Energized screw gland

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016169385-A1
Application number	US-201414570907-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 15, 2014
Priority date	Dec 15, 2014
Publication date	Jun 16, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A screw gland assembly that comprises a body having threads formed on an outer surface of the body. A piston retainer coupled to the body, and a piston disposed within the body. A biasing member disposed between the piston retainer and the piston such that the piston is moveable relative to the body against a bias force of the biasing member.

First claim

1 . A screw gland assembly, comprising:
a body having threads formed on an outer surface of the body; a piston retainer coupled to the body; a piston disposed within the body; and a biasing member disposed between the piston retainer and the piston, wherein the piston is moveable relative to the body against a bias force of the biasing member.

2 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the piston comprises an retainer end, a middle portion, and a plug end, and wherein the middle portion has an outer diameter greater than an outer diameter of the retainer and plug ends of the piston.

3 . The assembly of claim 2 , wherein the retainer end of the piston at least partially extends through the piston retainer.

4 . The assembly of claim 3 , wherein the plug end of the piston at least partially extends through an end of the body.

5 . The assembly of claim 4 , wherein a chamber is formed between the middle portion of the piston and the end of the body.

6 . The assembly of claim 5 , wherein the piston comprises a fluid path in fluid communication with the chamber.

7 . The assembly of claim 6 , wherein pressurized fluid is supplied into the chamber via the fluid path to generate a force on the piston sufficient to compress the biasing member.

8 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the biasing member is a mechanical device or a compressible fluid.

9 . A fluid end, comprising:
the screw gland of claim 1 ; a module; a threaded adapter ring coupled to the module; and a plug disposed within the module, wherein the body of the screw gland is threaded into engagement with the threaded adapter ring such that the piston is forced into contact with the plug by the biasing member.

10 . A method of installing a screw gland, comprising:
threading the screw gland into a body, wherein the screw gland comprises a piston that forms a chamber within a piston housing, and a biasing member that forces the piston to at least partially extend out of the piston housing; supplying pressurized fluid into the chamber to force the piston to at least partially retract into the piston housing and compress the biasing member; and releasing the pressurized fluid so that the biasing member forces the piston to at least partially extend out of the piston housing and compress a seal.

11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the body is a module of a fluid end or a threaded adapter ring coupled to the module of the fluid end, and wherein the seal is compressed within the module of the fluid end to prevent leaks during operation of the fluid end.

12 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising pressurizing the chamber after threading the screw gland at least partially into the body.

13 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising pressurizing the chamber prior to threading the screw gland at least partially into the body.

14 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising:
threading the screw gland into the body until a plug end of the piston contacts a plug disposed on the seal; then supplying the pressurized fluid into the chamber to compress the biasing member and form a gap between the plug end of the piston and the plug; and then threading the screw gland further into the body until the plug end of the piston contacts the plug.

15 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising releasing the pressurized fluid from the chamber after the plug end of the piston contacts the plug so that the biasing member creates a retention force on the piston to compress the plug and the seal.

16 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising:
supplying the pressurized fluid into the chamber to compress the biasing member prior to threading the screw gland into the body; and then threading the screw gland into the body until a plug end of the piston contacts a plug disposed on the seal.

17 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising releasing the pressurized fluid from the chamber after the plug end of the piston contacts the plug so that the biasing member creates a retention force on the piston to compress the plug and the seal.

18 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the pressurized fluid is supplied into the chamber through a fluid path formed in the piston.

19 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising retaining the biasing member and the piston within the piston housing of the screw gland using a piston retainer coupled to the piston housing of the screw gland.

20 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the biasing member is a mechanical device or a compressible fluid.

Assignees

• Forum Us Inc

Inventors

• Patterson Stephen
• Anwer Sohaib
• Leman Louis

Classifications

• F04B53/16

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

• F16B31/043

  Prestressed connections tensioned by means of liquid, grease, rubber, explosive charge, or the like (hydraulic bolt tensioners B25B29/02) · CPC title

• F16B31/04

  for maintaining {a} tensile load · CPC title

• F16J1/008

  with sealing lips · CPC title

• F16J10/02 Primary

  Cylinders designed to receive moving pistons or plungers · CPC title