Fluid end assembly

Abstract

A fluid end for a high-pressure pump. The fluid end includes a pump housing having a plunger bore within which is positioned a reciprocating plunger. Extending upwardly at an incline from the inner end of the plunger bore is a discharge passage. Extending downwardly at an incline from the inner end of the plunger bore is a suction passage. Discharge and suction valves are secured, respectively, within the discharge and suction passages.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A pump housing for a fluid end assembly, comprising: 
 a metal forging having:    a plunger bore for receiving a reciprocating plunger, said plunger bore being oriented along a first centerline and having a closed inner end and an open outer end;    a suction passage intersecting said plunger bore for receiving a suction valve, said suction passage being oriented along a second centerline that is coplanar with said first centerline and that intersects said first centerline at a first reference point so as to define a first obtuse angle; 
 a discharge passage intersecting both said plunger bore and said suction passage for receiving a discharge valve, said discharge passage being oriented along a third centerline that is coplanar with said second centerline and said first centerline and that intersects said first centerline at a second reference point that is closer to said open outer end than said first reference point so as to define a second obtuse angle; and,  
 an outlet passage intersecting said discharge passage substantially at right angles.  
   
     
     
         2 . The pump housing for a fluid end assembly according to  claim 1  wherein said suction passage and said discharge passage are each provided with portions of reduced diameter that define valve-supporting decks at their tops.  
     
     
         3 . The pump housing for a fluid end assembly according to  claim 1  wherein said discharge passage has a diameter that is greater than that of said suction passage so that, when servicing is required, the suction valve can be removed from said pump housing through said discharge passage.  
     
     
         4 . The pump housing for a fluid end assembly according to  claim 1  wherein said first obtuse angle measures about 125° and said second obtuse angle measures about 115°.  
     
     
         5 . A fluid end assembly, comprising: 
 a pump housing with: 
 a plunger bore being oriented along a first centerline and having a closed inner end and an open outer end;  
 a suction passage intersecting said plunger bore and being oriented along a second centerline that is coplanar with said first centerline, said suction passage intersecting said first centerline at a first reference point so as to define a first obtuse angle;  
   a discharge passage intersecting both said plunger bore and said suction passage, said discharge passage being oriented along a third centerline that is coplanar with said second centerline and said first centerline and that intersects said first centerline at a second reference point that is closer to said open outer end than said first reference point so as to define a second obtuse angle;    an outlet passage intersecting said discharge passage substantially at right angles;    a reciprocating plunger being located in said plunger bore;    a suction valve being located in said suction passage;    a discharge valve being located in said discharge passage; and,    a fluid supply manifold secured to said pump housing and being in fluid communication with said suction passage.    
     
     
         6 . The fluid end assembly according to  claim 5  wherein said suction passage and said discharge passage are each provided with portions of reduced diameter that define a pair of decks for supporting, respectively, said suction-valve and said discharge valve within said suction passage and said discharge passage.  
     
     
         7 . The fluid end assembly according to  claim 5  wherein said discharge passage has a diameter that is greater than that of said suction passage so that, when servicing is required, the suction valve can be removed from said pump housing through said discharge passage.  
     
     
         8 . The fluid end assembly according to  claim 5  wherein said first obtuse angle measures about 125° and said second obtuse angle measures about 115°.  
     
     
         9 . The fluid end assembly according to  claim 5  further comprising a pony rod assembly attached by means of threaded fasteners to said plunger for connecting said plunger to a reciprocating part of the power end of a pump.  
     
     
         10 . The fluid end assembly according to  claim 5  wherein said suction valve includes: 
 a first valve seat in said suction passage  
 a piston having a head for engaging the top of valve seat and a stem extending downwardly from said head through said valve seat, said stem having a transverse aperture;  
 a valve guide being positioned adjacent the bottom of said first valve seat and slidably receiving said stem;  
 a valve keeper being fitted upon said stem such that said valve guide is disposed between said valve seat and said valve keeper; a keeper pin being slidably positioned within said transverse aperture in said stem and abutting said keeper; and,  
 a compressed spring being positioned between said valve guide and said keeper so as to normally retain said head in flush engagement with the top of said valve seat thereby closing said suction valve.  
 
