US-20260126040-A1 - FLUID CYLINDER WITH WEDGE FLANGES

US20260126040A1US 20260126040 A1US20260126040 A1US 20260126040A1US-20260126040-A1

Abstract

A retaining assembly for coupling a fluid end component to a fluid end casing. The retaining assembly includes a pair for clamp members, each of which has a pair of rails that define a wedge-shaped groove therebetween. The groove applying an increasing amount of pre-load force or tension to a flange of the fluid end components and a flange of the fluid end casing to drive them together. The amount of pre-load tension applied can vary and can be determined by the user and amount of tightening of the clamp members.

Inventors

Jacob Gregory Garrison
Paul Douglas CARY
Adam Bradley Avey
Konner Casey Kay

Assignees

GD ENERGY PRODUCTS, LLC

Dates

Publication Date: 20260507
Application Date: 20251218

Claims (20)

1 . A reciprocating pump, comprising: a power end configured to generate pumping power; a fluid end having a casing with an inlet bore and an outlet bore, the fluid end being configured to deliver a fluid from the inlet bore to the outlet bore as the power end generates the pumping power, the fluid end casing including a first reciprocation bore, a second reciprocation bore spaced apart from the first reciprocation bore, a first mounting portion adjacent to the first reciprocation bore, and a second mounting portion adjacent to the second reciprocation bore; a first fluid end component including a third mounting portion; a second fluid end component including a fourth mounting portion; and a retainer assembly engageable with the first mounting portion and the third mounting portion to apply a force to each of the first mounting portion and the third mounting portion to press them toward each other, the retainer assembly engageable with the second mounting portion and the fourth mounting portion to apply a force to each of the second mounting portion and the fourth mounting portion to press them toward each other, the retainer assembly including a first clamp member and a second clamp member, the first clamp member and the second clamp member collectively defining a first wedge-shaped groove that increases pressure on the first mounting portion and on the third mounting portion as the retainer assembly is tightened, and a second wedge-shaped groove that increases pressure on the second mounting portion and on the fourth mounting portion as the retainer assembly is tightened.
2 . The reciprocating pump of claim 1 , wherein the first clamp member is a first elongate rail member and the second clamp member is a second elongate rail member.
3 . The reciprocating pump of claim 2 , wherein the first clamp member has a first end and a second end opposite the first end, the second clamp member has a third end and a fourth end opposite the third end, the first end of the first clamp member being coupled to the third end of the second clamp member via a first connector, and the second end of the first clamp member being coupled to the fourth end of the second clamp member via a second connector.
4 . The reciprocating pump of claim 3 , wherein the first clamp member has a first recess formed therein and a second recess formed therein, the second recess is spaced apart from the first recess, the first recess is aligned with the first reciprocation bore, and the second recess is aligned with the second reciprocation bore.
5 . The reciprocating pump of claim 4 , wherein the second clamp member has a third recess formed therein and a fourth recess formed therein, the fourth recess is spaced part from the third recess, the first recess and the second recess are aligned with the first reciprocation bore and each other, and the third recess and the fourth recess are aligned with the second reciprocation bore and each other.
6 . The reciprocating pump of claim 1 , wherein the first reciprocation bore has a first coupling feature, the second reciprocation bore has a second coupling feature, the third mounting portion of the first fluid end component is engageable with the first coupling feature of the first reciprocation bore, and the fourth mounting portion of the second fluid end component is engageable with the second coupling feature of the second reciprocation bore.
7 . The reciprocating pump of claim 6 , wherein the first coupling feature includes a first set of threads formed on an inner surface defining the first reciprocation bore, the third mounting portion includes a second set of threads formed on an outer surface of the first fluid end component, and the second set of threads are engageable with the first set of threads to couple the first fluid end component to the fluid end casing.
8 . The reciprocating pump of claim 7 , wherein the second coupling feature includes a third set of threads formed on an inner surface defining the second reciprocation bore, the fourth mounting portion includes a fourth set of threads formed on an outer surface of the second fluid end component, and the fourth set of threads are engageable with the third set of threads to couple the second fluid end component to the fluid end casing.
