Non-welded suction chamber for surface pumping systems

1. A suction chamber useable in a surface pumping system having a pump driven by a motor, the suction chamber comprising:

a substantially cylindrical central housing, wherein the central housing has a motor end, a pump end opposite the motor end, and an interior between the motor end and the pump end, and an inlet branch land on the central housing between the pump and the motor end;

a removable motor-end plate bolted to the motor end of the central housing and connected to a bearing chamber adapter;

a removable pump-end plate bolted to the pump end of the central housing and connected to an inlet end of the pump, wherein the removable motor-end plate and the removable pump-end plate define the interior between the motor end and the pump end of the central housing; and

an inlet branch connected to the central housing, wherein the inlet branch comprises:

a lower shoulder in contact with the inlet branch land;

a threaded end that extends into the interior of the central housing; and

a locking collar threaded onto the threaded end, wherein the locking collar is in the interior of the central housing.

2. The suction chamber of claim 1 , wherein the inlet branch land comprises:

an outer inlet branch recess extending into the central housing from the exterior of the central housing; and

an inner inlet branch recess extending into the central housing from the interior of the central housing.

3. The suction chamber of claim 2 , wherein the inlet branch further comprises:

an upper shoulder; and

a connection flange adjacent the upper shoulder.

4. The suction chamber of claim 2 , wherein the locking collar further comprises at least one inner set screw.

5. The suction chamber of claim 2 , wherein the central housing further comprises at least one outer set screw in contact with the inlet branch.

6. The suction chamber of claim 2 , further comprising:

a first o-ring seal between the motor-end plate and the central housing;

a second o-ring seal between the pump-end plate and the central housing; and

a third o-ring seal between the inlet branch and the central housing.

7. A surface pumping system comprising:

a motor;

a thrust bearing assembly connected to the motor, wherein the thrust bearing assembly includes a bearing chamber adapter;

a pump driven by the motor; and

a suction chamber connected between the pump and the thrust bearing assembly, wherein the suction chamber comprises:

a substantially cylindrical central housing that defines an interior of the central housing and an inlet branch land;

a removable motor-end plate bolted to the central housing, wherein the bearing chamber adapter is bolted to the motor-end plate;

a removable pump-end plate bolted to the central housing, wherein the pump is bolted to the pump-end plate;

wherein the removable motor-end plate and the removable pump-end plate define the interior between the motor end and the pump end of the central housing; and

an inlet branch connected to the central housing, wherein the inlet branch comprises:

a lower shoulder in contact with the inlet branch land;

a threaded end that extends into the interior of the central housing; and

a locking collar threaded onto the threaded end, wherein the locking collar is in the interior of the central housing.

8. The surface pumping system of claim 7 , wherein the inlet branch land comprises:

an outer inlet branch recess; and

an inner inlet branch recess.

9. The surface pumping system of claim 8 , wherein the inlet branch further comprises:

an upper shoulder; and

a connection flange adjacent the upper shoulder.

10. The surface pumping system of claim 8 , wherein the locking collar further comprises at least one inner set screw.

11. The surface pumping system of claim 8 , wherein the central housing further comprises at least one outer set screw in contact with the inlet branch.

12. The surface pumping system of claim 8 , further comprising:

a first o-ring seal between the motor-end plate and the central housing;

a second o-ring seal between the pump-end plate and the central housing; and

a third o-ring seal between the inlet branch and the central housing.

13. A method of assembling a suction chamber for use in a surface pumping system, the method comprising the steps of:

inserting an inlet branch through an inlet branch recess in a central housing;

locating a lower shoulder of the inlet branch against an inlet branch land in the central housing;

installing a locking collar on the inlet branch from the inside of the central housing;

securing a removable motor-end plate to the central housing, wherein the removable motor end plate is connected to a bearing chamber adapter; and

securing a removable pump-end plate to the central housing, wherein the removable pump end plate is connected to an inlet end of a pump.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the step of installing a locking collar further comprises threading the locking collar onto a threaded end of the inlet branch.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the step of installing the locking collar further comprises the step of installing set screws to prevent the disengagement of the locking collar from the threaded end of the inlet branch.

16. The method of claim 13 , further comprising a step of installing set screws through the central housing to prevent the rotation of the inlet branch.

17. The method of claim 13 , wherein the step of securing the motor-end plate to the central housing further comprises bolting the motor-end plate to the central housing with motor-end bolts.

18. The method of claim 13 , wherein the step of securing the pump-end plate to the central housing further comprises bolting the pump-end plate to the central housing with pump-end bolts.