High pressure pump
A high pressure pump comprising a fluid end mechanically coupled to a power end. The power end is modular and comprises a crankshaft section, a crosshead section, and a connector section coupled together by a first set of stay rods. The fluid end comprises a plurality of fluid end sections positioned in a side-by-side relationship. Each of the plurality of fluid end sections are attached to the power end using a plurality of second set of stay rods.
1. An apparatus comprising:
a power end assembly having opposed front and rear surfaces and comprising a central support plate disposed between the front and rear surfaces;
a plurality of fluid end stay rods, each of the plurality of fluid end stay rods having opposed first and second ends, the first end of each of the plurality of fluid end stay rods attached to the central support plate and the second end of each of the plurality of fluid end stay rods projecting from the front surface of the power end assembly;
in which the first end of each of the plurality of fluid end stay rods comprises a threaded outer surface configured to mate with a corresponding threaded opening formed in the central support plate;
a fluid end assembly attached to the second end of each of the plurality of fluid end stay rods; and
a plurality of power end stay rods, each of the plurality of power end stay rods traversing the power end assembly and having opposed first and second ends, each of the first and second ends of the plurality of power end stay rods having a nut installed thereon.
2. An apparatus comprising:
a power end assembly having opposed front and rear surfaces and comprising:
a crank section comprising a crankshaft;
a crosshead section offset from the crank section and comprising a plurality of crossheads; in which the crankshaft is joined to the plurality of crossheads by a plurality of connecting rods; and
a central support plate disposed between the crankshaft and the plurality of crossheads such that the plurality of connecting rods extend through corresponding bores formed within the central support plate; and in which the central support plate is disposed between the crank section and the crosshead section;
a plurality of stay rods, each of the plurality of stay rods having opposed first and second ends, the first end of each of the plurality of stay rods attached to the central support plate and the second end of each of the plurality of stay rods projecting from the front surface of the power end assembly;
in which the first end of each of the plurality of stay rods comprises a threaded outer surface configured to mate with a corresponding threaded opening formed in the central support plate; and
a fluid end assembly attached to the second end of each of the plurality of stay rods;
a plurality of power end stay rods, each of the plurality of power end stay rods traversing the crank section, the central support plate, and the crosshead section; and
a plurality of threaded nuts, each of the plurality of threaded nuts attached to an end of each of the plurality of power end stay rods.
3. A method of assembling the apparatus of claim 2 , comprising:
attaching the first end of each of the plurality of stay rods to the central support plate; and
thereafter, attaching the fluid end assembly to the second end of each of the plurality of stay rods.
4. The apparatus of claim 2 , in which the apparatus is situated within an ambient environment, in which at least a portion of each end of each of the plurality of power end stay rods is exposed to the ambient environment.
5. The apparatus of claim 2 , in which each of the plurality of stay rods has a first longitudinal axis; in which each of the plurality of power end stay rods has a second longitudinal axis; and in which the first longitudinal axis is offset from the second longitudinal axis.
6. The apparatus of claim 2 , in which the plurality of stay rods comprises:
a plurality of upper stay rods positioned in a spaced relationship with a plurality of lower stay rods; and
in which the plurality of power end stay rods comprises:
a plurality of upper power end stay rods positioned in a spaced relationship with a plurality of lower power end stay rods;
in which the plurality of upper stay rods, the plurality of lower stay rods, the plurality of upper power end stay rods and the plurality of lower power end stay rods are positioned in consecutive rows relative to the front surface of the power end assembly, the first row comprising the plurality of upper power end stay rods, the second row comprising the plurality of upper stay rods, the third row comprising the plurality of lower stay rods, and the fourth row comprising the plurality of lower power end stay rods.
7. A method of assembling the apparatus of claim 2 , comprising:
installing the plurality of power end stay rods through aligned passages formed within the crosshead section, the central support plate, and the crank section;
thereafter, attaching the plurality of threaded nuts to the end of each of the power end stay rods and torquing the plurality of threaded nuts against the power end assembly;
thereafter, attaching the first end of each of the plurality of stay rods to the central support plate; and
thereafter, attaching the fluid end assembly to the second end of each of the plurality of stay rods.
8. The apparatus of claim 2 , in which the power end assembly further comprises:
a rear support plate; and
in which the crank section is disposed between the rear support plate and the central support plate; and
in which the plurality of power end stay rods also traverse the rear support plate.
9. The apparatus of claim 2 , in which the apparatus is situated in an ambient environment, and in which the crosshead section further comprises:
a plurality of crosshead frames situated in a side-by-side relationship, each crosshead frame of the plurality of crosshead frames housing a corresponding one of the plurality of crossheads;
in which an outer surface of each of the plurality of crosshead frames is exposed to the ambient environment.
10. The apparatus of claim 2 , in which the plurality of stay rods are in a spaced relationship with the plurality of power end stay rods.
11. The apparatus of claim 2 , in which each of the plurality of stay rods traverses the crosshead section, but not the crank section.
12. The apparatus of claim 2 , in which the central support plate is of single-piece construction.
13. The apparatus of claim 2 , further comprising:
a sleeve disposed around each of the plurality of stay rods and interposed between the fluid end assembly and the front surface of the power end assembly.
14. The apparatus of claim 2 , in which the apparatus is situated in an ambient environment; and in which at least a portion of the central support plate is exposed to the ambient environment.
15. The apparatus of claim 2 , further comprising:
an upper intake manifold attached to the fluid end assembly;
a lower intake manifold attached to the fluid end assembly; and
a discharge manifold attached to the fluid end assembly.
16. The apparatus of claim 2 , in which the fluid end assembly comprises:
a plurality of fluid end sections situated in a side-by-side and spaced relationship, each of the plurality of fluid end sections attached to at least one of the plurality of the stay rods.
17. The apparatus of claim 16 , in which each of the plurality of fluid end sections comprises:
a housing having a horizontal bore formed therein; and
a fluid routing plug installed within the horizontal bore.
18. The apparatus of claim 17 , in which the housing further comprises:
a beveled surface formed in a wall or walls of the housing and surrounding the horizontal bore; and
in which the fluid routing plug comprises:
a beveled surface formed on an outer surface of the fluid routing plug;
in which the beveled surface of the fluid routing plug engages the beveled surface of the housing.