Segmented fluid end assembly

Abstract

A segmented fluid end assembly has a first module having a body with a first side surface and a slot formed therein and extending along at least a portion of the first side surface, a second module having a body with a first side surface and having a slot formed in the first side surface and generally aligned with the slot of the first module, and a connector received in the slots of the first and second module so as to fix the first module against the second module. The connector is in the nature of a wedge. Each of the slots has a generally dovetail configuration. The wedge has a generally hourglass cross-section. The wedge is engaged in friction-fit relationship in the slots.

Claims

1. A segmented fluid end assembly comprising: a first module having a body with a first side surface, said body having a suction orifice formed on another surface of said body, said first module having a discharge outlet formed on the first side surface, the first side surface having a slot formed therein and extending along at least a portion of the first side surface; a second module having a body with a first side surface, the first side surface of the second module facing the first side surface of said first module, said body having a suction orifice formed at another surface, said second module having a discharge outlet formed on the first side surface of said second module, said discharge outlet of said second module communicating with the discharge outlet of said first module, said body of said second module having a slot formed in the first side surface of said second module therein generally aligned with the slot of said first module, the slots of said first and second modules opening at the first side surfaces of said first and second modules, the slots of said first and second modules having an end opening at the another surface of said first and second modules, the slots are tapering so as to narrow in width inwardly of the end thereof, each of the slots of said first and second modules having a dovetail configuration; and a connector received in said slots of the first and second modules so as to fix said first module against said second module.

2. The segmented fluid end assembly of claim 1, wherein the slot of said first module comprises a first slot extending across the first side surface adjacent a top surface of said body and a second slot extending across the first side surface adjacent a bottom surface of said body.

3. The segmented fluid end assembly of claim 1, wherein said connector is a wedge engaged in friction-fit relationship in the slots of said first and second modules.

4. The segmented fluid end assembly of claim 1, further comprising: a plurality of additional modules each having a configuration of said first module, the plurality of modules arranged in side-by-side relationship.

5. A segmented fluid end assembly comprising: a first module having a body with a first side surface, said body having a suction orifice formed on another surface of said body, said first module having a discharge outlet formed on the first side surface, the first side surface having a slot formed therein and extending along at least a portion of the first side surface; a second module having a body with a first side surface, the first side surface of the second module facing the first side surface of said first module, said body having a suction orifice formed at another surface, said second module having a discharge outlet formed on the first side surface of said second module, said discharge outlet of said second module communicating with the discharge outlet of said first module, said body of said second module having a slot formed in the first side surface of said second module therein generally aligned with the slot of said first module; and a connector received in said slots of the first and second modules so as to fix said first module against said second module, wherein the connector is a wedge received in the slots of said first and second modules.

6. The segmented fluid end assembly of claim 5, wherein the wedge is removably received in the slots of said first and second modules.

7. The segmented fluid end assembly of claim 6, wherein the wedge comprises a front wedge extending into the slots from a front of said first and second modules and a rear wedge extending into the slots from a rear of said first and second modules.

8. The segmented fluid end assembly of claim 7, wherein at least one of the front and rear wedges is internally threaded, the segmented fluid end assembly further comprising: a fastener received in an interior of the at least one of the front and rear wedges, said fastener having threads engaged with the internal threads of the at least one of the front and rear wedges.

9. The segmented fluid end assembly of claim 8, wherein each of the front and rear wedges is internally threaded.

10. A segmented fluid end assembly comprising: a first module having a body with a first side surface, said body having a suction orifice formed on another surface of said body, said first module having a discharge outlet formed on the first side surface, the first side surface having a slot formed therein and extending along at least a portion of the first side surface; a second module having a body with a first side surface, the first side surface of said second module facing the first side surface of said first module, said body having a suction orifice formed at another surface, said second module having a discharge outlet formed on the first side surface of said second module, said discharge outlet of said second module communicating with the discharge outlet of said first module, said body of said second module having a slot formed therein that is generally aligned with the slot of said first module; and a wedge received in the slots of said first and second modules so as to fix said first module against said second module.

