Other

Novatech Holdings Corp.

George H Blume

Starr L Pitzer, Jr

Donald P Lomax

Jack W Rogers

A fluid end assembly comprising: a housing, valves, seals, seats, springs, plungers, plunger packing, and other associated parts, paired with a suction manifold that facilitates fluid feeding through a centrally located external suction intake. The suction manifold of this invention is designed to preserve fluid energy that will ensure complete filling of the cylinder in extreme pumping conditions. The suction manifold utilizes a chamber design positioned immediately below the suction valves, eliminating all connecting ducts. The design of the manifold of this invention can be easily fabricated utilizing commercially available steel plate, pipe, and pipe fittings.

Fluid end and center feed suction manifold

A plunger pump fluid end assembly design in which the suction valve and seat is aligned with the plunger and the fluid end housing is constructed with multiple modules. Modules are held in a rigid assembly by staybolts that connect to the power end of the plunger pump. Said staybolts pass though bores in the central fluid module and the suction seat module and bound by a conventional threaded nut. Packing box modules are bound to the central fluid module by bolts that also pass through separate bores in the same central module. A suction valve spring retainer/plunger spacer within the plunger bore of the assembly shields the intersection of the plunger bore and the discharge bore from destructive erosion damage.

Pump with segmented fluid end housing and in-line valve

A plunger pump fluid end housing assembly comprising: a fluid end housing, multiple plungers, a single in-line suction valve and seat corresponding with each said plunger, a discharge valve and seat corresponding with each said plunger; wherein axis of said suction valve and seat are parallel with said plunger, and the suction manifold is positioned to feed the fluid chamber opposite the power end of the fluid end. Plunger chamber of said fluid end housing is square or rectangular in cross section with large fillets at corners and flats between said fillets. Said flats are approximately equal in width to radii of said fillets.

Pump housing with inline valve

A fluid end assembly comprising a housing, valve bodies, seals, seats, springs, and other associated parts, paired with a suction manifold that facilitates bi-directional fluid flow. The suction manifold of this invention is designed to preserve fluid energy that will ensure complete filling of the cylinder in extreme pumping conditions. The suction manifold utilizes a chamber design positioned immediately below the suction valves, eliminating all connecting ducts. Alternate embodiments of this invention include a suction manifold with an integral fluid dampeners or stabilizers.

Integrated design fluid end suction manifold

A tungsten carbide seat for high-pressure oilfield well service pumps is disclosed. A bonding agent, in conjunction with an interference tapered fit between the valve seat and fluid end housing eliminates stresses created in prior art interference fits. Three interface embodiments are disclosed: a shallow taper combined with a shoulder, a steep taper without a shoulder, and a compound surface in which the seat has an external concave surface and the housing surface that mates with the seat has a convex surface.

Fluid end with carbide valve seat and adhesive dampening interface

A positive displacement pump fluid end with multiple fluid chambers and each fluid chamber comprising a valve body, valve seal, seat, spring, and external guide. External top male stem guide is integral to the fluid end discharge cover or the suction valve spring retainer. Female guide is internal and integral with the valve body. When the valve opens hydrodynamic forces and moments align the valve to prevent rotation. An embodiment features tapered male and female guide members to further assist in correct alignment of the valve with the seat. Various additional embodiments assist in venting any trapped fluids between the male and female portions of the guide.

Low turbulence valve

A plunger pump fluid end housing in which the access, suction, and discharge bores within each fluid chamber are offset from the plunger bores. The plunger bore centerline being fixed by the spacing in the pump power end section. The access, suction, and discharge bores in the outside fluid chambers of the pump are offset toward the center of the fluid end. The direction of the offset of the outside fluid chambers opposes the direction of offset of the opposite outside fluid chambers. A special access bore plug with asymmetrical integral spacers is also disclosed.

Opposing offset fluid end bores

A valve body and seal assembly comprises at least one seal and a valve body that may include a frusto-conical valve body impact area (also referred to as a valve seat contact portion) for sealing against a valve seat. In one embodiment, the at least one seal may comprise a first and second seal sections that comprise first and second elastomers, respectively, and an intra-seal interface where the first seal section may contact the second seal section. The first seal section may comprise a first frusto-conical seal portion, and the second seal section may comprise a second frusto-conical seal portion, each for sealing against the valve seat. A method for making a valve body and seal assembly is also provided. First and second elastomers may be crosslinked. The intra-seal interface may be planar or non-planar (i.e., may comprise, e.g., a cylindrical portion and/or a frusto-conical portion).

