Assemblies, apparatuses, and methods for facilitating assembly and disassembly of high-power pumps

Abstract

Apparatuses, assemblies, and methods for facilitating assembly and disassembly of high-power fluid pumps may include a pivoting support assembly to facilitate assembly and disassembly of the pump. The pivoting support assembly may include a base, a first support connected to the base and configured to be connected to a pump frame of the pump, and a second support connected to the first support and configured to be connected to the pump frame of the pump. The pivoting support assembly further may include a first actuator connected to the base and the first support, and a second actuator connected to the first support and the second support. The first actuator may be configured to pivot the first support to re-orient the pump frame for installation of a crankshaft, and the second actuator may be configured to pivot the second support to re-orient the pump frame for installation of a connecting rod.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An assembly comprising:
 a base;   a first support having a first support proximal end and a first support distal end, the first support proximal end and the first support distal end defining therebetween a first longitudinal support axis, the first support proximal end being connected to the base via a first pivotable support connector, the first support being configured to be connected to a pump frame of a pump, such that a longitudinal pump axis of the pump is substantially parallel to the first longitudinal support axis; and   a first actuator connected to the base and the first support, the first actuator being positioned to:
 (a) extend and cause the first support to pivot from a first orientation through a first pivot angle to a second orientation relative to the base, thereby to re-orient the pump frame for installation of a crankshaft of the pump, and 
 (b) retract and cause the first support to pivot from the second orientation toward the first orientation. 
   
     
     
         2 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first actuator comprises a first actual proximal end connected to the base via a first proximal pivotable actuator connector and a first actuator distal end connected to the first support between the first support proximal end and the first support distal end via a first distal pivotable actuator connector. 
     
     
         3 . The assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a second support having a second support proximal end and a second support distal end, the second support proximal end and the second support distal end defining therebetween a second longitudinal support axis substantially parallel to the first longitudinal support axis, the second support proximal end being connected to the first support via a second pivotable support connector, the second support being configured to be connected to the pump frame of the pump, such that the longitudinal pump axis of the pump is substantially perpendicular to the second longitudinal support axis; and   a second actuator having a second actuator proximal end connected to the first support via a second proximal pivotable actuator connector and a second actuator distal end connected to the second support between the second support proximal end and the second support distal end via a second distal pivotable actuator connector, the second actuator being positioned to:
 (a) extend and cause the second support to pivot from a third orientation through a second pivot angle to a fourth orientation relative to the first support, thereby to re-orient the pump frame for installation of a connecting rod of the pump, and 
 (b) retract and cause the second support to pivot from the fourth orientation toward the third orientation. 
   
     
     
         4 . The assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the first pivot angle ranges from about 45 degrees to about 100 degrees, and the second pivot angle ranges from about 30 degrees to about 60 degrees. 
     
     
         5 . The assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the first actuator comprises one or more of a linear actuator or a motor, and the second actuator comprises a self-locking actuator. 
     
     
         6 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first support comprises:
 a first support proximal cross brace at the first support proximal end;   a first support distal cross brace at the first support distal end; and   a first support side frame member connected to the first support proximal cross brace and the first support distal cross brace.   
     
     
         7 . The assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the second support comprises:
 a second support proximal cross brace at the second support proximal end;   a second support distal end frame member at the second support distal end; and   a second support side frame member connected to the second support proximal cross brace and the second support distal end frame member.   
     
     
         8 . The assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the second distal pivotable actuator connector is connected to: (a) the first support side frame member between the first support proximal cross brace and the first support distal cross brace, and (b) the second support side frame member between the second support proximal cross brace and the second support distal end frame member. 
     
     
         9 . The assembly of  claim 3 , wherein:
 the first actuator comprises two first actuators, each of the two first actuators being connected to the base and the first support; and   the second actuator comprises two second actuators, each of the two second actuators being connected to the first support and the second support, and   the first actuator and the second actuator are configured to be activated independently of one another.   
     
