Pump fluid cylinder including load transfer shoulder and valve seat for same

Abstract

According to one aspect, a pump assembly includes a fluid cylinder, and the fluid cylinder includes a fluid passage that defines a tapered internal shoulder of the fluid cylinder. The tapered internal shoulder defines a first frusto-conical surface. A valve controls flow of fluid through the fluid passage. The valve includes a valve seat, which includes a seat body disposed in the fluid passage, and a bore formed through the seat body and through which fluid flows. The seat body includes inlet and outlet end portions, wherein the fluid flows into the bore at the inlet end portion and flows out of the bore at the outlet end portion. The inlet end portion of the seat body defines a second frusto-conical surface. In one embodiment, the second frusto-conical surface engages the first frusto-conical surface to distribute and transfer loading.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A pump assembly, comprising:
 a fluid cylinder having a first axis and a second axis perpendicular thereto, the fluid cylinder comprising a first fluid passage through which fluid flows along the first axis, the first fluid passage defining a first tapered internal shoulder of the fluid cylinder, the first tapered internal shoulder defining a first frusto-conical surface, the first frusto-conical surface defining a first angle from the second axis; and   a first valve to control flow of fluid through the first fluid passage, the first valve comprising a first valve seat disposed in the first fluid passage, the first valve seat comprising:
 a seat body comprising an inlet end portion and an outlet end portion opposed thereto along the first axis, the inlet end portion of the seat body defining a second frusto-conical surface, the second frusto-conical surface defining a second angle from the second axis; and 
 a bore formed through the seat body and through which fluid flows in a direction along the first axis and perpendicular to the second axis; 
   wherein the fluid flows into the bore at the inlet end portion of the seat body and flows out of the bore at the outlet end portion of the seat body;   wherein each of the first and second angles ranges from about 10 degrees to about 45 degrees measured from the second axis; and   wherein the second frusto-conical surface of the inlet end portion engages the first frusto-conical surface of the fluid cylinder to distribute and transfer loading between the second and first frusto-conical surfaces.   
     
     
         2 . The pump assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the second axis intersects the seat body at an intersection, the intersection defining a first diameter of the seat body;
 wherein the seat body defines an axially-extending outside surface extending along the first axis from the inlet end portion to the outlet end portion, the axially-extending outside surface defining a second diameter of the seat body;   wherein the second diameter of the seat body is greater than the first diameter of the seat body; and   wherein the second frusto-conical surface extends between the intersection and the axially-extending outside surface.   
     
     
         3 . The pump assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the second frusto-conical surface extends from the intersection to the outside surface in an angular direction, an axial component of which extends axially towards the outlet end portion. 
     
     
         4 . The pump assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the inlet end portion of the seat body defines an end surface that faces axially away from the outlet end portion;
 wherein the second axis is coplanar with the end surface; and   wherein the second frusto-conical surface extends from the end surface to the outside surface.   
     
     
         5 . The pump assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the inlet end portion comprises an annular portion that extends from the intersection in an axial direction away from the outlet end portion. 
     
     
         6 . The pump assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the second frusto-conical surface extends from the intersection to the outside surface in an angular direction, an axial component of which extends axially away from the outlet end portion. 
     
     
         7 . The pump assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the inlet end portion comprises an annular portion that extends from the intersection in an axial direction away from the outlet end portion. 
     
     
         8 . The pump assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid passage comprises:
 a first passage portion defining a first inside diameter of the fluid cylinder; and   a second passage portion defining a second inside diameter of the fluid cylinder;   wherein the second inside diameter is less than the first inside diameter;   wherein the valve seat body is disposed in the second passage portion; and   wherein at least a portion of the second passage portion is positioned along the first axis between the first passage portion and the first tapered internal shoulder.   
     