Valve body and seal assembly

A fluid end assembly comprising a fluid end housing with multiple discharge manifold ports which provide a fluid end assembly that overcomes problems associated with prior art single port discharge manifold designs that result in non-symmetrical flow of discharged fluids through the fluid end discharge valves, resulting in premature failure of said valves. The multiple port discharge manifolds overcome problems associated with non-symmetrical flow of discharged fluids through a fluid end discharge valve, thereby improving valve life and performance.

Multiple port discharge manifold fluid end

Tapered valve guide and spring retainer assemblies are described for use in plunger pump housings that incorporate corresponding outwardly flared discharge and suction bores, as well as structural features for stress-relief. Plunger pumps so constructed are relatively resistant to fatigue failure because of stress reductions, and they may incorporate essentially any style of valves, including top and lower stem-guided valves and crow-foot-guided valves, in easily-maintained configurations. Besides forming a part of valve guide and spring retainer assemblies, side spacers may be shaped and dimensioned to improve volumetric efficiency of the pumps in which they are used. The present disclosure provides, for the first time, the use of tungsten carbide valve seats, which significantly increase durability and service life of a pump, especially when abrasive fluids are being pumped, as in various oilfield operations.

Integrated fluid end

Tapered valve guide and spring retainer assemblies are described for use in plunger pump housings that incorporate corresponding outwardly flared discharge and suction bores, as well as structural features for stress-relief. Plunger pumps so constructed are relatively resistant to fatigue failure because of stress reductions, and they may incorporate a variety of valve styles, including top and lower stem-guided valves and crow-foot-guided valves, in easily-maintained configurations. Besides forming a part of valve guide and spring retainer assemblies, side spacers may be shaped and dimensioned to improve volumetric efficiency of the pumps in which they are used.

Valve guide and spring retainer assemblies

Plunger pump fluid ends incorporate housings with structural features that facilitate manufacture while providing improved internal access, reduced weight, and reduced likelihood of fatigue failures compared to conventional fluid end housings. Certain fluid ends incorporate frangible pressure relief means in suction valves for protection from overpressure-induced catastrophic failure. Oblong bore transition areas, when present, and barrel-profile central cavities provide obtuse bore intersection angles and effectively reduce fluid end weight while reducing peak cyclic fluid end housing stress by redistributing stress within the fluid end housing.

Plunger pump fluid end

A cylinder heater useful in fabricating sleeves for high pressure pump liners comprises a support rotatably supporting a hollow circular cylinder having a metallic powder layer contacting a portion of its inner surface. A vibration sensor indicates vibration of the cylinder, and at least one temperature sensor indicates at least one temperature of the cylinder. At least one circumferential induction heating coil around the cylinder is positionable via the support along the longitudinal axis of cylinder rotation. Longitudinal position and power output of at least one heating coil, and cylinder rotational speed, are adjusted by a controller communicating with the support, the vibration sensor, at least one temperature sensor, and at least one heating coil. Controlled heating of the cylinder and the metallic powder layer results in a stratified abrasion-resistant fused metallic layer on the cylinder's inner surface. The fused layer may be honed to make a liner sleeve.

Cylinder heater

A high pressure piston for use within a liner sleeve of a reciprocating pump comprises a dual-durometer elastomeric seal having first and second coaxial seal sections and, in certain embodiments, a circumferential bearing ring. Interactions of the seal components, including seal elastomers, result in stress redistribution within the seal which maintains sealing preload, with corresponding improved extrusion resistance and seal durability. When a bearing ring is present, a pump's pressure stroke causes at least a portion of the bearing ring to elastically expand radially to narrow or close the extrusion gap, thus tending to block elastomer extrusion by establishing sliding contact between the bearing ring's external surface and the liner. On the pump's return stroke the slightly wider extrusion gap allows cooling water directed generally toward the proximal flange of the piston hub to better cleanse, as well as cool, the liner wall.

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Austin, TX, United States of America

George H Blume