Fluid end
A fluid end comprising a plurality of fluid end sections positioned in a side-by-side relationship. Each fluid end section is releasably attached to a connect plate. Each connect plate is attached to a power source using a plurality of stay rods. Each fluid end section comprises a housing in fluid communication with a pair of intake manifolds and a discharge conduit. A fluid routing plug is installed within each housing and is configured to route fluid throughout the housing. A plunger is installed within stuffing box attached to each housing. A number of features, including the location of seals within bore walls and carbide inserts within valve guides, aid in reducing or transferring wear.
1. A fluid end section, comprising:
a housing having a longitudinal axis and opposed first and second surfaces joined by an outer intermediate surface;
a horizontal bore formed within the housing and interconnecting the first and second surfaces, the horizontal bore extending along the longitudinal axis of the housing and configured to receive a fluid routing plug;
a discharge bore formed in the housing and interconnecting the horizontal bore and the intermediate surface;
an intake bore formed in the housing and interconnecting the horizontal bore and the intermediate surface;
a first sealing surface surrounding the horizontal bore and configured to engage a seal carried by the fluid routing plug, the first sealing surface positioned between the intake bore and the second surface of the housing;
a second sealing surface surrounding the horizontal bore and configured to engage a seal carried by the fluid routing plug, the second sealing surface positioned between the discharge bore and the intake bore; and
a beveled surface formed within the housing and surrounding the horizontal bore, the beveled surface positioned between the first and second sealing surfaces and configured to engage the fluid routing plug;
in which a maximum diameter of the second sealing surface is greater than a maximum diameter of the beveled surface; and in which the maximum diameter of the beveled surface is greater than a maximum diameter of the first sealing surface.
2. The fluid end section of claim 1 , further comprising:
a fluid routing plug installed within the horizontal bore and comprising:
a body having opposed first and second surfaces joined by an outer intermediate surface; and
a plurality of non-intersecting fluid passages formed in the body;
a suction valve engageable with the first surface of the body of the fluid routing plug; and
a discharge valve engageable with the second surface of the body of the fluid routing plug;
in which no portion of the first and second valve bodies is extendable within any of the plurality of non-intersecting fluid passages.
3. The fluid end section of claim 1 , further comprising:
a stuffing box attached to the second surface of the housing and having a central passage formed therein; in which at least a portion of the central passage has a tapered shape; and
a plunger packing installed within the central passage of the stuffing box; in which at least a portion of the plunger packing has a tapered shape that conforms to the tapered shape of the central passage.
4. A fluid end comprising:
a plurality of fluid end sections of claim 1 positioned in side-by-side relationship, in which the intake bore formed in each fluid end section is characterized as a first intake bore, each fluid end section further comprising:
a second intake bore formed in the housing and interconnecting the horizontal bore and the intermediate surface;
an upper fluid intake manifold in fluid communication with each first intake bore of the plurality of fluid end sections; and
a lower fluid intake manifold in fluid communication with each second intake bore of the plurality of fluid end sections.
5. The fluid end section of claim 1 , further comprising:
a connect plate attached to the second surface of the housing; in which the connect plate is interposed between the fluid end section and a power end with which the fluid end section is mechanically coupled.
6. The fluid end section of claim 5 , further comprising:
a plurality of notches formed in the intermediate surface of the housing adjacent its second surface, each notch surrounding an opening formed in the connect plate in a one-to-one relationship.
7. A fluid end comprising:
a plurality of the fluid end sections of claim 1 positioned in side-by-side relationship.
8. A high pressure pump, comprising:
a power end; and
the fluid end of claim 7 attached to the power end.
