Valve cartridge assembly for a fluid pump

A valve cartridge assembly, comprising:

• a valve cartridge housing defining:
• a suction chamber that is open at a first end of the valve cartridge housing, and one or more first passageways through the valve cartridge housing that lead into the suction chamber, and
• a discharge chamber that is open at a second end of the valve cartridge housing, and one or more second passageways through the valve cartridge housing that lead into the discharge chamber,
• wherein the discharge chamber is fluidly isolated from the suction chamber through the valve cartridge housing,
• wherein openings into the one or more second passageways are nearer to the second end of the valve cartridge housing than openings into the one or more first passageways, and
• wherein the openings into the one or more first passageways and the openings into the one or more second passageways are on a radially outer surface of the valve cartridge housing;
• a suction valve assembly comprising a suction valve that seals the suction chamber, wherein the suction valve assembly is configured to control flow through the suction chamber;
• and
• a discharge valve assembly comprising a discharge valve that seals the discharge chamber, wherein the discharge valve assembly is configured to control flow through the discharge chamber.

A fluid pump, comprising:

• a power end;
• and
• a fluid end, coupled to the power end, comprising:
• a fluid end block with a bore, and a plunger configured to reciprocate with respect to the bore;
• a valve cartridge, configured for insertion into and removal from the bore as a unit, comprising:
• a valve cartridge housing defining:
• a suction chamber that is open at a first end of the valve cartridge housing, and one or more first passageways through the valve cartridge housing that lead into the suction chamber, and
• a discharge chamber that is open at a second end of the valve cartridge housing, and one or more second passageways through the valve cartridge housing that lead into the discharge chamber,
• wherein openings into the one or more second passageways are nearer to the second end of the valve cartridge housing than openings into the one or more first passageways, and
• wherein the openings into the one or more first passageways and the openings into the one or more second passageways are on a radially outer surface of the valve cartridge housing;
• a suction valve assembly comprising a suction valve that seals the suction chamber, wherein the suction valve assembly is configured to control flow through the suction chamber;
• and
• a discharge valve assembly comprising a discharge valve that seals the discharge chamber, wherein the discharge valve assembly is configured to control flow through the discharge chamber.