     
         10 . A connecting rod-crosshead-bushing assembly comprising:
 a bushing having a crankshaft end and a bushing distal end, the bushing at least partially defining a bushing interior extending between the crankshaft end and the bushing distal end, the bushing interior having a substantially cylindrical interior surface at least partially defining a bushing lip extending radially inward adjacent the bushing distal end and at least partially defining an inner radial dimension;   a connecting rod having rod body including a rod body proximal end positioned to be connected to a crankshaft and a rod body crosshead end opposite the rod body proximal end, the rod body being at least partially received in the bushing interior; and   a crosshead connected to the rod body crosshead end and positioned to reciprocate within the bushing interior, the crosshead comprising:
 a crosshead body having a crosshead proximal end and extending from the crosshead proximal end to a crosshead distal end, the crosshead body at least partially defining an exterior radial dimension greater than the inner radial dimension of the bushing lip; and 
 an attachment boss connected to the crosshead distal end and positioned to be connected to lift hardware, thereby to support the connecting rod-crosshead-bushing assembly via the lift hardware. 
   
     
     
         11 . The assembly of  claim 10 , further comprising a rod pin connecting the rod body crosshead end of the connecting rod and the crosshead to one another. 
     
     
         12 . The assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the attachment boss comprises a cylindrical extension at least partially defining boss threads positioned to engage complimentary threads of the lift hardware. 
     
     
         13 . The assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the bushing defines one or more openings between the crankshaft end and the bushing distal end and extending between an exterior surface of the bushing and the bushing interior. 
     
     
         14 . An assembly comprising:
 a base;   a first support configured to be connected to a pump frame of the pump, such that a longitudinal pump axis of the pump is substantially parallel to a first longitudinal support axis of the first support;   a first actuator connected to the base and the first support, the first actuator being positioned to:
 (a) cause the first support to pivot from a first orientation through a first pivot angle to a second orientation relative to the base, thereby to re-orient the pump frame for installation of a first component of the pump, and 
 (b) cause the first support to pivot from the second orientation toward the first orientation; 
   a second support having a second longitudinal support axis substantially parallel to the first longitudinal support axis, the second support being connected to the first support and being configured to be connected to the pump frame, such that the longitudinal pump axis is substantially perpendicular to the second longitudinal support axis; and   a second actuator connected to one of the base or the first support and to the second support, the second actuator being positioned to:
 (a) cause the second support to pivot from a third orientation through a second pivot angle to a fourth orientation relative to one of the base or the first support, thereby to re-orient the pump frame for installation of a second component of the pump, and 
 (b) cause the second support to pivot from the fourth orientation toward the third orientation. 
   
     
     
         15 . The assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the first support comprises one or more of (a) a connection aperture configured to receive a fastener to connect the pump frame to the first support, or (b) a fastener configured to connect the pump frame to the first support. 
     
     
         16 . The assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the first support further comprises an intermediate member, and the second actuator is connected to the first support via the intermediate member. 
     
     
         17 . The assembly of  claim 15 , wherein a second proximal pivotable actuator connector is connected to the first support. 
     
     
         18 . The assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the second support comprises one or more of (a) a connection aperture configured to receive a fastener to connect the pump frame to the second support, or (b) a fastener configured to connect the pump frame to the second support. 
     
     
         19 . A method of installing a component in a pump, the method comprising:
 attaching a pump frame of the pump to a support of a pivoting support assembly;   activating an actuator connected to the support;   pivoting, via activation of the actuator, the support and the pump frame from a first orientation through a pivot angle to a second orientation, thereby to re-orient the pump frame;   inserting, while the support and the pump frame are in the second orientation, a component of the pump into the pump frame;   activating the actuator; and   pivoting, via activation of the actuator, the support, the pump frame, and the first component from the second orientation toward the first orientation, thereby to re-orient the support, the pump frame, and the component.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein inserting the component into the pump frame comprises:
 orienting the component such that a longitudinal axis of the component is substantially parallel to a longitudinal pump axis of the pump frame; and   
       inserting the component through one or more holes at least partially defined by the pump frame.