High pressure pump

Abstract

A high pressure pump comprising a fluid end mechanically coupled to a power end. The power end is modular and comprises a crankshaft section, a crosshead section, and a connector section coupled together by a first set of stay rods. The fluid end comprises a plurality of fluid end sections positioned in a side-by-side relationship. Each of the plurality of fluid end sections are attached to the power end using a plurality of second set of stay rods.

1 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a fluid end assembly configured to be attached to a power end assembly using a plurality of fluid end rods, in which the power end assembly has opposed front and rear surfaces and comprises:
 a front support plate attached to the front surface of the power end assembly using a plurality of power end rods; 
 in which at least a portion of at least one of the plurality of fluid end rods is configured to be disposed within the front support plate; 
   in which the fluid end assembly comprises:
 a housing having a horizontal bore formed therein, the housing secured to the plurality of fluid end rods; 
 a stuffing box attached to the housing and having a central opening and a plurality of passages formed therein, the plurality of passages surrounding the central opening; 
 a plunger packing, at least a portion of the plunger packing installed within the central opening of the stuffing box; 
 a plurality of fasteners, each fastener disposed within a corresponding one of the plurality of passages and configured to attach the stuffing box to the housing; and 
 a packing nut attached to the stuffing box and engaging the plunger packing. 
   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , in which each of the plurality of power end rods is configured to extend between the front and rear surfaces of the power end assembly. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , in which the front support plate is one a plurality of front support plates, each front support plate configured to be attached to the front surface of the power end assembly using the plurality of power end rods. 
     
     
         4 . A pump, comprising:
 a power end assembly that is the power end assembly of  claim 1 ; and   the apparatus of  claim 1  attached to the power end assembly using the plurality of fluid end rods.   
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a rear retainer attached to the stuffing box using the plurality of fasteners, in which the packing nut is installed within a central passage formed in the rear retainer.   
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a plurality of nuts, each nut configured to be attached to an end of a corresponding one of the plurality of fluid end rods to secure the plurality of fluid end rods to the housing.   
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , in which the stuffing box is of single-piece construction. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , in which a plurality of threaded openings are formed within the housing, the plurality of threaded openings aligned with the plurality of passages formed in the stuffing box in a one-to-one relationship; and in which the plurality of fasteners are installed within a corresponding one of the plurality of threaded openings. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , in which the fluid end assembly further comprises:
 a connect plate attached to the housing, in which an end of each of the plurality of fluid end rods is attached to the connect plate.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , in which the housing is one of a plurality of housings, the plurality of housings situated in a side-by-side relationship; and in which each of the plurality of the housings is attached to the power end assembly using the plurality of fluid end rods. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a sleeve disposed around each of the plurality of fluid end rods and interposed between the fluid end assembly and the front surface of the power end assembly, in which each of the plurality of fluid end rods traverses the entire corresponding sleeve.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , in which the fluid end assembly further comprises:
 a connect plate attached to the housing, in which at least a portion of each of the plurality of fluid end rods is disposed within passages formed within the connect plate.   
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a plurality of fasteners attaching the connect plate the housing.   
     
     
         14 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a power end assembly having opposed front and rear surfaces and comprising:
 a crank section comprising a crankshaft; 
 a crosshead section offset from the crank section and comprising a plurality of crossheads; in which the crankshaft is joined to the plurality of crossheads by a plurality of connecting rods; 
 a plate attached to the front surface of the power end using a plurality of power end rods; and 
   a plurality of fluid end rods attached to the power end assembly, at least a portion of each fluid end rod disposed within the plate; in which the plurality of fluid end rods are configured to be attached to a fluid end housing such that the fluid end housing is situated in a spaced-relationship with the front surface of the power end assembly.   
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , in which the plurality of power end rods are aligned and positioned in a side-by-side relationship on the front surface of the power end assembly so as to form a first row of power end rods, the first row extending between opposed side surfaces of the power end assembly; and in which the plurality of fluid end rods are aligned and positioned in a side-by-side relationship on the front surface of the power end assembly so as to form a first row of fluid end rods, the first row extending between the opposed side surfaces. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , in which the first row of power end rods is positioned adjacent an upper surface of the power end assembly; in which the plurality of power end rods are further aligned and positioned in a side-by-side relationship on the front surface of the power end assembly so as to form a second row of power end rods, the second row extending between the opposed side surfaces and positioned adjacent the lower surface of the power end assembly; in which the plurality of fluid end rods are further aligned and positioned in a side-by-side relationship on the front surface of the power end assembly so as to formed a second row of fluid end rods, the second row extending between the opposed side surfaces; and in which the first and second rows of the fluid end rods are positioned intermediate the first and second rows of the power end rods. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , in which none of the plurality of fluid end rods are concentrically aligned within any of the power end rods. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , in which each of the plurality of power end rods extend between the front and rear surfaces of the power end assembly. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , in which each of the plurality of fluid end rods has a first longitudinal axis; in which each of the plurality of power end rods has a second longitudinal axis; and in which the first longitudinal axis is offset from the second longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , in which the apparatus is situated within an ambient environment, in which at least a portion of each end of each of the plurality of power end rods is exposed to the ambient environment.