Valve cover and liner retainer for a fluid end of a pump

Abstract

A valve cover assembly and a liner retainer assembly configured to retain a plug, a liner, and/or a liner seal within or against a module or retention body of a fluid end of a pump. The valve cover assembly and the liner retainer assembly include pistons coupled to a retaining flange or a threaded gland. A bias applied to the pistons biases the retaining flange and a threaded gland that is coupled to the retaining flange, or the piston alone, into engagement with the module or retention body to retain the plug, the liner, and/or the liner seal on the module.

1 . An assembly, comprising:
 a body;   a piston extending from the body;   a biasing member biasing the piston into the body; and   a retaining flange coupled to the piston, wherein the retaining flange is biased toward the body by a bias applied to the piston by the biasing member.   
     
     
         2 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the body comprises a module of a fluid end or a separate retention body coupled to the module of the fluid end. 
     
     
         3 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the piston includes a flange portion disposed within the body, and wherein the bias of the biasing member is applied to the flange portion. 
     
     
         4 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the retaining flange is coupled to the piston by a flange retaining nut which engages the retaining flange. 
     
     
         5 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the biasing member is retained within the body by a piston retaining nut that is coupled to the body. 
     
     
         6 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein a chamber is formed within the body at a position below the piston such that application of pressurized fluid into the chamber moves the piston against the bias of the biasing member. 
     
     
         7 . The assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a threaded gland coupled to the retaining flange and configured to retain at least one of a plug, a liner, and a liner seal within or against the module. 
     
     
         8 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the body comprises a separate retention body coupled to a module of a fluid end, and wherein the retaining flange is biased toward the retention body to retain a liner against the module. 
     
     
         9 . A method of installing an assembly, comprising:
 positioning a retaining flange relative to a body such that a piston extending from the body extends into an opening of the retaining flange;   supplying pressurized fluid into a chamber formed in the body to move the piston against a bias applied on the piston by a biasing member disposed within the body;   coupling a flange retaining nut to the piston such that the flange retaining nut engages the retaining flange; and   forcing the retaining flange toward the body by the force applied to the piston by the biasing member.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the body comprises a module of a fluid end or a separate retention body coupled to the module of the fluid end. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising reducing pressure within the chamber such that the force applied to the piston by the biasing member forces the piston into the body. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the piston includes a flange portion disposed within the body, and wherein the force of the biasing member is applied to the flange portion. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising threading a threaded gland into the retaining flange to retain at least one of a plug, a liner, and a liner seal within or against the module. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the body comprises a separate retention body coupled to a module of a fluid end, and wherein the retaining flange is biased toward the retention body to retain a liner against the module. 
     
     
         15 . An assembly, comprising:
 a module;   a threaded gland coupled to the module;   a piston at least partially disposed within the threaded gland; and   a biasing member disposed within the threaded gland and biasing the piston toward the module.   
     
     
         16 . The assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the biasing member is retained within the threaded gland by a piston retaining nut that is coupled to the threaded gland. 
     
     
         17 . The assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the piston includes a flange portion disposed within the threaded gland, and wherein the bias of the biasing member is applied to the flange portion. 
     
     
         18 . The assembly of  claim 17 , wherein a chamber is formed within the threaded gland at a position below the flange portion such that application of pressurized fluid into the chamber moves the piston against the bias of the biasing member. 
     
     
         19 . The assembly of  claim 18 , wherein a fluid path is formed through the piston to supply pressurized fluid to the chamber. 
     
     
         20 . The assembly of  claim 19 , wherein a lower portion of the piston extends through a bore formed in a bottom end of the threaded gland.