Cover assembly for high-power pumps and related systems, apparatuses, and methods

Abstract

Systems, assemblies, apparatuses, and methods herein may provide a cover assembly for closing a port of a high-power pump. The cover assembly may include a cap and a retainer that may be connected to one another and separated from one another. The cap may include a cap body forming a radial wall, an axial wall, and a cap connector. The retainer may include a retainer body having a retainer connector at an end of the retainer. The cap connector and the retainer connecter may be positioned to connect the cap and the retainer to one another, thereby to provide an annular location for an annular seal between the radial wall and the end of the retainer.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A cover assembly for closing a port of a high-power pump, the cover assembly comprising:
 a cap including a cap body, the cap body being substantially cylindrical and extending between a proximal cap end and a distal cap end along a longitudinal cap axis, the cap body including:
 a proximal cap portion having a first exterior surface having a first diameter; 
 a distal cap portion having a second exterior surface having a second diameter less than the first diameter, the proximal cap portion terminating at the distal cap portion, thereby to form a radial wall extending between the first exterior surface and second exterior surface and an axial wall coextensive with the second exterior surface of the distal cap portion; and 
 a cap connector associated with the distal cap portion; and 
   a retainer including a retainer body, the retainer body having a substantially cylindrical outer retainer surface and extending between a proximal retainer end and a distal retainer end along a longitudinal retainer axis, the retainer body having:
 a proximal retainer portion having a retainer exterior surface having a retainer diameter substantially equal to the first diameter of the proximal cap portion; and 
 a retainer connector associated with the proximal retainer end, the cap connector and the retainer connecter being positioned to connect the cap and the retainer to one another, thereby to provide an annular location for an annular seal between the radial wall and the proximal retainer portion of the retainer. 
   
     
     
         2 . The cover assembly of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the cap connector includes a connector projection extending axially from the distal cap portion of the cap body, the connector projection having a projection surface, at least a portion of the projection surface being substantially cylindrical and having threads;   the retainer connector includes a connector recess extending axially into the proximal retainer portion, at least a portion of the connector recess including threads; and   the threads of the projection surface and the threads of the connector recess are positioned to engage one another and connect the cap and the retainer to one another.   
     
     
         3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . The cover assembly of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the cap connector includes a connector recess extending into the distal cap portion, at least a portion of the connector recess including threads;   the retainer connector includes a connector projection extending from the proximal retainer end of the retainer body, the connector projection having a projection surface, at least a portion of the projection surface being substantially cylindrical and having threads; and   the threads of the projection surface and the threads of the connector recess are positioned to engage one another and connect the cap and the retainer to one another.   
     
     
         5 . The cover assembly of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the cap connector includes a connector projection extending from the distal cap portion of the cap body, the connector projection having:
 a neck portion extending from the distal cap portion of the cap body, the neck portion having a neck diameter less than the second diameter of the distal cap portion; and 
 an engagement portion extending from the neck portion, the engagement portion having an engagement diameter: (a) greater than the neck diameter and (b) less than the second diameter of the distal cap portion; 
   the retainer connector includes a connector recess extending into the proximal retainer end of the proximal retainer portion, the connector recess having:
 an annular lip extending radially inward at the proximal retainer end, the annular lip having a lip diameter less than the engagement diameter of the connector projection; and 
 an engagement cavity extending axially from the annular lip into the proximal retainer end, the engagement cavity having a cavity diameter greater than the lip diameter; and 
   the engagement portion of the connector projection and the annular lip of the connector recess are configured to engage one another and connect the cap and the retainer to one another.   
     
     
         6 . The cover assembly of  claim 5 , wherein:
 the connector projection further has a guide portion extending axially from the engagement portion, the guide portion extending radially inward from a proximal guide end to a distal guide end remote from the engagement portion;   the connector recess further has a guide cavity extending axially from the engagement cavity into the proximal retainer end of the proximal retainer portion; and   the guide cavity is configured to receive the guide portion of the connector projection when the cap and the retainer are connected to one another.   
     
     
         7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . The cover assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the retainer connector comprises an elastically deformable material, such that the annular lip of the retainer connector deforms and slips over the engagement portion of connector projection and is received at the neck portion of the connector projection when the cap and the retainer are connected to one another. 
     
     
         9 . The cover assembly of  claim 5 , wherein:
 the retainer further includes an annular seal connected to the proximal retainer end, the annular seal extending from the proximal retainer end in an axial direction opposite the distal retainer end; and   the annular seal is received in the annular location between the radial wall and the retainer when the cap and the retainer are connected to one another.   
     
     
         10 .- 13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . The cover assembly of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the retainer connector includes a connector projection extending from the proximal retainer end of the proximal retainer portion, the connector projection having:
 a neck portion extending from the proximal retainer end of the retainer body, the neck portion having a neck diameter less than the retainer diameter of the proximal retainer portion; and 
 an engagement portion extending from the neck portion, the engagement portion having an engagement diameter: (a) greater than the neck diameter and (b) less than the second diameter of the distal cap portion; 
   the cap connector includes a connector recess extending into the distal cap portion, the connector recess having:
 an annular lip extending radially inward at the distal cap end and toward the proximal cap end, the annular lip having a lip diameter less than the engagement diameter of the connector projection; and 
 an engagement cavity extending axially from the annular lip toward the proximal cap end, the engagement cavity having a cavity diameter greater than the lip diameter; and 
   the engagement portion of the connector projection and the annular lip of the connector recess are configured to engage one another and connect the cap and the retainer to one another.   
     
