`end having a uniformly cylindrical uninterrupted
`receptacle;
`outer surface contained within said rod receptacle and
`a second collet identical to said first collet connected to 35
`extending through said open end, and
`said second connector identically as said first collet is
`a body of shear and compression resistant adhesive mate-
`connected to said first connector:
`rial bonded to the cylindrical surface of said rod
`a quantity of shear and compression resistant adhe-
`within said rod receptacle in the form of a plurality of
`sive material bonded to said surface of said [rod]
`frusto-conical wedges in cooperating engagement with
`distal ends of said rods contained within said recepta- 40
`said frusto-conical internal surfaces of said rod recep-
`Iles and filling the volume about said surface of said (cid:9)
`tack.] ]
`rod and bounded by said [receptacle] receptacles (cid:9)
`[[15. The assembly of claim 14, wherein said frusta-
`and said [collet] collets (cid:9)
`conical internal surfaces each have substantially the same
`10. The sucker rod as claimed in claim 9, wherein said (cid:9)
`receptacle includes a bore adjacent said closed end and 45 angle of taper.]3
`16. The assembly as set forth in claim [[14 or 15]3 1,
`closely fitting said surface of said end of said rod. (cid:9)
`wherein the base frustrums of said outwardly converging
`11. The sucker rod construction as claimed in claim 1, (cid:9)
`tapered frusto-conical internal surfaces have equal diame-
`including a collet connected to said rod receptacle and (cid:9)
`ters, and wherein said frusto-conical internal surfaces are
`comprising a coaxially extending tubular sleeve having an (cid:9)
`outside diameter not greater than the outside diameter of 50 axially spaced apart partially by a cylindrical internal
`surface of said rod receptacle which has a diamater equal
`the portion of said connector member laterally adjacent (cid:9)
`said open end of said rod receptacle, for fitting closely (cid:9)
`to the diameter of said base frustrums
`* * * * *
`throughout the sleeve length about a cylindrical surface of (cid:9)
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
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`Page 6 of 7
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`(cid:9)
`(cid:9)
`(cid:9)
`(cid:9)
`(cid:9)
`(cid:9)
`(cid:9)
`(cid:9)
`(cid:9)
`(cid:9)
`(cid:9)
`(cid:9)
`(cid:9)
`(cid:9)
`(cid:9)
`(cid:9)
`(cid:9)
`(cid:9)
`

`
`UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
`CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION
`Re. 32,865
`February 14, 1989
`
`PATENT NO. : (cid:9)
`
`DATED (cid:9)
`
`INVENTOR(S) : (cid:9)
`
`Rutledge, Jr. et al
`
`It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent is hereby
`corrected as shown below:
`
`Column 1, Line 64: (cid:9)
`
`between "otherwise" and "steel connector member"
`insert "interlock the end of the fiberglass rod
`to the respective"
`
`Column 3, Line 9: (cid:9)
`
`after "The first" insert "collet" and delete "collect"
`
`Column 4, Line 2: (cid:9)
`
`delete "rod"
`
`Column 4, Line 36: (cid:9)
`
`after "position" insert "within" and delete "with"
`
`Column 6, Line 18: (cid:9)
`
`In front of "outer]" insert a bracket
`
`Column 7, Line 25: (cid:9)
`
`after "a first" insert "collet"
`
`Signed and Sealed this
`
`Twenty-fifth Day of July, 1989
`
`Attest:
`
`Attesthig Officer
`
`1.1 PalCII1S rind FrOdellillrk.1'
`
`DONALD J. QI.UCA
`
`Page 7 of 7