Abstract:
A plunger installation tool that exerts a force on a plunger for a reciprocating pump to install the plunger into a pump cylinder opening. Maintenance of the pump typically includes repacking of the packing that surrounds the plunger and revalving of the pump's inlet and outlet valve. To allow repacking or revalving, the pump is disassembled and the plunger is removed. The plunger installation tool threads onto the pump cylinder opening to provide a reaction point for a threaded rod that is driven at one end by a driver and engages the plunger at an opposite end during installation to push the plunger into the cylinder opening without the use of hammers by personnel.
Abstract:
According to one aspect, a pump assembly includes a fluid cylinder, the fluid cylinder including a fluid passage, the fluid passage defining a tapered internal shoulder of the fluid cylinder, the tapered internal shoulder defining a first angle. A valve controls flow of fluid through the fluid passage. The valve includes a valve seat, which is disposed in the fluid passage and includes a tapered external shoulder, the tapered external shoulder defining a second angle. In one embodiment, the first tapered external shoulder engages the first tapered internal shoulder to distribute and transfer loading.
Abstract:
A flexible hose end fitting assembly includes a first portion defining a first fluid passageway and having a first end configured for coupling to a fluid conduit, a second portion defining a second fluid passageway and having a first end configured for coupling to a second end of the first portion and a second end configured for securely affixed to a flexible hose. A gasket is disposed in a groove formed in an interface between the first portion and the first end of the second portion of the assembly, and the first portion and the first end of the second portion of the assembly are securely fastened together by a plurality of threaded fasteners to form a continuous fluid passageway between the fluid conduit and the flexible hose. A flexible hose end fitting assembly includes a first portion defining a first fluid passageway and having a first end configured for coupling to a fluid conduit, a second portion defining a second fluid passageway and having a first end configured for coupling to a second end of the first portion and a second end configured for securely affixed to a flexible hose. A gasket is disposed in a groove formed in an interface between the first portion and the first end of the second portion of the assembly, and the first portion and the first end of the second portion of the assembly are securely fastened together by a plurality of threaded fasteners to form a continuous fluid passageway between the fluid conduit and the flexible hose.
Abstract:
A packing assembly providing a seal point configurable at multiple locations. The packing assembly includes a soft bed having at least one energizing ring and at least one seal ring. The assembly includes a spacer ring sealable with the at least one energizing ring. The assembly further includes at 1=least one adapter ring abutting either end of the soft bed to provide two seal locations relative to the spacer ring.
Abstract:
A seal packing assembly for a hydraulic pump includes a plurality of annular dynamic seals disposed within annular grooves circumferentially defined in the annular bore, a packing gland circumferentially housing a section of the plunger, and a plurality of seal manifolds distributed and defined within the packing gland, each seal manifold defining a port at one end exposed to the pumping fluid and further defining a clean lubrication fluid inlet proximate to a second end, the fluid inlet coupled to a lube pump via a check valve, where the clean lubrication fluid housed in the seal manifolds is maintained at a constant pressure. Each seal manifold includes a piston disposed within the seal manifold having a first end configured with a first surface area to interface with the pumping fluid and a second end configured with a second surface area to interface with the clean lubrication fluid, and a fluid port configured to provide fluid communication between the seal manifold and the annular grooves of the annular dynamic seals.
Abstract:
A seat removal tool is disclosed for removing valve seats. A seat removal tool having a main rod, actuator rod within the main rod that actuates to cause radially expandable extraction segments to transition between an expanded position and a contracted position. When using the seat removal tool to remove a valve seat, portions of the radially expandable extraction segments may pass through a seat while the valve seat removal tool is in a contracted position. Thereafter, the seat removal tool may transition from the contracted position to an extended position, which grabs the seat. While in the expanded position, the seat removal tool may pull the valve seat from the passage.
Abstract:
This disclosure provides a valve seat having cladded surfaces of high hardness in order to improve the service life of valve seats. The cladded surfaces may include various materials of favorable mechanical properties for mitigating failure mechanisms known for common valve seats (e.g., having a common base metal throughout). In one example, the cladded surfaces are created using an additive manufacturing process, such as laser metal deposition. The cladded surfaces offer advantages including metallurgical bonding, localized low heat input at the laser focus (thus enabling accurate control of temperature and mitigating undesirable heat treatment effects), ductility in middle layers for increasing impact resistance, variable cladding thickness (optionally exceeding 1 mm), increased hardness by material and fusing temperature selections, corrosion resistance, modification of mechanical properties of the same selected material, and allowing for sensor embedment.
Abstract:
A fluid cylinder for a fluid end section of a reciprocating pump includes a body having a pressure chamber and a plunger bore that fluidly communicates with the pressure chamber. The plunger bore includes a packing segment configured to hold packing. The fluid cylinder includes a sleeve received within the packing segment of the plunger bore. The sleeve is configured to hold a plunger within an internal passage of the sleeve such that the plunger is configured to reciprocate within the plunger bore during operation of the reciprocating pump. The fluid cylinder includes a retention mechanism secured within the plunger bore such that the retention mechanism is configured to retain the sleeve within the packing segment of the plunger bore.
Abstract:
This disclosure presents a pump body, such as a fluid end housing used in a reciprocating pump, which provides an integral seating or engagement surface (or a valve seat integrated with the pump body) for a valve member. The integral engagement surface removes the need for a separate, replaceable valve seat and can last as long as the service life of the fluid end housing. This saves multiple maintenance services during the service life of the fluid end housing, along with the associated down time, labor costs, and material costs for the new valve seats. The integral engagement surface thus performs as an integral valve seat to the pump body. In some embodiments, the integral engagement surface may be coated, heat-treated, or otherwise modified to increase its wear resistance, such as by including one or more wear-resistant inserts to at least partially contact the valve member.