     
         15 .- 31 . (canceled) 
     
     
         32 . A fluid end for a high-power pump, the fluid end comprising:
 a fluid end housing at least partially defining:
 a chamber; 
 a suction port providing a fluid path into the chamber; 
 a discharge port providing a fluid path from the chamber; and 
 an access port providing access to the chamber; and 
   a cover assembly received in the access port, the cover assembly comprising:
 (a) a cap including a cap body, the cap body being substantially cylindrical and extending between a proximal cap end and a distal cap end along a longitudinal cap axis, the cap body including:
 a proximal cap portion having a first exterior surface having a first diameter; 
 a distal cap portion having a second exterior surface having a second diameter less than the first diameter, the proximal cap portion terminating at the distal cap portion, thereby to form a radial wall extending between the first exterior surface and second exterior surface and an axial wall coextensive with the second exterior surface of the distal cap portion; and 
 a cap connector associated with the distal cap portion; and 
 
 (b) a retainer including a retainer body, the retainer body having a substantially cylindrical outer retainer surface and extending between a proximal retainer end and a distal retainer end along a longitudinal retainer axis, the retainer body having:
 a proximal retainer portion having a retainer exterior surface having a retainer diameter substantially equal to the first diameter of the proximal cap portion; and 
 a retainer connector associated with the proximal retainer end, the cap connector and the retainer connecter being positioned to connect the cap and the retainer to one another, thereby to provide an annular location for an annular seal between the radial wall and the proximal retainer portion of the retainer; and 
 
 (c) an annular seal in the annular location. 
   
     
     
         33 . A high-power pump comprising:
 a power end positioned to convert power into reciprocating motion;   a plunger connected to the power end and positioned to reciprocate; and   a fluid end connected to the power end, the fluid end comprising:
 a fluid end housing at least partially defining:
 a chamber; 
 a suction port providing a fluid path into the chamber; 
 a discharge port providing a fluid path from the chamber; and 
 an access port providing access to the chamber; 
 
 a cover assembly received in the access port, the cover assembly comprising:
 (a) a cap including a cap body, the cap body being substantially cylindrical and extending between a proximal cap end and a distal cap end along a longitudinal cap axis, the cap body including:
 a proximal cap portion having a first exterior surface having a first diameter; 
 a distal cap portion having a second exterior surface having a second diameter less than the first diameter, the proximal cap portion terminating at the distal cap portion, thereby to form a radial wall extending between the first exterior surface and second exterior surface and an axial wall coextensive with the second exterior surface of the distal cap portion; and 
 a cap connector associated with the distal cap portion; and 
 
 (b) a retainer including a retainer body, the retainer body having a substantially cylindrical outer retainer surface and extending between a proximal retainer end and a distal retainer end along a longitudinal retainer axis, the retainer body having:
 a proximal retainer portion having a retainer exterior surface having a retainer diameter substantially equal to the first diameter of the proximal cap portion; and 
 a retainer connector associated with the proximal retainer end, the cap connector and the retainer connecter being positioned to connect the cap and the retainer to one another, thereby to provide an annular location for an annular seal between the radial wall and the retainer; and 
 
 (c) an annular seal in the annular location. 
 
   
     
     
         34 .- 41 . (canceled) 
     
     
         42 . A method for installing a cover assembly in an access port of a fluid end housing, the method comprising:
 sliding a seal onto a cap of the cover assembly, the cap having a side wall and an exterior surface having a first cross-sectional dimension, and the seal having an inner cross-sectional dimension substantially equal to the first diameter;   connecting a retainer of the cover assembly to the cap, thereby to axially retain the seal adjacent the side wall of the cap; and   sliding the cap, the retainer, and the seal into the access port of the fluid end housing.   
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein connecting the retainer to the cap comprises spinning the cap and the retainer relative to one another, thereby to threadedly engage the cap and the retainer with one another. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein connecting the retainer to the cap comprises pushing the cap and the retainer toward one another, thereby to cause a snap-fit engagement between the cap and the retainer. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein the seal is connected to the retainer, and sliding the seal onto the cap comprises pushing the cap and the retainer toward one another. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein the seal is connected to the retainer, and sliding the seal onto the cap comprises moving the retainer toward the cap, so the retainer and the cap are adjacent one another. 
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein connecting the retainer to the cap comprises inserting one or more fasteners through respective one or more holes in the retainer, and engaging the one or more fasteners with the cap, thereby to connect the cap and the retainer to one another. 
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein:
 the seal comprises an annular seal;   the first cross-sectional dimension comprises a first diameter;   the inner cross-sectional dimension comprises an inner diameter; and   the side wall comprises a radial side walls.   
     
     
         49 . A method for replacing a first seal providing a fluid seal between an access port of a fluid end housing and a cover assembly received in the access port, the method comprising:
 sliding the cover assembly out of the access port;   separating a cap of the cover assembly from a retainer of the cover assembly, thereby to separate a first opposing side wall from a second opposing side wall of a groove in which the first seal is received;   sliding the first seal away from the second opposing side wall, thereby to separate the first seal from the cap of the cover assembly;   sliding a second seal onto the cap of the cover assembly and adjacent the second opposing side wall, the cap including an exterior surface having a first cross-sectional dimension, and the second seal having an inner cross-sectional dimension substantially equal to the first cross-sectional;   connecting the retainer of the cover assembly to the cap, thereby to axially retain the second seal adjacent the second opposing side wall of the cap; and   sliding the cap, the retainer, and the second seal into the access port of the fluid end housing.   
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 49 , wherein:
 the first seal comprises a first annular seal;   the second seal comprises a second annular seal;   the groove comprises an annular groove;   the first opposing side wall comprises a first opposing radial side wall;   the second opposing side wall comprises a second opposing radial side wall;   the first cross-sectional dimension comprises a first diameter; and   the inner cross-sectional dimension comprises an inner diameter.   
     
     
         51 .- 60 . (canceled)