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US 12,523,205 B2Granted
Fluid routing plug
AssigneeKerr Machine Co.
InventorsNicholas Son, Micheal Cole Thomas, Christopher Todd Barnett, Kelcy Jake Foster, John Keith
Life of this patent
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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.
Claims21
A fluid end, comprising:
- a housing having a bore formed therein, the bore comprising a counterbore with a base surface;
- a fluid routing plug at least partially disposed within the bore, the fluid routing plug comprising:
- a body extending along a longitudinal axis having:
- a first end;
- a second end;
- and
- an outer surface extending between the first end and the second end, the outer surface defining an annular shoulder disposed proximate the second end, wherein:
- a first plurality of fluid passages extending from the outer surface to the second end;
- and
- a second plurality of fluid passages extending from the second end to the first end;
- and
- a hardened insert positioned between the annular shoulder of the fluid routing plug and the base surface of the counterbore and comprising:
- a pre-formed first surface having a first profile abutting the shoulder;
- a pre-formed second surface having a second profile abutting the base surface;
- wherein the annular shoulder is characterized by a contoured contact progression profile having an initial central contact at which the pre-formed first surface contacts the annular shoulder, wherein, as a compressive load is applied to the hardened insert, the pre-formed first surface plastically deforms against the annular shoulder to increase a contact area radially outward and radially inward from the initial central contact.
12 more elements
A contact progression surface formed on an annular shoulder of a fluid routing plug, the contact progression surface comprising:
- a crown positioned at a radial midpoint of the shoulder and having a maximum height relative to a reference surface;
- a first set of reference points located at regular radial intervals inward from the crown, each having a longitudinal height less than that of the crown;
- and
- a second set of reference points located at regular radial intervals outward from the crown, each having a longitudinal height less than that of the crown;
- wherein the longitudinal height of the contact progression surface relative to the reference surface decreases with increasing radial distance from the crown, such that contact between the annular shoulder and a mating insert surface expands radially inward and outward from the crown as a compressive load is applied.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.