Method for protecting pump components

Abstract

A method for protecting pump components by coating moving components with an amorphous carbon material. Components that preferably receive such coating include the plunger, barrel, traveling valve ball and seat, and standing valve ball and seat. Other components may also be coated. The coating thickness is preferably in the range of between about 0.0002″ and 0.030″. In one embodiment, at least two coating layers are applied, with the coating layers having different colored appearances so as to facilitate inspection for wearing away of the coating material.

1 . A method for reducing wear and tear on components in a fluid-pumping system, comprising the steps of: 
 providing a first component of a fluid pumping system;    providing a second component of a fluid pumping system that is in moving contact with said first component during operation of said fluid-pumping system, such that said moving contact tends to cause wear and tear on at least one of said first component and said second component over time;    coating at least one of said first component and said second component with amorphous carbon.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of coating each of said first component and said second component with amorphous carbon.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said coating step involves application of an amorphous carbon coating having a thickness within the range of between about 0.0002″ and 0.030″.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said first component is a ball.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein said second component is a seat.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said first component is a plunger.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6  wherein said second component is a barrel.  
   
   
       8 . A method for reducing wear and tear on components in a fluid-pumping system, comprising the steps of: 
 providing a fluid pumping system including a traveling valve ball, a traveling valve seat, a standing valve ball, a standing valve seat, a plunger and a barrel; and    coating each of said traveling valve ball, traveling valve seat, standing valve ball, standing valve seat, plunger and barrel with amorphous carbon.    
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein said coating step involves application of an amorphous carbon coating having a thickness within the range of between about 0.0002″ and 0.030″.  
   
   
       10 . A method for reducing wear and tear on an object comprising the steps of: 
 providing an object to be coated; and    coating said object with at least a first layer and a second layer of amorphous carbon;    wherein said first layer and said second layer have different colored appearances relative to each other.    
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising the step of coating said object with a third layer of amorphous carbon, wherein each of said first layer, said second layer, and said third layer have different colored appearances relative to each other.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 10  wherein said object is a ball.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 10  wherein said object is a seat.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 10  wherein said object is a plunger.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 10  wherein said object is a barrel.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 10  wherein said object is a bearing.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 10  wherein said object is a sleeve.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 10  wherein said object is a piston.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 10  wherein said object is an impeller.