Fracturing pump arrangement using a plunger with an internal fluid passage

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12473897-B2
Application number	US-202418602257-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 12, 2024
Priority date	May 2, 2019
Publication date	Nov 18, 2025
Grant date	Nov 18, 2025

Abstract

A fluid end for use with a power end. The fluid end comprises a plurality of fluid end sections positioned adjacent one another. Each section includes a single horizontally positioned bore. A plunger is installed within the bore and includes a fluid passageway. Low-pressure fluid enters the bore through the plunger and high-pressure fluid exits the fluid end through an outlet valve installed within the bore. The intake of low-pressure fluid within the fluid end section is regulated by an inlet valve installed within the plunger. Low-pressure fluid enters the plunger through an inlet component attached to both the plunger and an inlet manifold.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1 . An apparatus comprising:
a fluid end body having a borehole formed therein, the borehole extending along a longitudinal axis of the fluid end body; in which the fluid end body is configured to be attached to a power end having a rotatable crankshaft installed therein; a plunger installed within the borehole and having front and rear ends joined by an internal fluid passage; in which the plunger is configured to reciprocate within the borehole along the longitudinal axis of the fluid end body; in which the plunger has an outer diameter, D 1 ; a suction valve assembly, at least a portion of the suction valve assembly positioned within the internal fluid passage, the suction valve assembly comprising:
a suction valve seat; and
a suction valve body configured to seal against the suction valve seat;
in which the suction valve body has a maximum outer diameter, D 3 ;
a discharge valve assembly installed within the borehole, the discharge valve assembly comprising a discharge valve body and a discharge valve seat; in which the discharge valve seat has an inner diameter, D 2 ; in which the discharge valve body has an outer diameter, D 4 ; in which the discharge valve assembly and the suction valve assembly are coaxially aligned along the longitudinal axis; and an inlet conduit in fluid communication with the internal fluid passage of the plunger, the inlet conduit comprising:
a fluid intake end joined to a reciprocating end;
in which the fluid intake end is configured to be attached to a stationary inlet manifold; and
in which the reciprocating end is attached to the rear end of the plunger and is configured to move with the plunger as the plunger reciprocates within the borehole; in which the plunger reciprocates within the borehole along the longitudinal axis;
in which D 2 is greater than D 1 ; and in which D 4 is greater than D 3 .

2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
an inlet component interposed between the reciprocating element end of the inlet conduit and the rear end of the plunger.

3 . The apparatus of claim 2 , in which the inlet component has opposed top and bottom surfaces and opposed front and rear surfaces; and in which a first fluid passageway opens on the top surface and the front surface of the inlet component.

4 . A pump, comprising:
the apparatus of claim 1 ; and a power end that is the power end of claim 1 , the power end comprising:
a pony rod mechanically coupled to the rotatable crankshaft;
in which the pony rod is attached to the rear end of the plunger using a clamp.

5 . The pump of claim 4 , further comprising:
an inlet component interposed between the reciprocating element end of the inlet conduit and the rear end of the plunger; in which the clamp is attached to the inlet component.

6 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
a stationary inlet manifold that is the stationary inlet manifold of claim 1 ; in which the fluid intake end of the inlet conduit is attached to the stationary inlet manifold.

7 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
a connect plate removably secured to the rear surface of the fluid end body; in which the connect plate is configured to connect the fluid end body to the power end; in which at least a portion of the plunger is received within the connect plate; and a discharge manifold removably attached to the fluid end body, in which the discharge manifold comprises a flow passage which is in fluid communication with the borehole.

8 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a valve retention system installed within the internal fluid passage.

9 . The apparatus of claim 8 , in which the suction valve body is situated within the internal fluid passage intermediate the valve retention system and the rear end of the plunger.

10 . The apparatus of claim 1 , in which the internal fluid passage has a maximum diameter; and in which D 3 is smaller than the maximum diameter of the internal fluid passage.

11 . An apparatus, comprising:
a fluid end body having a borehole formed therein; the borehole having a central longitudinal axis; a plunger positioned within the borehole and having an internal fluid passage formed therein; a suction valve assembly, at least a portion of the suction valve assembly positioned within the internal fluid passage; in which the suction valve assembly comprises a suction valve body having a maximum outer diameter, D 3 , and a suction valve seat; a discharge valve assembly installed within the borehole; in which the discharge valve assembly and the suction valve assembly are coaxially aligned along the central longitudinal axis; and in which the discharge valve assembly comprises a discharge valve body having a maximum outer diameter, D 4 , and a discharge valve seat; in which the discharge valve body comprises a first surface and an opposed second surface, the opposed second surface configured to mate with the discharge valve seat; a discharge chamber situated adjacent the first surface of the discharge valve body; in which the fluid end body is configured to be attached to a power end having a rotatable crankshaft installed therein; in which the plunger is configured to be operatively connected to the crankshaft such that the plunger reciprocates within the borehole in response to rotation of the crankshaft; in which the plunger has an outer diameter, D 1 ; in which the discharge valve seat comprises a sealing surface having an opening formed therein; in which the opening has a minimum inner diameter, D 2 ; in which D 2 is greater than D 1 ; and in which D 4 is greater than D 3 .

12 . The apparatus of claim 11 , further comprising:
an inlet conduit in fluid communication with the internal fluid passage of the plunger, the inlet conduit comprising:
a fluid intake end joined to a reciprocating end;
in which the fluid intake end is configured to be attached to a stationary inlet manifold; and
in which the reciprocating end is attached to a rear end of the plunger and is configured to move with the plunger as the plunger reciprocates within the borehole; in which the plunger reciprocates within the borehole along the longitudinal axis.

13 . The apparatus of claim 11 , comprising a discharge manifold, in which the discharge chamber is formed within the discharge manifold, in which the discharge manifold is removeable from the fluid end body.

14 . The apparatus of claim 13 , in which the fluid end body comprises a first surface and an opposed second surface, the first surface engaging the discharge manifold; in which the plunger is configured to pass entirely through openings formed to the borehole at both the first and second surfaces of the fluid end body.

15 . The apparatus of claim 11 , in which at least a portion of the fluid end body is exposed to an ambient environment.

16 . A pump fluid end comprising:
a pump chamber, comprising:
a bore formed within the pump chamber;
a discharge valve comprising a discharge valve seat and a discharge valve body; in which the discharge valve body comprises a first surface and an opposed second surface, the opposed second surface configured to mate with the discharge valve seat;
a suction valve assembly comprising a suction valve seat and a suction valve body; and
a reciprocating element having a central longitudinal axis;
wherein the discharge valve assembly and the suction valve assembly are coaxially aligned along the central longitudinal axis;
wherein the discharge valve seat has an inner diameter, D 1 ;
wherein the suction val

Assignees

• Kerr Machine Co

Inventors

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

Classifications

• F04B53/16

  Casings; Cylinders; Cylinder liners or heads; Fluid connections · CPC title

• F04B53/143

  Sealing provided on the piston · CPC title

• F04B53/12

  arranged in or on pistons · CPC title

• E21B43/2607

  Surface equipment specially adapted for fracturing operations · CPC title

• F04B15/02

  the fluids being viscous or non-homogeneous · CPC title