11. The segmented fluid end assembly of claim 10, wherein said wedge comprises a front wedge extending into the slots from a front of said first and second modules and a rear wedge extending into the slots from a rear of said first and second modules.

12. The segmented fluid end assembly of claim 11, wherein at least one of the front and rear wedges is internally threaded, the segmented fluid end assembly further comprising: a fastener received in an interior of the at least one of the front and rear wedges, said fastener having threads engaged with the internal threads of the at least one of the front and rear wedges.

13. The segmented fluid end assembly of claim 10, wherein said wedge is engaged in friction-fit relationship in the slots of said first and second modules.

14. The segmented fluid end assembly of claim 10, wherein the slot of said first module comprises a first slot extending across the first side surface adjacent a top surface of said body and a second slot extending across the first side surface adjacent a bottom surface of said body, said wedge comprising a first wedge received in the first slot and a second wedge received in the second slot.

15. The segmented fluid end assembly of claim 10, further comprising: a plurality of additional modules each having a configuration of said first module, the plurality of modules arranged in side-by-side relationship.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a prior art segmented fluid end assembly.

(2) FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the segmented fluid end assembly of the present invention.

(3) FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the segmented fluid end assembly showing two segments as joined together.

(4) FIG. 4 is a rearward elevational view of the segmented fluid end assembly of the present invention with the segments joined together.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(5) FIG. 2 shows the segmented fluid end assembly 30 in accordance with the teachings of the present invention. The segmented fluid end assembly 30 includes a first module 32 and a second module 34. The first module 32 has a body 36 not labeled with a first side surface 38. A suction orifice is formed on the bottom of the body 36 of each module. A discharge outlet 44 is formed on another side surface 46. Access orifice 40 is formed on the front surface 42 of the body 36. The first side surface 38 has a first slot 48 formed adjacent to a bottom 50 of the body 36 and a second slot 52 formed adjacent to a top surface 54 of the body 36. Slots 48 and 52 will extend along at least a portion of the depth of the body 36. A discharge cover orifice 58 opens at the top surface 54. A leg 60 extends from the body 36 rearwardly thereof to a flange 62. Flange 62 is adapted to be coupled to a power end of a high-pressure pump.

(6) The second module 34 has similar configuration to that of the first module 32. In particular, the second module 34 will have a side surface 64 that faces the side surface 38 of the first module 32. The second module 34 also has a suction orifice 66 on a front surface 68 of the body 70 and has a discharge orifice 72 opening through the side surface 64. A discharge seal holder 74 will extend through the discharge openings of the first module 32 and the second module 34 so as to join the discharge openings of the modules in communication.

(7) The second module 34 also includes a first slot 76 and a second slot 78 formed on the side surface 64. The slot 76 is formed adjacent to the bottom 80 of the body 68 of the second module 34. The slot 78 is formed adjacent to the top surface 82 of the body 68 of the second module 34. As can be seen, the slots 76 and 78 are aligned with the slots 48 and 52, respectively. A connector 84 is received in the slots 48 and 76. Another connector 86 is received in the slots 52 and 78. Connector 88 is received in the rearward portions of the slots 52 and 78. A pair of connectors 90 and 92 received in the rearward portion of the slots 48 and 76. Each of the slots 48, 52, 76 and 78 are tapered so as to narrow toward a central portion of the respective slot. In other words, a wide end of the slot will open at the faces of the bodies 36 and 68. Connectors 84, 86, 88, 90 and 92 are in the nature of wedges, each having a generally hourglass cross-section. In other words, these wedges will suitably fit within the dovetail-shaped slots 48, 52, 76 and 78.

(8) Connectors 90 and 92 can be threaded. Since connectors 90 and 92 have a relatively short length, they can easily be installed on the rear face of each of the bodies. The space provided by leg 60 relative to flange 62 will allow each of the relatively short connectors 90 and 92 to be inserted into the space. If there is enough room for a longer wedge, the pair of connectors 90 and 92 can be replaced with a single connector. When a pair of connectors 90 and 92 are used, a fastener 94 having a threaded portion 96 can be inserted through an internally threaded passage of the respective wedges. The fastener 94, in the nature of a bolt, will have a conventional head 100 that can be rotated so as to draw the wedges toward each other within the tapered slot. The fastener 94 can be inserted so that the threads 96 engage with the internal threads formed in the wedges 90 and 92. As such, as the fastener 94 is rotated, the wedges 90 and 92 will be drawn to each other within the slots 48 and 76 so as to be securely affixed between the modules 32 and 34.

