Various assemblies that can be used in a mud pump with a plunger-style piston to reduce seal failures, to offer control in variability of the circumference of the piston to thereby control fluid pressure, and to provide visibility into seal condition during operation. In one embodiment, a sleeve that can vary the overall effective circumference of the piston enables fluid pressure control. In some embodiments, seal failure within a pump can be monitored via a drain port that would receive drilling fluid leaking past a seal during operation of the pump. A discharge valve can be provided between an inlet and an outlet of the mud pump to reduce the load on pump components during start-up. Additional systems, devices, and methods are also disclosed.

Various assemblies that can be used in a mud pump with a plunger-style piston to reduce seal failures, to offer control in variability of the circumference of the piston to thereby control fluid pressure, and to provide visibility into seal condition during operation. In one embodiment, a sleeve that can vary the overall effective circumference of the piston enables fluid pressure control. In some embodiments, seal failure within a pump can be monitored via a drain port that would receive drilling fluid leaking past a seal during operation of the pump. A discharge valve can be provided between an inlet and an outlet of the mud pump to reduce the load on pump components during start-up. Additional systems, devices, and methods are also disclosed.

A self-aligning mud pump apparatus is provided. In one embodiment, the mud pump includes a rotatable crankshaft, a crosshead, a crosshead guide, and a hub disposed in a housing. The hub is disposed on the crankshaft and is operable to convert rotating motion of the crankshaft to reciprocating motion of the crosshead within the crosshead guide. The hub is coupled to the crosshead via a connecting rod, which is connected the crosshead such that the connecting rod has five degrees of freedom with respect to the crosshead guide. The mud pump may also or instead include a piston coupled to the crosshead with five degrees of freedom between the piston and the crosshead. Additional systems, devices, and methods are also disclosed.

A self-aligning mud pump apparatus is provided. In one embodiment, the mud pump includes a rotatable crankshaft, a crosshead, a crosshead guide, and a hub disposed in a housing. The hub is disposed on the crankshaft and is operable to convert rotating motion of the crankshaft to reciprocating motion of the crosshead within the crosshead guide. The hub is coupled to the crosshead via a connecting rod, which is connected the crosshead such that the connecting rod has five degrees of freedom with respect to the crosshead guide. The mud pump may also or instead include a piston coupled to the crosshead with five degrees of freedom between the piston and the crosshead. Additional systems, devices, and methods are also disclosed.

Disclosed embodiments include a reconfigurable multi-stage gas compressor having a first-stage compression cylinder, a second-stage compression cylinder, and two stepped cylinders. Each of the stepped cylinders include first and second compression cylinders. The gas flow paths through the stepped cylinders are configured in a user-selectable configuration to be in series or in parallel so that the reconfigurable multi-stage gas compressor functions as one of: a three-stage compressor, as a four-stage compressor, and as a hybrid three/four stage compressor. In first and second configurations, the system generates four stages of compression and outputs 4-stage compressed gas through a single exit port, and through dual exit ports, respectively. In a third configuration, the system outputs hot and cooled 3-stage compressed gas through first and second ports and 4-stage compressed gas through a third port. In a fourth configuration, the system outputs hot and cooled 3-stage compressed gas with no 4-stage compressed gas.

A silencing device and a compressor having the silencing device are disclosed. The silencing device has a housing. An air inlet and an air outlet are provided to the housing. An air flow channel is provided in the housing for allowing air communication between the air inlet and the air outlet. An oil hole is provided in the housing for discharging oil from the housing. An oil guide part is arranged on the outside of the housing and at a position downstream of the oil hole in the moving direction of the oil, such that the oil drips from the housing after flowing from the oil hole to the oil guide part.

A method of attenuating pressure pulsations, comprises: pumping liquid into a vessel in fluid communication with a flow line by a conduit sealingly passing through a top surface of the vessel, so as to discharge the liquid into the flow line while creating an air-liquid interface in the vessel, by trapping in an upper part of the vessel air that attenuates pressure pulsations caused by the pumping. The method also comprises generating condition for the liquid to drain out of the vessel to allow air to fill at least the upper portion of the vessel.

A method of attenuating pressure pulsations, comprises: pumping liquid into a vessel in fluid communication with a flow line by a conduit sealingly passing through a top surface of the vessel, so as to discharge the liquid into the flow line while creating an air-liquid interface in the vessel, by trapping in an upper part of the vessel air that attenuates pressure pulsations caused by the pumping. The method also comprises generating condition for the liquid to drain out of the vessel to allow air to fill at least the upper portion of the vessel.

A pump system for pumping a coolant fluid for cooled radiofrequency ablation treatment includes a housing having a front, a back, a right side, a left side, a top surface, and a bottom surface, and a plurality of peristaltic pump assemblies. The top surface of the housing includes a central channel between at least two of the peristaltic pump assemblies configured to drain fluid away from the front of the housing. A cooled radiofrequency ablation system additionally includes a pump system and a generator having mating surfaces such that the pump system can sit stably on top of the generator.

A pump system for pumping a coolant fluid for cooled radiofrequency ablation treatment includes a housing having a front, a back, a right side, a left side, a top surface, and a bottom surface, and a plurality of peristaltic pump assemblies. The top surface of the housing includes a central channel between at least two of the peristaltic pump assemblies configured to drain fluid away from the front of the housing. A cooled radiofrequency ablation system additionally includes a pump system and a generator having mating surfaces such that the pump system can sit stably on top of the generator.