9. A fluid end section, comprising:
a housing having a longitudinal axis and opposed first and second surfaces joined by an outer intermediate surface;
a horizontal bore formed within the housing and interconnecting the first and second surfaces, the horizontal bore extending along the longitudinal axis of the housing and configured to receive a fluid routing plug;
a discharge bore formed in the housing and interconnecting the horizontal bore and the intermediate surface;
an intake bore formed in the housing and interconnecting the horizontal bore and the intermediate surface;
a first sealing surface surrounding the horizontal bore and configured to engage a seal carried by the fluid routing plug, the first sealing surface positioned between the intake bore and the second surface of the housing;
a second sealing surface surrounding the horizontal bore and configured to engage a seal carried by the fluid routing plug, the second sealing surface positioned between the discharge bore and the intake bore;
a beveled surface formed within the housing and surrounding the horizontal bore, the beveled surface positioned between the first and second sealing surfaces and configured to engage the fluid routing plug;
a fluid routing plug installed within the horizontal bore and comprising:
a plug body having opposed first and second surfaces joined by an outer intermediate surface;
a plurality of non-intersecting fluid passages formed in the plug body;
a first seal installed within a first groove formed within the outer intermediate surface of the plug body; and
a second seal installed within a second groove formed within the outer intermediate surface of the plug body;
a suction valve installed within the horizontal bore and engageable with the first surface of the fluid routing plug, the suction valve comprising:
a sealing element having opposed first and second surfaces joined by a tapered sealing surface; in which the tapered sealing surface is engageable with a selected one of the first or second surfaces of the fluid routing plug;
a stem projecting from the first surface of the sealing element and extending along an axis that is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the housing; and
an annular void formed in the first surface of the sealing element and surrounding the stem; and
a suction valve guide installed within the horizontal bore and comprising:
a guide body having opposed first and second surfaces;
a plurality of legs extending from the guide body adjacent the first surface and projecting towards the second surface;
a central passage formed in the body and interconnecting the first and second surfaces; and
a tubular insert installed within the central passage; in which the stem is at least partially disposed within the tubular insert.
10. The fluid end section of claim 9 , in which the tubular insert is formed from one or more materials, one of which is tungsten carbide.
11. A fluid end section, comprising:
a housing having a longitudinal axis and opposed first and second surfaces joined by an outer intermediate surface;
a horizontal bore formed within the housing and interconnecting the first and second surfaces, the horizontal bore extending along the longitudinal axis of the housing and configured to receive a fluid routing plug;
a discharge bore formed in the housing and interconnecting the horizontal bore and the intermediate surface;
an intake bore formed in the housing and interconnecting the horizontal bore and the intermediate surface;
a first sealing surface surrounding the horizontal bore and configured to engage a seal carried by the fluid routing plug, the first sealing surface positioned between the intake bore and the second surface of the housing;
a second sealing surface surrounding the horizontal bore and configured to engage a seal carried by the fluid routing plug, the second sealing surface positioned between the discharge bore and the intake bore;
a beveled surface formed within the housing and surrounding the horizontal bore, the beveled surface positioned between the first and second sealing surfaces and configured to engage the fluid routing plug;
a discharge valve installed within the horizontal bore and engageable with the second surface of the fluid routing plug, the discharge valve comprising:
a sealing element having opposed first and second surfaces joined by a tapered sealing surface; in which the tapered sealing surface is engageable with a selected one of the first or second surfaces of the fluid routing plug;
a stem projecting from the first surface of the sealing element and extending along an axis that is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the housing; and
an annular void formed in the first surface of the sealing element and surrounding the stem; and
a discharge valve guide installed within the horizontal bore and comprising:
a body having opposed first and second surfaces joined by an outer intermediate surface;
a plurality of legs extending from the body and projecting towards the second surface of the body;
a central passage formed in the body and opening on the second surface;
a tubular insert installed within the central passage; in which the stem is at least partially disposed within the tubular insert; and
a dowel pin disposed within a hole formed in the intermediate surface of the body of the discharge valve guide; in which a portion of the dowel pin is at least partially disposed within a groove formed in the housing between the discharge bore and the first surface of the housing.