(9) In those circumstances in which an adequate amount of space is provided between the module and the rearward flange, the wedges can simply be hammered or otherwise forcibly urged into the tapered slots.

(10) It can be seen in FIG. 2 that the connectors 84 and 86 have threaded sections 98 and 101. After the connectors 84 and 96 are forcibly introduced into the tapered slots, it may be necessary to ultimately remove the wedges in order to replace the module. As such, the threaded sections 98 and 101 are provided so as to act as a drawbolt bores. As such, a drawbolt can be inserted into each of these threaded sections 98 and 101 so as to facilitate the removal of the wedges from the respective slots. The other connectors can also have a similar threaded section or drawbolt bore.

(11) Within the concept of the present invention, the slots can be tapered or the wedges can be tapered, or both. Ultimately, the connector serves to establish a friction-fit within each of the slots so as to firmly secure the bodies 36 and 68 of the modules 32 and 34 together. The threading of the wedges provides a ready means for drawing the wedges 90 and 92 out for disassembly.

(12) FIG. 3 shows the modules 32 and 34 as joined in side-by-side relationship. In particular, it can be seen that the wedge 88 is received within the respective slots 78 and 52. The threaded section 103 (or drawbolt bore) is shown as positioned centrally of the wedge 88. The wedge 88 has a generally hourglass configuration so as to conform with the dovetail configurations of each of the slots 52 and 78. The other wedges will have a similar configuration. It can be seen that the first module 32 also has slots 102 and 104 formed on side surface 46. These can be used so as to join the first module 32 to another module.

(13) FIG. 4 is an end view of the segmented fluid end assembly 30 of the present invention. As can be seen, the module 34 is an end module of the assembly. In other words, there are no slots formed on the side surface 108 of the module 34. The first module 32 can be joined to additional modules. As such, the slots 102 and 104 are shown as located on the side 46 of the first module 32. The connector 88 is illustrated as received within the slots 78 and 52 in the manner described herein previously.

(14) The present invention utilizes a different method of attaching the segmented modules through the use of the specially-design tapered wedges and tapered wedge slots. As such, the flowlines can be attached in the nature of conventional monoblock fluid ends. To the maintenance personnel and field crews, the fluid end assembly of the present invention will appear to be similar to that of existing fluid end assemblies. They will be attached in exactly the same way and do not require additional tools or equipment. The segments can be easily removed from each other so as to lower repair and replacement costs when a segment fails. The present invention avoids the need for the entire block being scrapped. The present invention avoids the use of a separate manifold. Tie rods linking segments together are no longer required in the present invention. As such, the present invention achieves advantages over that of the prior art.

(15) In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the fluid end segments are manufactured from new forgings. However, experiments with the present invention have shown that the fluid end segments can be created by partitioning a used for scrap monoblock fluid end into segments. The slots can be suitably formed and then the segments can be joined together with the wedge lock of the present invention. The present invention can utilize a one piece wedge in both the front side and the rear side of the fluid end segment where the geometry of the segments that are used allow sufficient access to the wedge slots. Alternatively, a pair of wedge segments can be utilized where there is not sufficient access to the wedge slots at the rear side of the fluid end segment. In one embodiment of the present invention, the wedges can include an internal drawbolt bore so as to facilitate wedge removal.

(16) As an additional safeguard, one or more tie rods can be arranged parallel to the internal discharge bore of the segmented fluid end assembly. This tie rod would extend through each of the middle segments and end segments to provide an additional joining mechanism. The tie rod provides the additional safeguard in the unlikely event that the wedge lock arrangement should fail or that the fluid end segments would separate.

(17) The foregoing disclosure and description of the invention is illustrative and explanatory thereof. Various changes in the details of the illustrated construction can be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the true spirit of the invention. The present invention should only be limited by the following claims and their legal equivalents.