Fluid end with protected flow passages

A fluid end of a reciprocating pump for delivery of fracking fluid at high pressure into a well to extract and recover oil and natural gas trapped in shale rock formations, said fluid end having at least one fluid cylinder assembly comprising:

• a chamber formed therein;
• a first bore in communication with said chamber, said first bore including a reciprocating plunger for effecting pressurization in said chamber to draw fracking fluid therein at low pressure and to discharge said fracking fluid at high pressure;
• a second bore formed in said fluid end in communication with said chamber, said second bore including a suction valve for receiving fracking fluid at low pressure into said chamber;
• a third bore formed in said fluid end in communication with said chamber, said third bore including a discharge valve for release of high pressure fracking fluid through an outlet in said fluid end;
• said second and third bores defining a fluid passageway in said fluid end cylinder assembly;
• at least one tubular sleeve in direct contact with said first bore, substantially the entire length of the outer cylindrical surface of said tubular sleeve configured to be in an interference fit with the surface of said first bore that surrounds said at least one tubular sleeve;
• at least one tubular cartridge in the third bore of said fluid passageway, substantially the entire length of the outer cylindrical surface of said at least one tubular cartridge configured to be in an interference fit with the surface of said third bore surrounding said at least one tubular cartridge;
• a fluid tight seal between contacting surfaces of said at least one sleeve and said at least one cartridge;
• said at least one sleeve and said at least one cartridge cooperating to overlie the fluid end body portions surrounding each of them and to protect said underlying fluid body portions from direct impingement thereon by high pressure fracking fluid passing through said fluid end.

A fluid end of a reciprocating pump for delivery of fracking fluid at high pressure into a well to extract and recover oil and natural gas trapped in shale rock formations, said fluid end having at least one fluid cylinder assembly comprising:

• a chamber;
• a first bore in communication with said chamber, said first bore including a reciprocating plunger for effecting pressurization in said chamber to draw fracking fluid at low pressure and to discharge said fracking fluid at high pressure;
• a second bore including a suction valve in flow communication with said chamber;
• a third bore in flow communication with said chamber, said third bore including a discharge valve in flow communication with an outlet in said fluid end;
• a tubular sleeve in said first bore, substantially the entire length of the outer surface of said tubular sleeve being in intimate, surface-to-surface direct contact with the surface of said first bore surrounding said tubular sleeve;
• a first tubular cartridge in said second bore, substantially, the entire length of the outer surface of said first cartridge being configured to be in intimate, surface-to-surface direct contact with the surface of said second bore;
• a second tubular cartridge in said third bore, substantially the outer surface of the entire length, said second cartridge being configured to be in intimate, surface-to-surface direct contact with the surface of said third bore;
• said sleeve having a first aperture in flow communication with an outlet end of said first cartridge;
• a first seal between the perimeter of said first aperture and the outlet of said first cartridge;
• said sleeve also having a second aperture in flow communication with an inlet to said second cartridge;
• said chamber being interposed between said first and second apertures;
• a second seal between the perimeter of said second aperture and s the inlet to said second cartridge;
• said first cartridge, sleeve and second cartridge defining a flow passageway for said fracking fluid which protects the body portions of said fluid body which they overlie and which protects those body portions from direct impingement by high pressure fracking fluid passing therethrough.

A fluid end of a reciprocating pump for delivery of a fracking fluid at high pressure into a well to extract and recover oil and natural gas trapped in shale rock formations, said fluid end having at least one fluid cylinder assembly comprising:

• a chamber formed therein;
• a first bore in communication with said chamber, said first bore including a reciprocating plunger for effecting pressurization in said chamber to draw fracking fluid therein at low pressure and to discharge said fracking fluid at high pressure therefrom;
• a second bore formed in said fluid end in communication with said chamber, said second bore including a suction valve for receiving fracking fluid at low pressure;
• a third bore formed in said fluid end in communication with said chamber, said third bore including a discharge valve for release of high pressure fracturing fluid through an outlet in said fluid end;
• a tubular sleeve having first and second sleeve portions, a first tubular sleeve portion having an interior edge portion received in a first portion of said first bore,
• substantially the entire length of the outer surface of said first tubular sleeve portion configured to be in intimate surface-to-surface direct contact with the surface of said first bore portion surrounding said first tubular sleeve portion;
• substantially the entire length of said second tubular sleeve portion configured to be in intimate surface-to-surface direct contact with a second portion of said first bore;
• a tubular cartridge received in said second and third bores, the outer surface of said cartridge configured to be in intimate surface-to-surface direct contact with the surfaces of said second and third bores;
• and
• a tubular plug threadedly received in a lower end of said second bore, said plug having an upper surface which is in contact with a bottom edge of said tubular cartridge to secure said cartridge in a fixed operating position in said second bore;
• whereby, said first and second sleeves and cartridge cooperate to protect the fluid end body portions surrounding said sleeves and cartridge from direct impingement thereon by high pressure fracking fluid passing therethrough.

A fluid end of a reciprocating pump for delivery of a fracking fluid at high pressure into a well to extract and recover oil and natural gas trapped in shale rock formations, said fluid end having at least one fluid cylinder assembly comprising:

• a chamber formed therein;
• a first bore in communication with said chamber, said first bore including a reciprocating plunger for effecting pressurization in said chamber to draw fracking fluid therein at low pressure and to discharge said fracking fluid at high pressure therefrom;
• a second bore formed in said fluid end in communication with said chamber, said second bore including a suction valve for receiving fracking fluid at low pressure into said chamber;
• a third bore formed in said fluid end in communication with said chamber, said third bore including a discharge valve for release of high pressure fracturing fluid through an outlet in said fluid end;
• a tubular sleeve received in said first bore and extending through said chamber, substantially the entire length of outer cylindrical surface of said tubular sleeve being in intimate, surface-to-surface direct contact with the surface of said first bore surrounding said tubular sleeve;
• first and second flow passage apertures in said tubular sleeve in alignment with said second and third bores;
• a discharge outlet of said suction valve in contact with the surrounding edge of said first aperture;
• an inlet of said discharge valve in contact with the surrounding edge of said second aperture;
• said sleeve being configured to protect the fluid end body portions surrounding said sleeve from direct impingement thereon by high pressure fracking fluid passing therethrough.