# US 12,215,679 B2 · Fluid routing plug

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- Number: US 12,215,679 B2
- Document ID: US12215679B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 18/779,480
- Filed: 2024-07-22
- Published: 2024-11-14
- Granted: 2025-02-04
- Earliest claimed: 2019-11-18
- Assignees: Kerr Machine Co.
- Applicants: Kerr Machine Co.
- Inventors: Nicholas Son; Micheal Cole Thomas; Christopher Todd Barnett; Kelcy Jake Foster; John Keith
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12215679B2

## CPC

- F04B 15/02: the fluids being viscous or non-homogeneous
- F04B 23/06: the pumps being all of reciprocating positive-displacement type
- E21B 43/2607: {Surface equipment specially adapted for fracturing operations}
- F04B 1/0452: Distribution members, e.g. valves (machines or pumps with cam-actuated distribution members at the outer ends of the cylinders F04B1/0472; machines or pumps with cam-actuated distribution members at the inner ends of the cylinders F04B1/0531; the piston-driving cams being provided with inlets and outlets F04B1/0535)
- F04B 1/0538: located side-by-side
- F04B 7/0003: {the distribution member forming both the inlet and discharge distributor for one single pumping chamber (F04B7/0208 takes precedence)}
- F04B 7/0088: {Sealing arrangements between the distribution members and the housing}
- F04B 7/0208: {the distribution member forming both the inlet and discharge distributor for one single pumping chamber}
- F04B 17/05: driven by internal-combustion engines
- F04B 17/06: Mobile combinations
- F04B 53/1022: {having means for guiding the closure member axially}
- F04B 53/1032: {Spring-actuated disc valves (F04B53/1022, F04B53/103 take precedence)}
- F04B 53/16: Casings; Cylinders; Cylinder liners or heads; Fluid connections
- F04B 53/162: {Adaptations of cylinders}
- F04B 53/22: Arrangements for enabling ready assembly or disassembly
- F16K 1/42: Valve seats (for double-seat valves F16K1/44)
- F16K 11/105: {Three-way check or safety valves with two or more closure members}
- F16K 15/066: {with a plurality of valve members}
- F16K 27/003: {Housing formed from a plurality of the same valve elements}
- F16L 55/11: Plugs {(F16L55/128 takes precedence)}
- F04B 7/0084: {Component parts or details specially adapted therefor}
- F04B 7/0266: {the inlet and discharge means being separate members}
- F04B: POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS (machines for liquids, or pumps, of rotary-piston or oscillating-piston type F04C; non-positive-displacement pumps F04D; pumping of fluid by direct contact of another fluid or by using inertia of fluid to be pumped F04F)
- E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- F16K: VALVES; TAPS; COCKS; ACTUATING-FLOATS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING {(devices for emptying and evacuating the excess liquid in valves or conduits F16L55/07)}
- F16L: PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL

## Abstract

A fluid routing plug for use with a fluid end section. The fluid end section being one of a plurality of fluid end sections making up a fluid end side of a high pressure pump. The fluid routing plug is installed within a horizontal bore formed in a fluid end section and is configured to route fluid throughout the fluid end section.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A fluid end, comprising:
a housing having a bore formed therein, the bore comprising a counterbore;
a fluid routing plug, at least partially disposed within the bore, the fluid end comprising
a body extending along a longitudinal axis having:
a first end surface;
a second end surface; and
a radially disposed outer surface, extending between the first end surface and the second end surface;
the outer surface including:
a first surface section positioned proximate the first end surface, the first surface section configured to receive a first annular seal;
a second surface section proximate the second end surface, the second surface section configured to receive a second annular seal; and
an intermediate surface section disposed between the first surface section and the second surface section;
wherein the body defines:
a first plurality of fluid passages, the first plurality of fluid passages extending from the intermediate surface section to the second end surface; and
a second plurality of fluid passages, the second plurality of fluid passages extending from the second end surface to the first end surface;
wherein each of the second plurality of fluid passages is non-parallel to the longitudinal axis; and
a hardened insert installed within the bore and surrounding at least a portion of the fluid routing plug, the hardened insert engaging a base of the counterbore and engaging the outer surface of the body;
in which the hardened insert engages one of the first annular seal and the second annular seal.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The fluid end of claim 1 in which the second surface section is closer to the longitudinal axis than the first surface section and any portion of the intermediate surface section.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The fluid end of claim 1 wherein the second end surface includes a blind bore, in which each of the first plurality of fluid passages terminates at the blind bore.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The fluid end of claim 3 wherein the first end surface includes the counterbore, in which each of the second plurality of fluid passages terminates at the counterbore.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The fluid end of claim 1 wherein the first end surface includes the counterbore, in which each of the second plurality of fluid passages terminates at the counterbore.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The fluid end of claim 1, wherein a third surface section is defined between the second surface section and the intermediate surface section, wherein:
the third surface section is cylindrical; and
the third surface section has a maximum outer diameter substantially equal to the first surface section.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The fluid end of claim 6 in which no portion of the outer surface between the third surface section and the first surface section has an outer diameter greater than the third surface section.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The fluid end of claim 1 in which each of the first plurality of fluid passages extends from a first opening to a second opening, and wherein:
the first opening is disposed on the intermediate surface section; and
the second opening is disposed within a blind bore formed in the second end surface.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The fluid end of claim 1 in which each of the first plurality of fluid passages has a tear drop cross-sectional shape.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The fluid end of claim 1 in which each of the second plurality of fluid passages extends from a first opening to a second opening, wherein the first opening is co-planar with a plane containing a line perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The fluid end of claim 1 in which the plurality of first passages and the plurality of second passages do not intersect.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The fluid end of claim 1 wherein:
the first end surface includes a first tapered surface complementary to the surface of a cone; and
the second end surface includes a second tapered surface complementary to the surface of a cone.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The fluid end of claim 12, further comprising:
a suction valve, having a frustoconical surface and configured to engage with the first tapered surface; and
a discharge valve, having a frustoconical surface and configured to engage with the second tapered surface.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The fluid end of claim 13 wherein each of the first plurality of fluid passages extends from a first opening to a second opening and each of the second plurality of fluid passages extends from a third opening to a fourth opening; and
wherein the suction valve is configured to move from a first position to a second position, where the first position is defined by the suction valve contacting the first tapered surface and covering the second opening of each of the first plurality of fluid passages; and
wherein the discharge valve is configured to move from a first position to a second position, wherein the first position is defined by the discharge valve contacting the second tapered surface and covering the fourth opening of each of the second plurality of fluid passages.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

A pump comprising:
the fluid end of claim 14; and
a plunger at least partially disposed within the bore of the housing; and
wherein:
movement of the plunger away from the fluid routing plug causes the discharge valve to move to its first position, and the suction valve to move to its second position; and
movement of the plunger toward the fluid routing plug causes the discharge valve to move to its second position, and the suction valve to move to its first position.

### Claim 16 (depends on 13)

The fluid end of claim 13 wherein the housing comprises:
a first section defining a discharge outlet;
a second section joined to the first section, the second section defining a suction inlet; and
a third section joined to the second section, the third section configured to receive a plunger.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The fluid end of claim 16 wherein the suction inlet is connected to a suction manifold, and the discharge inlet is connected to a discharge manifold.

### Claim 18 (depends on 1)

The fluid end of claim 1 in which:
the first plurality of fluid passages consists of three and only three fluid passages; and
the second plurality of fluid passages consists of three and only three fluid passages.

### Claim 19 (depends on 1)

The fluid end of claim 1 in which each of the first plurality of fluid passages and each of the second plurality of fluid passages defines a passage axis; wherein each passage axis is included on a corresponding passage plane, wherein each of the passage planes includes the longitudinal axis.