Pump system

Abstract

Aspects of the disclosure relate to pumping systems, apparatus, end related methods for longer strong lengths and reduced footprints. In one aspect, pumping systems facilitate increased horsepower generated at lower cycle rates and a lesser number of pumps. In one implementation, a pump system comprises a hydraulic power end coupled to and located in between a first fluid end and a second fluid end. The hydraulic power end comprises a hydraulic cylinder assembly having a piston, a first rod coupled to the piston and to the first fluid end, and a second rod coupled to the piston and to the second fluid end located on the opposite side.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A pump system, comprising:
 a hydraulic power end comprising a hydraulic cylinder having a hydraulic cylinder housing, and a cylinder rod assembly disposed at least partially in the hydraulic cylinder housing, the cylinder rod assembly comprising:
 a piston disposed in the hydraulic cylinder housing, 
 a first rod coupled to the piston and extending from a first end of the piston and out of a first side of the hydraulic cylinder, and 
 a second rod coupled to the piston and extending from a second end of the piston and out of a second side of the hydraulic cylinder; and 
   a first fluid end comprising a first fluid end block disposed adjacent the first side of the hydraulic cylinder; and   a second fluid end comprising a second fluid end block disposed adjacent the second side of the hydraulic cylinder.   
     
     
         2 . The pump system of  claim 1 , wherein the piston of the cylinder rod assembly is coupled to a first end of the first rod and a first end of the second rod. 
     
     
         3 . The pump system of  claim 2 , wherein the first fluid end block receives a second end of the first rod of the cylinder rod assembly. 
     
     
         4 . The pump system of  claim 3 , wherein the second fluid end block receives a second end of the second rod of the cylinder rod assembly. 
     
     
         5 . The pump system of  claim 4 , wherein each of the first rod and the second rod of the cylinder rod assembly is hollow. 
     
     
         6 . A pump system, comprising:
 a hydraulic power end comprising a hydraulic cylinder having a hydraulic cylinder housing, and a cylinder rod assembly disposed at least partially in the hydraulic cylinder housing, the cylinder rod assembly comprising a piston disposed in a piston chamber of the hydraulic cylinder housing;   a hydraulic fluid circuit comprising:
 a first supply line coupled to the piston chamber of the hydraulic cylinder housing on a first side of the piston, 
 a first return line coupled to the piston chamber of the hydraulic cylinder housing on the first side of the piston, 
 a second supply line coupled to the piston chamber of the hydraulic cylinder housing on a second side of the piston, 
 a second return line coupled to the piston chamber of the hydraulic cylinder housing on the second side of the piston, and 
 one or more pumps coupled to supply a hydraulic fluid to the first supply line and the second supply line; 
   a first fluid end that receives a first end of the cylinder rod assembly; and   a second fluid end that receives a second end of the cylinder rod assembly.   
     
     
         7 . The pump system of  claim 6 , wherein the hydraulic fluid circuit further comprises one or more reservoirs to receive the hydraulic fluid from the first return line and the second return line. 
     
     
         8 . The pump system of  claim 7 , wherein the hydraulic fluid circuit further comprises:
 a first supply valve along the first supply line that, when open, supplies the hydraulic fluid to the piston chamber on the first side of the piston; and   a second supply valve along the second supply line that, when open, supplies the hydraulic fluid to the piston chamber on the second side of the piston.   
     
     
         9 . The pump system of  claim 8 , wherein the hydraulic fluid circuit further comprises:
 a first return valve along the first return line that, when open, returns the hydraulic fluid from the piston chamber on the first side of the piston to the one or more reservoirs; and   a second return valve along the second return line that, when open, returns the hydraulic fluid from the piston chamber on the second side of the piston to the one or more reservoirs.   
     
     
         10 . The pump system of  claim 9 , wherein each of the first supply valve, the second supply valve, the first return valve, and the second return valve is disposed within the hydraulic cylinder. 
     
