Fluid end of a high pressure pump having a groove adapted to receive a spring retainer of a suction valve

Abstract

A fluid end of a high-pressure pump having a bore, a discharge bore, a suction bore, a valve cover bore, and a cross-bore intersection formed in portions of the fluid end. The bore, discharge bore, valve cover bore, and suction bore each having an opening which opens into the cross-bore intersection with the suction and discharge bores substantially orthogonal to the bore. A groove is formed in a wall of the fluid end within in the cross-bore intersection. The groove traverses a curvilinear path around an open space. The groove has a first section and a second section, each section having a first end and a second end. The first and second sections are separated by a gap proximate the bore and valve cover bore. A spring retainer is received into the groove and secured therein for pump operation.

1 . A fluid end of a pump comprising:
 a bore formed in a portion of said fluid end; said bore having a long axis;   a discharge bore formed in a portion of said fluid end, said discharge bore having a long axis;   a suction bore formed in a portion of said fluid end, said suction bore having a long axis;   a valve cover bore formed in a portion of said fluid end, said valve cover bore having a central axis, said central axis extending into said bore;   a cross-bore intersection formed in a portion of said fluid end, said bore, discharge bore, valve cover bore, and suction bore each having an opening which opens into said cross-bore intersection, said suction bore long axis extends through said opening of said discharge bore which opens into said cross-bore intersection, said discharge bore long axis extends through said opening of said suction bore which opens into said cross-bore intersection, said valve cover bore axis extends through said opening of said bore which opens into said cross-bore intersection;   a bore transition area at said bore opening into said cross-bore intersection and adjacent cross-bore intersection;   a valve cover bore transition at said valve cover bore opening into said cross-bore intersection and adjacent said valve cover bore and cross-bore intersection;   a groove, said groove traverses a curvilinear path around an open space, said discharge bore and suction bore long axes each extend into said open space, said groove has a first section and a second section; said first section has a first end and a second end; said second section has a first end and a second end; said first and second sections each have a closed base opposite and an open side of each section, said first and second sections each have a first angled surface and a second angled surface, the first angled surface and second angled surface of the first section converge towards each other towards the base of the first section, the angle formed between the first angled surface and second angled surface of the first section is between 90° and 180°; the first angled surface and second angled surface of the second section converge towards each other towards the base of the second section, the angle formed between the first angled surface and second angled surface of the second section is greater than 90° and less than 180°;   a gap is between said first ends of said first and second sections of said groove;   a gap is between said second ends of said first and second sections of said groove.   
     
     
         2 . The fluid end of  claim 1  further comprising a spring retainer adapted to support a spring of a suction valve in said pump, said spring retainer comprising:
 a first portion having a first surface and a second surface, the first surface is angled relative to the second surface, the exterior angle formed by the intersection of the first and second surfaces is greater than 180° and less than 270° and wherein the sum of the exterior angle formed by the intersection of the first and second surfaces of the first portion and the angle formed between the first angled surface and the second angled surface of said groove is about three-hundred sixty (360) degrees; 
 a second portion having a first surface and a second surface, the first surface is angled relative to the second surface, the exterior angle formed by the intersection of the first and second surfaces is greater than 180° and less than 270° and wherein the sum of the exterior angle of the first and second surfaces of the second portion and the angle formed between the first angled surface and the second angled surface of said groove is about three-hundred sixty (360) degrees; 
 a base from which the first portion extends and the second portion extends; 
 wherein a third surface of the retainer first portion is angled outwardly relative to the base; and 
 wherein a third surface of the retainer second portion is angled outwardly relative to the base. 
 
     
     
         3 . A spring retainer adapted to support a spring of a suction valve in a pump, said spring retainer comprising:
 a first portion having a first surface and a second surface, the first surface is angled relative to the second surface, the exterior angle formed by the surfaces is greater than 180° and less than 270°;   a second portion having a first surface and a second surface, the first surface is angled relative to the second surface, the exterior angle formed by the surfaces is greater than 180° and less than 270°;   a base from which the first portion extends and the second portion extends;   wherein a third surface of the retainer first portion is angled outwardly relative to the base, said third surface intersects an axial extending surface of said base, the axial surface extends away from the point of intersection towards an upper surface of the base; the upper surface and a portion of the axial surface are above the point of intersection; and   wherein a third surface of the retainer second portion is angled outwardly relative to the base, said third surface intersects an axial extending surface of said base, the axial surface extends away from the point of intersection towards an upper surface of the base; the upper surface and a portion of the axial surface are above the point of intersection.   
     
