Fluid routing plug

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12049880-B2
Application number	US-202318396991-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 27, 2023
Priority date	Nov 18, 2019
Publication date	Jul 30, 2024
Grant date	Jul 30, 2024

Abstract

A fluid routing plug for use with a fluid end section. The fluid end section being one of a plurality of fluid end sections making up a fluid end side of a high pressure pump. The fluid routing plug is installed within a horizontal bore formed in a fluid end section and is configured to route fluid throughout the fluid end section.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A fluid end, comprising:
a housing having a bore formed therein, the bore comprising a counterbore;
a fluid routing plug installed within the bore, the fluid routing plug comprising:
a body having a suction surface and an opposed discharge surface joined by an outer intermediate surface, the outer intermediate surface comprising an annular shoulder;
a plurality of fluid passages formed within the body; and
a first seal installed within a first groove formed in the outer intermediate surface of the body, the first groove positioned between the annular shoulder and the suction surface; and

a hardened insert installed within the bore and surrounding at least a portion of the fluid routing plug, the hardened insert positioned intermediate a base of the counterbore and the annular shoulder of body; and
in which the hardened insert engages the first seal.

2. The fluid end of claim 1 , further comprising:
a suction valve installed within the bore and configured to seal against the suction surface of the body; and
a suction valve guide installed within the bore; in which at least a portion of the suction valve is installed within a central bore formed in the suction valve guide; and in which the suction valve is movable relative to the suction valve guide.

3. The fluid end of claim 2 , further comprising:
a hardened sleeve installed within the central bore formed in the suction valve guide;
in which the suction valve comprises a body joined to a stem; and
in which the stem is configured to reciprocate within the hardened sleeve.

4. The fluid end of claim 1 , further comprising:
a discharge valve installed within the bore and configured to seal against the discharge surface of the body; and
a discharge valve guide installed within the bore; in which at least a portion of the discharge valve is installed within a central bore formed in the discharge valve guide; and in which the discharge valve is movable relative to the discharge valve guide.

5. The fluid end of claim 4 , in which the discharge valve comprises a body joined to a stem; in which a hardened sleeve is installed within the central bore formed in the discharge valve guide; and in which the stem is configured to reciprocate within the hardened sleeve.

6. The fluid end of claim 4 , further comprising:
a retainer installed within the bore and engaging the discharge valve guide.

7. The fluid end of claim 1 , in which the fluid routing plug further comprises:
a second seal installed within a second groove formed in the outer intermediate surface of the body adjacent the discharge surface.

8. The fluid end of claim 7 , in which the second seal engages a wall of the bore.

9. The fluid end of claim 1 , in which the housing further comprises:
a suction bore interconnecting an outer surface of the housing and the bore;
in which the suction bore is in fluid communication with the fluid routing plug.

10. The fluid end of claim 1 , in which the housing further comprises:
a discharge bore interconnecting an outer surface of the housing and the bore;
in which the discharge bore is in a spaced-relationship with the discharge surface of the fluid routing plug.

11. The fluid end of claim 1 , in which the plurality of fluid passages formed within the body of the fluid routing plug comprises:
a plurality of suction passages formed within the body, each suction passage having an opening on the outer intermediate surface of the body; and
a plurality of discharge passages formed within the body, each discharge passage interconnecting the discharge surface and the suction surface of the body.

12. The fluid end of claim 1 , in which the hardened insert has opposed inner and outer surfaces and opposed front and rear surfaces; in which the rear surface engages the base of the counterbore, the front surface engages the annular shoulder, the inner surface engages the first seal, and the outer surface engages a wall of the bore.

13. The fluid end of claim 1 , in which the discharge surface of the body of the fluid routing plug comprises a tapered surface joined to an outer rim; and in which a portion of the outer intermediate surface of the body surrounding the outer rim has a greater outer diameter than any other portion of the body.

14. The fluid end of claim 1 , in which the housing comprises opposed front and rear surfaces interconnected by the bore; the fluid end further comprising:
a stuffing box attached to the rear end of the housing using a plurality of fasteners;
a plunger packing installed within the stuffing box; and
a plunger installed within the stuffing box and the plunger packing and extending into the bore.

15. A fluid end comprising:
a housing having a bore formed therein, the bore comprising a counterbore;
a fluid routing plug installed within the bore, the fluid routing plug comprising:
a body having an outer surface;
a plurality of fluid passages formed within the body; and
a first seal installed within a first groove formed in the outer surface of the body; and

a hardened insert installed within the bore and surrounding at least a portion of the fluid routing plug, the hardened insert engaging a base of the counterbore and engaging the outer surface of the body; and
in which the hardened insert engages the first seal.

16. The fluid end of claim 15 , further comprising:
a suction valve installed within the bore and configured to seal against a first end of the body; and
a suction valve guide installed within the bore; in which at least a portion of the suction valve is installed within a central bore formed in the suction valve guide; and in which the suction valve is movable relative to the suction valve guide.

17. The fluid end of claim 16 , further comprising:
a discharge valve installed within the bore and configured to seal against a second end of the body; and
a discharge valve guide installed within the bore; in which at least a portion of the discharge valve is installed within a central bore formed in the discharge valve guide; and in which the discharge valve is movable relative to the discharge valve guide.

18. The fluid end of claim 15 , in which the fluid routing plug further comprises:
a second seal installed within a second groove formed in the outer surface of the body.

19. The fluid end of claim 15 , in which the housing comprises opposed front and rear surfaces interconnected by the bore; the fluid end further comprising:
a stuffing box attached to the rear end of the housing using a plurality of fasteners;
a plunger packing installed within the stuffing box; and
a plunger installed within the stuffing box and the plunger packing and extending into the bore.

20. The fluid end of claim 15 , in which the hardened insert surrounds at least a portion of the plurality of fluid passages.

Assignees

• Kerr Machine Co

Inventors

• Son Nicholas
• Thomas Micheal Cole
• Barnett Christopher Todd
• Foster Kelcy Jake
• Keith John

Classifications

• F16L55/11

  Plugs {(F16L55/128 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• F16K11/105

  Three-way check or safety valves with two or more closure members · CPC title

• F04B53/22

  Arrangements for enabling ready assembly or disassembly · CPC title

• F04B53/162

  Adaptations of cylinders · CPC title

• F04B53/1032

  Spring-actuated disc valves (F04B53/1022, F04B53/103 take precedence) · CPC title