Fluid end assembly
A fluid end assembly comprising a plurality of fluid end sections positioned in a side-by-side relationship. Each fluid end section comprises a housing made of multiple-piece construction. One or more pieces of the housing are configured to have a plurality of stay rods attached thereto. The stay rods interconnect the fluid end assembly and a power end assembly.
1. A fluid end section, comprising:
a housing having a longitudinal axis and opposed first and second surfaces joined by an outer intermediate surface, the housing comprising a first section joined to a second section and a third section by a first plurality of fasteners;
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 first section of the housing and interconnecting the horizontal bore and the intermediate surface;
an intake bore formed in the second section of the housing and interconnecting the horizontal bore and the intermediate surface;
in which the first section of the housing is configured to receive at least a portion of the fluid routing plug;
in which the second section of the housing is configured to receive at least a portion of the fluid routing plug; and
in which the third section of the housing is configured to receive at least a portion of the fluid routing plug;
an annular insert installed within a first groove formed within the third section of the housing, the insert configured to engage the fluid routing plug; and
a wear ring installed within a second groove formed within the first section of the housing, the wear ring configured to engage the fluid routing plug.
2. The fluid end section of claim 1 , in which the third section is configured to receive at least a portion of a reciprocating plunger.
3. The fluid end section of claim 1 , in which the first section comprises a plurality of openings, each opening configured to receive a stay rod, each stay rod configured to attach to a power end.
4. The fluid end section of claim 1 , further comprising:
a fluid routing plug installed within the horizontal bore, at least a portion of the fluid routing plug received within the first section, second section, and third section of the housing;
in which an outer surface of the fluid routing plug engages the insert; and in which such engagement prevents axial movement of the fluid routing plug towards the third section of the housing.
5. The fluid end section of claim 1 , further comprising:
a fluid routing plug installed within the housing and engaging the insert and the wear ring.
6. The fluid end section of claim 1 , in which the third section comprises opposed first and second surfaces; and in which the first groove is formed in the first surface of the third section.
7. The fluid end section of claim 1 , in which the first groove comprises two and only two walls.
8. The fluid end section of claim 1 , further comprising:
a fluid routing plug installed within the horizontal bore, at least a portion of the fluid routing plug received within the first section, second section, and third section of the housing;
a suction valve installed within the third section of the housing and configured to engage the fluid routing plug; and
a discharge valve installed within the first section of the housing and configured to engage the fluid routing plug.
9. The fluid end section of claim 1 , in which the third section of the housing comprises opposed first and second surfaces, the fluid end section further comprising:
a stuffing box engaging the second surface of the third section and configured to receive at least a portion of a reciprocating plunger; and
a plunger packing installed within at least a portion of the stuffing box.
10. The fluid end section of claim 9 , further comprising:
a retainer engaging the stuffing box and attached to the housing using a second plurality of fasteners, the retainer having a threaded central opening; and
a packing nut installed within the retainer and engaging the plunger packing.
11. The fluid end section of claim 9 , in which at least a portion of the stuffing box is disposed within the third section of the housing, the fluid end section further comprising:
an annular seal surrounding the portion of the stuffing box installed within the third section of the housing; and
a wear ring disposed around the seal.
12. The fluid end section of claim 1 , in which the third section comprises:
opposed first and second surfaces interconnected by a portion of the horizontal bore;
a first portion joined to a second portion; in which the first portion comprises the first surface of the third section and is configured to receive a suction valve; and in which the second portion comprises the second surface of the third section and is configured to receive a reciprocating plunger; and
a plurality of passages formed within the first portion and surrounding the portion of the horizontal bore, the passages configured to receive the plurality of fasteners; in which the plurality of fasteners are secured to the first portion of the third section by a plurality of nuts such that the nuts are positioned between the first and second surfaces of the third section.
13. The fluid end section of claim 1 , further comprising:
a discharge conduit attached to the first section of the housing; in which at least a portion of the discharge conduit is made of a flexible material; and
a suction conduit attached to the second section of the housing; in which at least a portion of the suction conduit is made of a flexible material.
14. A fluid end comprising:
a plurality of fluid end sections of claim 1 positioned in a side-by-side relationship; in which the suction bore in each fluid end section is characterized as a first suction bore, each fluid end section further comprising:
a second suction bore formed in the second section of the housing and interconnecting the horizontal bore and the intermediate surface;
an upper suction manifold in fluid communication with each first suction bore of the plurality of fluid end sections; and
a lower suction manifold in fluid communication with each second suction bore of the plurality of fluid end sections.
