Flow International Corporation

Larry G Pearson

Olivier L Tremoulet, Jr

Mohamed Ahmed Hashish

Chidambaram Raghavan

Jordan J Hopkins

Charles M Wakefield

Kraig T Kostohris

Greg Mital

Aki Tanuma

Jordan J Hopinks

Thomas Sizemore

Olivier L Tremoulet

Disclosed herein are components, systems, and methods to improve characteristics of a manufactured article. Specifically, embodiments of a high pressure system includes an apparatus that subjects the article to specific pressures and temperatures for an amount of time to improve characteristics of the article. Methods of manufacturing include use of the high pressure system to subject the article to specific pressures and temperatures for an amount of time to improve characteristics of the article.

Systems and methods of interim and end of process treatment of manufactured articles using high pressure and waterjets

A fluid pump system includes a pump having a plurality of cylinders, each having an outlet port coupled to a high-pressure manifold. A pressure transducer is coupled to the manifold and configured to convert pressure levels of fluid in the manifold to a voltage signal at an output of the transducer. The system further includes a digitizer configured to convert the voltage signal from the transducer to a digital signal at a digitizer output, such that when a value of the voltage signal is less than a selected reference voltage a first digital value is produced, and when the voltage level exceeds the selected reference voltage a second digital value is produced. A diagnostic circuit having an input coupled to the digitizer output is configured to detect malfunctions of the pump based upon characteristics of the digital signal.

Apparatus and method for detecting malfunctions in high-pressure fluid pumps

Components, assemblies and methods for creating seals in ultrahigh pressure fluid containment systems, are shown and described. Embodiments of the invention allow abutting components of like materials to be compressed against each other without the need of an intermediate gasket or other structure, and reduce relative movement between the abutting parts to increase the useful life of the components. Embodiments of the invention incorporate a first component with a tapered mouth having a curved cross-sectional profile, and a complementary component having a mouth with a linear cross-sectional profile. The profiles contact each other at a tangential contact angle ranging between 40 and 68 degrees with respect to the radial axis of the components.

Components, systems and methods for forming a gasketless seal between like metal components in an ultrahigh pressure system

A self-venting seal assembly for use in an ultrahigh-pressure pump is shown and described. In a preferred embodiment, a low-pressure seal is used to energize a high-pressure seal, the low-pressure seal having a 'u' shaped cross-section, thereby creating a groove in a first end of the low-pressure seal. When the first end of the seal is exposed to pressurized fluid, it expands outwardly thereby substantially preventing the leakage of fluid past it. To the extent that any pressurized fluid does leak past the seal, which would act against a second end of the seal when the pressure on the opposite side of the seal drops, the seal compresses inwardly, thereby allowing the pressurized fluid to flow back past the seal. In a preferred embodiment, the high-pressure seal comprises a sleeve seal having an annular opening through which the plunger reciprocates, the sleeve seal being supported by a backup ring, the backup ring also having an annular opening through which the plunger passes. The sleeve seal and backup ring are configured such that they may be placed in an annular bore of a seal carrier and an annular end surface of the sleeve seal and an annular surface of the backup ring abut each other and are substantially flush, thereby simplifying manufacturing and installation of the seal assembly.

Self-venting seal assembly

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Bonney Lake, WA, United States of America

Larry G Pearson