Sealing high pressure flow devices

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11536378-B2
Application number	US-202217738189-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 6, 2022
Priority date	Sep 29, 2015
Publication date	Dec 27, 2022
Grant date	Dec 27, 2022

Abstract

A fluid end assembly comprising a housing having multiple conduits formed therein. A tubular sleeve is installed within one of the conduits and is configured to house a plurality of packing seals. A seal is installed within a groove formed in the walls of the housing surrounding the tubular sleeve such that the seal engages an outer surface of the tubular sleeve.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A fluid end assembly, comprising:
a housing having an external surface and internal chamber;
a first conduit formed in the housing and having first and second sections, each section independently interconnecting the internal chamber and the external surface;
a second conduit formed in the housing, intersecting the first conduit and having third and fourth sections, each section independently interconnecting the internal chamber and the external surface;
a corner section formed in a wall or walls defining the third section and extending concentrically around the third section;
a tubular sleeve installed within the third section, the sleeve of single-piece construction and comprising a first portion joined to a second portion, the second portion having a greater outer diameter than the first portion; and in which the sleeve has a first surface joined to the first portion and a second surface joined to the second portion, the first and second surfaces joined by an outer intermediate surface that extends along a length of the sleeve;
in which the length of the sleeve is bounded by the first and second surfaces;
in which no threads are formed in the outer intermediate surface of the sleeve; and
in which no grooves for housing a seal are formed in the outer intermediate surface of the first portion;
an annular seal positioned within the corner section and engaged with the outer intermediate surface of the first portion;
a plurality of packing seals installed within the second portion and abutting an internal shoulder formed within the second portion;
a retainer engaging the second surface of the sleeve and defining a threaded central opening; and
a packing nut installed within the threaded central opening of the retainer and engaging the plurality of packing seals.

2. The fluid end assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:
a reciprocating plunger installed within the sleeve and the plurality of packing seals.

3. The fluid end assembly of claim 1 , in which the corner section is characterized by two and only two walls.

4. The fluid end assembly of claim 1 , in which the retainer is attached to the housing using a fastening system, the fastening system comprising a plurality of threaded studs.

5. The fluid end assembly of claim 1 , in which the retainer has a threaded outer surface.

6. The fluid end assembly of claim 1 , in which the sleeve further comprises a passage formed in the second portion and interconnecting an internal surface and the outer intermediate surface of the second portion.

7. The fluid end of claim 6 , in which the passage is in fluid communication with a lube port formed in the housing, the lube port interconnecting the third section and the external surface of the housing.

8. The fluid end assembly of claim 1 , in which the first portion is joined to the second portion at a right angle.

9. The fluid end assembly of claim 1 , in which no portion of the sleeve projects from the external surface of the housing.

Assignees

• Kerr Machine Co

Inventors

• Nowell Mark S
• Foster Kelcy Jake
• May Michael Eugene
• Ayres Brandon Scott
• Barnett Christopher Todd
• Thomas Micheal Cole
• Lapointe Guy J

Classifications

• F04B53/164

  Stoffing boxes · CPC title

• F04B1/0538

  located side-by-side · CPC title

• F16K5/181

  with the housing or parts of the housing mechanically pressing the seals against the plugs · CPC title

• F16K5/0485

  Spindle sealing · CPC title

• F04B53/22

  Arrangements for enabling ready assembly or disassembly · CPC title