IP Library Granted Patent US 11,859,610
Granted Patent B2
US 11,859,610 · App. 18/100,783 · Granted Jan 2, 2024

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 11,859,610
App. No.
18/100,783
Granted
Jan 2, 2024
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 (32)

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 parallel with respective axes of mechanical fasteners positioned between the first segment, the second segment, and the third segment.

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

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

3. The fluid end of claim 2 , 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.

4. The fluid end of claim 2 , 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.

5. The fluid end of claim 1 , wherein a number of first suction bores is different from at least one of a number of second suction bores or a number of third suction bores.

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. 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.

9. 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.

10. 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 having orifices; 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 via the respective orifices such that axes of the mechanical couplings are parallel to the discharge axis and parallel to one another.

11. The fluid end of claim 10 , wherein the mechanical couplings are threaded fasteners.

12. The fluid end of claim 10 , wherein a single access area is associated with a respective interface.

13. The fluid end of claim 10 , wherein a first access area is arranged axially higher than the plurality of suction bores and a second access area is arranged axially lower than the plurality of suction bores, wherein each of the first access area and the second access area are associated with a common segment pair.

14. The fluid end of claim 10 , wherein a first access area of the respective access areas is on a front side associated with the plurality of suction bores and a second access area of the respective access areas is on a back side associated with openings to receive plungers.

15. The fluid end of claim 10 , 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.

16. The fluid end of claim 10 , further comprising:

respective sealing systems arranged at the respective interfaces, the respective sealing systems including at least one seal.

17. A system, comprising:

a fluid end having a first segment, a second segment, and a third segment, wherein each of the first segment, the second segment, and the third segment has a plurality a suction bores, and a first discharge path of the first segment is aligned with a second discharge path of the second segment and a third discharge path of the third segment, and wherein the first segment is coupled to the second segment and the second segment is coupled to the third segment via mechanical fasteners; and

a plurality of plungers, wherein a respective plunger of the plurality of plungers is associated with a suction bore of the plurality of suction bores, the fluid end being configured with a stroking order such that a number of strokes between adjacent plungers for each respective plunger associated with the plurality of suction bores is greater than one.

18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the stroking order is further configured such that at least two plungers are positioned between a first stroking plunger and a second stroking plunger, wherein the first stroking plunger is before the second stroking plunger in the stroking order.

19. The system of claim 17 , wherein the stroking order is further configured such that a first stroking plunger corresponds to the first segment, a second stroking plunger correspond to the second segment, and a third stroking plunger correspond to the third segment.

20. The system of claim 17 , wherein a total number of the plurality of suction bores is equal to at least one of nine bores, ten bores, twelve bores, or fifteen bores.

Assignments (3)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 11, 2024
From: PROFRAC SERVICES, LLC; U.S. WELL SERVICES, LLC; BEST PUMP AND FLOW, LLC
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 066104/0536 →
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 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 24, 2023
From: HINDERLITER, BRANDON; ROBINSON, LON; OEHRING, JARED
To: U.S. WELL SERVICES, LLC
Reel/Frame 062468/0377 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation 17136943 · Dec 29, 2020
Provisional Application 62955806 · Dec 31, 2019
Related Publication 20230258173A1 · Aug 17, 2023
Cited By (1)
US 12,416,304