A valve assembly for a fracturing pump includes a valve seat having a bore extending therethrough, the valve seat including a strike face at a top region opposite a bottom region, at least a portion of the strike face formed by an insert positioned within a groove formed in the valve body. The valve assembly also includes a bore liner arranged within the bore, at least a portion of an axial length of the bore liner covering at least a portion of the ceramic to form a barrier between the insert and the bore. The valve assembly further includes a valve member positioned to reciprocate within the bore, the valve member moving between an open position and a closed position, wherein at least a portion of the valve member engages at least a portion of the strike face in the closed position.

A fluid splitter, a fluid end, and a plunger pump are provided. The fluid splitter includes: a body having a shape of column and including a first end, a second end, and a side surface connecting the first end and the second end; a first opening, located at the side surface of the body; a first cavity, located at the first end; a first channel, communicated with the first opening and the first cavity, respectively, the first channel extending from the first opening to the first cavity and being configured to allow fluid to flow therethrough; a second opening, located at the side surface of the body; a second cavity, located at the second end; and a second channel, communicated with the second opening and the second cavity, respectively, the second channel extending from the second opening to the second cavity and being configured to allow fluid to flow therethrough.

A valve member for a spring-loaded valve assembly includes a top portion having a spring retaining recess, the spring retaining recess extending into the top portion to form a void space, the void space to receive at least one coil of a spring, the spring retaining recess having a recess diameter that is smaller than a top portion diameter, wherein the recess diameter is larger than a rest diameter of a spring base including the coil, the spring retaining recess blocking expansion of the at least one coil when the spring is compressed. The valve member also includes a bottom portion coupled to the top portion. The valve member further includes a sealing element positioned axially below a shoulder of the top portion and legs coupled to the bottom portion.

A packing assembly for a pump fluid end comprising: a packing screw; a packing carrier; and a packing, wherein the packing screw, the packing carrier, and the packing are each cylindrical with a width measured along a central axis thereof that is less than a minimum spacing distance of a pump comprising the pump fluid end and a pump power end, wherein the pump fluid end comprises a reciprocating element bore in which a reciprocating element can be reciprocated via the pump power end via connection of the reciprocating element to a reciprocating element adapter coupled with a pushrod and crankshaft of the pump power end, wherein the minimum spacing distance is an axial distance measured along the central axis between a back of the pump fluid end and a front end of the reciprocating element adapter when the crankshaft of the pump power end is at top dead center.

A valve member for an inlet or outlet valve assembly of a reciprocating pump assembly includes a valve body and a seal member. The valve body comprises a first body surface and a second body surface that extend circumferentially about the valve body. The valve body defines a body axis and an annular cavity. The seal member is positioned at least partially within the annular cavity of the valve body such that an outer seal portion of the seal member extends between the first body surface and the second body surface of the valve body. The outer seal portion of the seal member comprises a first seal surface and a second seal surface. The first body surface, the first seal surface, and the second seal surface extend at different angles relative to the body axis.

A pump fluid end having a reciprocating element a discharge valve assembly, a suction valve assembly, and a suction valve stops. The reciprocating element is disposed at least partially within a reciprocating element bore of the pump fluid end. The suction valve assembly is coupled with a front end of the reciprocating element. The suction valve stop is positioned within the reciprocating element bore such that the suction valve stop contacts and applies a closing force to the suction valve assembly when the suction valve assembly is stuck open at the end of a discharge stroke of the reciprocating element.

A valve assembly having a valve body, a hardened insert, a sealing insert, and a carrier. The hardened insert is cylindrical and comprises a primary sealing surface. The sealing insert is cylindrical and comprises an initial sealing surface. The carrier has an inside surface. The hardened insert and the sealing insert are coupled to the carrier. In a closed configuration of the valve assembly, the valve body contacts the primary sealing surface of the hardened insert and the initial sealing surface of the sealing insert to prevent fluid flow through the valve assembly, and in an open configuration, the valve body is separated from the primary sealing surface of the hardened insert and the initial sealing surface of the sealing insert to allow fluid flow through the valve assembly.

A valve assembly having a valve body, a hardened insert, a sealing insert, and a carrier. The hardened insert is cylindrical and comprises a primary sealing surface. The sealing insert is cylindrical and comprises an initial sealing surface. The carrier has an inside surface. The hardened insert and the sealing insert are coupled to the carrier. In a closed configuration of the valve assembly, the valve body contacts the primary sealing surface of the hardened insert and the initial sealing surface of the sealing insert to prevent fluid flow through the valve assembly, and in an open configuration, the valve body is separated from the primary sealing surface of the hardened insert and the initial sealing surface of the sealing insert to allow fluid flow through the valve assembly.

A spherical pump valve. The valve includes a valve cage, a spring, a valve member, a valve seat, and a locking ring. The valve cage has a groove holding the spring and threads. The valve member has a stem and a trench holding the spring. The valve seat has a seating surface, threads that match the valve cage threads and upon threaded engagement secure the valve seat to the valve cage, and a channel. The locking ring is installed in the channel and secures the valve cage to the valve seat. The spring has a rate matched to the weight of the valve member and to the flow area of the valve seat. The stem guides the valve member as the stem travels through a center hole of the valve cage. Also disclosed is a pump including the valve.

This disclosure provides a valve seat having cladded surfaces of high hardness in order to improve the service life of valve seats. The cladded surfaces may include various materials of favorable mechanical properties for mitigating failure mechanisms known for common valve seats (e.g., having a common base metal throughout). In one example, the cladded surfaces are created using an additive manufacturing process, such as laser metal deposition. The cladded surfaces offer advantages including metallurgical bonding, localized low heat input at the laser focus (thus enabling accurate control of temperature and mitigating undesirable heat treatment effects), ductility in middle layers for increasing impact resistance, variable cladding thickness (optionally exceeding 1 mm), increased hardness by material and fusing temperature selections, corrosion resistance, modification of mechanical properties of the same selected material, and allowing for sensor embedment.