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

Abstract

A fluid end of a plunger pump has a plunger bore, a discharge bore, a suction bore, a valve cover bore, and a cross-bore intersection formed in portions of the fluid end. The plunger bore, discharge bore, valve cover bore, and suction bore each having an opening which opens into the cross-bore intersection. A valve cover bore axis extends through the opening of the plunger bore which opens into the cross-bore intersection. A groove is formed in the fluid end. The groove traverses a curvilinear path around an open space. Long axes of the discharge bore and suction bore extend into said open space The groove has a first section and a second section. The first section has a first end with a first opening and a second end. The second section has a first end and a second end with an opening. 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. A spring retainer is in the groove.

1 . A fluid end of a plunger pump comprising:
 a plunger bore formed in a portion of said fluid end; said plunger 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 plunger bore;   a cross-bore intersection formed in a portion of said fluid end, said plunger 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 plunger bore which opens into said cross-bore intersection;   a plunger bore transition area at said plunger 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 with a first opening and a second end; said second section has a first end, said second section has a second end with an opening; 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 the plunger pump of  claim 1  wherein:
 the plunger bore transition area is between and coplanar with the first end of the first section of the groove and the first end of the second section of the groove. 
 
     
     
         3 . The fluid end of the plunger pump of  claim 2  wherein:
 the valve cover bore transition area is between and coplanar with the second end of the first section of the groove and the second end of the second section of the groove. 
 
     
     
         4 . The fluid end of the plunger pump of  claim 2  wherein:
 the first opening at the first end of the first section of the groove opens at the plunger bore transition area. 
 
     
     
         5 . The fluid end of the plunger pump of  claim 3  wherein:
 the opening at the second end of the second section of the groove opens at the valve cover bore transition area. 
 
     
     
         6 . The fluid end of the plunger pump of  claim 5  wherein:
 the opening at the second end of the second section of the groove is a second opening, said first end of said second section has a first opening which opens at the plunger bore transition area. 
 
     
     
         7 . The fluid end of the plunger pump of  claim 5  wherein:
 the second end of the first section of the groove has a second opening, said second opening opens at the valve cover bore transition area. 
 
     
     
         8 . The fluid end of the plunger pump of  claim 1  wherein:
 a first portion of a spring retainer is in said first section of said groove; 
 a second portion of said spring retainer is in said second section of said groove. 
 
     
     
         9 . The fluid end of the plunger pump of  claim 8  wherein:
 the first portion of the spring retainer has a first side with a first surface and second surface; the second surface is angled relative to the first surface; the exterior angle is greater than 180° and less than 270°. 
 
     
     
         10 . The fluid end of the plunger pump of  claim 8  wherein:
 the second portion of the spring retainer has a first side with a first surface and second surface; the second surface of the second portion is angled relative to the first surface of the second portion; the exterior angle is greater than 180° and less than 270°. 
 
     
     
         11 . The fluid end of the plunger pump of  claim 9  wherein:
 the first surface of the first portion of the spring retainer overlaps the first surface of the first section of the groove and the second surface of the first portion overlaps the second surface of the first section of the groove. 
 
     
     
         12 . The fluid end of the plunger pump of  claim 10  wherein:
 the first surface of the second portion of the spring retainer overlaps the first surface of the second section of the groove and the second surface of the second portion overlaps the second surface of the second section of the groove. 
 
     
     
         13 . The fluid end of the plunger pump of  claim 10  wherein:
 the first surface and second surface of the second portion of the spring retainer and the first and second surface of the first portion of the spring retainer are rounded. 
 
     
     
         14 . The fluid end of the plunger pump of  claim 3  wherein:
 a valve cover is in the valve cover bore and overlaps the valve cover bore transition area. 
 
     
     
         15 . The fluid end of the plunger pump of  claim 8  wherein:
 a valve cover is in the valve cover bore and provides an abutment to prevent 360° rotation of the spring retainer in either the clockwise or counter clockwise direction. 
 
