Pump assembly

Abstract

A pump has power and fluid ends wherein one or more of the drive rods are offset from the plungers. An offset coupler connects a drive rod to an offset plunger. A method includes connecting the offset power end to the standard fluid end using the offset coupler. A repair and maintenance system includes inventories of standard fluid ends, power ends including offset power ends, and adapters, and a population of in service pumps, whereby the pumps can be repaired by removing and replacing the power ends from inventory using the adaptor where the replacement power end unit is offset. Another method includes removing and replacing the power end with one from the inventory, wherein the adapter is used in the case of an offset power end, whereby the offset and standard power ends may be used interchangeably.

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         13 . A pump assembly and maintenance system, comprising:
 a standby inventory of standard fluid end assemblies comprising a standard plunger and tie rod configuration;   a standby inventory of a plurality of different sets of power end units, wherein each set of power end units has a different drive rod and tie rod configuration with respect to the other power end sets, including at least one set of offset power ends having an offset drive rod and tie rod configuration with respect to the standard plunger and tie rod configuration;   a standby inventory of adapter units to connect the offset power ends to the standard fluid ends; and   a population of pump assemblies in service, comprising in-service pump assemblies comprising a said standard fluid end, a said adapter unit and a said offset power end, whereby the in-service pump assemblies can be repaired by removing the power end and replacing with a said power end from the standby inventory thereof wherein the replacement power end has a different drive rod and tie rod configuration with respect to the removed power end.   
     
     
         14 . The pump assembly and maintenance system of  claim 13  wherein the inventory of standard fluid end assemblies further comprises interchangeable pump body modules, wherein the fluid end assemblies comprise a plurality of the modules, whereby the in-service pump assemblies can be repaired by removing and replacing the standard fluid end assembly or one or more of the interchangeable pump body modules. 
     
     
         15 . The pump assembly and maintenance system of  claim 13  or  11  wherein the inventory of power end units further comprise a set of standard power ends having a drive rod and tie rod configuration matching the standard plunger and tie rod configuration, and wherein the population of in-service pump assemblies further comprises pump assemblies comprising a standard power end coupled directly to a standard fluid end. 
     
     
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         25 . A method, comprising:
 providing a standby inventory of standard fluid end assemblies comprising a standard plunger and tie rod configuration;   providing a standby inventory of a plurality of different sets of power end units, wherein each set of power end units has a different drive rod and tie rod configuration with respect to the other power end sets, including at least one set of offset power ends having an offset drive rod and tie rod configuration with respect to the standard plunger and tie rod configuration;   providing a standby inventory of adapter units adapted to connect the offset power ends to the standard fluid ends; and   connecting a said standard fluid end, a said adapter unit and a said offset power end from the standby inventories into a pump assembly;   placing a plurality of the pump assemblies in service;   removing the power end of one of the in-service pump assemblies for repair or maintenance and replacing it with a said power end from the standby inventory, wherein the replacement power end has a different drive rod and tie rod configuration with respect to the removed power end.   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25  wherein the inventory of standard fluid end assemblies further comprises interchangeable pump body modules, wherein the fluid end assemblies comprise a plurality of the modules, and further comprising removing the standard fluid end assembly or one or more of the interchangeable pump body modules for repair or maintenance and replacing it with another one from the inventory of standard fluid end assembly or one or more of the interchangeable pump body modules. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 25  wherein the inventory of power end units further comprise a set of standard power ends having a drive rod and tie rod configuration matching the standard plunger and tie rod configuration, and further comprising connecting a said standard fluid end and a said standard power end from the respective inventories into a pump assembly.