U.S. patent application number 11/948258 was filed with the patent office on 2008-06-12 for fluid end.
Invention is credited to BERTON L. VICARS.
Application Number | 20080138224 11/948258 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 29733439 |
Filed Date | 2008-06-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080138224 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
VICARS; BERTON L. |
June 12, 2008 |
FLUID END
Abstract
A fluid end for a high-pressure pump including a unitary body
with a plurality of horizontal passages each for receiving a
reciprocating plunger at one of its ends and a pressure relief
valve at the other of its ends. The body is provided with a
corresponding number of vertical passages each of which intersect
one of the horizontal passages and contains a suction valve at its
bottom and a discharge valve at its top. A suction manifold is
hingedly attached to the bottom of body to provide a flow of fluid
into the body via the suction valves. A discharge passage
intersects the vertical passages and receives fluid pressurized by
the plungers via discharge valves and ports such from the fluid
end.
Inventors: |
VICARS; BERTON L.; (Odessa,
TX) |
Correspondence
Address: |
WELSH & KATZ, LTD
120 S RIVERSIDE PLAZA, 22ND FLOOR
CHICAGO
IL
60606
US
|
Family ID: |
29733439 |
Appl. No.: |
11/948258 |
Filed: |
November 30, 2007 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
10173837 |
Jun 19, 2002 |
7341435 |
|
|
11948258 |
|
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
417/545 ;
251/333; 417/559 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F04B 53/16 20130101;
F04B 53/007 20130101; Y10T 137/87885 20150401; Y10T 137/7838
20150401 |
Class at
Publication: |
417/545 ;
251/333; 417/559 |
International
Class: |
F04B 53/14 20060101
F04B053/14; F16K 1/32 20060101 F16K001/32 |
Claims
1. A piston and valve seat of a suction valve comprising: said
valve seat forming a tube with open, top and bottom surfaces; a
piston having a head for engaging said top surface of said valve
seat and a stem extending downwardly from said head through said
valve seat, said stem having a transverse aperture at a lower end
of said stem; and wherein said valve seat and piston have an
installed position where in said installed positioned said valve
seat and piston are in a body of a fluid end.
2. The piston and valve seat of the suction valve of claim 1,
wherein said fluid end is part of a high pressure pump.
3. The piston and valve seat of the suction valve of claim 2
wherein the fluid end of the high pressure pump is a forged metal
mono-block.
4. The piston and valve seat of the suction valve of claim 3
wherein the high pressure pump is an oil field pump.
5. A high pressure pump piston for mating with a valve seat said
pump piston comprising: a stem having an end opposite a head; a
keeper pin transverse aperture and a lock pin aperture adjacent
said end, said lock pin aperture at a right angle to said keeper
pin aperture and said lock pin aperture intersects a bottom portion
of the keeper pin aperture and opens into said keeper pin aperture,
said lock pin aperture being positioned relative to said keeper pin
aperture so when a keeper pin is in place in the keeper pin
aperture and a lock pin is in place in the lock pin aperture the
lock pin and keeper pin interface with one another.
6. The high pressure pump piston of claim 5 wherein the keeper pin
aperture is larger than the lock pin aperture.
7. The high pressure pump piston of claim 5 wherein the piston is
in a high pressure pump.
8. The high pressure pump piston of claim 7 wherein the fluid end
of the high pressure pump is a forged metal mono-block.
9. The high pressure pump piston of claim 8 wherein the high
pressure pump is an oil field pump.
Description
[0001] This application is a divisional of our pending application
Ser. No. 10/173/837 filed on Jun. 19, 2002.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates generally to pumps having
pumping chamber pressure responsive fluid distributors.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] It is difficult to produce oil and gas in an economic manner
from low permeability reservoir rocks. Production rates are often
boosted by resorting to hydraulic fracturing, a technique that
increases rock permeability by opening channels through which
hydrocarbons can flow to recovery wells. During hydraulic
fracturing, a fluid is pumped into the earth under high pressure
where it enters a reservoir rock and fractures it. Proppants are
carried in suspension by the fluid into the fractures. When the
pressure is released, the fractures partially close on the
proppants, leaving channels for oil and gas to flow.
[0004] Specialized pumps are used to develop the pressures
necessary to complete a hydraulic fracturing procedure or "frac
job." These pumps are usually provided with fluid ends within the
body of which reciprocating plungers place fluids under pressure
and valves control fluid flow to and from the plungers. The body of
a fluid end is an aggregate of metal blocks releasably fastened to
provide access to internal components for servicing. Unfortunately,
the joints between the blocks and the supporting features for the
valves tend to weaken the body of a fluid end, limiting its
pressure rating, and making it susceptible to corrosion, leaks and
cracks. Thus, it is not unusual for the bodies of fluid ends to
fail under load, cutting short their useful lives.
