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US 12,366,245 B1Granted
Connecting rod assembly for reciprocating pump
AssigneeVulcan Industrial Holdings, LLC
InventorsKyle Matthew Ellisor, Chance Ray Mullins
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A connecting rod assembly includes a crosshead for coupling a connecting rod to a plunger, the crosshead having a hole extending through the crosshead. The connecting rod assembly also includes a knuckle cage positioned within the crosshead, the knuckle cage extending through the hole and including a cutout to provide access to a passage formed in the knuckle cage. The connecting rod assembly further includes a knuckle positioned within the passage of the knuckle cage, the knuckle having a mounting surface that is substantially planar, the mounting surface coupling to the connecting rod at a mating end with a substantially planar mating end surface.
Claims13
A connecting rod assembly, comprising:
- a crosshead to connect a connecting rod to a plunger, the crosshead having a hole extending through the crosshead;
- a knuckle cage positioned within the crosshead to extend through the hole of the crosshead, the knuckle cage including a passage and a cutout to provide access to the passage;
- a knuckle positioned within the passage of the knuckle cage, the knuckle having a mounting surface that is substantially planar, the mounting surface including a mating end having a substantially planar mating end surface to connect to the connecting rod at the mating end, the knuckle cage being secured to the crosshead;
- and
- one or more lock washers overlapping at least a portion of the knuckle cage to block movement of the knuckle cage in a direction perpendicular to a rotational axis of the knuckle.
2 more elements
A connecting rod assembly, comprising:
- a crosshead to connect a connecting rod to a plunger, the crosshead having a hole extending through the crosshead;
- a knuckle cage positioned within the crosshead to extend through the hole of the crosshead, the knuckle cage including a passage and a cutout to provide access to the passage;
- a knuckle positioned within the passage of the knuckle cage, the knuckle having a mounting surface that is substantially planar, the mounting surface including a mating end having a substantially planar mating end surface to connect to the connecting rod at the mating end;
- a lubrication passage extending between an outer portion of the knuckle cage and the mounting surface;
- a first lubrication aperture formed in the crosshead;
- and
- a second lubrication aperture positioned in the knuckle cage, the knuckle cage being installed within the hole such that the first lubrication aperture aligns with the second lubrication aperture and the second lubrication aperture directs a fluid toward a rotational surface of the knuckle cage, thereby to at least partially define a hydrodynamic cushion between the knuckle and the knuckle cage.
4 more elements
A connecting rod assembly, comprising:
- a crosshead to connect a connecting rod to a plunger, the crosshead having a hole extending through the crosshead;
- a knuckle cage positioned within the crosshead to extend through the hole of the crosshead, the knuckle cage including a passage and a cutout to provide access to the passage;
- and
- a knuckle positioned within the passage of the knuckle cage, the knuckle having a mounting surface that is substantially planar, the mounting surface including a mating end having a substantially planar mating end surface to connect to the connecting rod at the mating end, at least a portion of the knuckle comprising a hardened material selected to resist wear.
1 more element
A connecting rod assembly, comprising:
- a crosshead having an interior portion, a hole extending from a first end to a second end, and a pair of platforms positioned on opposite first and second sides of the hole;
- a knuckle cage positioned within the hole and extending from the first end to the second end and having a cage axis extending substantially perpendicular to the pair of platforms, a pivot surface, and a recess positioned in the knuckle cage and extending through a body portion of the knuckle cage, thereby to provide access to the pivot surface of the knuckle cage from a direction perpendicular to the cage axis, the pivot surface at least partially defining at least a portion of a cage passage extending along the cage axis;
- and
- a knuckle positioned within the cage passage, the knuckle being axially aligned with the cage axis such that the knuckle, responsive to a force, rotates about the cage passage, the knuckle having a planar mating surface positioned to align with the recess positioned in the knuckle cage.
1 more element
A method, comprising:
- positioning a knuckle cage within a crosshead;
- positioning a knuckle within the knuckle cage;
- aligning a substantially planar mating end of a connecting rod with a substantially planar mounting surface of the knuckle;
- connecting the connecting rod to the knuckle;
- aligning a first flow passage extending through the crosshead with a second flow passage extending through the knuckle cage;
- and
- providing a lubricating fluid through the first flow passage and the second flow passage.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.