     
         9 . A valve seat adapted to be disposed within a fluid cylinder of a pump assembly, the valve seat having a first axis and a second axis perpendicular thereto, the valve seat comprising:
 a seat body comprising an inlet end portion and an outlet end portion opposed thereto along the first axis, the inlet end portion of the seat body defining a frusto-conical surface, the frusto-conical surface defining an angle from the second axis; and   a bore formed through the seat body and through which fluid flows in a direction along the first axis and perpendicular to the second axis;   wherein the fluid flows into the bore at the inlet end portion of the seat body and flows out of the bore at the outlet end portion of the seat body; and   wherein the angle ranges from about 10 degrees to about 45 degrees measured from the second axis.   
     
     
         10 . The valve seat of  claim 9 , wherein the second axis intersects the seat body at an intersection, the intersection defining a first diameter of the seat body;
 wherein the seat body defines an axially-extending outside surface extending along the first axis from the inlet end portion to the outlet end portion, the axially-extending outside surface defining a second diameter of the seat body;   wherein the second diameter of the seat body is greater than the first diameter of the seat body; and   wherein the frusto-conical surface extends between the intersection and the axially-extending outside surface.   
     
     
         11 . The valve seat of  claim 10 , wherein the frusto-conical surface extends from the intersection to the outside surface in an angular direction, an axial component of which extends axially towards the outlet end portion. 
     
     
         12 . The valve seat of  claim 11 , wherein the inlet end portion of the seat body defines an end surface that faces axially away from the outlet end portion;
 wherein the second axis is coplanar with the end surface; and   wherein the frusto-conical surface extends from the end surface to the outside surface.   
     
     
         13 . The valve seat of  claim 11 , wherein the inlet end portion comprises an annular portion that extends from the intersection in an axial direction away from the outlet end portion. 
     
     
         14 . The valve seat of  claim 10 , wherein the frusto-conical surface extends from the intersection to the outside surface in an angular direction, an axial component of which extends axially away from the outlet end portion. 
     
     
         15 . The valve seat of  claim 14 , wherein the inlet end portion comprises an annular portion that extends from the intersection in an axial direction away from the outlet end portion. 
     
     
         16 . A fluid cylinder for a pump assembly, the fluid cylinder having a first axis and a second axis perpendicular thereto, the fluid cylinder comprising:
 a first fluid passage in which a first valve is adapted to be disposed and through which fluid flows along the first axis, the fluid passage comprising:
 a first passage portion defining a first inside diameter of the fluid passage; and 
 a second passage portion extending from the first passage portion, the second passage portion defining a second inside diameter of the fluid passage; 
 wherein the second inside diameter is less than the first inside diameter; 
   a tapered internal shoulder defined by the fluid passage, the tapered internal shoulder defining a frusto-conical surface, the frusto-conical surface defining an angle from the second axis;
 wherein the angle ranges from about 10 degrees to about 45 degrees measured from the second axis; and 
 wherein at least a portion of the second passage portion is positioned along the first axis between the first passage portion and the first tapered internal shoulder; 
   and   a pressure chamber in fluid communication with the first fluid passage.   
     
     
         17 . The fluid cylinder of  claim 16 , wherein the second axis intersects the fluid passage at an intersection, the intersection defining a third diameter of the fluid passage;
 wherein the second passage portion defines an axially-extending cylindrical inside surface extending along the first axis, the axially-extending cylindrical inside surface having the second diameter;   wherein the second diameter of the fluid passage is greater than the third diameter of the fluid passage; and   wherein the frusto-conical surface extends between the intersection and the axially-extending cylindrical inside surface.   
     
     
         18 . The fluid cylinder of  claim 17 , wherein the frusto-conical surface extends from the intersection to the cylindrical inside surface in an angular direction, an axial component of which extends axially towards the first passage portion. 
     
     
         19 . The valve seat of  claim 10 , wherein the frusto-conical surface extends from the intersection to the outside surface in an angular direction, an axial component of which extends axially away from the outlet end portion. 
     
     
         20 . The valve seat of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 a second fluid passage in which a second valve is adapted to be disposed and through which fluid flows along the first axis; and   a fluid outlet passage in fluid communication with the pressure chamber via the second fluid passage.