US 11,644,018 B2Granted

Fluid end

AssigneeKerr Machine Co.

InventorsMicheal Cole Thomas, Christopher Todd Barnett, Kelcy Jake Foster, Nicholas Son, John Keith, Mark S. Nowell

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A fluid end comprising a plurality of fluid end sections positioned in a side-by-side relationship. Each fluid end section is releasably attached to a connect plate. Each connect plate is attached to a power source using a plurality of stay rods. Each fluid end section comprises a housing in fluid communication with a pair of intake manifolds and a discharge conduit. A fluid routing plug is installed within each housing and is configured to route fluid throughout the housing. A plunger is installed within stuffing box attached to each housing. A number of features, including the location of seals within bore walls and carbide inserts within valve guides, aid in reducing or transferring wear.

Claims11

Dependent claims

A fluid end section, comprising:

a housing having a longitudinal axis and opposed first and second surfaces joined by an outer intermediate surface;
a horizontal bore formed within the housing and interconnecting the first and second surfaces, the horizontal bore extending along the longitudinal axis of the housing and configured to receive a fluid routing plug;
a discharge bore formed in the housing and interconnecting the horizontal bore and the intermediate surface;
an intake bore formed in the housing and interconnecting the horizontal bore and the intermediate surface;
a first sealing surface surrounding the horizontal bore and configured to engage a seal carried by the fluid routing plug, the first sealing surface positioned between the intake bore and the second surface of the housing;
a second sealing surface surrounding the horizontal bore and configured to engage a seal carried by the fluid routing plug, the second sealing surface positioned between the discharge bore and the intake bore;
and
a beveled surface formed within the housing and surrounding the horizontal bore, the beveled surface positioned between the first and second sealing surfaces and configured to engage the fluid routing plug;
in which a maximum diameter of the second sealing surface is greater than a maximum diameter of the beveled surface;
and in which the maximum diameter of the beveled surface is greater than a maximum diameter of the first sealing surface.

7 more elements

A fluid end section, comprising:

a housing having a longitudinal axis and opposed first and second surfaces joined by an outer intermediate surface;
a horizontal bore formed within the housing and interconnecting the first and second surfaces, the horizontal bore extending along the longitudinal axis of the housing and configured to receive a fluid routing plug;
a discharge bore formed in the housing and interconnecting the horizontal bore and the intermediate surface;
an intake bore formed in the housing and interconnecting the horizontal bore and the intermediate surface;
a first sealing surface surrounding the horizontal bore and configured to engage a seal carried by the fluid routing plug, the first sealing surface positioned between the intake bore and the second surface of the housing;
a second sealing surface surrounding the horizontal bore and configured to engage a seal carried by the fluid routing plug, the second sealing surface positioned between the discharge bore and the intake bore;
a beveled surface formed within the housing and surrounding the horizontal bore, the beveled surface positioned between the first and second sealing surfaces and configured to engage the fluid routing plug;
a fluid routing plug installed within the horizontal bore and comprising:
a plug body having opposed first and second surfaces joined by an outer intermediate surface;
a plurality of non-intersecting fluid passages formed in the plug body;
a first seal installed within a first groove formed within the outer intermediate surface of the plug body;
and
a second seal installed within a second groove formed within the outer intermediate surface of the plug body;
a suction valve installed within the horizontal bore and engageable with the first surface of the fluid routing plug, the suction valve comprising:
a sealing element having opposed first and second surfaces joined by a tapered sealing surface;
in which the tapered sealing surface is engageable with a selected one of the first or second surfaces of the fluid routing plug;
a stem projecting from the first surface of the sealing element and extending along an axis that is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the housing;
and
an annular void formed in the first surface of the sealing element and surrounding the stem;
and
a suction valve guide installed within the horizontal bore and comprising:
a guide body having opposed first and second surfaces;
a plurality of legs extending from the guide body adjacent the first surface and projecting towards the second surface;
a central passage formed in the body and interconnecting the first and second surfaces;
and
a tubular insert installed within the central passage;
in which the stem is at least partially disposed within the tubular insert.