     
         11 . The pump system of  claim 9 , further comprising a controller coupled to each of the one or more pumps, the first supply valve, the second supply valve, the first return valve, and the second return valve. 
     
     
         12 . The pump system of  claim 11 , wherein the controller is configured to open the first supply valve and the second return valve while the second supply valve and the first return valve are closed to move the piston in a first direction toward the fluid end block. 
     
     
         13 . The pump system of  claim 12 , wherein the controller is further configured to open the second supply valve and the first return valve while the first supply valve and the second return valve are closed to move the piston in a second direction that is opposite of the first direction. 
     
     
         14 . The pump system of  claim 6 , wherein the first end of the cylinder rod assembly comprises a first rod coupled to the piston and extending from the first side of the piston and out of a first side of the hydraulic cylinder housing, wherein the second end of the cylinder rod assembly comprises a second rod coupled to the piston and extending from the second side of the piston and out of a second side of the hydraulic cylinder housing, wherein the first fluid end receives the first rod that extends out of the hydraulic cylinder housing, and wherein the second fluid end receives the second rod that extends out of the hydraulic cylinder housing. 
     
     
         15 . A method of operating a pump system, comprising:
 supplying pressurized fluid via a first supply line into a piston chamber on a first side of a piston of a cylinder rod assembly;   exhausting pressurized fluid via a second return line from the piston chamber on a second side of the piston, wherein supplying and exhausting the pressurized fluid pressurizes the first side of the piston relative to the second side of the piston to move the piston and the cylinder rod assembly in a first direction toward a first fluid end; and then   supplying pressurized fluid via a second supply line into the piston chamber on the second side of the piston;   exhausting pressurized fluid via a first return line from the piston chamber on the first side of the piston, wherein supplying and exhausting of pressurized fluid pressurizes the second side of the piston relative to the first side of the piston to move the piston and the cylinder rod assembly in a second direction toward a second fluid end, the second direction is opposite of the first direction.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the cylinder rod assembly further comprises:
 a first rod coupled to the piston and extending from the first side of the piston and out of a first side of a hydraulic cylinder forming the piston chamber; and   a second rod coupled to the piston and extending from the second side of the piston and out of a second side of the hydraulic cylinder.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the first fluid end receives an end of the first rod that extends out of the hydraulic cylinder, and wherein the second fluid end receives an end of the second rod that extends out of the cylinder rod assembly. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein one or more pumps are coupled to the first and second supply lines to supply the pressurized fluid into the piston chamber, and wherein one or more reservoirs are coupled to the first and second return lines to receive the pressurized fluid from the piston chamber 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein a first supply valve along the first supply line that, when open, supplies the pressurized fluid to the piston chamber on the first side of the piston, wherein a second supply valve along the second supply line that, when open, supplies the pressurized fluid to the piston chamber on the second side of the piston, wherein a first return valve along the first return line that, when open, returns the pressurized fluid from the piston chamber on the first side of the piston to the one or more reservoirs, and wherein a second return valve along the second return line that, when open, returns the pressurized fluid from the piston chamber on the second side of the piston to the one or more reservoirs. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein a controller is configured to open the first supply valve and the second return valve while the second supply valve and the first return valve are closed to move the piston in the first direction toward the first fluid end, and wherein the controller is further configured to open the second supply valve and the first return valve while the first supply valve and the second return valve are closed to move the piston in the second direction. 
     
     
         21 . A pump system, comprising:
 a hydraulic power end comprising a hydraulic cylinder having a hydraulic cylinder housing, and a cylinder rod assembly disposed at least partially in the hydraulic cylinder housing, the cylinder rod assembly comprising:
 a piston disposed in the hydraulic cylinder housing, and 
 a rod section coupled to the piston and extending from the piston and out of a first side of the hydraulic cylinder, wherein a first end of the rod section is coupled to the piston; and 
   a fluid end comprising a fluid end block, wherein a second end of the rod section is received in the fluid end block.