Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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PUMPS
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent
Application No.
62/621,125 filed January 24, 2018, the disclosure of which is incorporated by
reference
herein in its entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This application relates to pumps, and more specifically, to
pumps having
a unique slide-in, slide-out feature.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The following presents a simplified summary of the invention
in order to
provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the invention. The summary is
not an
extensive overview of the invention. It is not intended to identify critical
elements of the
invention or to delineate the scope of the invention. Its sole purpose is to
present some
aspects of the invention in a simplified form as a prelude to the more
detailed description that
is presented elsewhere herein.
[0004] According to an embodiment of the invention, a pump includes
a power
end, and a fluid end. A sliding plate extends from the power end, and a distal
end of the
sliding plate has engaging structure. The fluid end has complementary engaging
structure for
slidably mating with the engaging structure as the fluid end is raised or
lowered relative to the
power end. A locking plate is provided for preventing disengagement of the
complementary
engaging structure and the engaging structure.
[0005] According to another embodiment of the invention, a pump
includes a
power end and a fluid end. A first plate extends from the power end, and a
distal end of the
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plate has engaging structure. The fluid end has complementary engaging
structure for mating
with the engaging structure as the fluid end is joined to the power end. A
suction manifold is
positioned to automatically engage with the fluid end when the fluid end is
moved into an
operating position.
[0006] According to still another embodiment of the invention, a method of
engaging a power end of a pump with a fluid end of the pump is provided.
According to the
method, a power end is provided, which includes a sliding plate extending from
the power
end, wherein a distal end of the sliding plate has engaging structure
vertically oriented along
a height of the sliding plate and has a generally circular cross-section. A
locking plate also
.. extends from the power end. The method further includes providing a fluid
end, which has
complementary engaging structure for mating with the engaging structure of the
power end.
The fluid end is positioned such that the complementary engaging structure
aligns with the
engaging structure of the power end, and is subsequently lowered into an
operating position.
In the operating position, the fluid end slidably mates with the power end and
automatically
engages a suction manifold. Finally, the locking plate is fastened to the
fluid end.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] FIG. lA is a perspective view of a PRIOR ART pump.
[0008] FIG. 1B is an end view of the PRIOR ART pump of FIG. 1A.
[0009] FIG. 1C is atop view of the PRIOR ART pump of FIG. 1A.
[0010] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a pump according to an
embodiment of the
current invention.
[0011] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the pump of FIG. 2, shown
with a fluid end
of the pump removed.
[0012] FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the pump of FIG. 2.
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[0013] FIG. 5 is a side view of the pump of FIG. 2.
[0014] FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the pump of FIG. 2, taken
along line C¨C in
FIG. 5.
[0015] FIG. 7 is an end view of the pump of FIG. 2.
[0016] FIG. 8 is atop view of the pump of FIG. 2.
[0017] FIGs. 9 through 12 are exploded views of the pump of FIG. 2.
[0018] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a pump according to another
embodiment
of the current invention.
[0019] FIG. 14 is still another perspective view of a pump
according to still
another embodiment of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0020] FIGs. lA through 1C show a PRIOR ART pump 10 having a power
end
11 and a fluid end 12. The power end 11 contains a crank shaft converting
rotational forces
(e.g., from a diesel engine or another power source) into reciprocating
forces, and the fluid
end 12 contains pistons and valves to pressurize various fluids to relatively
high pressures.
"Stay rods" or "tie rods" 15 lock the fluid end 12 to the power end 11. Due to
such factors as
vibration, stresses, and stress cycling, the prior art pump 10 may experience
problems with
cracking and separation within each of the bodies, frames, and at or near the
stay rods 15,
leaving the fluid end 12 and the power end 11 inadequately fixed relative to
each other. In
addition, installing the stay rods 15 typically requires special tools and
training, and may be
labor intensive and tedious.
[0021] FIGs. 2 through 12 show a pump 100 according to an
embodiment of the
current invention. As with the prior art pump 10 the pump 100 broadly includes
a power end
110 and a fluid end 120. But the pump 100 includes plates 130 to couple the
fluid end 120 to
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the power end 110. More particularly, the pump 100 has a plurality of plates
130 extending
from the power end 110. The plates 130 each have a proximal end 130a and a
distal end
130b. The proximal ends 130a may be formed unitary with the power end 110, or
may be
fixedly coupled to the power end 110 in any appropriate manner (such as
through welding or
bolting). The distal ends 130b have elongate engaging structure 132, with each
of the
engaging structure 132 extending generally parallel to each other of the
engaging structure
132. It may be desirable for the engaging structure 132 to extend for a
distance D (FIG. 3)
that is at least fifty percent as long as a height H (FIG. 5) of the fluid end
120, more desirable
for the engaging structure 132 to extend for distance D that is at least
eighty percent as long
as height H, and even further desirable for the engaging structure 132 to
extend for distance
D that is at least ninety percent as long as height H. Nevertheless, in some
embodiments, it
may be satisfactory for the engaging structure 132 to extend for distance D
that is less than
fifty percent as long as height H.
