High pressure pump

Abstract

An inline valve pump design is provided wherein the suction and the discharge valves operate along a central axis coincident and inline with a reciprocating plunger. The reciprocating plunger operates within a cylinder and a stuffing box which are independently secured by separate securing means to the drive housing of the pump. The cylinder thus secured by these independent securing means to the pump housing is also provided with an outer end having a large threaded portion to which a mounting adapter ring is secured. This ring in turn provides the mounted base to which further securing means, independent of the securing means holding the cylinder and stuffing box to the drive housing, are attached. These second or further securing means are effective to attach the suction and discharge manifold assemblies to the head of the cylinder, and in so doing capture the inline suction and discharge valve assembly to the cylinder head. This structural arrangement of the pump elements into, in effect, two separate and independently maintainable subassemblies, allows for easy maintenance and disassembly of the fluid end of the pump without disassembling the power end of the pump incorporating the cylinder and stuffing box means attached to the drive housing. Another aspect of the present invention is that an optimized arrangement of passageways and suction valve return spring location is employed to enhance the volumetric efficiency of the pump.