Semi-linear fluid end for pumps

A fluid end for a pump, the fluid end comprising:

• a housing having a front side, a rear side, and at least one cylinder bore defined therein;
• wherein the at least one cylinder bore includes a pumping chamber and at least partially defines a fluid passage along which a fluid is moved through the housing;
• at least one plunger or piston received within the at least one cylinder bore, the at least one plunger being reciprocated along the at least one cylinder bore for pumping a fluid through the fluid end along the fluid passage from a fluid intake to a fluid outlet;
• a suction valve positioned between the pumping chamber and the fluid intake and configured to control intake of the fluid from the fluid intake into the pumping chamber;
• a discharge valve received within the at least one cylinder bore, the discharge valve located along the fluid passage between the pumping chamber and the fluid outlet and configured to control release of the fluid from the pumping chamber to the fluid outlet;
• wherein the discharge valve is positioned horizontally in-line with the plunger along the at least one cylinder bore;
• and
• wherein at least one of the discharge valve and the suction valve comprises a cartridge valve configured to enable removal thereof as a unit;
• and
• wherein the at least one cylinder bore is configured to enable insertion and removal of the discharge valve and the at least one plunger or piston through the front side of the housing.

A pump comprising:

• a power end including a driver;
• and
• a fluid end coupled to the power end, the fluid end comprising:
• a housing including:
• a plurality of cylinder bores extending through the housing from a rear side of the housing to a front side of the housing,
• a plurality of fluid intakes,
• a plurality of fluid outlets, and
• a pumping chamber positioned along each cylinder bore between each of the fluid intakes and fluid outlets;
• wherein a plurality of fluid passages are defined between the fluid intakes and fluid outlets;
• a plunger positioned within each cylinder bore, the plungers being configured to reciprocate in a horizontal direction along the cylinder bores for pumping a fluid along the fluid passages through the housing and to a discharge;
• a discharge valve received within each cylinder bore, the discharge valve being positioned along the fluid passage between the pumping chamber and the fluid outlet;
• wherein the discharge valve is positioned in-line with the plunger of its cylinder bore;
• and
• a suction valve located upstream from the discharge valve, the suction valve in communication with the pumping chamber and the fluid intake;
• wherein the suction valve and the discharge valve each include a valve seat and a plunger movable through the valve seat;
• and
• wherein the valve seat of each suction valve and discharge valve comprises an outer side wall having a geometry configured to seat against a portion of an inner side wall of the cylinder bore in a non-interference fitting engagement so as to enable the valve seat to be maintained within the cylinder bore by a differential pressure within the cylinder bore.

A method for servicing a fluid end of a pump, comprising:

• removing a cover assembly from a front access port formed in a front side of the fluid end;
• accessing and removing a discharge valve from a cylinder bore of the fluid end through the front access port;
• removing a suction valve from the cylinder bore through the front access opening;
• and
• removing a plunger or piston from the cylinder bore through the front access opening;
• and
• wherein the cylinder bore is configured with an expanded diameter sufficient to enable the discharge valve, suction valve, and plunger to be removed from the front side of the fluid end.