Manifold including mounting plate for fluid end block of reciprocating pump assembly

1. A fluid end portion of a reciprocating pump assembly, the fluid end portion being adapted to be operably coupled to a power end portion of the reciprocating pump assembly, the fluid end portion comprising:

a fluid end block comprising a bottom surface and a first plurality of openings formed in the bottom surface;

an inlet manifold connected to the fluid end block, the inlet manifold comprising a mounting plate mated against the bottom surface of the fluid end block, the mounting plate comprising a second plurality of openings formed therethrough and generally aligned with the first plurality of openings, respectively, wherein a first opening in the second plurality of openings comprises a first slot portion to facilitate the connection between the inlet manifold and the fluid end block; and

a plurality of fasteners connecting the inlet manifold to the fluid end block, each of the fasteners extending:

through a respective one of the openings in the second plurality of openings and thus through the mounting plate, and

into a respective one of the openings in the first plurality of openings;

wherein a first fastener in the plurality of fasteners extends through the first slot portion of the first opening in the second plurality of openings.

2. The fluid end portion of claim 1 , wherein the first opening further comprises a first arcuate portion through which the first fastener extends.

3. The fluid end portion of claim 2 , wherein the first arcuate portion is part of the first slot portion.

4. The fluid end portion of claim 2 , wherein the first opening further comprises a first notch portion formed in an edge of the mounting plate; and

wherein the first slot portion extends from the first notch portion to the first arcuate portion.

5. The fluid end portion of claim 4 , wherein a second opening in the first plurality of openings comprises: a second notch portion formed in the edge of the mounting plate, a second slot portion extending from the second notch portion, and a second arcuate portion to which the second slot portion extends; and

wherein a second fastener in the plurality of fasteners extends through the second slot portion and the second arcuate portion of the second opening in the second plurality of openings.

6. The fluid end portion of claim 4 , wherein the mounting plate comprises opposing lead-in chamfers adapted to guide the first fastener into the first slot portion, the opposing lead-in chamfers being defined by the first notch portion of the first opening.

7. The fluid end portion of claim 1 , wherein the first opening further comprises a first notch portion formed in an edge of the mounting plate; and

wherein the first slot portion extends from the first notch portion.

8. The fluid end portion of claim 1 , wherein the first fastener is adapted to pass within the first slot portion during relative movement between the inlet manifold and the fluid end block.

9. A method of connecting an inlet manifold to a fluid end block of a reciprocating pump assembly, the method comprising:

inserting first and second fasteners into respective openings in a first plurality of openings formed in the fluid end block;

effecting relative movement between the inlet manifold and the fluid end block so that the first and second fasteners pass within first and second slot portions, respectively, formed through a mounting plate of the inlet manifold;

continuing to effect relative movement between the inlet manifold and the fluid end block so that the first and second fasteners pass within the first and second slot portions, respectively, until a second plurality of openings formed through the mounting plate are generally aligned with the first plurality of openings formed in the fluid end block, wherein first and second openings in the second plurality of openings comprise the first and second slot portions, respectively; and

connecting the inlet manifold to the fluid end block using at least the first and second fasteners.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein effecting relative movement between the inlet manifold and the fluid end block so that the first and second fasteners pass within the first and second slot portions, respectively, comprises:

passing the first and second fasteners through first and second notch portions formed in an edge of the mounting plate, wherein the first and second slot portions extend from the first and second notch portions, respectively.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the first and second notch portions define first and second pairs of opposing lead-in chamfers, respectively;

wherein, during the relative movement between the inlet manifold and the fluid end block, the first and second pairs of opposing lead-in chamfers are adapted to guide the first and second fasteners, respectively, to the first and second slot portions, respectively.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the second plurality of openings are generally aligned with the first plurality of openings formed in the fluid end block when the first and second fasteners contact or nearly contact first and second arcuate edges of the mounting plate, and wherein the first and second arcuate edges are defined by first and second arcuate portions, respectively, which are formed through the mounting plate.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the first and second arcuate portions are part of the first and second slot portions, respectively.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein the first and second slot portions extend to the first and second arcuate portions, respectively.

15. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:

inserting additional fasteners through respective openings in the second plurality of openings and into respective openings in the first plurality of openings that are generally aligned therewith;

wherein connecting the inlet manifold to the fluid end block using at least the first and second fasteners comprises connecting the inlet manifold to the fluid end block using at least the first fastener, the second fastener, and the additional fasteners.

16. A manifold adapted to be connected to a fluid end block of a reciprocating pump assembly, the fluid end block comprising a first plurality of openings formed therein, the manifold comprising:

an elongated member defining a fluid passage; and

a mounting plate connected to the elongated member, the mounting plate comprising a second plurality of openings formed therethrough and adapted to be generally aligned with the first plurality of openings, respectively, to connect the manifold to the fluid end block;

wherein the second plurality of openings comprises first and second openings, the first and second openings comprising first and second slot portions, respectively, the first and second slot portions being spaced in a parallel relation.

17. The manifold of claim 16 , wherein the first and second openings further comprise first and second notch portions, respectively, which are formed in an edge of the mounting plate and from which the first and second slot portions extend, respectively.

18. The manifold of claim 17 , wherein the first and second notch portions define first and second pairs of opposing lead-in chamfers, respectively.

19. The manifold of claim 16 , wherein the first and second openings further comprise first and second arcuate portions, respectively; and

wherein the first and second arcuate portions are adapted to be generally aligned with respective openings in the first plurality of openings to connect the manifold to the fluid end block.

20. The manifold of claim 19 , wherein the first and second arcuate portions are part of the first and second slot portions, respectively.

21. The manifold of claim 19 , wherein the first and second slot portions extend to the first and second arcuate portions, respectively.