Free-floating neutrally-buoyant reciprocating pump valve for abrasive fluids

A free-floating neutrally-buoyant reciprocating-pump valve for abrasive fluids comprising:

• a cylindrical valve throat which encloses a free-floating valve,
• a neutrally-buoyant valve which responds quickly to pressure-gradient reversals in the fluid conveyed through the valve,
• a ballast system which allows the buoyancy of the valve to be adjusted so as to correspond with changes in the density of the fluid conveyed through the valve,
• a means to guide the valve consisting of a plurality of radial fins which are affixed to the valve, and centralize and guide the valve through the valve throat and directly into the valve seat,
• a valve seat, which is affixed to the valve throat,
• a hardfaced fluid deflector which is affixed to the valve throat and the valve seat just upstream from the valve seat,
• a hardfaced cone-shaped fluid deflector, which is situated just upstream from a sealing surface of the valve,
• a hardfaced region in the valve throat which is situated just downstream from the valve seat,
• a coil spring and internal shoulder situated inside the valve throat just downstream from the trailing edges of the radial valve fins.