Fluid ends for pumps and related methods

Abstract

An embodiment of a fluid end of a pump includes a housing including a plurality of pumping chambers. Each pumping chamber configured to receive a plunger therein. In addition, the housing includes a plurality of outlet ports, each being in fluid communication with a corresponding one of the plurality of pumping chambers. The fluid end also includes a discharge manifold assembly connected to the housing and positioned to receive fluid discharged from the plurality of pumping chambers. The discharge manifold assembly including a single-piece, monolithic body having a plurality of discharge bores and a manifold bore defined therein, the manifold bore being in fluid communication with the plurality of discharge bores, the plurality of discharge bores positioned to align with the plurality of outlet ports, and each of the plurality of discharge bores being configured to at least partially receive a corresponding discharge valve assembly therein.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A fluid end of a positive displacement pump, the fluid end comprising:
 a housing including:
 a plurality of pumping chambers, each of the plurality of pumping chambers configured to receive a plunger therein, and 
 a plurality of outlet ports, each of the plurality of outlet ports being in fluid communication with a corresponding one of the plurality of pumping chambers; and 
   a discharge manifold assembly connected to the housing and positioned to receive fluid discharged from the plurality of pumping chambers during operation, the discharge manifold assembly comprising a single-piece, monolithic body having a plurality of discharge bores and a manifold bore defined therein, the manifold bore being in fluid communication with the plurality of discharge bores, the plurality of discharge bores positioned to align with the plurality of outlet ports, and each of the plurality of discharge bores being configured to at least partially receive a corresponding discharge valve assembly therein.   
     
     
         2 . The fluid end of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the body of the discharge manifold assembly includes a first side and a second side, the second side extending between a first end of the body and a second end of the body in a direction substantially parallel to the manifold bore, the second side defining a contiguous planar surface contiguously contacting a substantially planar first side of the housing, and   the plurality of discharge bores extend through the contiguous planar surface to the first side of the body.   
     
     
         3 . The fluid end of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the body of the discharge manifold assembly comprises a rectangular first portion and a cylindrical second portion integral with the rectangular first portion, and   the body has a first end and a second end, and the rectangular first portion is shaped as rectangular parallelepiped and includes a plurality of external recesses interleaved between the plurality of discharge bores between the first end of the body and the second end of the body.   
     
     
         4 . The fluid end of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the manifold bore is radially spaced from the plurality of discharge bores relative to a central axis of the manifold bore, and   each of the plurality of discharge bores extends along a corresponding central axis that is oriented in a direction that is perpendicular to a direction of the central axis of the manifold bore.   
     
     
         5 . The fluid end of  claim 1 , wherein the body further includes a plurality of connecting passages each extending from a corresponding one of the plurality of discharge bores to the manifold bore. 
     
     
         6 . The fluid end of  claim 5 , wherein the body of the discharge manifold assembly includes a top side and a bottom side, wherein the bottom side of the body is configured to engage with a top side of the housing when the discharge manifold assembly is connected to the housing, and wherein each of the plurality of connecting passages angle toward the top side of the body and away from the bottom side of the body while extending from the corresponding one of the plurality of discharge bores to the manifold bore. 
     
     
         7 . The fluid end of  claim 6 , wherein each of the plurality of discharge bores includes an annular shoulder therein configured to engage with a valve cover of the corresponding discharge valve assembly, and wherein for each of the plurality of discharge bores, the corresponding connecting passage intersects with the discharge bore between the annular shoulder and the bottom side of the body. 
     
     
         8 . The fluid end of  claim 1 , wherein the housing includes a planar top surface on a first side, wherein the plurality of outlet ports extend through the planar top surface, and wherein the planar top surface includes a plurality of seal grooves that each surround a corresponding one of the plurality of outlet ports. 
     
     
         9 . The fluid end of  claim 1 , wherein the manifold bore at least partially intersects each of the plurality of discharge bores. 
     
     
         10 . The fluid end of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the body of the discharge manifold assembly comprises a rectangular first portion and a cylindrical second portion integral with the rectangular first portion, the plurality of discharge bores extending through the first portion, and the manifold bore extending through the cylindrical second portion;   the body has a first end and a second end, the manifold bore extending between the first end and the second end, and the rectangular first portion being shaped as rectangular parallelepiped; and   the second portion includes a cylindrical recess at least partially extending circumferentially about a cylindrical curvature of the cylindrical second portion.   
     
     
         11 . A discharge manifold assembly for a fluid end of a pump, the discharge manifold assembly comprising:
 a single piece monolithic body having a first end and a second end;   a plurality of discharge bores defined in the body that are configured to receive fluid discharged from the fluid end when the body is connected to thereto, the plurality of discharge bores being spaced apart from one another between the first end and the second end;   a manifold bore defined in the body that extends between the first end and the second end; and   a plurality of connecting passages each extending from a corresponding one of the plurality of discharge bores to the manifold bore.   
     
     
         12 . The discharge manifold assembly of  claim 11 , wherein each of the plurality of discharge bores extends along a corresponding central axis that is oriented in a direction that is perpendicular to a direction of a central axis of the manifold bore. 
     
