Fluid routing plug

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12523205-B2
Application number	US-202519213760-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 20, 2025
Priority date	Nov 18, 2019
Publication date	Jan 13, 2026
Grant date	Jan 13, 2026

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 with a base surface; a fluid routing plug at least partially disposed within the bore, the fluid routing plug comprising:
a body extending along a longitudinal axis having:
a first end;
a second end; and
an outer surface extending between the first end and the second end, the outer surface defining an annular shoulder disposed proximate the second end, wherein:
a first plurality of fluid passages extending from the outer surface to the second end; and
a second plurality of fluid passages extending from the second end to the first end; and
a hardened insert positioned between the annular shoulder of the fluid routing plug and the base surface of the counterbore and comprising:
a pre-formed first surface having a first profile abutting the shoulder;
a pre-formed second surface having a second profile abutting the base surface;
wherein the annular shoulder is characterized by a contoured contact progression profile having an initial central contact at which the pre-formed first surface contacts the annular shoulder, wherein, as a compressive load is applied to the hardened insert, the pre-formed first surface plastically deforms against the annular shoulder to increase a contact area radially outward and radially inward from the initial central contact.

2 . The fluid end of claim 1 wherein the annular shoulder comprises a symmetric splined curve, wherein the initial central contact is a crown centered on the shoulder.

3 . The fluid end of claim 1 , wherein the annular shoulder comprises an asymmetric splined curve, wherein the initial central contact is a crown radially centered and a longitudinal height that varies unequally on opposite sides of the crown.

4 . The fluid end of claim 1 wherein the annular shoulder comprises a flat central region flanked by tapered surfaces.

5 . The fluid end of claim 1 wherein the fluid routing plug comprises a plurality of support columns positioned within the first plurality of fluid passages.

6 . The fluid end of claim 1 wherein the base surface of the counterbore is shaped to match a post-deformation profile of the second surface of the insert.

7 . The fluid end of claim 1 , wherein the contoured contact progression profile of the annular shoulder comprises a symmetric splined curve, wherein the initial central contact is a crown located at a radial midpoint of the shoulder, the crown having a maximum height relative to a reference surface, and a plurality of radially spaced reference points positioned symmetrically on opposite sides of the crown, each reference point having a longitudinal height that decreases with increasing radial distance from the crown, terminating at an outermost point and an innermost point, each located on the reference surface.

8 . The fluid end of claim 7 in which the crown has a distance from the reference surface of less than one one-thousandth of an inch.

9 . The fluid end of claim 8 in which the crown is radially disposed less than one-quarter of an inch from the innermost point of the annular shoulder.

10 . The fluid end of claim 1 , wherein the contoured contact progression profile of the annular shoulder comprises an asymmetric splined curve, wherein the initial central contact is a crown located at a radial midpoint of the shoulder, the crown having a maximum height relative to a reference surface, and a plurality of radially spaced reference points on opposite sides of the crown, the reference points having longitudinal heights that decrease in magnitude with increasing radial distance from the crown, wherein the longitudinal height of the outermost point differs from the longitudinal height of the innermost point, the innermost point being located on the reference surface.

11 . The fluid end of claim 10 wherein the crown has a distance from the reference surface of less than one-one thousandth of an inch, and a radial distance of less than one quarter of an inch from the innermost point of the annular shoulder.

12 . The fluid end of claim 10 in which the reference points are spaced at regular radial intervals and wherein the angle of the annular shoulder relative to the reference plane changes at each reference point.

13 . The fluid end of claim 1 wherein the outer surface of the fluid routing plug further comprises an annular groove configured to receive a seal.

14 . The fluid end of claim 13 in which the seal, situated in the annular groove, abuts an inner surface of the hardened insert.

15 . A contact progression surface formed on an annular shoulder of a fluid routing plug, the contact progression surface comprising:
a crown positioned at a radial midpoint of the shoulder and having a maximum height relative to a reference surface; a first set of reference points located at regular radial intervals inward from the crown, each having a longitudinal height less than that of the crown; and a second set of reference points located at regular radial intervals outward from the crown, each having a longitudinal height less than that of the crown; wherein the longitudinal height of the contact progression surface relative to the reference surface decreases with increasing radial distance from the crown, such that contact between the annular shoulder and a mating insert surface expands radially inward and outward from the crown as a compressive load is applied.

16 . The contact progression surface of claim 15 wherein the longitudinal heights of the first and second set of reference points are symmetric about the crown, such that the contact progression surface forms a symmetric splined curve centered at the crown and the innermost and outermost reference points are located on the reference surface.

17 . The contact progression surface of claim 15 , wherein the longitudinal height of the outermost reference point relative to the reference surface differs from the longitudinal height of the innermost reference point, such that the contact progression surface forms an asymmetric splined curve.

18 . The contact progression surface of claim 15 , wherein the crown comprises a flat central region extending over a finite radial width, the flat central region flanked by a first tapered surface extending radially inward and a second tapered surface extending radially outward, each decreasing in longitudinal distance from the reference surface with increasing radial distance from the flat region.

19 . A fluid end, comprising:
a housing having a counterbore with a base surface; a fluid routing plug contained in the housing, the fluid routing plug having the contact progression surface of claim 15 ; a hardened insert, positioned between the contact progression surface of the fluid routing plug and the base surface of the counterbore.

20 . The fluid end of claim 19 , wherein the hardened insert comprises a pre-formed surface abutting the contact progression surface, the pre-formed surface configured to plastically deform under compressive load to increase contact area with the contact progression surface.

21 . The fluid end of claim 20 , wherein the pre-formed surface of the hardened insert has a concave profile prior to deformation and is configured to deform into a planar surface upon installation.

Assignees

• Kerr Machine Co

Inventors

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

Classifications

• F04B53/1022

  having means for guiding the closure member axially · CPC title

• 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