Pump With Segmented Fluid End Housing and In-Line Suction Valve

Abstract

A plunger pump fluid end in which the suction valve and seat is aligned with the plunger and the fluid end housing is constructed with multiple modules. Modules are held in a rigid assembly by staybolts that connect to the power end of the plunger pump. Said staybolts pass though bores in the central fluid module and the suction seat module and bound by a conventional threaded nut. Packing box modules are bound to the central fluid module by bolts that also pass through separate bores in the same central module. A suction valve spring retainer/plunger spacer within the plunger bore of the assembly shields the intersection of the plunger bore and the discharge bore from destructive erosion damage.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A plunger pump fluid end comprising:
 a modular housing, wherein said housing further comprises:
 a central fluid module; 
 a plurality of packing box modules; 
 a plurality of suction seat modules; and 
   a plurality of suction valve spring retainer/plunger spacers;   a plurality of plungers and plunger packings; and   a plurality of suction valves and seats and a plurality of discharge valves and seats;   wherein the number of suction seat modules is equal to the number of plunger packing box modules and also is equal to the number of said plungers;   wherein each of said central fluid modules comprises a plurality of central fluid chambers and the number of said central fluid chambers equals the number of said plungers;   wherein each of said central fluid chambers comprises a plunger bore and a discharge bore;   wherein centerline axes of a bore of said suction seat module and a bore of a packing box module are colinear with centerline axes of said plunger bore in each central fluid chamber;   wherein a centerline axis of said discharge bore is perpendicular to the centerline axes of said suction bore and said plunger bore;   wherein the number of suction valves and seats equals the number of discharge valves and seats which is also equal to the number of plungers in said fluid end;   wherein the number of said suction valve spring retainer/plunger spacers equals the number of plungers in said fluid end; and   wherein the area of said port in said suction valve spring retainer/plunger spacer is equal to or less than the area of the intersection of said plunger and discharge bores in said central housing.   
     
     
         2 . A plunger pump fluid end of  claim 1 , wherein said discharge port in said central housing is oblong in cross section at the intersection of the plunger bore and the discharge bore and the long axis of said oblong section is parallel with the centerline axis of said plunger. 
     
     
         3 . A plunger pump fluid end of  claim 1 , wherein the port in said suction valve spring retainer/plunger spacer is oblong in cross section and the long axis of said oblong section is parallel with the centerline axis of said plunger. 
     
     
         4 . A plunger pump fluid end of  claim 1 , wherein a width of said discharge port, measured perpendicular to a plane formed by the centerline axis of the plunger bore and the centerline axis of the discharge bore, is smaller in width than the port in each of the suction seat module. 
     
     
         5 . A plunger pump fluid end of  claim 1 , wherein a width of said discharge port, measured perpendicular to a plane formed by the centerline axis of the plunger bore and the centerline axis of the discharge bore, is 50% or less of a width of a port in each of the suction seat modules. 
     
     
         6 . A plunger pump fluid end of  claim 1 , wherein a width of said discharge port, measured perpendicular to a plane formed by the centerline axis of the plunger bore and the centerline axis of the discharge bore, is less than the width of the discharge manifold in said central fluid module. 
     
     
         8 . A plunger pump fluid end of  claim 1 , wherein a width of said discharge port, measured perpendicular to a plane formed by the centerline axis of the plunger bore and the centerline axis of the discharge bore, is less than 20% of a distance between the centerlines of adjacent said plunger bores. 
     
     
         9 . A plunger pump fluid end of  claim 1 , wherein said discharge port is oblong in cross section at an intersection of the plunger bore and the discharge bore and a long axis of said oblong section is parallel with the centerline axis of said plunger bores. 
     
     
         10 . A plunger pump fluid end of  claim 1 , wherein a minimum wall thickness between said discharge port and said stayrod bores is equal to or greater than 50% of a width of said discharge port, wherein said width is measured perpendicular to a plane formed by said centerline axis of the plunger bore and said centerline axis of the discharge bore.