Modular crankshaft

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12305705-B2
Application number	US-202418794580-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 5, 2024
Priority date	May 27, 2022
Publication date	May 20, 2025
Grant date	May 20, 2025

Abstract

A modular crankshaft configured for use within a power end assembly. The modular crankshaft is configured to interconnect a drive shaft and a plurality of linear drive assemblies. The various embodiments of modular crankshafts disclosed herein are assembled by interconnecting a plurality of individual main bearing journals using a plurality of fasteners. One or more embodiments of modular crankshafts may also include individual connecting rod journals that are attached to individual main bearing journals using a plurality of fasteners.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An apparatus, comprising:
a crankshaft, comprising:
a first main bearing journal positioned in a side-by-side relationship with a second main bearing journal, the first and second main bearing journals each comprising:
a cylindrical body with opposed first and second sides;
a first connection element on the first side; and
a second connection element on the second side;

a rod journal having opposed first and second sides connected by an exterior surface, the first side having an opening configured to receive the first connection element of the first main bearing journal and the second side having an opening configured to receive the second connection element of the second main bearing journal, wherein the first opening and second opening are connected by a through-passage; and
a fastener installed in the through-passage of the rod journal, the fastener having first and second threaded ends, each of the first and second threaded ends being configured for threaded connection to a selected one of the first and second connection element.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second connection element has a non-circular cross-sectional shape; and wherein the rod journal comprises an opening having a shape that conforms to the cross-sectional shape of the second connection element.

3. An apparatus comprising:
a crank frame; and
the crankshaft of claim 1 , wherein the crankshaft is disposed within the crank frame.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the crank frame is integrally formed.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the crank frame comprises a first side wall, a second side wall, and a plurality of internal support walls, such that the first side wall and second side wall define an interior region, and wherein the interior region of the crank frame is separated into a plurality of cavities by the plurality of internal support walls.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the first main bearing journal is engaged with the first side wall.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the second main bearing journal is engaged with one of the plurality of internal support walls.

8. The apparatus of claim 5 , further comprising a plurality of rod bearings disposed about the crankshaft, wherein at least one of the plurality of rod bearings is disposed between the first main bearing journal and the second main bearing journal.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , further comprising a plurality of pony rods, each of the plurality of pony rods connected to the crank shaft at a corresponding one of the plurality of rod bearings.

10. A pump, comprising:
a fluid end;
a plurality of plungers disposed within the fluid end; and
the apparatus of claim 9 , in which each of the plurality of pony rods is disposed within a corresponding one of the plurality of cavities.

11. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the crank frame comprises a plurality of integrally-formed feet.

12. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the crank frame comprises a mounting flange joined to the crank frame, and extending along a width of the crank frame.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the mounting flange comprises a plurality of through-holes.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the fastener is characterized as a first fastener and the rod journal is characterized as a first rod journal, and the crankshaft further comprises:
a third main bearing journal positioned in a side-by-side relationship with the second main bearing journal; and
a fourth main bearing journal positioned in a side-by-side relationship with the third main bearing journal, the third and fourth main bearing journals each comprising:
a cylindrical body having opposed first and second sides;
a first connection element joined to the first side; and
a second connection element joined to the second side;

a second rod journal having a through-passage, the second rod journal having opposed first and second sides connected by an exterior surface, the first side being configured to receive the first connection element of the second main bearing journal and the second side being configured to receive the second connection element of the third main bearing journal;
a third rod journal having a through-passage, the third rod journal having opposed first and second sides connected by an exterior surface, the first side being configured to receive the first connection element of the third main bearing journal and the second side being configured to receive the second connection element of the fourth main bearing journal;
a second fastener installed in the through-passage of the second rod journal, engaged with the second and first connection elements of the corresponding second and third main bearing journals and attached to the second and third main bearing journals; and
a third fastener installed in the through-passage of the third rod journal, engaged with the second and first connection elements of the corresponding third and fourth main bearing journals and attached to the third and fourth main bearing journals.

15. An apparatus, comprising:
a crankshaft including a first main bearing journal and a second main bearing journal, each having:
a cylindrical body with opposed first and second sides;
a first connection element on the first side; and
a second connection element on the second side;

a rod journal having a first opening configured to receive the first connection element of the first main bearing journal, a second opening configured to receive the second connection element of the second main bearing journal, and a through-passage interconnecting the first opening and the second opening; and
a fastener installed through the through-passage of the rod journal and the first and second connection elements, wherein the fastener has first and second threaded ends, and the second connection element is threaded to receive the first threaded end of the fastener.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 further comprising a rod bearing disposed about the crankshaft between the first main bearing journal and the second main bearing journal.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the crankshaft is at least partially disposed within a crank frame, the crank frame being segmented into a plurality of individual cavities, wherein the rod bearing is disposed within one of the plurality of individual cavities.

Assignees

• Kerr Machine Co

Inventors

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

Classifications

• F16C2226/60

  with threaded parts, e.g. bolt and nut connections · CPC title

• F16B37/08

  Quickly-detachable {or mountable} nuts, e.g. consisting of two or more parts; Nuts movable along the bolt after tilting the nut · CPC title

• F16C3/06

  Crankshafts · CPC title

• E21B43/2607

  Surface equipment specially adapted for fracturing operations · CPC title

• F16C3/12 Primary

  releasably connected · CPC title