Fluid liner wear indicator for suction manifold of reciprocating pump assembly

Abstract

A manifold through which a fluid is adapted to flow. The manifold includes an elongated member at least partially defining a fluid chamber through which the fluid is adapted to flow, a longitudinal axis, and an interior surface; a fluid liner disposed within the fluid chamber and adapted to dynamically respond to pressure fluctuations within the fluid chamber as the fluid flows therethrough; and a wear indicator positioned radially between the interior surface of the elongated member and the longitudinal axis. The fluid liner is subject to wear and/or erosion due to the flow of the fluid therethrough and/or the dynamic response of the fluid liner to the pressure fluctuations within the fluid chamber. The wear indicator is adapted to indicate the degree to which the fluid liner has been subjected to the wear and/or erosion.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A manifold through which a fluid is adapted to flow, the manifold comprising:
 an elongated member at least partially defining a fluid chamber through which the fluid is adapted to flow, a longitudinal axis, and an interior surface, the elongated member comprising: one or more inlets via which the fluid flows into the fluid chamber; and one or more outlets via which the fluid flows out of the fluid chamber;   a fluid liner disposed within the fluid chamber and adapted to dynamically respond to pressure fluctuations within the fluid chamber as the fluid flows therethrough, the fluid liner being subject to wear and/or erosion due to the flow of the fluid therethrough and the dynamic response of the fluid liner to the pressure fluctuations, the fluid liner having a first erosion rate; and   a wear body embedded in the fluid liner and positioned radially between the interior surface of the elongated member and the longitudinal axis;   wherein the wear body has a second erosion rate that is less than the first erosion rate of the fluid liner;   wherein, as the fluid liner wears and/or erodes, the wear body protrudes from the fluid liner to an increasing degree to indicate the degree to which the fluid liner has been subjected to the wear and/or erosion.   
     
     
         2 . The manifold of  claim 1 , wherein the wear body extends circumferentially about the longitudinal axis of the elongated member. 
     
     
         3 . The manifold of  claim 2 , wherein the wear body comprises an annular ring extending circumferentially about the longitudinal axis of the elongated member. 
     
     
         4 . The manifold of  claim 1 , wherein the wear body forms a three-dimensional shape that does not extend circumferentially about the longitudinal axis of the elongated member. 
     
     
         5 . The manifold of  claim 1 , wherein the wear body comprises a plurality of separate body segments, at least respective portions of the body segments of the wear body being embedded in the fluid liner. 
     
     
         6 . The manifold of  claim 5 , wherein the body segments have different shapes relative to one another. 
     
     
         7 . The manifold of  claim 5 , wherein at least one of the body segments forms a three-dimensional shape that does not extend circumferentially about the longitudinal axis of the elongated member. 
     
     
         8 . The manifold of  claim 5 , wherein the body segments are graduated, or stepped, with respect to one another. 
     
     
         9 . The manifold of  claim 1 , wherein the manifold further comprises a plug, at least a portion of which is embedded in the fluid liner and positioned radially between the interior surface of the elongated member and the longitudinal axis; and
 wherein the wear body is the portion of the plug that is embedded in the fluid liner and positioned radially between the interior surface of the elongated member and the longitudinal axis.   
     
     
         10 . The manifold of  claim 9 , wherein the elongated member comprises a port; and
 wherein the plug extends through the port and into the fluid chamber.   
     
     
         11 . The manifold of  claim 1 , wherein the wear body is in contact with the interior surface of the elongated member. 
     
     
         12 . The manifold of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the fluid liner extends between the wear body and the interior surface of the elongated member so that the wear body does not contact the interior surface of the elongated member. 
     
     
         13 . The manifold of  claim 1 , wherein, before the fluid liner has been subjected to the wear and/or erosion, the fluid liner covers the wear body so that at least a portion of the fluid liner extends between the wear body and the longitudinal axis of the elongated member. 
     
     
         14 . The manifold of  claim 1 , wherein the wear body is formed of a first material and the fluid liner is formed of a second material that is different from the first material. 
     
     
         15 . A suction manifold adapted to be connected to a fluid end block of a reciprocating pump assembly, the suction manifold comprising:
 a fluid chamber through which fluid is adapted to flow;   a fluid liner disposed within the fluid chamber, the fluid liner being subject to wear and/or erosion, the fluid liner having a first erosion rate; and   a wear body embedded in the fluid liner;   wherein the wear body has a second erosion rate that is less than the first erosion rate of the fluid liner;   wherein, as the fluid liner wears and/or erodes, the wear body protrudes from the fluid liner to an increasing degree to indicate the degree to which the fluid liner has been subjected to the wear and/or erosion.   
     
     
         16 . The suction manifold of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 an elongated member at least partially defining the fluid chamber; and   a discharge tube extending from the elongated member, the discharge tube defining a fluid passage.   
     
     
         17 . The suction manifold of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 a valve lift stem extending from the discharge tube; and   a bull plug assembly connected to the valve lift stem.   
     
     
         18 . A suction manifold adapted to be connected to a fluid end block of a reciprocating pump assembly, the suction manifold comprising:
 a fluid chamber through which fluid is adapted to flow;   a fluid liner disposed within the fluid chamber, the fluid liner being subject to wear and/or erosion; and   a wear groove formed in the fluid liner and devoid of any component of the manifold;   wherein the wear groove is adapted to indicate the degree to which the fluid liner has been subjected to the wear and/or erosion.   
     
     
         19 . The suction manifold of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 an elongated member at least partially defining the fluid chamber; and   a discharge tube extending from the elongated member, the discharge tube defining a fluid passage.   
     
     
         20 . The suction manifold of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 a valve lift stem extending from the discharge tube; and   a bull plug assembly connected to the valve lift stem.   
     
     
         21 . The suction manifold of  claim 18 , wherein the wear groove defines a depth; and
 wherein, as the fluid liner wears and/or erodes, the depth of the wear groove diminishes to indicate the degree to which the fluid liner has been subjected to the wear and/or erosion.   
     
     
         22 . The suction manifold of  claim 18 , wherein, as the fluid liner wears and/or erodes, an emergence of the wear groove indicates the degree to which the fluid liner has been subjected to the wear and/or erosion. 
     
     
         23 . The suction manifold of  claim 18 , wherein the wear groove is one of a plurality of wear grooves formed in the fluid liner;
 wherein the wear grooves are graduated, or stepped, with respect to one another; and   wherein, as the fluid liner wears and/or erodes, either a progressive emergence, or a progressive disappearance, of the wear grooves indicates the degree to which the fluid liner has been subjected to the wear and/or erosion.