Multiplex pump systems and associated methods of use with waterjet systems and other high pressure fluid systems

Abstract

High pressure pump systems for use with waterjet systems and other systems are described herein. A pump system configured in accordance with a particular embodiment includes a first multi-cylinder pump having a first crankshaft and a second multi-cylinder pump having a second crankshaft. The first and second crankshafts are operably coupled together (via, e.g., a common drive system) so that the reciprocation cycles of the corresponding pistons or plungers are spaced apart from each other in equal intervals of crankshaft rotation.

1 - 12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . A fluid pressurizing system comprising:
 a first pump, the first pump having:
 a first crankcase; 
 a first crankshaft operably disposed within the crankcase; 
 at least first and second pressurizing members operably coupled to the first crankshaft; and 
 at least first and second cylinders mounted to the first crankcase, wherein the first pressurizing member is operably disposed in the first cylinder and the second pressurizing member is operably disposed in the second cylinder; 
   a second pump, the second pump having:
 a second crankcase; 
 a second crankshaft operably disposed within the crankcase; 
 at least third and fourth pressurizing members operably coupled to the second crankshaft; and 
 at least third and fourth cylinders mounted to the second crankcase, wherein the third pressurizing member is operably disposed in the third cylinder and the fourth pressurizing member is operably disposed in the fourth cylinder; 
   a drive system, wherein the first and second crankshafts are operably coupled to the drive system in a fixed phase relationship, and wherein the first, second, third and fourth pressurizing members reciprocate in the corresponding first, second, third and fourth cylinders in cycles spaced apart by equal phase angles during simultaneous rotation of the first and second crankshafts;   a first manifold in fluid communication with the first and second cylinders;   a second manifold in fluid communication with the third and fourth cylinders; and   a fluid junction operably coupled in fluid communication with the first manifold via a first conduit and the second manifold via a second conduit, wherein the first conduit is substantially equivalent to the second conduit in length, internal flow area, or both.   
     
     
         14 . The fluid pressurizing system of  claim 13  wherein the first conduit has a first length and the second conduit has a second length that is substantially equivalent to the first length. 
     
     
         15 . The fluid pressurizing system of  claim 13  wherein the first conduit has a first length and a first internal flow area, and wherein the second conduit has a second length that is substantially equivalent to the first length and a second internal flow area that is substantially equivalent to the first internal flow area. 
     
     
         16 . The fluid pressurizing system of  claim 13 ,
 wherein the first crankshaft includes first and second journals offset from each other by a phase angle of 180 degrees, and wherein the first and second pressurizing members are operably coupled to the first and second journals, respectively;   wherein the second crankshaft includes third and fourth journals offset from each other by a phase angle of 180 degrees, and wherein the third and fourth pressurizing members are operably coupled to the third and fourth journals, respectively; and   wherein the first and second crankshafts are operably coupled to the drive system so that the reciprocation cycles of the first, second, third and fourth pressurizing members occur sequentially at 90 degree intervals during synchronized rotation of the first and second crankshafts.   
     
     
         17 . The fluid pressurizing system of  claim 13 ,
 wherein the first pump further includes:
 a fifth pressurizing member operably coupled to the first crankshaft; and 
 a fifth cylinder mounted to the first crankcase, wherein the fifth pressurizing member is operably disposed in the fifth cylinder; 
   wherein the second pump further includes:
 a sixth pressurizing member operably coupled to the second crankshaft; and 
 a sixth cylinder mounted to the second crankcase, wherein the sixth pressurizing member is operably disposed in the sixth cylinder; 
   wherein the first crankshaft includes first, second and third journals offset from one another by crankshaft angles of 120 degrees, and wherein the first, second and fifth pressurizing members are operably coupled to the first, second and third journals, respectively;   wherein the second crankshaft includes fourth, fifth and sixth journals offset from one another by crankshaft angles of 120 degrees, and wherein the fourth, fifth and sixth pressurizing members are operably coupled to the fourth, fifth and sixth journals, respectively; and   wherein the first and second crankshafts are operably coupled to the drive system at a fixed phase angle of 60 degrees.   
     
