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US 8,365,754 B2Granted
Valve cover assembly and method of using the same
AssigneeNational Oilwell Varco, L.P.
InventorsAndrew Dale Riley, Randall Ferrain Weaver
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A valve cover assembly for a pump. In an embodiment, the valve cover assembly comprises a first cylindrical member having a central axis and a first throughbore. In addition, the valve cover assembly comprises a second cylindrical member coaxially disposed within the first throughbore and rotatable relative to the first cylindrical member about the central axis between a first position and a second position. In the first position, the second cylindrical member is axially translatable relative to the first cylindrical member. In the second position, the second cylindrical member is axially fixed relative to the first cylindrical member.
Claims24
A method for coupling a valve cover to a pump assembly, the method comprising:
- securing a first cylindrical member to the pump assembly, wherein the first cylindrical member has a central axis and an axially extending throughbore;
- circumferentially aligning a set of interlocking lugs on a radially outer surface of a second cylindrical member between two adjacent sets of interlocking lugs on a radially inner surface of the first cylindrical member;
- axially inserting the second cylindrical member into the throughbore of the first cylindrical member;
- rotating the second cylindrical member about the central axis relative to the first cylindrical member to engage the set of interlocking lugs on the second cylindrical member with one of the sets of interlocking lugs on the first cylindrical member after inserting the second cylindrical member into the throughbore of the first cylindrical member;
- axially inserting a stop locator into a void formed radially between the first and the second cylindrical members and circumferentially between the two adjacent sets of interlocking lugs on the radially inner surface of the first cylindrical member after engaging the set of interlocking lugs on the second cylindrical member with one of the sets of interlocking lugs on the first cylindrical member.
2 more elements
A valve cover assembly for a pump comprising:
- a first cylindrical member having a central axis and a first throughbore, wherein the first cylindrical member has an inner surface comprising a first plurality of axially spaced lugs, wherein one slot is formed between each pair of axially adjacent lugs on the inner surface of the first cylindrical member;
- and
- a second cylindrical member coaxially disposed within the first throughbore, wherein the second cylindrical member has an outer surface comprising a first plurality of axially spaced lugs, wherein one slot is formed between each pair of axially adjacent lugs on the outer surface of the second cylindrical member;
- wherein the first plurality of lugs of the first cylindrical member mate and slidingly engage the slots of the second cylindrical member, and wherein the first plurality of lugs of the second cylindrical member mate and slidingly engage the slots of the first cylindrical member;
- a space radially positioned between the first cylindrical member and the second cylindrical member and circumferentially positioned adjacent the first plurality of lugs of the first cylindrical member and the first plurality of lugs of the second cylindrical member;
- a stop locator wholly radially disposed within the space and configured to restrict the rotation of the second cylindrical member relative to the first cylindrical member.
3 more elements
A pump assembly comprising:
- a valve module including:
- a valve module body having an inner chamber;
- a valve access bore extending from an outer surface of the valve module body to the inner chamber;
- a valve at least partially disposed within the inner chamber and accessible through the valve access bore;
- a valve cover assembly coupled to the valve module body over the valve access opening, the valve cover comprising:
- a first cylindrical member having a central axis and an axially extending throughbore, wherein the first cylindrical member has a radially inner surface comprising a plurality of circumferentially spaced groups of interlocking lugs, wherein each group of the first cylindrical member includes a plurality of axially spaced lugs;
- a second cylindrical member coaxially disposed within the throughbore, wherein the second cylindrical member has a radially outer surface comprising a plurality of circumferentially spaced groups of interlocking lugs, wherein each group of the second cylindrical member includes a plurality of axially spaced lugs;
- wherein each lug of the first cylindrical member is axially positioned between two of the lugs of the second cylindrical member;
- a stop locator circumferentially disposed between two groups of lugs of the first cylindrical member and two groups of lugs of the second cylindrical member, wherein the stop locator has a radially inner surface relative to the central axis that is disposed radially outward of the outer surface of the second cylindrical member and a radially outer surface relative to the central axis that is disposed radially inward of the inner surface of the first cylindrical member;
- and
- a third cylindrical member rotatably coupled to the second cylindrical member.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.