[0005] Installing and servicing conventional fluid ends is
difficult since their parts often weigh hundreds of pounds. A hoist
is often required to lift and position the various portions of a
fluid end body and, at this point in time, these portions are not
typically provided with attachment features for hooks, chains or
cables. Equally difficult is moving a suction manifold into place
beneath a fluid end body since its awkward shape and great weight
usually requires numerous hands for proper positioning. A need,
therefore, exists for a fluid end of great strength and whose
principal parts users can easily move.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] In light of the problems associated with conventional
oilfield pumping equipment, it is a principal object of the present
invention to provide a fluid end of great strength, durability and
fatigue resistance. Such a fluid end features a "mono-block" design
wherein its body is produced from a single piece of metal. Passages
within the body retain reciprocating plungers and valves that
pressurize fluids and control their flow through the fluid end.
Since the body does not require seals between its constituent
parts, it is not particularly susceptible to internal corrosion,
fluid leaks and metal fatigue during normal use.
[0007] It is another object of the invention to provide a fluid end
of the type described with reinforced suction valve seat decks.
Such seat decks are made possible by employing compact, stem-guided
suction valves within the fluid end rather than conventional, and
larger, wing-guided valves. The stem-guided valves fit within
shallow pockets in the fluid end requiring less material be removed
from the fluid end body than was possible in the past. Providing
the seat decks with shallow bevels also adds strength by more
evenly distributing loads imparted by the suction valves to the
remainder to the fluid end body.
[0008] It is an additional object of the invention to provide a
fluid end with a body to which a hook, chain, cable, or other like
lifting device can be attached so that it can be easily lifted and
transported without the use of eyebolts that have a tendency to
bend and break. Such a fluid end can, thus, be easily and safely
moved about-a great benefit in an oilfield environment where pumps
comprising fluid ends rarely remain in place for more than a few
months
[0009] It is a further object of the invention to provide a fluid
end featuring hinges for the attachment of a suction manifold
thereto. Such hinges permit easy access to the interior of the
fluid end for while retaining the manifold in a clean and elevated
state for easy repositioning and reattachment. With hinge elements
of the sort described, servicing of suction valves within a fluid
end can be a one-man job.
[0010] It is an object of the invention to provide improved
elements and arrangements thereof in a fluid end for the purposes
described which is relatively inexpensive to manufacture and fully
dependable in use.
[0011] The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of
the present invention will become readily apparent upon further
review of the following detailed description of the preferred
embodiment as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] The present invention may be more readily described with
reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0013] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a fluid end in
accordance with the present invention.
[0014] FIG. 2 is a top view of the body forming a principal part of
the fluid end of FIG. 1.
[0015] FIG. 3 is a front view of the fluid end body.
[0016] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 of
FIG. 3.
[0017] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the fluid end body shown
being lifted by a pair of chains.
[0018] Similar reference characters denote corresponding features
consistently throughout the accompanying drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0019] Referring now to the FIGS., a fluid end in accordance with
the present invention is shown at 10. Fluid end 10 includes a body
12 with a plurality of horizontal passages 14 each for receiving a
reciprocating plunger 16 at one of its ends and a pressure relief
valve 18 at the other of its ends. Body 12 is provided with a
corresponding number of vertical passages 20 each of which
intersect one of the horizontal passages 14 and contains a suction
valve 22 at its bottom and a discharge valve 24 at its top. A
suction manifold 26 is hingedly attached to the bottom of body 12
so as to provide a flow of fluid into body 12 via suction valves
22. A discharge passage 28 intersects vertical passages 20 and
receives fluid pressurized by plungers 16 via discharge valves 24
and ports such from fluid end 10.
[0020] Body 12 is formed from a high alloy steel forging for
maximum strength. Preferably, the forging has a cross-sectional
configuration somewhat resembling the letter "H". The crosspiece 30
of body 12 contains horizontal passages 14 whereas the upright
member 32 contains vertical passages 20. Upright member 34 serves
as a flange for mounting fluid end 10 to the power end of a pump
(not shown). It is anticipated that the power end would be
conventional in construction with a crankshaft, connecting rods and
other parts required to drive plungers 16 back and forth in
passages 14.
[0021] Horizontal passages 14 pass fully through body 12 from its
front to its back. At their front ends, passages 14 are shaped to
receive packing elements 36 for providing a fluid-tight seal around
plungers 16. At their rear ends, passages 14 are threaded as at 38
to receive the suction nuts 40 of pressure relief valves 18 as will
be described further below.