     
     
         16 . A spring retainer adapted to support a spring of a suction valve in a plunger pump, said spring retainer comprising:
 a first portion having a first side with a first surface and a second surface, said first portion has a second side with a third 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 side with a first surface and a second surface, said second portion has a second side with a third 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 portion from which the first portion extends and the second portion extends; the base portion has a first surface on a first side of the base portion; the base portion has a second surface on a second side of the base; the second side is opposite the first side;   wherein the third surface of the retainer first portion is angled relative to the base second surface, the angle is greater than 90° and less than 180′;   wherein the first surface of the retainer first portion is angled relative to the base first surface; the exterior angle formed by the surfaces is greater than 180° and less than 270°;   wherein the third surface of the retainer second portion is angled relative to the base second surface, the angle is greater than 90° and less than 180°; and   wherein the first surface of the retainer second portion is angled relative to the base first surface; the exterior angle formed by the surfaces is greater than 180° and less than 270°.   
     
     
         17 . The spring retainer of  claim 16  wherein the base further comprises:
 a third surface having a central portion and a first end portion angled relative to the central portion and a second end portion angled relative to the central portion, the angle between the first end portion and the central portion is greater than 90° and less than 180°, the angle between the central portion and the second end portion is greater than 90° and less than 180°; 
 a fourth surface opposite the third surface, the fourth surface has a central portion and a first end portion angled relative to the central portion and a second end portion angled relative to the central portion, the angle between the first end portion and the central portion is greater than 90° and less than 180°, the angle between the central portion and the second end portion is greater than 90° and less than 180°; 
 wherein the third surface is between the base first and second surfaces, and the fourth surface is between the base first and second surfaces. 
 
     
     
         18 . The spring retainer of  claim 17  wherein
 the first and second surfaces of the first retainer portion are rounded and have a peak. 
 
     
     
         19 . The spring retainer of  claim 18  wherein
 the first and second surfaces of the second retainer portion are rounded and have a peak. 
 
     
     
         20 . The spring retainer of  claim 17  wherein
 the retainer first portion has an end edge with a peak, the end edge is between a leading edge and a trailing edge of the retainer first portion. 
 
     
     
         21 . The spring retainer of  claim 20  wherein
 the retainer second portion has an end edge with a peak, the end edge is between a leading edge and a trailing edge of the retainer second portion. 
 
     
     
         22 . The spring retainer of  claim 17  wherein
 a rounded transition area joins the first and second surfaces of the retainer first portion; and 
 a rounded transition area joins the first and second surfaces of the retainer second portion. 
 
     
     
         23 . The spring retainer of  claim 17  wherein
 a rounded transition area joins the first surface of the retainer first portion to the base first surface; and 
 a rounded transition area joins the first surface of the retainer second portion to the base first surface. 
 
     
     
         24 . The spring retainer of  claim 21  wherein:
 the retainer has a central axis extending through the base about which the retainer may be rotated when installed in a plunger pump; 
 the retainer has a short axis extending through the base third and fourth surfaces; 
 the retainer has a long axis extending through the first end edge of the retainer first portion and the first end edge of the retainer second portion, the short axis extends along a width of the retainer, the long axis extends along a length of the retainer; the length is at least twice the width. 
 
     
     
         25 . 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 with a first opening and a second end; said second section has a first end, said second section has a second end with an opening; 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.   
     
     
         26 . 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 portion from which the first portion extends and the second portion extends;   wherein a third surface of the retainer first portion is angled relative to the base portion, the angle is greater than 90° and less than 180°;   wherein a third surface of the retainer second portion is angled relative to the base portion, the angle is greater than 90° and less than 180°.   
     
     
         27 . The spring retainer of  claim 26  wherein the base portion has a surface, and the first surface of the retainer first portion is angled relative to a portion of the base surface to form an exterior angle greater than 180° and less than 270°. 
     
     
         28 . The spring retainer of  claim 27  wherein the first surface of the retainer second portion is angled relative to a portion of the base surface to form an exterior angle greater than 180° and less than 270°. 
     
     
         29 . The spring retainer of  claim 28  wherein the retainer is a monoblock piece.