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US 10,519,950 B2Granted
Modular gland arrangements for a fluid end assembly
AssigneeKerr Machine Co.
InventorKelcy Jake Foster
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A closure element for a fluid end assembly that has two or more recessed grooves formed in its outer surface. The grooves are axially offset. A seal is placed in one and only one of the grooves. As wear occurs, the seal is relocated to one of the other grooves. Instead of a series of axially offset grooves in a single closure element, a kit may be formed from two or more otherwise identical closure elements, each with a single recessed groove at a different axial position. Another closure element has a series of ledge-like surfaces defining spaces within which a seal may be received. One outer surface surrounds one or more of the other surfaces. A seal is placed in one and only one of the spaces. As wear occurs, the seal is relocated to one of the other spaces.
Claims22
A kit, comprising:
- a fluid end assembly comprising:
- a housing having an external surface and an internal chamber;
- a first conduit formed in the housing and having first and second sections, each section independently interconnecting the internal chamber and the external surface;
- a second conduit formed in the housing, intersecting the first conduit and independently interconnecting the internal chamber and the external surface;
- a closure element having a longitudinal axis extending therethrough and comprising:
- a body having at least two structural features, each structural feature comprising:
- a pair of external surfaces formed in an outer surface of the body, the external surfaces joining at a first corner line and forming two boundaries of a recessed space within which an annular seal is receivable;
- in which the at least two structural features include first and second structural features, and an axial footprint of the first structural feature fully surrounds an axial footprint of the second structural feature;
- and
- at least one annular first seal positionable within the recessed space of any of the structural features.
7 more elements
A kit comprising:
- a fluid end assembly comprising:
- a housing having an internal chamber and a conduit that intersects the internal chamber and opens at a first surface of the housing;
- a first closure element comprising a body having one and only one circumferential groove formed in an outer surface of the body, in which an annular seal is receivable within the groove;
- an annular first seal positionable within the groove of the first closure element;
- a second closure element comprising a body having one and only one circumferential groove formed in an outer surface of the body, in which an annular seal is receivable within the groove, and in which the grooves of the closure elements would be axially offset if those closure elements were superimposed;
- and
- an annular second seal positionable within the groove of the second closure element.
4 more elements
A kit, comprising:
- a fluid end assembly comprising:
- a housing having an external surface and an internal chamber;
- a first conduit formed in the housing and having first and second sections, each section independently interconnecting the internal chamber and the external surface;
- a second conduit formed in the housing, intersecting the first conduit and independently interconnecting the internal chamber and the external surface;
- a closure element comprising:
- a body having at least two structural features, each structural feature comprising:
- a pair of external surfaces formed in an outer surface of the body, the external surfaces joining at a first corner line and forming two boundaries of a recessed space within which an annular seal is receivable;
- and
- at least one annular first seal positionable within the recessed space of any of the structural features;
- in which a seal is positioned within the recessed space of one and only one of the structural features of the closure element.
7 more elements
A method of using a kit, the kit comprising:
- a fluid end assembly comprising:
- a housing having an external surface and an internal chamber;
- a first conduit formed in the housing and having first and second sections, each section independently interconnecting the internal chamber and the external surface;
- a second conduit formed in the housing, intersecting the first conduit and independently interconnecting the internal chamber and the external surface;
- a closure element comprising:
- a body having at least two structural features, each structural feature comprising:
- a pair of external surfaces formed in an outer surface of the body, the external surfaces joining at a first corner line and forming two boundaries of a recessed space within which an annular seal is receivable;
- and
- at least one annular first seal positionable within the recessed space of any of the structural features;
- the method comprising the following steps in this order:
- sealing the closure element such that the first seal occupies the recessed space of one of the structural features, and no seal occupies the recessed space of any other of the structural features;
- installing the sealed closure element within an externally-opening conduit of the fluid end assembly attached to a deactivated power end;
- actuating the power end such that a flow of fluid begins within the fluid end assembly;
- deactivating the power end such that the flow of fluid stops within the fluid end assembly;
- removing the first seal from the closure element;
- resealing the closure element such that a second seal occupies the recessed space of a structural feature not previously occupied by the first seal, and no seal occupies the recessed space of any other of the structural features;
- and
- installing the sealed closure element within the same externally-opening conduit of the fluid end assembly.
15 more elements
A kit comprising:
- a fluid end assembly comprising:
- a housing having an internal chamber and a conduit that intersects the internal chamber and opens at a first surface of the housing;
- a first closure element comprising a body having a pair of external surfaces formed in an outer surface of the body, the external surfaces joining at a first corner line and forming two boundaries of a recessed space within which an annular seal is receivable;
- an annular first seal positionable within the recessed space of the first closure element;
- a second closure element comprising a body having a pair of external surfaces formed in an outer surface of the body, the external surfaces joining at a first corner line and forming two boundaries of a recessed space within which an annular seal is receivable, in which the recessed spaces of the closure elements would be axially offset if those closure elements were superimposed;
- and
- an annular second seal positionable within the recessed space of the second closure element;
- in which each of the closure elements is a tubular sleeve sized to be closely received within the conduit.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.