Fluid end with non-circular bores and closures for the same

Abstract

A closure element for a fluid end of a reciprocating pump is installable within a segment of a casing of the fluid end to substantially close the segment. The closure element includes a main body that extends from an interior surface to an exterior surface, and at least a portion of the main body has a non-circular cross-sectional shape. A fluid end of the closure element may include a plurality of segments and at least a portion of at least one segment of the plurality of segments may have a non-circular cross-sectional shape configured to receive and secure a closure element with a non-circular cross-sectional shape.

1 - 13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . A fluid end of a reciprocating pump, comprising:
 a casing including intersecting conduits that collectively define a plurality of segments extending from an external surface of the casing to a pumping chamber defined within the casing, wherein at least a portion of at least one segment of the plurality of segments has a non-circular cross-sectional shape configured to receive and secure a closure element with a non-circular cross-sectional shape.   
     
     
         15 . The fluid end of  claim 14 , wherein the portion of the at least one segment of the plurality of segments that has the non-circular cross-sectional shape comprises a segment portion adjacent to the pumping chamber. 
     
     
         16 . The fluid end of  claim 14 , wherein the portion of the at least one segment of the plurality of segments that has the non-circular cross-sectional shape comprises a segment portion adjacent to the external surface of the casing. 
     
     
         17 . The fluid end of  claim 14 , wherein the plurality of segments include:
 an intake segment that provides a fluid inlet for the pumping chamber;   a discharge segment that that provides a fluid outlet for the pumping chamber;   a reciprocation segment configured to operably couple a reciprocating component to the pumping chamber so that the reciprocating component can draw fluid into the pumping chamber via the intake segment and discharge fluid from the pumping chamber via the discharge segment; and   an access segment that provides access to at least the pumping chamber.   
     
     
         18 . The fluid end of  claim 17 , wherein the access segment has the non-circular cross-sectional shape. 
     
     
         19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . The fluid end of  claim 17 , wherein the intake segment has the non-circular cross-sectional shape. 
     
     
         22 . The fluid end of  claim 17 , wherein the discharge segment has the non-circular cross-sectional shape. 
     
     
         23 . The fluid end of  claim 17 , wherein the reciprocation segment has the non-circular cross-sectional shape. 
     
     
         24 . The fluid end of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one segment of the plurality of segments that has the non-circular cross-sectional shape comprises:
 an access section proximate the external surface of the casing;   a seat positioned proximate the pumping chamber; and   a sealing section positioned between the access section and the seat, the seat being configured to retain the closure element in a position where the closure element can seal against the sealing section.   
     
     
         25 . The fluid end of  claim 24 , wherein the access section, the seat, and the sealing section are each non-circular. 
     
     
         26 . The fluid end of  claim 24 , wherein the seat comprises contoured edges configured to smooth a transition from the pumping chamber to the seat, a transition from another segment of the plurality of segments to the seat, or both. 
     
     
         27 . The fluid end of  claim 14 , wherein the non-circular cross-sectional shape is an elongated ovular shape. 
     
     
         28 . The fluid end of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one segment of the plurality of segments with the non-circular cross-sectional shape is tapered. 
     
     
         29 . A fluid end of a reciprocating pump, comprising:
 a casing including intersecting conduits that collectively define a plurality of segments extending from an external surface of the casing to a pumping chamber defined within the casing, wherein at least one segment of the plurality of segments has a non-circular cross-sectional shape configured to receive and secure a closure element, and wherein the plurality of segments include:
 an intake segment that provides a fluid inlet for the pumping chamber; 
 a discharge segment that that provides a fluid outlet for the pumping chamber; 
 a reciprocation segment configured to operably couple a reciprocating component to the pumping chamber so that the reciprocating component can draw fluid into the pumping chamber via the intake segment and discharge fluid from the pumping chamber via the discharge segment; and 
 an access segment that provides access to at least the pumping chamber. 
   
     
     
         30 . The fluid end of  claim 29 , wherein the access segment has the non-circular cross-sectional shape. 
     
     
         31 . The fluid end of  claim 29 , wherein the intake segment has the non-circular cross-sectional shape. 
     
     
         32 . The fluid end of  claim 29 , wherein the discharge segment has the non-circular cross-sectional shape. 
     
     
         33 . The fluid end of  claim 29 , wherein the reciprocation segment has the non-circular cross-sectional shape. 
     
     
         34 . A fluid end of a reciprocating pump, comprising:
 a casing including intersecting conduits that collectively define a plurality of segments extending from an external surface of the casing to a pumping chamber defined within the casing, wherein at least one segment of the plurality of segments comprises:
 an access section proximate the external surface of the casing; 
 a seat positioned proximate the pumping chamber; and 
 a sealing section positioned between the access section and the seat, the seat being configured to retain a closure element in a position where the closure element can seal against the sealing section, wherein at least one the access section, the seat, and the sealing section has a non-circular cross-sectional shape. 
   
     
     
         35 . The fluid end of  claim 34 , wherein the at least one segment of the plurality of segments comprises an access segment that provides access to at least the pumping chamber.