[0022] As best shown in FIGs. 4 and 6, the fluid end 120 has
complementary
engaging structure 122 for interlocking with the engaging structure 132. The
complementary
engaging structure 122 shown in FIGs. 4 and 6 is formed (i.e., cast, machined,
et cetera) in
structural block 121 of the fluid end 120. In other embodiments, the
complementary
engaging structure 122 may be fixedly coupled to the structural block 121. For
example, the
complementary engaging structure 122 may include a plurality of tracks that
are welded,
bolted, or otherwise affixed to the structural block 121. Moreover, while the
engaging
structure 132 in the embodiment 100 is male engaging structure and the
complementary
engaging structure 122 in the embodiment 100 is female engaging structure, the
engaging
structure 132 may be female engaging structure and the complementary engaging
structure
122 may be male engaging structure in other embodiments. Still further, the
complementary
.. engaging structure may be constructed of multiple components which
collectively allow
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engagement. For example, both the engaging structure 132 and the complementary
engaging
structure 122 may include male engaging structure, and the complementary
engaging
structure 122 may further include clamps, bolts, or other fasteners which bind
the two
together. And in some embodiments, the proximal ends 130a of the plates 130
may be
fixedly coupled to the fluid end 120 and the distal ends 130b may interact
with
complementary engaging structure formed in or affixed to the power end 110.
[0023] The engaging structure 132 and the complementary engaging
structure 122
has a generally circular cross section, as shown in FIG. 6. Yet other shapes
may alternately
be used, such as rectangular, hexagonal, octagonal, oval, and semi-circular
shapes. And
while each of the plates 130 is shown having an equivalent length such that
the engaging
structure 132 is aligned in plane 133 (FIG. 6), the lengths of the plates 130
may vary so long
as the complementary engaging structure 122 aligns with the respective
engaging structure
132.
[0024] Locking plates 140 couple the power end 110 to the fluid end
120 and
prevent disengagement of the engaging structure 132 and the complementary
engaging
structure 122. As shown, for example, in FIGs. 2, 3, and 7, fasteners 141
(e.g., bolts, screws,
welding, et cetera) may affix the locking plates 140 to the power end 110 and
to the fluid end
120. It may be particularly desirable for the fasteners 141 to be axially
offset angularly from
a direction of sliding engagement between the engaging structure 132 and the
complementary
engaging structure 122, though some embodiments may not include such a
configuration. In
the embodiment 100, the fasteners 141 are axially offset generally
perpendicularly from a
direction of sliding engagement, though other angles may alternately be used.
And in some
embodiments, the locking plates 140 may be formed unitary with either the
power end 110 or
the fluid end 120.
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[0025] To assemble the fluid end 120 to the power end 110, the
plates 130 are
coupled to the power end 110 or formed unitary with the power end 110. The
fluid end 120
is positioned (e.g., using a hoist) such that the complementary engaging
structure 122 is
aligned with the engaging structure 132, and the fluid end 120 is then lowered
with the
complementary engaging structure 122 slidingly engaging the engaging structure
132. As the
fluid end 120 moves to the desired location relative to the power end 110, the
fluid end 120
may interact with suction manifold 150 and pretension the suction gaskets of
the manifold
150. The locking plates 140 are then installed using the fasteners 141. The
fluid end 120
may include at least one stop 128 to prevent further sliding of the fluid end
120 relative to the
plates 130, and to help indicate when the fluid end 120 is in the correct
location for the
fasteners 141 to be installed; this may be a redundant (though in some cases
desirable)
feature. The stop 128 is shown in FIG. 8 as a layer of the structural block
121 without the
complementary engaging structure 122, but the stop 128 may take other forms as
well. The
fluid end 120 may subsequently be separated from the power end 110 (e.g., for
maintenance)
using a reverse sequence: the fasteners 141 and the locking plates 140 are
removed to allow
sliding between the engaging structure 132 and the complementary engaging
structure 122,
the fluid end 120 is lifted (e.g., with a hoist) so that the complementary
engaging structure
122 slides relative to the engaging structure 132 and the fluid end 120
separates from the
sliding plates 130 and the suction manifold 150.
[0026] The power end 110 shown in embodiment 100 is hydraulically driven
and
foregoes the crankshaft in the traditional power end 11. This may help reduce
vibration and
cracking, and the use of the plates 130 in conjunction with the hydraulic
power end 110 may
be synergistic and together offer even superior and unexpected results.
Nevertheless, the
plates 130 and the other disclosed structure may be used with traditional
(rotating) power
.. ends 11 and achieve results superior to the prior art system 10. And the
hydraulic driven
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power end 110 may be used with the stay rods 15 (as shown, for example in FIG.
13) and
achieve results superior to the prior art system 10.
[0027] In the embodiment 100, the power end 110 has double acting
cylinders
supporting opposing fluid ends 120, although those of skill in the art shall
understand that
such a pump configuration is not necessary, and that the power end 110 may
include only
single acting cylinders supporting one fluid end 120. Nevertheless, in
embodiment 100, the
locking plates 140 and sliding plates 130 are shown as separate plates (e.g.,
FIG. 2) that
extend in either direction between the power end 110 and the respective fluid
end 120.
[0028] FIG. 14 shows another embodiment 200 which is substantially
similar to
embodiment 100, except as is shown and described or as would be inherent.
Here, the end
plates 240 and the sliding plates 230 are single plates extending from one
fluid end 220 to the
other. The end plates 240 are otherwise substantially similar to end plates
140. Similarly, the
sliding plates 230 are substantially similar to sliding plates 130, and may
include engaging
structure for engaging with the respective fluid ends 220 as is described
herein.
[0029] Many different arrangements of the various components depicted, as
well
as components not shown, are possible without departing from the spirit and
scope of the
present disclosure. Embodiments of the present disclosure have been described
with the
intent to be illustrative rather than restrictive. Alternative embodiments
will become apparent
to those skilled in the art that do not depart from its scope. A skilled
artisan may develop
alternative means of implementing the aforementioned improvements without
departing from
the scope of the present disclosure. It will be understood that certain
features and
subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other
features and
subcombinations and are contemplated within the scope of the claims. The
specific
configurations and contours set forth in the accompanying drawings are
illustrative and not
limiting.
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