IP Library Granted Patent US 11,560,887
Granted Patent B2
US 11,560,887 · App. 17/136,943 · Granted Jan 24, 2023

Segmented fluid end plunger pump

Inventors: Brandon Hinderliter (Houston, TX); Lon Robinson (Houston, TX); Jared Oehring (Houston, TX)
Assignee: U.S. Well Services, LLC
F04B53/16F04B53/22F16J10/02
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,560,887
App. No.
17/136,943
Granted
Jan 24, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

A fluid end for a fracturing pump includes a plurality of segments coupled together along a discharge axis, each segment of the plurality of segments having a plurality of suction bores. The fluid end also includes respective interfaces between segment pairs formed by adjacent segments of the plurality of segments, the interfaces coupling the segment pairs together. The fluid end further includes respective access areas proximate the respective interfaces, the respective access areas configured to provide access for mechanical couplings to join the segment pairs together.

Claims (30)

1. A fluid end for a fracturing pump, comprising:

a first segment, the first segment having a plurality of first suction bores and a first discharge path;

a second segment, the second segment having a plurality of second suction bores and a second discharge path; and

a third segment, the third segment having a plurality of third suction bores and a third discharge path;

wherein the first segment is mechanically coupled to the second segment, the second segment is mechanically coupled to the third segment, and each of the first discharge path, the second discharge path, and the third discharge path are aligned.

2. The fluid end of claim 1 , wherein the first segment is coupled to the second segment via one or more fasteners.

3. The fluid end of claim 1 , wherein the second segment comprises:

a notch formed in the second segment, the notch having a second aperture aligned with a first aperture of the first segment.

4. The fluid end of claim 3 , wherein the notch is at least one of axially higher than the plurality of suction bores or axially lower than the plurality of suction bores.

5. The fluid end of claim 3 , wherein the notch is formed on at least one of a suction side of the second segment or a back side of the second segment.

6. The fluid end of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of first suction bores includes three suction bores, four suction bores, or five suction bores.

7. The fluid end of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of first suction bores, the plurality of second suction bores, and the plurality of third suction bores has an equal number of respective suction bores.

8. The fluid end of claim 1 , further comprising:

a sealing system arranged at an interface between the first segment and the second segment, the sealing system including at least one seal to control flow at the interface.

9. The fluid end of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of first suction bores, the plurality of second suction bores, and the plurality of third suction bores have a cumulative number of bores equal to at least one of nine bores, ten bores, twelve bores, or fifteen bores.

10. The fluid end of claim 1 , wherein a first end of the first segment is machined as a female end and a second end of the first segment is machined as a male end.

11. A fluid end for a fracturing pump, comprising:

a plurality of segments coupled together along a discharge axis, each segment of the plurality of segments having a plurality of suction bores;

respective interfaces between segment pairs formed by adjacent segments of the plurality of segments, the interfaces coupling the segment pairs together; and

respective access areas proximate the respective interfaces, the respective access areas configured to provide access for mechanical couplings to join the segment pairs together.

12. The fluid end of claim 11 , wherein the mechanical couplings are fasteners.

13. The fluid end of claim 11 , wherein each respective access area includes an aperture aligned along the discharge axis, the aperture aligning with an adjacent coupling aperture of the segment pairs.

14. The fluid end of claim 11 , wherein a single access area is associated with a respective interface.

15. The fluid end of claim 11 , wherein the respective access areas are at least one of axially higher than the plurality of suction bores or axially lower than the plurality of suction bores.

16. The fluid end of claim 11 , wherein the respective access areas are formed on at least one of a suction side of the respective segments or a back side of the respective segments.

17. The fluid end of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of suction bores is equal for each segment of the plurality of segments and include three suction bores, four suction bores, or five suction bores.

18. The fluid end of claim 11 , further comprising:

respective sealing systems arranged at the respective interlaces, the respective sealing systems including at least one seal to control flow at the respective interfaces.

19. The fluid end of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of suction bores have a cumulative number of bores equal to at least one of nine bores, ten bores, twelve bores, or fifteen bores.

20. The fluid end of claim 11 , wherein a first end of each segment is machined as a female end and a second end of each segment is machined as a male end.

Assignments (6)
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jan 3, 2024
From: FTS INTERNATIONAL SERVICES, LLC; U.S. WELL SERVICES, LLC; PROFRAC SERVICES, LLC; U.S. WELL SERVICES HOLDINGS, LLC; BEST PUMP AND FLOW, LLC
To: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 066186/0752 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 21, 2023
From: WILMINGTON SAVINGS FUND SOCIETY, FSB, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: U.S. WELL SERVICES, LLC
Reel/Frame 066091/0133 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 16, 2022
From: U.S. WELL SERVICE HOLDINGS, LLC; USWS HOLDINGS LLC; U.S. WELL SERVICES, LLC; USWS FLEET 10, LLC; USWS FLEET 11, LLC
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 062142/0927 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 2, 2022
From: U.S. WELL SERVICES, LLC
To: PIPER SANDLER FINANCE LLC
Reel/Frame 061875/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 6, 2022
From: HINDERLITER, BRANDON; ROBINSON, LON; OEHRING, JARED
To: U.S. WELL SERVICES, LLC
Reel/Frame 060114/0133 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 30, 2021
From: U.S. WELL SERVICES, LLC
To: WILMINGTON SAVINGS FUND SOCIETY, FSB
Reel/Frame 057434/0429 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62955806 · Dec 31, 2019
Related Publication 20210198989A1 · Jul 1, 2021
Cited By (1)
US 12,416,304