Fluid end of a high pressure plunger pump

Abstract

A fluid end includes a casing that defines a work space that includes a cross bore space and an inlet bore centered on an inlet bore axis and intersecting the cross bore space, the intersection of the inlet bore and the cross bore space at least partially defined by a first curved edge. An outlet bore is centered on an outlet bore axis and intersects the cross bore space, a plunger bore is centered on a plunger axis and intersects the cross bore space, a first angled surface is defined by the first curved edge, and a second angled surface is disposed adjacent the first angled surface such that the first and second angled surfaces cooperate to define a V-shaped groove having an exterior angle between 180 degrees and 270 degrees. An inlet spring retainer includes a first engagement portion, is orientable in a first orientation in which the retainer is movable from the inlet bore to the plunger bore and a second orientation in which the retainer engages the first and second angled surfaces to inhibit movement of the retainer.

1 . A fluid end casing of a reciprocating pump, the casing arranged to receive an inlet spring retainer including a first engagement portion, the fluid end casing comprising:
 a casing wall defining a work space comprising:
 a cross bore space; 
 an inlet bore centered on an inlet bore axis and intersecting the cross bore space, the intersection of the inlet bore and the cross bore space at least partially defined by a first curved edge; 
 an outlet bore centered on an outlet bore axis and intersecting the cross bore space; 
 a plunger bore centered on a plunger axis and intersecting the cross bore space; 
 a first angled surface defined by the first curved edge; and 
 a second angled surface disposed adjacent the first angled surface such that the first angled surface and the second angled surface cooperate to define a V-shaped groove having an exterior angle between 180 degrees and 270 degrees, wherein the V-shaped groove is arranged to receive the first engagement portion of the inlet spring retainer. 
   
     
     
         2 . The fluid end casing of  claim 1 , wherein the outlet bore axis is coaxial with the inlet bore axis. 
     
     
         3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . The fluid end casing of  claim 1 , wherein the first angled surface is non-planar and the second angled surface is non-planar. 
     
     
         5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . The fluid end casing of  claim 1 , wherein the plunger axis and the inlet bore axis cooperate to define a center plane. 
     
     
         7 . The fluid end casing of  claim 6 , further comprising a valve cover bore intersecting the cross bore space and positioned on the opposite side of the cross bore space with respect to the plunger bore. 
     
     
         8 . The fluid end casing of  claim 7 , wherein the plunger bore and the valve cover bore cooperate to divide the V-shaped groove into a first V-shaped groove portion on a first side of the center plane and a second V-shaped groove portion on a second side of the center plane. 
     
     
         9 . The fluid end casing of  claim 8 , wherein the inlet spring retainer further comprises a second engagement portion, and wherein the first engagement portion engages the first V-shaped groove portion and the second engagement portion engages the second V-shaped groove portion. 
     
     
         10 . The fluid end casing of  claim 9 , wherein the first V-shaped groove portion and the second V-shaped groove portion are separate from one another. 
     
     
         11 . The fluid end casing of  claim 1 , further comprising a fillet disposed between the first angled surface and the second angled surface. 
     
     
         12 . A fluid end casing of a reciprocating pump, the casing arranged to receive an inlet spring retainer including a first engagement portion and a second engagement portion separate from the first engagement portion, the fluid end casing comprising:
 a casing wall defining a work space, the work space comprising:
 an inlet bore centered on an inlet bore axis; 
 an outlet bore centered on an outlet bore axis that is coaxial with the inlet bore axis; 
 a plunger bore centered on a plunger axis, the plunger axis arranged perpendicular to the inlet bore axis; 
 a valve cover bore centered on the plunger axis, the inlet bore, the outlet bore, the plunger bore, and the valve cover bore cooperating to define a cross bore intersection space, wherein the casing defines an inlet bore transition area at the intersection of the inlet bore and the cross bore intersection space; 
 a first V-shaped groove formed adjacent the inlet bore transition area and extending partially around the inlet bore axis; and 
 a second V-shaped groove formed adjacent the inlet bore transition area and extending partially around the inlet bore axis, the first V-shaped groove and the second V-shaped groove each comprise an upper surface and a lower surface, the upper surface and the lower surface of the first V-shaped groove and the second V-shaped groove defining an exterior angle between 180 degrees and 270 degrees, wherein the first V-shaped groove is arranged to receive the first engagement portion and the second V-shaped groove is arranged to receive the second engagement portion. 
   
     
     
         13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . The fluid end casing of  claim 13 , wherein each upper surface is non-planar and each lower surface is non-planar. 
     
     
         15 . The fluid end casing of  claim 12 , wherein the plunger axis and the inlet bore axis cooperate to define a center plane. 
     
     
         16 . The fluid end casing of  claim 15 , wherein the first V-shaped groove is on a first side of the center plane and the second V-shaped groove is on a second side of the center plane. 
     
     
         17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . The fluid end casing of  claim 12 , wherein the first V-shaped groove and the second V-shaped groove are separate from one another. 
     
     
         19 . The fluid end casing of  claim 12 , further comprising a first fillet disposed between the upper surface and the lower surface of the first V-shaped groove. 
     
     
         20 . The fluid end casing of  claim 19 , further comprising a second fillet disposed between the upper surface and the lower surface of the second V-shaped groove. 
     
     
         21 . A fluid end casing of a reciprocating pump, the casing arranged to receive an inlet spring retainer including a first engagement portion and a second engagement portion separate from the first engagement portion, the fluid end casing comprising:
 a casing wall defining:
 a plurality of bores each extending from an outer surface of the casing wall to a cross bore intersection space disposed in the interior of the casing wall, at least one of the plurality of bores being an inlet bore that extends along an inlet bore axis; 
 a first V-shaped groove formed adjacent the inlet bore transition area and extending along a circular arc partially around the inlet bore axis; and 
 a second V-shaped groove formed adjacent the inlet bore and extending along the circular arc partially around the inlet bore axis, each of the first V-shaped groove and the second V-shaped groove defining an exterior angle between 180 degrees and 270 degrees, wherein the first V-shaped groove is arranged to receive the first engagement portion and the second V-shaped groove is arranged to receive the second engagement portion. 
   
     
     
         22 . The fluid end casing of  claim 21 , wherein the first V-shaped groove and the second V-shaped groove each comprise an upper surface and a lower surface, and wherein each of the upper surfaces and lower surfaces is non-planar. 
     
     
         23 . The fluid end casing of  claim 21 , further comprising a first fillet disposed between the upper surface and the lower surface of the first V-shaped groove and a second fillet disposed between the upper surface and the lower surface of the second V-shaped groove. 
     
     
         24 . The fluid end casing of  claim 21 , wherein the first V-shaped groove and the second V-shaped groove are disposed opposite one another with respect to a central plane that passes includes the inlet bore axis.