Pump with valve with moveable valve member

Abstract

A pump assembly includes a power end, a fluid end, and a valve assembly located in the fluid end. The valve assembly includes a valve seat and a valve member including a valve body connected to a valve stem and reciprocatable during operation to engage the valve seat. The valve member is moveable during operation such that the orientation of the valve body relative to the valve seat is adjustable.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A pump assembly, comprising:
 a power end;   a fluid end; and   a valve assembly located in the fluid end and comprising:
 a valve seat; and 
 a valve member comprising a valve body connected to a valve stem and reciprocatable during operation to engage the valve seat, wherein the valve member is moveable during operation such that the orientation of the valve body relative to the valve seat is adjustable. 
   
     
     
         2 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the valve member is translatable in a horizontal orientation during operation to seal and unseal against the valve seat. 
     
     
         3 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the valve member is movable during operation by pivoting the valve body relative to the valve stem. 
     
     
         4 . The assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the valve body is connected to the valve stem by a ball joint. 
     
     
         5 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the valve body is rigidly connected to the valve stem and the valve member is movable during operation by bending the valve stem. 
     
     
         6 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the valve member is engageable with the valve seat to form a seal around the valve seat in multiple orientations. 
     
     
         7 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the valve member is moveable during operation in response to an obstruction between the valve body and the valve seat. 
     
     
         8 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the valve member is movable during operation by at least one of pivoting the valve body relative to the valve stem or by bending the valve stem. 
     
     
         9 . A method of servicing a wellbore, comprising:
 fluidly coupling a pump assembly to a source of a wellbore servicing fluid and to the wellbore; and   communicating wellbore servicing fluid into the wellbore by operating the pump assembly;   wherein the pump assembly comprises:
 a power end; 
 a fluid end; and 
 a valve assembly located in the fluid end and comprising a valve seat and a valve member comprising a valve body connected to a valve stem and reciprocatable during operation to engage the valve seat, wherein the valve member is moveable during operation such that the orientation of the valve body relative to the valve seat is adjustable. 
   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising translating the valve member in a horizontal orientation during operation to seal and unseal against the valve seat. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising wherein the valve member is movable during operation by pivoting the valve body relative to the valve stem. 
     
     
         12 . The assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the valve body is connected to the valve stem by a ball joint. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the valve body is rigidly connected to the valve stem and the valve member is movable during operation by bending the valve stem. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the valve member is engageable with the valve seat to form a seal around the valve seat in multiple orientations. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising moving the valve member during operation in response to an obstruction between the valve body and the valve seat. 
     
     
         16 . A valve assembly comprising:
 a valve seat; and   a valve member comprising a valve body connected to a valve stem and reciprocatable during operation to engage the valve seat, wherein the valve member is moveable during operation such that the orientation of the valve body relative to the valve seat is adjustable.   
     
     
         17 . The assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the valve member is movable during operation by pivoting the valve body relative to the valve stem. 
     
     
         18 . The assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the valve body is rigidly connected to the valve stem and the valve member is movable during operation by bending the valve stem. 
     
     
         19 . The assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the valve member is moveable during operation in response to an obstruction between the valve body and the valve seat. 
     
     
         20 . The assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the valve member is movable during operation by at least one of pivoting the valve body relative to the valve stem or by bending the valve stem.