# US 8,770,277 B2 · Frac head with sacrificial wash ring > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,770,277 B2 - Document ID: US8770277B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/240,166 - Filed: 2011-09-22 - Published: 2013-03-28 - Granted: 2014-07-08 - Earliest claimed: 2011-09-22 - Assignees: Oil States Energy Services, L.L.C. - Applicants: Danny Lee Artherholt - Inventors: Danny Lee Artherholt - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8770277B2 ## CPC - E21B 43/2607: {Surface equipment specially adapted for fracturing operations} - E21B 33/068: having provision for introducing objects or fluids into, or removing objects from, wells (cementing-heads E21B33/05) - E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS ## Abstract A frac head is provided with a sacrificial wash ring. The sacrificial wash ring is located above a mixing chamber of the frac head. The sacrificial wash ring protects the frac head body from erosion caused by abrasive frac fluids pumped through the frac head. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A frac head, comprising: a frac head body having a top end with an axial port and an axial passage that extends though the axial port and the frac head body; at least two inlet ports that respectively provide a fluid communication path to the axial passage where fluid streams pumped through the respective inlet ports converge; a sacrificial wash ring in the axial passage adjacent a bottom edge of the respective fluid communication paths, the sacrificial wash ring directing fluid streams pumped through the respective inlet ports into a mixing chamber located below the sacrificial wash ring, the sacrificial wash ring having a bottom edge with an annular step on an outer side thereof; and a wear resistant liner that lines the mixing chamber, a top end of the wear resistant liner being received in the annular step to support the sacrificial wash ring in the axial passage. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The frac head as claimed in claim 1 wherein the sacrificial wash ring comprises a top surface that is downwardly and inwardly inclined, a cylindrical central surface and a bottom surface that is downwardly and outwardly inclined. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The frac head as claimed in claim 2 wherein the top surface is downwardly and inwardly inclined at a similar angle to an angle of inclination of the respective fluid communication paths. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The frac head as claimed in claim 2 wherein the bottom surface is downwardly and outwardly inclined at an angle of about 45° with respect to a central axis of the frac head. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The frac head as claimed in claim 1 wherein the sacrificial wash ring comprises a downwardly inclined top surface and a downwardly and outwardly inclined bottom surface. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The frac head as claimed in claim 5 wherein, the downwardly inclined top surface is parallel with a central axis of the frac head, and the downwardly and outwardly inclined bottom surface is downwardly and outwardly inclined at an angle of about 45° with respect to the central axis of the frac head. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The frac head as claimed in claim 1 wherein the frac head body comprises a bottom leg socket aligned with the axial passage, the bottom leg socket comprising a box thread and a seal bore. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The frac head as claimed in claim 7 further comprising a removable bottom leg threadedly secured in the bottom leg socket. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The frac head as claimed in claim 8 wherein the removable bottom leg terminates in a flange. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The frac head as claimed in claim 8 wherein the removable bottom leg terminates in a threaded union. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The frac head as claimed in claim 8 wherein the bottom leg comprises a first pin thread that cooperates with a box thread in the bottom leg socket to secure the removable bottom leg in the bottom leg socket. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The frac head as claimed in claim 11 wherein the removable bottom leg further comprises a second pin thread located below the first pin thread, and the second pin thread cooperates with a box thread of a lock nut that is tightened against a bottom end of the frac head body to lock the bottom leg in the bottom leg socket. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The frac head as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a removable wear resistant liner below the sacrificial wash ring, the removable wear resistant liner lining the mixing chamber. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The frac head as claimed in claim 13 wherein an upper end of the wear resistant liner supports the sacrificial wash ring. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The frac head as claimed in claim 13 wherein the wear resistant liner comprises a cylindrical outer sidewall, an inner sidewall that has a cylindrical upper section, a downwardly and inwardly inclined central section, and a cylindrical lower section. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The frac head as claimed in claim 13 wherein the wear resistant liner is supported by a top end of a removable bottom leg. ### Claim 17 A frac head, comprising: a frac head body having a top end with an axial port and a axial passage that extends though the axial port and the frac head body; at least two inlet ports that respectively provide a fluid communication path to the axial passage; a sacrificial wash ring in the axial passage at a bottom edge of the respective inlet ports, the sacrificial wash ring having a top surface that is inclined at an angle that is similar to an angle of inclination of the respective inlet ports so that frac fluid flows past a bottom edge of each fluid communication path; a cylindrical central surface that forces respective frac fluid streams to converge as they enter a mixing chamber below the sacrificial wash ring; and, a bottom surface that is downwardly and outwardly inclined to permit the converging frac fluid streams to rapidly expand as they enter the mixing chamber, the sacrificial wash ring further having a bottom edge with an annular step on an outer side thereof; and a wear resistant liner that lines the mixing chamber, a top end of the wear resistant liner being received in the annular step to support the sacrificial wash ring in the axial passage. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The frac head as claimed in claim 17 further comprising a removable bottom leg that terminates in a flange. ### Claim 19 A frac head, comprising: a frac head body having a top end with an axial port and an axial passage that extends though the axial port and the frac head body; at least two inlet ports that respectively provide a fluid communication path to the axial passage; a sacrificial wash ring in the axial passage at a bottom edge of the respective inlet ports, the sacrificial wash ring having a top surface and a bottom surface, the top surface being substantially parallel with a central axis of the frac head, and the bottom surface being inclined at an angle of about 45° with respect to the central axis of the frac head, the sacrificial wash ring further comprising a bottom edge with an annular step on an outer side thereof; and a wear resistant liner that lines the mixing chamber, a top end of the wear resistant liner being received in the annular step to support the sacrificial wash ring in the axial passage. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The frac head as claimed in claim 19 further comprising a removable bottom leg that terminates in a threaded union.