9 . A reciprocating pump, comprising: a power end configured to generate pumping power; a fluid end having a casing with an inlet bore and an outlet bore, the fluid end being configured to deliver a fluid from the inlet bore to the outlet bore as the power end generates the pumping power, the fluid end casing including a first reciprocation bore, a second reciprocation bore spaced apart from the first reciprocation bore, a first mounting portion adjacent to the first reciprocation bore, and a second mounting portion adjacent to the second reciprocation bore, the first mounting portion including a first flange, the second mounting portion including a second flange; a first fluid end component including a third mounting portion that includes a third flange; a second fluid end component including a fourth mounting portion that includes a fourth flange; and a retainer assembly that is engageable with and applies a force to the first flange and the third flange to press them toward each other, the retainer assembly also being engageable with and applying a force to the second flange and the fourth flange to press them toward each other, the retainer assembly including a first clamp member and a second clamp member, the first clamp member and the second clamp member collectively defining a first wedge-shaped groove therebetween that increases pressure on the first flange and on the third flange as the retainer assembly is tightened, and a second wedge-shaped groove that increases pressure on the second flange and on the fourth flange as the retainer assembly is tightened.
10 . The reciprocating pump of claim 9 , wherein the first clamp member is a first elongate rail member and the second clamp member is a second elongate rail member.
11 . The reciprocating pump of claim 10 , wherein the first clamp member has a first end and a second end opposite the first end, the second clamp member has a third end and a fourth end opposite the third end, the first end of the first clamp member being coupled to the third end of the second clamp member via a first connector, and the second end of the first clamp member being coupled to the fourth end of the second clamp member via a second connector.
12 . The reciprocating pump of claim 11 , wherein the first clamp member has a first recess formed therein and a second recess formed therein, the second recess is spaced apart from the first recess, the first recess is aligned with the first reciprocation bore, and the second recess is aligned with the second reciprocation bore.
13 . The reciprocating pump of claim 12 , wherein the second clamp member has a third recess formed therein and a fourth recess formed therein, the fourth recess is spaced part from the third recess, the first recess and the second recess are aligned with the first reciprocation bore and each other, and the third recess and the fourth recess are aligned with the second reciprocation bore and each other.
14 . The reciprocating pump of claim 9 , wherein the first reciprocation bore has a first coupling feature, the second reciprocation bore has a second coupling feature, the third mounting portion of the first fluid end component is engageable with the first coupling feature of the first reciprocation bore, and the fourth mounting portion of the second fluid end component is engageable with the second coupling feature of the second reciprocation bore.
15 . The reciprocating pump of claim 14 , wherein the first coupling feature includes a first set of threads formed on an inner surface defining the first reciprocation bore, the third mounting portion includes a second set of threads formed on an outer surface of the first fluid end component, and the second set of threads are engageable with the first set of threads to couple the first fluid end component to the fluid end casing.
16 . The reciprocating pump of claim 15 , wherein the second coupling feature includes a third set of threads formed on an inner surface defining the second reciprocation bore, the fourth mounting portion includes a fourth set of threads formed on an outer surface of the second fluid end component, and the fourth set of threads are engageable with the third set of threads to couple the second fluid end component to the fluid end casing.
17 . A reciprocating pump, comprising: a power end configured to generate pumping power; a fluid end having a casing with an inlet bore and an outlet bore, the fluid end being configured to deliver a fluid from the inlet bore to the outlet bore as the power end generates the pumping power, the fluid end casing including a first reciprocation bore formed therein, the fluid end casing including a first coupling feature associated with the first reciprocation bore; a mounting component including a body portion and a first mounting portion, the mounting component having a second coupling feature associated therewith, the second coupling feature being engageable with the first coupling feature to couple the mounting component to the fluid end casing, the mounting component being located entirely outside of the first reciprocation bore; a fluid end component that is couplable with the mounting component, the fluid end component including a second mounting portion; and a retainer assembly engageable with the first mounting portion and the second mounting portion, the retainer assembly applying a force to each of the first mounting portion and the second mounting portion to press the first mounting portion and the second mounting portion toward each other, the retainer assembly including a pair of spaced apart rails, the pair of spaced apart rails defining a wedge-shaped groove that increases pressure on the first mounting portion and on the second mounting portion as the retainer assembly is tightened.
18 . The reciprocating pump of claim 17 , wherein the first mounting portion is a flange coupled to the body portion of the mounting component, and the second mounting portion is a flange formed on the fluid end component.
