Systems, assemblies, apparatuses, and methods providing enhanced engagement between valve bodies and valve seals

A valve assembly to enhance sealing of a fluid flow in a high-pressure pump assembly, the valve assembly comprising:

• a valve member positioned to move between an open position to allow fluid flow through the valve assembly and a closed position to prevent fluid flow through the valve assembly, the valve member including:
• a valve body having a valve body axis, a valve head including a first radial dimension and extending in a direction transverse to the valve body axis, and a neck portion connected to the valve head and including a second radial dimension less than the first radial dimension, one or more of the valve head or the neck portion having a seal engaging surface at least partially defining one or more recesses, and
• a valve seal connected to the valve body along the neck portion and adjacent the seal engaging surface, the valve seal including:
• a body engaging surface having one or more protrusions positioned to abut the seal engaging surface and received in the one or more recesses, thereby to provide an engagement between the valve seal and the valve body, such that during operation of the high-pressure pump assembly the engagement resists one or more of:
• (a) outward radial migration of the valve seal relative to the seal engaging surface of the valve body, (b) axial displacement of the valve seal relative to the seal engaging surface of the valve body, or (c) rotational displacement of the valve seal relative to the seal engaging surface of the valve body;
• and
• a seat engaging surface, and
• a valve seat including (i) a substantially cylindrical body having an opening therethrough and (ii) a seat surface, the seat surface positioned to abut the seat engaging surface of the valve seal, thereby to prevent fluid flow through the valve assembly.

A fluid end assembly for a high-pressure reciprocating pump, the fluid end assembly comprising:

• a manifold block at least partially defining a pump chamber and a manifold passage positioned to provide fluid communication with the pump chamber;
• a valve assembly received in the manifold passage of the manifold block and positioned to control fluid flow through the manifold passage, the valve assembly having:
• a valve member positioned to move between an open position allowing fluid flow through the valve assembly and a closed position preventing fluid flow through the valve assembly, the valve member including:
• a valve body having a valve body axis, a valve head including a first radial dimension and extending in a direction transverse to the valve body axis, and a neck portion connected to the valve head and including a second radial dimension less than the first radial dimension, one or more of the valve head or the neck portion having a seal engaging surface at least partially defining one or more recesses, and
• a valve seal connected to the valve body along the neck portion and adjacent the seal engaging surface, the valve seal including:
• a body engaging surface including one or more protrusions positioned against the seal engaging surface and received in the one or more recesses, thereby to provide an engagement between the valve seal and the valve body, such that during operation of the high-pressure pump assembly the engagement resists one or more of:
• (a) outward radial migration of the valve seal relative to the seal engaging surface of the valve body, (b) axial displacement of the valve seal relative to the seal engaging surface of the valve body, or (c) rotational displacement of the valve seal relative to the seal engaging surface of the valve body, and
• a seat engaging surface, and
• a valve seat including (i) a substantially cylindrical body having an opening therethrough and (ii) a seat surface positioned to abut the seat engaging surface of the valve seal, thereby to prevent fluid flow through the valve assembly.

A method for enhancing engagement between a valve seal and a valve body of a valve member to seal fluid flow in a high-pressure pump, the method comprising:

• providing a valve body having a valve body axis, a valve head, the valve head including a first radial dimension and extending in a direction transverse to the valve body axis, and a neck portion connected to the valve head and including a second radial dimension less than the first radial dimension;
• providing one or more recesses in a seal engaging surface of one or more of the valve head or the neck portion;
• and
• positioning a valve seal along the neck portion of the valve body, the valve seal having a body engaging surface and configured such that one or more protrusions of the body engaging surface engage the one or more recesses in the seal engaging surface of the valve body and provide an engagement between the valve seal and the valve body, such that during operation of the high-pressure pump the engagement resists one or more of:
• (a) outward radial migration of the valve seal relative to the seal engaging surface of the valve body, (b) axial displacement of the valve seal relative to the seal engaging surface of the valve body, or (c) rotational displacement of the valve seal relative to the seal engaging surface of the valve body.