High pressure reciprocating pump

A high pressure reciprocating fluid pump comprising:

• a manifold block;
• a stuffing box mounted against said manifold block;
• a reciprocating piston mounted within said stuffing box;
• a pumping chamber adjacent an end of said piston;
• a discharge chamber in said manifold block;
• valve means between said pumping chamber and said discharge chamber including a suction valve member to permit fluid to enter said pumping chamber on a suction stroke and a discharge valve to permit fluid to enter said discharge chamber on a pumping stroke;
• a fluid accumulator in said manifold block;
• a relatively small orifice between said discharge chamber and said accumulator to permit limited fluid flow between said discharge chamber and said accumulator for dampening pulsation of said pump;
• and
• a removable orifice plug having said small orifice therein and fitting within a flow passage between said discharge chamber and said accumulator, said orifice plug being removable and replaceable with another orifice plug having an orifice therein of a predetermined size.

A valve cartridge for positioning in an opening between a manifold block and a mounting plate of a high pressure reciprocating pump with a reciprocating piston adjacent said valve cartridge for operation of said pump in a suction stroke and a power stroke;

• said valve cartridge comprising:
• a body having a central bore therethrough and a fixed valve seat adjacent a downstream end of said bore;
• a generally cylindrical discharge valve member mounted within said central bore, said discharge valve member having a circumferential wall defining a central bore with a closed downstream end defining a seating surface for seating on said fixed valve seat during the suction stroke and movable to an unseated position during a power stroke of said piston, said circumferential wall having a plurality of elongate slots adjacent said closed downstream end and said seating surface for fluid flow from said bore of said discharge valve member through said elongate slots to a discharge chamber upon unseating of said discharge valve member during the power stroke;
• said valve cartridge body having a plurality of spaced suction openings extending about the outer periphery of said body, said suction openings extending between a suction chamber adjacent the outer periphery of said body and a pump chamber adjacent an end of said body adjacent said piston;
• and
• a suction valve member closing said suction openings during the power stroke of said piston and opening said suction openings during the suction stroke of said piston to permit fluid flow between the suction chamber and pump chamber.

In a high pressure reciprocating fluid pump having a manifold block, a stuffing box fitting against said manifold block, a clamping plate removably secured to said manifold block and mounting said stuffing box onto said manifold block, and a reciprocating piston mounted within said stuffing box;

• a valve cartridge positioned in an opening between said manifold block and said stuffing box, said valve cartridge comprising:
• a body having a central bore therethrough and a fixed valve seat adjacent an end of said central bore;
• a generally cylindrical discharge valve mounted within said bore, said discharge valve member having a circumferential wall defining an axial bore with a closed downstream end having an enlarged diameter defining a seating surface for seating on said fixed valve seat during a suction stroke and moveable to an unseated position during a power stroke of piston;
• resilient means continuously urging said discharge valve member into sealing relation with said valve seat;
• a pump chamber defined between said piston and said discharge valve member;
• and
• a suction valve member permitting fluid to enter said pump chamber during a suction stroke of said piston;
• said piston on a discharge stroke forcing fluid through said axial bore of said discharge valve member for unseating of said discharge valve member and discharge of fluid through said axial bore past said seat into a discharge chamber.