[0022] Vertical passages 20 pass fully through upright member 32
from top to bottom. As shown, each of the vertical passages 20 has
an area of reduced diameter extending upwardly from the bottom of
upright member 32 to a point about half of the way to its
associated horizontal passage 14. The top of each of these areas of
reduced diameter defines a deck 42 upon which a suction valve seat
44 rests. Similarly, each vertical passage 20 has an area of
reduced diameter extending between the bottom of passage 28 and the
top of passage 14 that defines a deck 46 upon which a discharge
valve seat 48 rests. The bottoms of decks 42 and 46 slope upwardly
at an angle of approximately 30.degree.. Such a slope is believed
to allow decks 42 and 46 to transfer forces imparted by valve seats
44 and 48 evenly to body 12 thereby reducing the likelihood of
fatigue induced cracks forming in body 12.
[0023] Body 12 is provided with a pair of lifting eyes 50 so that
it can be easily hoisted and transported. Lifting eyes 50 are made
by drilling a pair of bores 52 into the top of upright member 32
between the outer and center passages 20 and then drilling a pair
of bores 54 into the front of upright member 32 so as to intersect
with bores 52. Hooks 56 at the end of chains 58 may be used to
grasp the pair of pins 60 formed at the tops of eyes 50 made in
this manner. So that the body 12 can be lifted without tipping,
pins 60 can be located above the center of gravity of body 12 by
milling a pair of deep recesses 62 into the front of upright member
32 that intersect bores 54 and inset pins 60.
[0024] Discharge passage 28 extends through upright member 32 from
one of its ends to the other. Threaded bores 64 in the ends of body
12 surrounding passages 28 permit conduits (not shown) to be
securely connected to body 12 to carry pressurized fluids away from
fluid end 10 for use in conducting a frac job or otherwise.
[0025] The top and bottom portions of upright member 34 are
provided with principal openings as at 66 that permit the passage
of threaded fasteners for joining fluid end 10 to the power end of
a pump. Secondary openings 68 in the top portion of upright member
34 and beneath principal openings 66 permit any liquids that may
fall atop body 12 to drain therefrom.
[0026] A pivot pin 70 is secured to each of the opposed, bottom
ends of upright member 32 closely adjacent the front thereof. Each
pin 70 is an Allen Head Bolt that is threadably fastened to body 12
or is an equivalent. Retaining rings 72, secured to the opposed
ends of the manifold mounting plate 74, are suspended from pins 70
at the broken line position 76 shown in FIG. 1 when the manifold
mounting bolts 78 are removed. A lever arm-receiving socket 80 is
secured to manifold mounting plate 74 to permit suction manifold 26
to be raised and lowered in a controlled fashion.
[0027] Extending downwardly from manifold mounting plate 74 are
three, fluid inlet ports 82 that receive and partially surround
suction valves 22. Suction manifold 26 is suspended from ports 82
and placed by them in fluid communication with suction valves 22.
The opposed ends of manifold 26 are open and connected to a fluid
source when fluid end 10 is operated. Access openings 84 are
provided in manifold 26 adjacent each of the suction valves 22 so
that suction valves 22 can be easily examined and serviced. Each of
the openings 84 is provided with a peripheral flange 86 for
receiving and supporting a close-fitting plug 88. Threaded
fasteners 90 about each plug 88 releasably secure such to manifold
26. A hexagonal fitting 92 at the center of each plug 88 permits
each plug 88 to be rotated and rapidly removed from its opening
84.
[0028] Each suction valve 22 has a valve seat 44 and a piston 94
movably joined to valve seat 44. Piston 94 has a head 96 for
engaging the top valve seat 44 and a stem 98 extending downwardly
from head 96 through valve seat 44. A valve guide 100 is positioned
adjacent the bottom of valve seat 44 and slidably receives stem 98.
A valve keeper 102 is fitted upon stem 98 such that valve guide 100
is disposed between valve seat 44 and keeper 102. A keeper pin 104
is slidably positioned within a transverse aperture 106 in stem 98
and abuts the bottom of keeper 102. A compressed spring 108 is
positioned between, and exerts opposing forces upon, valve guide
100 and keeper 102 so as to normally retain head 96 in engagement
with the top of valve seat 44. The keeper pin has a peripheral
groove 107 around the keeper pin at about its midway point. The
stem 98 has adjacent the end opposite the head 96, a roll pin
aperture below the keeper pin transverse aperture 106. the roll pin
aperture is substantially at a right angle to the keeper pin
aperture 106 and intersects the bottom thereof. A roll pin 105 is
in the roll pin aperture to and passes through the peripheral
groove 107 to lock the keeper pin in place. Generally the keeper
pin is larger than the roll pin 105.
[0029] Each discharge valve 24 includes a valve seat 48 and a
piston 110 for engaging valve seat 48. Piston 110 has a stein 112
that extends upwardly from a head 114 away from valve.
* * * * *