15. The fluid end of claim 14 , in which each discharge bore in each fluid end section is characterized as a first discharge bore, each fluid end section further comprising:
a second discharge bore formed in the first section of the housing and interconnecting the horizontal bore and the intermediate surface;
the fluid end further comprising:
an upper discharge manifold in fluid communication with each first discharge bore of the plurality of fluid end sections; and
a lower discharge manifold in fluid communication with each second discharge bore of the plurality of fluid end sections.
16. A fluid end comprising:
a plurality of the fluid end sections of claim 1 positioned in side-by-side relationship.
17. A high pressure pump, comprising:
a power end; and
the fluid end of claim 16 attached to the power end.
18. The high pressure pump of claim 17 , in which power end is attached to the fluid end using a plurality of stay rods, the plurality of stay rods attached to the power end and attached to the first section of each of the plurality of fluid end sections.
19. A fluid end section, comprising:
a housing having a longitudinal axis and opposed first and second surfaces joined by an outer intermediate surface, the housing comprising a first section joined to a second section and a third section by a plurality of fasteners;
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 first section of the housing and interconnecting the horizontal bore and the intermediate surface;
an intake bore formed in the second section of the housing and interconnecting the horizontal bore and the intermediate surface;
in which the first section of the housing is configured to receive at least a portion of the fluid routing plug;
in which the second section of the housing is configured to receive at least a portion of the fluid routing plug;
in which the third section of the housing is configured to receive at least a portion of the fluid routing plug; and
in which the third section of the housing comprises opposed first and second surfaces;
a stuffing box engaging the second surface of the third section and configured to receive at least a portion of a reciprocating plunger; in which at least a portion of the stuffing box is disposed within the third section of the housing;
an annular seal surrounding the portion of the stuffing box installed within the third section of the housing; and
a wear ring disposed around the annular seal; and
a plunger packing installed within at least a portion of the stuffing box.
20. A fluid end section, comprising:
a housing having a longitudinal axis and opposed first and second surfaces joined by an outer intermediate surface, the housing comprising a first section joined to a second section and a third section by a plurality of fasteners;
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 first section of the housing and interconnecting the horizontal bore and the intermediate surface;
an intake bore formed in the second section of the housing and interconnecting the horizontal bore and the intermediate surface;
in which the first section of the housing is configured to receive at least a portion of the fluid routing plug;
in which the second section of the housing is configured to receive at least a portion of the fluid routing plug;
in which the third section of the housing is configured to receive at least a portion of the fluid routing plug; and
in which the third section of the housing comprises:
opposed first and second surfaces interconnected by a portion of the horizontal bore;
a first portion joined to a second portion; in which the first portion comprises the first surface of the third section and is configured to receive a suction valve; and in which the second portion comprises the second surface of the third section and is configured to receive a reciprocating plunger; and
a plurality of passages formed within the first portion and surrounding the portion of the horizontal bore, the passages configured to receive the plurality of fasteners; in which the plurality of fasteners are secured to the first portion of the third section by a plurality of nuts such that the nuts are positioned between the first and second surfaces of the third section.
21. A fluid end comprising:
a plurality of fluid end sections positioned in a side-by-side relationship, each fluid end section comprising:
a housing having a longitudinal axis and opposed first and second surfaces joined by an outer intermediate surface, the housing comprising a first section joined to a second section and a third section by a plurality of fasteners;
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 first section of the housing and interconnecting the horizontal bore and the intermediate surface;
a first suction bore formed in the second section of the housing and interconnecting the horizontal bore and the intermediate surface; and
interconnecting the horizontal bore and the intermediate surface; and
a second suction bore formed in the second section of the housing and interconnecting the horizontal bore and the intermediate surface;
in which the first section of the housing is configured to receive at least a portion of the fluid routing plug;
in which the second section of the housing is configured to receive at least a portion of the fluid routing plug; and
in which the third section of the housing is configured to receive at least a portion of the fluid routing plug;
an upper suction manifold in fluid communication with each first suction bore of the plurality of fluid end sections; and
a lower suction manifold in fluid communication with each second suction bore of the plurality of fluid end sections.
22. The fluid end of claim 21 , in which each discharge bore in each fluid end section is characterized as a first discharge bore, each fluid end section further comprising:
a second discharge bore formed in the first section of the housing and interconnecting the horizontal bore and the intermediate surface;
the fluid end further comprising:
an upper discharge manifold in fluid communication with each first discharge bore of the plurality of fluid end sections; and
a lower discharge manifold in fluid communication with each second discharge bore of the plurality of fluid end sections.