Fluid end assembly

Abstract

A fluid end having its fluid flow bores sealed without threading a retaining nut into the walls of each bore. The fluid ends may be assembled using a plurality of different kits, each kit comprising a fluid end body, a component, a retainer element, and a fastening system. The retainer element holds the component within each of the bores formed in the fluid end body and the fastening system secures the retainer element to the body. The fastening system comprises a plurality of externally threaded studs, washers and nuts in some embodiments. In other embodiments, the fastening system comprises a plurality of screws.

The invention claimed is: 
     
         1 . A fluid end assembly, comprising:
 a housing having a first housing bore and a second housing bore formed therein and situated in a side-by-side relationship;   a first plug installed within the first housing bore and closing the first housing bore, and a second plug installed within the second housing bore and closing the second housing bore;   a plate fastened to the housing and abutting the first and second plugs; and   a plurality of fasteners, each of the plurality of fasteners extending through the plate and into the housing to fasten the plate to the housing.   
     
     
         2 . The fluid end assembly of  claim 1 , in which each of the plurality of fasteners is a threaded fastener. 
     
     
         3 . The fluid end assembly of  claim 1 , in which each of the plurality of fasteners includes a threaded nut. 
     
     
         4 . The fluid end assembly of  claim 1 , in which the plate comprises:
 a first plate bore axially aligned with the first housing bore and a second plate bore axially aligned with the second housing bore; and   a first retaining nut installed within the first plate bore and abutting the first plug and a second retaining nut installed within the second plate bore and abutting the second plug.   
     
     
         5 . The fluid end assembly of  claim 5 , in which each of the first and second plate bores includes internal threads; and in which each of the first and second retaining nuts includes external threads for threadedly engaging the internal threads of the respective plate bore. 
     
     
         6 . The fluid end assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first annular groove formed in the housing such that the first groove surrounds the first plug and a second annular groove formed in the housing such that the second groove surrounds the second plug; and   a first seal positioned within the first groove and a second seal positioned within the second groove; in which at least a portion of the first seal engages the first plug and at least a portion of the second seal engages the second plug.   
     
     
         7 . The fluid end assembly of  claim 1 , in which the housing further has a third housing bore intersecting the first housing bore, and a fourth housing bore intersecting the second housing bore, and further comprises:
 a first plunger installed within the first housing bore and axially aligned with the first plug;   a second plunger installed within the second housing bore and axially aligned with the second plug;   a first pair of valves installed within the third housing bore; and   a second pair of valves installed within the fourth housing bore.   
     
     
         8 . The fluid end assembly of  claim 1 , in which the first and second housing bores are horizontally orientated within the housing; and in which the first and second plugs are characterized as suction plugs. 
     
     
         9 . The fluid end assembly of  claim 1 , in which a plurality of openings are formed in the plate and surrounding an opening of each housing bore, the plurality of openings configured to receive the plurality of fasteners in a one-to-one relationship. 
     
     
         10 . The fluid end assembly of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 a third plug installed within the third housing bore;   a retainer fastened to the housing and having a retainer bore; and   a retaining nut installed within the retainer bore and engaging the third plug.   
     
     
         11 . A fluid end assembly, comprising:
 a housing having a first housing bore and a second housing bore formed therein and situated in a side-by-side relationship;   a first plug installed within the first housing bore and closing the first housing bore, and a second plug installed within the second housing bore and closing the second housing bore;   a plate fastened to the housing, the plate having a first plate bore axially aligned with the first housing bore and a second plate bore axially aligned with the second housing bore; and   a first retaining nut installed within the first plate bore and abutting the first plug and a second retaining nut installed within the second plate bore and abutting the second plug.   
     
     
         12 . The fluid end assembly of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a plurality of fasteners, each of the plurality of fasteners extending through the plate and into the housing to fasten the plate to the housing.   
     
     
         13 . The fluid end assembly of  claim 12 , in which each of the plurality of fasteners is a threaded fastener. 
     
     
         14 . The fluid end assembly of  claim 12 , in which each of the plurality of fasteners includes a threaded nut. 
     
     
         15 . The fluid end assembly of  claim 12 , in which a plurality of openings are formed in the plate and surrounding an opening of each housing bore, the plurality of openings configured to receive the plurality of fasteners in a one-to-one relationship. 
     
     
         16 . The fluid end assembly of  claim 11 , in which each of the first and second plate bores includes internal threads; and in which each of the first and second retaining nuts includes external threads for threadedly engaging the internal threads of the respective plate bore. 
     
     
         17 . The fluid end assembly of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a first annular groove formed in the housing such that the first groove surrounds the first plug and a second annular groove formed in the housing such that the second groove surrounds the second plug; and   a first seal positioned within the first groove and a second seal positioned within the second groove; in which at least a portion of the first seal engages the first plug and at least a portion of the second seal engages the second plug.   
     
     
         18 . The fluid end assembly of  claim 11 , in which the housing further has a third housing bore intersecting the first housing bore, and a fourth housing bore intersecting the second housing bore, and further comprises:
 a first plunger installed within the first housing bore and axially aligned with the first plug;   a second plunger installed within the second housing bore and axially aligned with the second plug;   a first pair of valves installed within the third housing bore; and   a second pair of valves installed within the fourth housing bore.   
     
     
         19 . The fluid end assembly of  claim 11 , in which the first and second housing bores are horizontally orientated within the housing; and in which first and second plugs are characterized as suction plugs. 
     
     
         20 . The fluid end assembly of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 a third plug installed within the third housing bore;   a retainer fastened to the housing and having a retainer bore; and   a retaining nut installed within the retainer bore and engaging the third plug.