19 . The reciprocating pump of claim 18 , wherein the fluid end component has a portion extending inside of the mounting component, and a sealing member is located between an inner surface of the mounting component and the portion of the fluid end component extending inside the mounting component.
20 . The reciprocating pump of claim 17 , wherein the first coupling feature is a first plurality of holes formed in the fluid end proximate to the first reciprocation bore, and the second coupling feature includes a second plurality of holes formed in the mounting component and connectors extending through the second plurality of holes and into the first plurality of holes to couple the mounting component to the fluid end casing.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This patent application is a continuation application of, and claims priority to and the benefit of, U.S. Patent App. No. 17/972,702, filed October 25, 2022, entitled “Fluid Cylinder With Wedge Flanges,” Attorney Docket No. 1709.0225C/P272232.US.01, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. FIELD OF INVENTION The present invention relates to the field of high pressure reciprocating pumps and, in particular, to securing a fluid end component to a fluid end casing of a high pressure reciprocating pumps. BACKGROUND High pressure reciprocating pumps are often used to deliver high pressure fluids during earth drilling operations. Generally, a reciprocating pump includes a power end and a fluid end. The power end can generate forces sufficient to cause the fluid end to deliver high pressure fluids to earth drilling operations. The fluid end may include a casing that defines one or more internal pumping chambers and conduits that define pathways between one or more internal pumping chambers and external surfaces of the fluid end casing. Elements are secured to the fluid end casing, and the joints between the elements and the fluid end casing encounter high levels of cyclical stress. Common fluid cylinder designs utilize large threaded retainers to secure elements to the fluid end casing of a fluid end of a reciprocating pump. The threaded retainers engage with threads machined into the fluid cylinder or fluid end casing to load a joint. Those threads are often subject to high levels of cyclical stress, and are typically not pre-loaded correctly in operation, thereby creating opportunity for fatigue failure. Thus, there is a need for an improved joint between an element and a fluid end casing of a reciprocating pump, and in particular, for a joint between an element and a fluid end casing of a reciprocating pump that can be pre-loaded to improve the performance and lifetime of the joint. There is also a need for a less complex, and more easily serviceable joint. SUMMARY The present application relates to techniques for securing one or more fluid end components, such as a stuffing box, against a fluid end casing of a fluid end of a high pressure reciprocating pump and/or against a seal of the fluid end. The techniques may be embodied as a retaining or clamping assembly. Additionally, the techniques may be embodied as one or more methods for securing one or more fluid components to a fluid end casing of a high pressure reciprocating pump. More specifically, in accordance with at least one embodiment, the present application is directed to a reciprocating pump including a power end and a fluid end. The power end is configured to generate pumping power and the fluid end is configured to deliver a fluid from an inlet bore to an outlet bore as the power end generates the pumping power. In some embodiments, one or more fluid end components are coupled to the fluid end casing by a retaining or clamping assembly. The invention relates to a retaining assembly for a positive displacement, reciprocating pump that utilizes a particular geometry to secure elements together. The retaining assembly includes a clamp that secures elements together, such as an external fluid end element or component and the fluid end casing of the pump. In one embodiment, the retaining assembly includes a clamp with a wedge-shaped geometry. A benefit of the wedge-shaped geometry is that it allows the clamp to be pre-loaded to a stress level that is close or similar to the stress level that the joint will experience during operation of the pump. The pre-load stress increases the fatigue life of the parts of a joint significantly. In the present invention, the retaining feature or clamp utilizes a minimal number of connectors due to the mechanical advantage provided by the wedge geometry. The present invention accomplishes the issue of pre-loading a joint for a fluid end component without threads at the interface of the fluid end component and the casing. The wedge-shaped geometry allows the joint between the elements and the clamp to be pre-loaded to the desired stress. In one embodiment, the fluid end element or component is a stuffing box that is coupled or secured to the fluid end casing of a reciprocating pump. In particular, the element is coupled to a flange that is formed integrally with a body/casing of the fluid end. In an alternative embodiment, a flange may be bolted to the body/casing of the fluid end, and the element is secured to the bolted flange. The present invention can be used with fluid cylinders in high pressure reciprocating pumps in fracking, drilling, well service, or similar applications. In one embodiment, a reciprocating pump includes a power end configured to generate pumping power, a fluid end casing having an inlet bore and an outlet bore, the fluid end being configured to deliver a fluid from the inlet bore to the outlet bore as the power end generates the