Self-locking plug
AssigneeVulcan Industrial Holdings, LLC
InventorKyle Matthew Ellisor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fluid end, includes a plunger reciprocating within a first bore, the plunger increasing a pressure of a fluid within a pressure chamber. The fluid end also includes a second bore. The fluid end further includes a plug assembly associated with the second bore. The plug assembly includes a plug body positioned within the second bore. The plug assembly also includes a lock ring positioned, at least in part, within the second bore, the lock ring positioned to be driven radially outward responsive to a longitudinal force applied to the plug body.
Claims20
A fluid end comprising:
- a plunger positioned to reciprocate within a first bore;
- one or more additional bores;
- and
- one or more plug assemblies associated with the one or more additional bores, each of the one or more plug assemblies comprising:
- a plug body positioned within the one or more additional bores, the plug body including a first tapered profile and a second tapered profile, and
- a lock ring having at least portions thereof positioned within the one or more additional bores, the lock ring including a first lock ring tapered profile and a second lock ring tapered profile, and the lock ring positioned such that the first tapered profile of the plug body engages the first lock ring tapered profile and the second tapered profile of the plug body engages the second lock ring tapered profile, thereby to drive the lock ring radially outward responsive to an axial force applied to the plug body.
A plug assembly comprising:
- a plug body including a first tapered profile and a second tapered profile;
- a lock ring positioned circumferentially about the plug body and including a first lock ring tapered profile and a second lock ring tapered profile, at least a portion of the lock ring positioned to overlap the plug body in both a deactivated position and an activated position;
- a retaining plate arranged proximate the lock ring;
- and
- a fastener coupled to the plug body, whereby the plug body is positioned to transition between the deactivated position and the activated position responsive to an axial force applied by the fastener to the plug body so as to drive the plug body toward the retaining plate and cause the first tapered profile of the plug body to engage the first lock ring tapered profile and the second tapered profile of the plug body to engage the second lock ring tapered profile.
A method comprising:
- positioning a plug body, in a deactivated position, within a bore, the plug body including a first tapered profile and a second tapered profile;
- applying an axial force to the plug body, the axial force being in a direction along an axis of the bore, thereby to move the plug body from the deactivated position to an activated position;
- and
- causing, responsive to the movement of the plug body from the deactivated position to the activated position, contact between the first tapered profile of the plug body and a first lock ring tapered profile of a lock ring positioned about the plug body and between the second tapered profile of the plug body and a second lock ring tapered profile of the lock ring, the lock ring to transition, at least in part, radially outward in the bore.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.