24 more elements

A fluid end section, comprising:

a housing having a longitudinal axis and opposed first and second surfaces joined by an outer intermediate surface;
a horizontal bore formed within the housing and interconnecting the first and second surfaces, the horizontal bore extending along the longitudinal axis of the housing and configured to receive a fluid routing plug;
a discharge bore formed in the housing and interconnecting the horizontal bore and the intermediate surface;
an intake bore formed in the housing and interconnecting the horizontal bore and the intermediate surface;
a first sealing surface surrounding the horizontal bore and configured to engage a seal carried by the fluid routing plug, the first sealing surface positioned between the intake bore and the second surface of the housing;
a second sealing surface surrounding the horizontal bore and configured to engage a seal carried by the fluid routing plug, the second sealing surface positioned between the discharge bore and the intake bore;
a beveled surface formed within the housing and surrounding the horizontal bore, the beveled surface positioned between the first and second sealing surfaces and configured to engage the fluid routing plug;
a discharge valve installed within the horizontal bore and engageable with the second surface of the fluid routing plug, the discharge valve comprising:
a sealing element having opposed first and second surfaces joined by a tapered sealing surface;
in which the tapered sealing surface is engageable with a selected one of the first or second surfaces of the fluid routing plug;
a stem projecting from the first surface of the sealing element and extending along an axis that is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the housing;
and
an annular void formed in the first surface of the sealing element and surrounding the stem;
and
a discharge valve guide installed within the horizontal bore and comprising:
a body having opposed first and second surfaces joined by an outer intermediate surface;
a plurality of legs extending from the body and projecting towards the second surface of the body;
a central passage formed in the body and opening on the second surface;
a tubular insert installed within the central passage;
in which the stem is at least partially disposed within the tubular insert;
and
a dowel pin disposed within a hole formed in the intermediate surface of the body of the discharge valve guide;
in which a portion of the dowel pin is at least partially disposed within a groove formed in the housing between the discharge bore and the first surface of the housing.

20 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 17/550,552Filed 14 Dec 2021 · continuation in part
Priority: 18 Nov 2019
Published: US 2022/0049686 A131 Mar 2022
Granted: 9 May 2023
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification21 codes

F04B 7/0208
The valving being fluid-actuated: the distribution member forming both the inlet and discharge distributor for one single pumping chamber
F16K 15/063
With guided stems: the valve being loaded by a spring
E21B 43/2607
By forming crevices or fractures: surface equipment specially adapted for fracturing operations
F04B 7/0088
Component parts or details specially adapted therefor: sealing arrangements between the distribution members and the housing

Family

Application62/936,789Us provisional application · filed 18 Nov 2019
Application62/940,513Us provisional application · filed 26 Nov 2019
Application62/953,763Us provisional application · filed 26 Dec 2019
Application62/957,489Us provisional application · filed 6 Jan 2020
Application62/959,570Us provisional application · filed 10 Jan 2020
Application62/960,194Us provisional application · filed 13 Jan 2020
Application62/960,366Us provisional application · filed 13 Jan 2020
Application62/968,634Us provisional application · filed 31 Jan 2020
Application62/990,817Us provisional application · filed 17 Mar 2020
Application63/008,036Us provisional application · filed 10 Apr 2020
Application63/018,021Us provisional application · filed 30 Apr 2020
Application63/019,789Us provisional application · filed 4 May 2020
Application63/027,584Us provisional application · filed 20 May 2020
Application63/033,244Us provisional application · filed 2 Jun 2020
Application63/040,086Us provisional application · filed 17 Jun 2020
Application63/046,826Us provisional application · filed 1 Jul 2020
Application63/053,797Us provisional application · filed 20 Jul 2020
Application63/076,587Us provisional application · filed 10 Sep 2020
Application63/089,882Us provisional application · filed 9 Oct 2020
Application16/951,741Parent of this continuation · filed 18 Nov 2020
Application63/125,459Us provisional application · filed 15 Dec 2020
Application63/148,065Us provisional application · filed 10 Feb 2021
Application63/150,340Us provisional application · filed 17 Feb 2021
Application63/155,835Us provisional application · filed 3 Mar 2021
Application63/168,364Us provisional application · filed 31 Mar 2021
Application17/515,707Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 1 Nov 2021
US 11,162,479 B2Parent of this continuation · filed 2 Nov 2021
Application63/283,487Us provisional application · filed 28 Nov 2021
US 2022/0099073 A1Pre-grant publication · published 31 Mar 2022
Application17/515,707Parent of this continuation
US 11,359,615 B2Related patent
US 2021/0148208 A1Published application
US 2022/0049686 A1Published application
US 11,644,018 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.