     
         4 . The spring retainer of  claim 3  wherein the base includes a first end and a second end and the third surface of the retainer first portion is angled relative to said first end at an angle between around forty-five (45) degrees and around one-hundred thirty-five (135) degrees, and the third surface of the retainer second portion is angled relative to said second end at an angle between around forty-five (45) degrees and around one-hundred thirty-five (135) degrees. 
     
     
         5 . The spring retainer of  claim 3  wherein said first surface and said second surface of said first portion define a first key and said first surface and said second surface of said second portion define a second key wherein said first and second keys are configured to be received into a groove within a cross-bore intersection of a fluid end of said pump. 
     
     
         6 . The spring retainer of  claim 5  wherein said first and second key are substantially orthogonal to a wall including a groove within a cross-bore intersection of a fluid end of a piston pump when said spring retainer is in an installed position. 
     
     
         7 . The spring retainer of  claim 3  wherein the base further includes an upper surface and a lower surface which define a thickness and the base includes a valve guide aperture through the thickness of said base, wherein the valve guide aperture is sized to receive a valve stem of a suction valve. 
     
     
         8 . The spring retainer of  claim 3  wherein the base includes an upper surface and a lower surface that defines a thickness and the base includes a spring receiving boss extending outwardly from said lower surface of said base. 
     
     
         9 . The spring retainer of  claim 8  wherein the base includes a valve guide aperture through the thickness of said base and through said spring receiving boss wherein the valve guide aperture is sized to receive a valve stem of a suction valve. 
     
     
         10 . The spring retainer of  claim 9  wherein the valve guide aperture includes a step in thickness defining a first section of a first diameter and a second section of a second diameter wherein the first diameter is smaller than the second diameter and wherein said valve guide aperture includes a valve guide insert disposed within said second section. 
     
     
         11 . The spring retainer of  claim 3  wherein the base includes a first side and a second side which define a width wherein said width is less than a diameter of a valve cover bore of a piston pump. 
     
     
         12 . The spring retainer of  claim 3  wherein the base further includes an upper surface and a lower surface which define a thickness;
 the first portion includes a fourth surface opposite said third surface, said third and fourth surfaces define a first portion thickness; 
 the second portion includes a fourth surface opposite said third surface, said third and fourth surfaces define a second portion thickness; and 
 wherein the first and second portion thicknesses are less than the thickness of the base. 
 
     
     
         13 . A spring retainer adapted to support a spring of a suction valve in a pump, said spring retainer comprising:
 a base having a first end, a second end, an upper surface and a lower surface;   a first portion extending outwardly from said first end of said base, said first portion including a first end and a second end, said first end proximate said base and said second end including a first key defined by a first surface and a second surface, said first and second surfaces angled outwardly and intersecting to form an exterior angle being greater than 180° and less than 270°, said first portion extending at an angle from said first end of said base, the angle being around forty-five (45) degrees to around one-hundred thirty-five (135) degrees;   a second portion extending outwardly from said second end of said base, said second portion including a first end and a second end, said first end proximate said base and said second end including a second key defined by a first surface and a second surface, said first and second surfaces angled outwardly and intersecting at an exterior angle being greater than 180° and less than 270°, said second portion extending at an angle from said first end of said base, the angle being around forty-five (45) degrees to around one-hundred thirty-five (135) degrees;   a spring-retaining boss extending outwardly from said lower surface of said base; and   a valve guide aperture through said upper surface and lower surface of said base and through said spring-retaining boss, said valve guide aperture being sized to receive a valve stem of a suction valve.   
     
     
         14 . The spring retainer according to  claim 3  wherein the pump is a piston pump. 
     
     
         15 . The spring retainer according to  claim 4  wherein the pump is a piston pump. 
     
     
         16 . The spring retainer according to  claim 5  wherein the pump is a piston pump. 
     
     
         17 . The spring retainer according to  claim 13  wherein the pump is a piston pump