Bearing system for reciprocating pump and method of assembly

A power end for a reciprocating pump, the power end comprising:

• a housing having a first pair of middle annular bearing support surfaces and a second pair of middle annular bearing support surfaces, the first and second middle annular bearing support surfaces disposed between a pair of end annular bearing support surfaces, the pair of end annular bearing support surfaces and the first and second pair of middle annular bearing support surfaces each having a diameter and being co-axially aligned to support an outer bearing race of a respective crankshaft bearing assembly;
• wherein the diameter of each of the end annular bearing support surfaces is larger than the diameters of the first pair of middle annular bearing support surfaces, and the diameters of the first pair of middle annular bearing support surfaces are larger than the diameter of the second pair of middle annular bearing support surfaces to facilitate insertion of the outer bearing races of the crankshaft bearing assembly into the power end;
• and
• wherein each outer bearing race on the second pair of middle annular bearing support surfaces is formed of a first thickness, each outer bearing race on the first pair of middle annular bearing support surfaces is formed of a second thickness different from the first thickness such that the inner diameters of each of the outer bearing races are substantially the same diameter.

A power end frame assembly for a reciprocating pump, the power end frame assembly, comprising:

• a plurality of crankshaft bearing assemblies each including an inner bearing race and an outer bearing race;
• a first and second end plate segment, the first and second end plate segments each including annular bearing support surfaces configured to support a respective outer bearing race;
• a first pair of middle plate segments and a second pair of middle plate segments, the first and second pair of middle plate segments disposed between the first and second end plate segments, the first and second pair of middle plate segments each including an annular bearing support surface configured to support a respective outer bearing race;
• the annular bearing support surfaces of the first and second end plate segments and the first and second pair of middle plate segments each having a diameter and being coaxially aligned;
• wherein the diameter of the annular bearing support surfaces of at least one of the first and second end plate segments is larger than diameters of the second pair of middle plate segments and the diameters of the second pair of middle plate segments is larger than the diameters of the first pair of middle plate segments to facilitate insertion of the outer bearing races into the power end frame;
• and
• a crankshaft having a plurality of journals corresponding to the annular bearing support surfaces on the first and second pair of middle plate segments each supporting an inner bearing race of a respective crankshaft bearing assembly thereon, a diameter of the journals corresponding to the second pair of middle plate segments is larger than a diameter of the journals corresponding to the first pair of middle plate segments.

A power end for a reciprocating pump, the power end comprising:

• a housing having a plurality of middle annular bearing support surfaces disposed between a pair of end annular bearing support surfaces, the pair of end annular bearing support surfaces and the plurality of middle annular bearing support surfaces each having a diameter and being co-axially aligned to support an outer bearing race of a respective crankshaft bearing assembly;
• wherein the diameter of at least one of the end annular bearing support surfaces is larger than the diameter on an adjacent middle annular bearing support surface, the diameter on the adjacent middle annual bearing support surface is larger than the diameter of an adjacent second middle annular bearing support surface to facilitate insertion of the outer bearing races of the crankshaft bearing assembly into the power end;
• and
• wherein each outer bearing race disposed on the middle annular bearing support surfaces are formed of a different thickness such that the inner diameters of each of the outer bearing races are substantially the same diameter.