     
         18 . The fluid pressurizing system of  claim 13  wherein the first and second pumps provide process fluid to the junction at pressures greater than 30,000 psi with a fixed crankshaft phase angle of 60 degrees between pressure pulses when driven by the drive system. 
     
     
         19 . The fluid pressurizing system of  claim 13  wherein the first and second pumps provide process fluid at pressures greater than 60,000 psi and less than 150,000 psi with a fixed crankshaft phase angle of 60 degrees between pressure pulses when driven by the drive system. 
     
     
         20 . The fluid pressurizing system of  claim 13  wherein the drive system includes a motor having first and second output shaft portions, wherein the first crankshaft is operably coupled to the first output shaft portion by a first drive member, and wherein the second crankshaft is operably coupled to the second output shaft portion by a second drive member. 
     
     
         21 . The fluid pressurizing system of  claim 13  wherein the pressurizing members are plungers. 
     
     
         22 . The fluid pressurizing system of  claim 13  wherein the pressurizing members are pistons. 
     
     
         23 - 27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . A method of assembling a waterjet system, the method comprising:
 operably coupling a first crankshaft of a first pump to a drive system, the first pump having at least a first high pressure fluid outlet;   operably coupling a second crankshaft of a second pump to the drive system, the second pump having at least a second high pressure fluid outlet;   operably coupling the first high pressure fluid outlet to a fluid junction via a first conduit, the first conduit having a first length and a first internal cross-sectional area;   operably coupling the second high pressure fluid outlet to the fluid junction via a second conduit, the second conduit having a second length that is at least substantially equivalent to the first length and a second internal cross-sectional area that is at least substantially equivalent to the first internal cross-sectional area; and   operably coupling a third conduit between the fluid junction and a waterjet nozzle assembly, wherein the third conduit is configured to convey high pressure fluid from the fluid junction to the nozzle assembly for directing onto a workpiece by a cutting head.   
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28  wherein operably coupling the first and second crankshafts to the drive system includes operably coupling the first and second crankshafts to the drive system in a fixed phase relationship. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 28  wherein operably coupling the first and second crankshafts to the drive system includes operably coupling the first and second crankshafts to the drive system in a fixed phase relationship that causes the first and second pumps to provide the high pressure fluid to the fluid junction with uniformly spaced pressure pulsations during operation of the drive system. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 28  wherein operably coupling the first and second crankshafts to the drive system includes operably coupling the first and second crankshafts to the drive system in a fixed phase relationship that causes the first and second pumps to provide the high pressure fluid to the fluid junction at a pressure greater than 30,000 psi and less than 150,000 psi, and with uniformly spaced pressure pulsations, during operation of the drive system. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 28  wherein the first pump is a first triplex pump and the second pump is a second triplex pump. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 28  wherein the first pump is a first duplex pump and the second pump is a second duplex pump, and wherein operably coupling the first and second crankshafts to the drive system includes operably coupling the first and second crankshafts to the drive system at a fixed phase angle of 90 degrees. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 28  wherein the first pump is a first triplex pump and the second pump is a second triplex pump, and wherein operably coupling the first and second crankshafts to the drive system includes operably coupling the first and second crankshafts to the drive system at a fixed phase angle of 60 degrees. 
     
     
         35 - 86 . (canceled) 
     
     
         87 . A method of producing a fluid pressurizing system, the method comprising:
 operably coupling a first crankshaft of a first multiplex pump to a drive system; and   operably coupling a second crankshaft of a second multiplex pump to the drive system in a fixed phase relationship to the first crankshaft.   
     
     
         88 . The method of  claim 87 :
 wherein the first multiplex pump includes a first plurality of compression members operably coupled to the first crankshaft;   wherein the second multiplex pump includes a second plurality of compression members operably coupled to the second crankshaft; and   wherein operably coupling the second crankshaft to the drive system includes positioning the second crankshaft relative to the first crankshaft so that the first and second pluralities of compression members reciprocate in evenly spaced apart cycles during simultaneous rotation of the first and second crankshafts by the drive system.   
     
     
         89 . The method of  claim 87 , further comprising operating the drive system to pressurize and discharge process fluid from the first and second multiplex pumps at pressures greater than 20,000 psi and less than 150,000 psi. 
     
     
         90 - 111 . (canceled)