     
     
         11 . The fluid end assembly according to  claim 5  wherein said discharge valve includes a valve seat positioned within discharge passage; 
 a piston releasably engaging said valve seat, said piston having a head for releasably engaging said valve seat and stem extending upwardly from said head and away from said valve seat;  
 a valve guide mounted in said discharge passage adjacent said valve seat, said valve guide having a socket for receiving said stem and also having a plurality of apertures that traverse said valve guide and intersect said socket to provide pressure relief to said socket; and,  
 a compressed spring being disposed between said valve guide and said head for normally retaining said head in flush engagement with the top of said valve seat and keeping said discharge valve closed.  
 
     
     
         12 . A fluid end assembly, comprising: 
 a pump housing with: 
 a plunger bore having a closed inner end and an open outer end;  
 a suction passage intersecting said plunger bore;  
 a discharge passage intersecting both said plunger bore and said suction passage such that said discharge passage, said suction passage and said plunger bore radiate outwardly from their point of intersection to define a shape resembling a “Y”, said discharge passage having a diameter greater than that of said suction passage;  
 an outlet passage intersecting said discharge passage substantially at right angles;  
   a reciprocating plunger being located in said plunger bore;    a suction valve being located in said suction passage;    a discharge valve being located in said discharge passage; and,    a fluid supply manifold secured to said pump housing and being in fluid communication with said suction passage.    
     
     
         13 . The fluid end assembly according to  claim 12  wherein said suction passage and said discharge passage are each provided with portions of reduced diameter that define a pair of decks for supporting, respectively, said suction valve and said discharge valve within said suction passage and said discharge passage.  
     
     
         14 . The fluid end assembly according to  claim 12  wherein said discharge passage has a diameter that is greater than that of said suction passage so that the suction valve can be removed from said pump housing through said discharge passage.  
     
     
         15 . The fluid end assembly according to  claim 12  further comprising a pony rod assembly bolted to said plunger.  
     
     
         16 . The fluid end assembly according to  claim 12  wherein said suction valve includes: 
 a first valve seat positioned within said suction passage a piston having a head for engaging the top of said first valve seat and a stem extending downwardly from said head through said first valve seat, said stem having a transverse aperture;  
 a valve guide being positioned adjacent the bottom of said first valve seat and slidably receiving said stem;  
 a valve keeper being fitted upon said stem such that said valve guide is disposed between said first valve seat and said valve keeper;  
 a keeper pin being slidably positioned within said transverse aperture in said stem and abutting said keeper; and,  
 a compressed spring being positioned between said valve guide and said keeper so as to normally retain said head in flush engagement with the top of said first valve seat thereby closing said suction valve.  
 
     
     
         17 . The fluid end assembly according to  claim 16  wherein said discharge valve includes 
 a second valve seat positioned within discharge passage;  
 a piston releasably engaging said second valve seat, said piston having a head for releasably engaging said second valve seat and a stem extending upwardly from said head and away from said second valve seat;  
 a valve guide mounted in said discharge passage adjacent said second valve seat, said valve guide having a socket for receiving said stem and also having a plurality of apertures that traverse said valve guide and intersect said socket to provide pressure relief to said socket; and,  
 a compressed spring being disposed between said valve guide and said head for normally retaining said head in flush engagement with the top of said second valve seat and keeping said discharge valve closed.  
 
     
     
         18 . A piston and valve seat for said suction valve described in  claim 5  wherein: 
 said valve seat is a tube with open, top and bottom surfaces;  
 said piston has 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;  
 said valve has an engaged position wherein in said engaged position an abutment is positioned within said transverse aperture, and a compression spring is disposed between said head and said aperture, and a compression spring is disposed between said head and said aperture.  
 
     
     
         19 . A discharge valve for the fluid end of  claim 11 , comprising: 
 a valve seat positioned within a discharge passage;    a piston releasably engaging said valve seat, said piston having a head for releasably engaging said valve seat and stem extending upwardly from said head and away from said valve seat;    a valve guide mounted in said discharge passage adjacent said valve seat, said valve guide having a socket for receiving said stem and also having a plurality of apertures that traverse said valve guide and intersect said socket to provide pressure relief to said socket; and    a compressed spring being disposed between said valve guide and said head for normally retaining said head in flush engagement with the top of said valve seat and keeping said discharge valve closed.