Suction cover assembly for reciprocating pumps

Abstract

A suction cover nut for a reciprocating pump includes a body configured to be at least partially received within an access port of a fluid cylinder of the reciprocating pump. The body extends a length along a central longitudinal axis. The body includes a thread configured to threadably connect the suction cover nut to the fluid cylinder within the access port. The thread extends along the central longitudinal axis of the body. The body includes a recess configured to receive a suction cover of the reciprocating pump therein. The recess is tapered inwardly along the central longitudinal axis of the body.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A suction cover nut for a reciprocating pump, said suction cover nut comprising:
 a body configured to be at least partially received within an access port of a fluid cylinder of the reciprocating pump, the body extending a length along a central longitudinal axis, the body comprising a thread configured to threadably connect the suction cover nut to the fluid cylinder within the access port, the thread extending along the central longitudinal axis of the body, the body comprising a recess configured to receive a suction cover of the reciprocating pump therein, wherein the recess is tapered inwardly along the central longitudinal axis of the body.   
     
     
         2 . The suction cover nut of  claim 1 , wherein the recess comprises a sidewall that is configured to transfer axial forces acting during operation of the reciprocating pump radially outward relative to the central longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         3 . The suction cover nut of  claim 1 , wherein the body extends the length along the central longitudinal axis from an exterior end portion to an interior end portion, the recess extending a depth into the interior end portion toward the exterior end portion, the recess being tapered inwardly toward the central longitudinal along at least a portion of the depth of the recess. 
     
     
         4 . The suction cover nut of  claim 1 , wherein the body comprises a face that is configured to oppose the suction cover when the suction cover nut is threadably connected within the access port of the fluid cylinder, the recess extending within the face and comprising a sidewall that extends a length along the central longitudinal axis of the body, wherein at least a portion of the length of the sidewall extends at a non-parallel angle relative to the central longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         5 . The suction cover nut of  claim 1 , wherein the body comprises a face that is configured to oppose the suction cover when the suction cover nut is threadably connected within the access port of the fluid cylinder, the recess extending within the face and comprising a sidewall that extends a length from an edge of the face to a bottom surface of the recess at a non-parallel angle relative to the central longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         6 . The suction cover nut of  claim 1 , wherein the recess comprises a sidewall having a length that spans a depth of the recess, the sidewall being tapered relative to the central longitudinal axis along an approximate entirety of the length of the sidewall. 
     
     
         7 . The suction cover nut of  claim 1 , wherein the recess extends into the body from a mouth of the recess to a bottom of the recess, the mouth of the recess having a greater width as compared to the bottom of the recess. 
     
     
         8 . The suction cover nut of  claim 1 , wherein the recess is tapered inwardly at an angle of between approximately 20° and approximately 30° relative to the central longitudinal axis of the body. 
     
     
         9 . The suction cover nut of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the recess includes a conical shape. 
     
     
         10 . A suction cover assembly for a reciprocating pump, said suction cover assembly comprising:
 a suction cover configured to be held at least partially within an access port of a fluid cylinder of the reciprocating pump, the suction cover comprising a plug; and   a suction cover nut comprising a body configured to be at least partially received within the access port of the fluid cylinder, the body extending a length along a central longitudinal axis, the body comprising a thread configured to threadably connect the suction cover nut to the fluid cylinder within the access port, the body comprising a recess configured to receive the plug of the suction cover therein, wherein the recess is tapered inwardly along the central longitudinal axis of the body.   
     
     
         11 . The suction cover assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the suction cover extends a length along the central longitudinal axis, the plug of the suction cover being tapered inwardly along the central longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         12 . The suction cover assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the plug of the suction cover is tapered inwardly along the central longitudinal axis, the plug of the suction cover and the recess of the suction cover nut being configured to mate together in physical contact such that axial forces acting during operation of the reciprocating pump are transferred radially outward relative to the central longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         13 . The suction cover assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the recess of the suction cover nut and the plug of the suction cover comprise sidewalls that each extend at a non-parallel angle relative to the central longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         14 . The suction cover assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the recess is tapered inwardly at an angle of between approximately 20° and approximately 30° relative to the central longitudinal axis, the plug of the suction cover being tapered inwardly at an angle of between approximately 20° and approximately 30° relative to the central longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         15 . The suction cover assembly of  claim 10 , wherein at least a portion of the recess of the suction cover nut includes a conical shape, and at least a portion of the plug of the suction cover includes a conical shape. 
     
     
         16 . The suction cover assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the plug of the suction cover has a complementary shape relative to the recess of the suction cover nut. 
     
     
         17 . A pump assembly, comprising:
 a power end portion;   a fluid end portion having a fluid cylinder that includes a pressure chamber and an access port, the access port extending along a central longitudinal axis, the access port comprising an access port thread; and   a suction cover assembly comprising:
 a suction cover configured to be held at least partially within the access port of the fluid cylinder such that the suction cover extends a length along the central longitudinal axis, the suction cover comprising a plug; 
 a suction cover nut comprising a body configured to be at least partially received within the access port such that the body extends a length along the central longitudinal axis, the body having a cover nut thread that is configured to be interlocked with the access port thread such that the suction cover nut is threadably connected to the fluid cylinder within the access port, the body comprising a recess configured to receive the plug of the suction cover therein, wherein the recess is tapered inwardly along the central longitudinal axis. 
   
     
     
         18 . The pump assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the plug of the suction cover is tapered inwardly along the central longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         19 . The pump assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the plug of the suction cover is tapered inwardly along the central longitudinal axis, the plug of the suction cover and the recess of the suction cover nut being configured to mate together in physical contact such that axial forces acting during operation of the reciprocating pump are transferred radially outward relative to the central longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         20 . The pump assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the recess of the suction cover nut and the plug of the suction cover comprise sidewalls that each extend at a non-parallel angle relative to the central longitudinal axis.