Pump assembly for delivery of fracture fluid

Abstract

An assembly for a high-pressure pump is disclosed. A base, a skid, or a platform has a power end disposed thereon, and a framed housing or a frame on the platform holds a fluid end. An upper support or brace extends from the bearing housings of the power end across to the fluid end and the framed housing so as to constrain the fluid end without the need for stay rods.

1 . An assembly for high-pressure pumping, the assembly comprising:
 a platform;   a power end being supported in place to the platform, the power end having a plurality of pony rods, the pony rods being configured to reciprocate relative to a front face of the power end;   a frame disposed on the platform;   a fluid end being removably supported in place in the frame, the fluid end having a plurality of plungers, the plungers being configured to connect to the pony rods and being configured to reciprocate relative to a front side of the fluid end in response to the reciprocation of the pony rods; and   a brace disposed above the platform between the power end and the fluid end, the brace having a first portion and a second portion, the first portion being engaged with the power end, the second portion being at least removably engaged with the fluid end, whereby the fluid end is removable from the frame.   
     
     
         2 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the platform comprises a plurality of slats arranged parallel to one another between first and second ends. 
     
     
         3 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the power end comprises a shelf disposed on the front face of the power end; and wherein at least one of:
 the first portion of the brace is affixed to the shelf;   the first portion of the brace comprises a shoulder engaged with a lip defined on the shelf, the lip facing the front face of the power end, the shoulder engaged with the lip restricting longitudinal separation between the brace and the power end; and   the first portion of the brace comprises an edge configured to engage the front face of the power end, the edge engaged with the front face restricting longitudinal movement of the brace toward the power end.   
     
     
         4 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the frame comprises a plurality of walls disposed on the platform and including:
 a front wall being configured to retain the front side of the fluid end;   side walls being configured to retain lateral sides of the fluid end; and   a back wall being configured to retain a back side of the fluid end.   
     
     
         5 . The assembly of  claim 4 , wherein one or more of:
 the frame comprises a plurality of corner uprights affixed to the platform and supporting the walls on the platform;   the side walls have wedges configured to center the fluid end in the frame;   the front wall has a wedge configured to center the fluid end toward the back wall of the frame;   the back wall affixes to the back side of the fluid end;   the second portion of the brace affixes to the back wall of the frame and affixes to the back side of the fluid end; and   the frame comprises base supports disposed on the platform and supporting the fluid end above the platform to accommodate a suction manifold on the fluid end.   
     
     
         6 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the second portion of the brace defines at least one rib having an edge, the edge being configured to engage in an end of at least one slot defined in the fluid end, the edge engaged with the end of the slot being configured to restrict longitudinal movement of the fluid end toward the power end. 
     
     
         7 . The assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the at least one rib has sides, the sides of the at least one rib being configured engage in sidewalls of the at least one slot defined in the fluid end, the sides engaged with the sidewalls of the at least one slot being configured to restrict lateral movement of the fluid end. 
     
     
         8 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first portion of the brace comprises a first plate configured to affix to the power end; wherein the second portion of the brace comprises a second plate configured to affix to the fluid end, the second plate defining a plurality of openings to accommodate sand caps and a gage nut on the fluid end; and wherein the brace comprises a plurality of longitudinal supports affixed between the first and second plates. 
     
     
         9 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the power end comprises:
 a plurality of bearing housings fixedly attached to the platform;   a plurality of crank assemblies disposed in the bearing housings; and   a plurality of crossheads connecting the crank assemblies to the pony rods.   
     
     
         10 . The assembly of  claim 9 , wherein each of the pony rods is clamped with an extended clamp to one of the plungers of the fluid end, the extended clamp being removable so a clearance allows the respective plunger to be removed from a respective packing bore on the front side of the fluid end. 
     
     
         11 . The assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the crossheads are spaced at a distance from the fluid end, the distance allowing the plungers to be removed from the packing bores towards the power end. 
     
     
         12 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein in response to forces of the plungers when reciprocating in packing bores on the front side of the fluid end, the platform, the frame, and the brace confine the fluid end from moving at least away from the power end without use of conventional stay rods. 
     
     
         13 . The assembly of  claim 1 , comprising extended clamps connecting the pony rods to the plungers, the extended clamps being removable and providing a clearance between mating ends of the pony rods and the plungers, the clearance permitting the plungers to be removed from packing bores on the front side of the fluid end. 
     
     
         14 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the power end comprises crossheads being spaced a distance from the fluid end, the distance allow the plungers to be removed from packing bores on the front side of the fluid end. 
     
     
         15 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the platform, the frame, and the brace constrain forces of the plungers when reciprocating in packing bores on the front side of the fluid end and prevent the fluid end from moving relative to the power end. 
     
     
         16 . An assembly for use with a fluid end for high pressure pumping, the fluid end having a plurality of plungers being configured to reciprocate relative to a front side of the fluid end, the assembly comprising:
 a platform;   a frame integrated on the platform, the frame being configured to removably hold the fluid end on the platform;   a power end integrated on the platform, the power end having a plurality of pony rods, the pony rods being configured to connect to the plungers and being configured to reciprocate the plungers; and   a brace disposed above the platform between the power end and the fluid end, the brace having a first portion and a second portion, the first portion being engaged with the power end, the second portion being at least removably engaged with the fluid end, whereby the fluid end is removable from the frame.   
     
     
         17 . The assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the frame comprises a plurality of walls disposed on the platform and including:
 a back wall being configured to retain a back side of the fluid end and being configured to affix to the fluid end;   a front wall being configured to retain the front side of the fluid end, the front wall having a wedge configured to center the fluid end toward the back wall of the frame; and   side walls being configured to retain lateral sides of the fluid end, the side walls have wedges configured to center the fluid end in the frame.   
     
     
         18 . The assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the second portion of the brace defines at least one rib having an edge and sides, the edge being configured to engage in an end of at least one slot defined in the fluid end, the edge engaged with the end of the slot being configured to restrict longitudinal movement of the fluid end toward the power end, the sides of the at least one rib being configured engage in sidewalls of the at least one slot defined in the fluid end, the sides engaged with the sidewalls of the at least one slot being configured to restrict lateral movement of the fluid end. 
     
     
         19 . The assembly of  claim 16 , comprising extended clamps connecting the pony rods to the plungers, the extended clamps being removable and providing a clearance between mating ends of the pony rods and the plungers, the clearance permitting the plungers to be removed from packing bores on the fluid end. 
     
     
         20 . An assembly for use with a fluid end for high pressure pumping, the fluid end having a plurality of plungers being configured to reciprocate relative to a front side of the fluid end, the assembly comprising:
 a power end having a plurality of pony rods, the pony rods being configured to connect to the plungers and being configured to reciprocate the plungers;   a platform extending from the front face of the power end;   a frame integrated on the platform, the frame being configured to removably hold the fluid end on the platform; and   a brace disposed above the platform between the power end and the fluid end, the brace having a first portion and a second portion, the first portion being engaged with the power end, the second portion being at least removably engaged with the fluid end, whereby the fluid end is removable from the frame.