Two-piece universal alignment tool and method for servicing mud reciprocating pumps
OwnerJames B. Glenninventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for aligning a crosshead of a mud pump with the fluid end of the mud pump without having to remove the rod system (piston rod, extension rod) of the pump. The apparatus comprises a dial indicator which measures differential distance and a connection component for connecting the apparatus directly or indirectly to the crosshead. The method and apparatus allow the establishment of perpendicularity and concentricity of the crosshead with respect to the bore in the fluid end of the pump.
Claims10
A method for aligning a crosshead in a reciprocating pump to a fluid end section of the pump, wherein the pump further comprises:
- a crosshead guide;
- a pump fluid module having associated therewith or therein a pump liner and a piston having a piston rod system which moves a piston in a linear motion, by use of a piston rod;
- an extension rod;
- and optionally one or more shims;
- the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) removing said pump liner and said piston from a pump fluid module;
- (b) affixing an alignment tool to said piston rod;
- (c) affixing a measurement device to the alignment tool;
- (d) using the measurement device to acquire measurements indicative of perpendicularity or concentricity of one or more of the group:
- i) the crosshead;
- ii) the crosshead guide;
- iii) the piston rod;
- iv) the extension rod;
- v) the pump fluid module;
- (e) adding or removing one or more shims to achieve more precise concentricity or perpendicularity of one or more of the group:
- i) the crosshead;
- ii) the crosshead guide;
- iii) the piston rod;
- iv) the extension rod;
- v) the pump fluid module.
An apparatus for alignment of a crosshead associated with a piston to a fluid module, said apparatus comprising a connection assembly and a dial indicator assembly that allows establishing perpendicularity and concentricity of said crosshead with respect to said fluid module without having to remove said piston rod.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.