     
         13 . The discharge manifold of  claim 12 , wherein the body a top side and a bottom side, wherein the bottom side of the body is configured to engage with a top side of a housing of the fluid, and wherein each of the plurality of connecting passages angle toward the top side of the body and away from the bottom side of the body while extending from the corresponding one of the plurality of discharge bores to the manifold bore. 
     
     
         14 . The discharge manifold of  claim 13 , wherein each of the plurality of discharge bores includes an annular shoulder therein that is configured to engage with a valve cover of a corresponding discharge valve assembly, and wherein for each of the plurality of discharge bores, the corresponding connecting passage intersects with the discharge bore between the annular shoulder and the bottom side of the body. 
     
     
         15 . The discharge manifold assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the body comprises a rectangular first portion and a cylindrical second portion integral with the rectangular first portion, wherein the plurality of discharge bores extend through the first portion, and wherein the manifold bore extends through the cylindrical second portion. 
     
     
         16 . The discharge manifold assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the rectangular first portion is shaped as rectangular parallelepiped and includes a plurality of external recesses interleaved between the plurality of discharge bores between the first end and the second end. 
     
     
         17 . The discharge manifold assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the second portion includes a cylindrical recess that at least partially extends circumferentially about a cylindrical curvature of the cylindrical second portion. 
     
     
         18 . A method of pumping a fluid with a pump, the method comprising:
 reciprocating a plurality of plungers in a plurality of pumping chambers defined in a housing to pressurize the fluid;   discharging the fluid out of the plurality of pumping chambers via a plurality of outlet ports defined in the housing, through a plurality of discharge valve assemblies and into a plurality of discharge bores defined in a body of a discharge manifold assembly connected to and separate from the housing, the plurality of discharge valve assemblies being at least partially positioned in the plurality of discharge bores of the body; and   directing the fluid out of the plurality of discharge bores and into a manifold bore through a plurality of connecting passages, the manifold bore and the plurality of connecting passages also being defined within the body, and the manifold bore being spaced from the plurality of discharge bores, thereby to reduce fluid contact with the plurality of discharge valve assemblies.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein discharging the fluid out of the plurality of pumping chambers and into the plurality of discharge bores comprises discharging the fluid substantially vertically out of the housing and into the plurality of discharge bores of the body. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the body comprises a single-piece, monolithic body, wherein the pump includes a power end and a fluid end, and wherein the housing comprises a housing of the fluid end. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein directing the fluid out of the plurality of discharge bores and into the manifold bore through the plurality of connecting passages comprises directing the fluid along paths that angle toward a top side of the body and away from a bottom side of the body via the plurality of connecting passages. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein directing the fluid out of the plurality of discharge bores and into the manifold bore through the plurality of connecting passages further comprises directing the fluid from a first lateral direction in the plurality of connecting passages to a second lateral direction in the manifold bore. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the second lateral direction is oriented at about 90° to the first lateral direction. 
     
     
         24 . A pump comprising:
 a power end including a driver;   a plurality of plungers operatively connected to the driver; and   a fluid end connected to the power end, the fluid end including:
 a housing comprising a first material and including a plurality of pumping chambers configured to receive the plurality of plungers therein and a plurality of outlet ports in fluid communication with the plurality of pumping chambers, and 
 a discharge manifold assembly connected to a top side of the housing, the discharge manifold assembly including a body comprising a second material that is different from the first material and defining a plurality of discharge bores and a discharge manifold therein such that the discharge manifold is spaced from each of the plurality of discharge bores within the body, and the plurality of discharge bores being aligned with the plurality of outlet ports so as to receive fluid discharged from the plurality of pumping chambers. 
   
     
     
         25 . The pump of  claim 24 , wherein the plurality of discharge bores is axially spaced relative to a central axis of the manifold bore, and wherein the manifold bore is radially spaced from the plurality of discharge bores relative to the central axis of the manifold bore. 
     
     
         26 . The pump of  claim 24 , wherein the body further includes a plurality of connecting passages each extending from a corresponding one of the plurality of discharge bores to the manifold bore. 
     
     
         27 . The pump of  claim 26 , wherein the body of the discharge manifold assembly includes a top side and a bottom side, wherein the bottom side is engaged with the top side of the housing, and wherein each of the plurality of connecting passages angle toward the top side of the body and away from the bottom side of the body while extending from the corresponding one of the plurality of discharge bores to the manifold bore. 
     
     
         28 . The pump of  claim 27 , wherein each of the plurality of discharge bores has a discharge valve assembly at least partially positioned therein, wherein each of the plurality of discharge bores includes an annular shoulder therein that is configured to engage with a valve cover of the corresponding discharge valve assembly, and wherein, for each of the plurality of discharge bores, the corresponding connecting passage intersects with the discharge bore between the annular shoulder and the bottom side of the body. 
     
     
         29 . The pump of  claim 24 , wherein the body is a single-piece, monolithic body. 
     
     
         30 . The pump of  claim 29 , wherein the housing includes a planar top surface on the top side, wherein the plurality of outlet ports extend through the planar top surface, and wherein the planar top surface includes a plurality of seal grooves that each surround a corresponding one of the plurality of outlet ports.