System for distributing working fluid flow across inlet passages of reciprocating pumps

Abstract

A system for distributing a fluid flow across multiple inlet passages of a reciprocating pump includes an auger configured to be positioned into a suction manifold fluidly coupled with the multiple inlet passages of the reciprocating pump. The auger defines an axis, a first axial end, a second axial end, and a helical body extending between the first axial end and the second axial end. The auger is receivable into the suction manifold such that the first axial end is positioned to receive the fluid flow and force the fluid to move along a helical path defined by the helical body to introduce an angular momentum into the fluid flow. The system includes an end flange fixedly coupled to the second axial end proximate the opening. The system further includes a clamp arrangement for the auger wherein the clamp arrangement is movable between a clamped state and an unclamped state.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for distributing a fluid flow across multiple inlet passages of a reciprocating pump, the system comprising:
 an auger configured to be positioned into a suction manifold fluidly coupled with the multiple inlet passages of the reciprocating pump, the auger defining an axis, a first axial end, a second axial end, and a helical body extending between the first axial end and the second axial end, wherein the auger is receivable into the suction manifold such that:
 the first axial end is positioned to receive the fluid flow and force the fluid to move along a helical path defined by the helical body to introduce an angular momentum into the fluid flow, and 
 the second axial end is positioned towards an opening of the suction manifold; 
   an end flange fixedly coupled to the second axial end proximate the opening; and   a clamp arrangement for the auger, the clamp arrangement movable between a clamped state and an unclamped state, wherein
 in the clamped state, the clamp arrangement engages the end flange with an end of the suction manifold defining the opening to removably and immovably retain the auger within the suction manifold, and 
 in the unclamped state, the auger is removable from the suction manifold through the opening. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the auger defines a void passing through the helical body to define an inner helical periphery of the helical body, the system further including a plurality of coupler rods fixedly connected to the inner helical periphery and to the end flange to fixedly retain the end flange with the helical body. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of coupler rods is arranged along the inner helical periphery in a rotational array around the axis and is equidistantly spaced with respect to one another along the rotational array to rigidly support the helical body with the end flange. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the end flange defines a base and a stepped surface extending from the base, the stepped surface is insertable into the suction manifold through the opening to center the second axial end of the auger relative to the suction manifold, and the base is configured to rest against the end of the suction manifold. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , further including an end support fixedly coupled to the first axial end, wherein the end support is engageable with the suction manifold to center the first axial end of the auger relative to the suction manifold. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the end support includes a hub, an outer ring circumventing the hub and abuttable with an inner wall of the suction manifold, and a plurality of spokes coupling the hub with the outer ring, and wherein
 the plurality of coupler rods is fixedly connected to the hub, and   gaps are defined between consecutive spokes of the plurality of spokes to provide passage to the fluid flow across the end support and allow the first axial end to receive the fluid flow.   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein
 the clamp arrangement includes a first clamping part and a second clamping part claspable with the first clamping part to move the clamp arrangement to the clamped state, and   the first clamping part is configured to engage first portions of the end and the end flange with each other and the second clamping part configured to engage second portions of the end and the end flange with each other when the first clamping part is clasped with the second clamping part to removably and immovably retain the auger within the suction manifold.   
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the first clamping part and the second clamping part include one or more bores to receive one or more fasteners therein, wherein the one or more fasteners are configured to couple and clasp the first clamping part with the second clamping part to engage the end flange with the end of the suction manifold defining the opening to removably and immovably retain the auger within the suction manifold. 
     
     
         9 . A system comprising:
 an auger configured to be positioned into a suction manifold that is fluidly coupled with multiple inlet passages of a reciprocating pump, the auger defining an axis, a first axial end, a second axial end, and a helical body extending between the first axial end and the second axial end;   an end flange fixedly coupled to the second axial end;   an end support fixedly coupled to the first axial end and configured to fit with the suction manifold to center the first axial end of the auger relative to the suction manifold; and   a plurality of coupler rods fixedly connected to the helical body and fixedly connected between the end support and the end flange to fixedly retain the end support and the end flange with the helical body.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the auger defines a void passing through the helical body to define an inner helical periphery of the helical body. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein
 the plurality of coupler rods is arranged along the inner helical periphery in a rotational array around the axis and each coupler rod, of the plurality of coupler rods, is equidistantly spaced with respect to one another along the rotational array, and   the plurality of coupler rods include three coupler rods separated by an angular offset of 120 degrees along the rotational array.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the end flange defines a base and a stepped surface extending from the base, the stepped surface is inserted into the suction manifold through the opening to center the second axial end of the auger relative to the suction manifold, and the base rests against the end of the suction manifold. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the end support defines gaps to provide passage to a fluid flow across the end support. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the end support includes a hub, an outer ring circumventing the hub and abutted with an inner wall of the suction manifold, and a plurality of spokes coupling the hub with the outer ring, and wherein
 the plurality of coupler rods is fixedly connected to the hub, and   the gaps are defined between consecutive spokes of the plurality of spokes to provide passage to the fluid flow across the end support and allow the first axial end to receive the fluid flow.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 9 , further including a clamp arrangement for the auger, the clamp arrangement movable between a clamped state and an unclamped state, wherein in the clamped state, the clamp arrangement engages the end flange with an end of the suction manifold defining an opening to removably and immovably retain the auger within the suction manifold, and in the unclamped state, the auger is removable from the suction manifold through the opening, and wherein
 the clamp arrangement includes a first clamping part and a second clamping part claspable with the first clamping part to move the clamp arrangement to the clamped state, and   the first clamping part is configured to engage first portions of the end and the end flange with each other and the second clamping part configured to engage second portions of the end and the end flange with each other when the first clamping part is clasped with the second clamping part to removably and immovably retain the auger within the suction manifold.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the first clamping part and the second clamping part include one or more bores to receive one or more fasteners therein, wherein the one or more fasteners are configured to couple and clasp the first clamping part with the second clamping part to engage the end flange with the end of the suction manifold defining the opening to removably and immovably retain the auger within the suction manifold. 
     
     
         17 . A method for distributing a fluid flow across multiple inlet passages of a reciprocating pump, the method comprising:
 positioning an auger into a suction manifold fluidly coupled with the multiple inlet passages of the reciprocating pump, the auger defining an axis, a first axial end, a second axial end, and a helical body extending between the first axial end and the second axial end, wherein the auger is receivable into the suction manifold such that:
 the first axial end is positioned to receive the fluid flow and force the fluid to move along a helical path defined by the helical body to induce an angular momentum into the fluid flow, and 
 the second axial end is positioned towards an opening of the suction manifold; 
   fixedly coupling an end flange to the second axial end proximate the opening; and   using a clamp arrangement for the auger, the clamp arrangement movable between a clamped state and an unclamped state, wherein
 in the clamped state, the clamp arrangement engages the end flange with an end of the suction manifold defining the opening to removably and immovably retain the auger within the suction manifold, and 
 in the unclamped state, the auger is removable from the suction manifold through the opening. 
   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  further including fixedly coupling an end support to the first axial end, wherein
 the end support is engageable with the suction manifold to center the first axial end of the auger relative to the suction manifold, 
 the end support includes a hub, an outer ring circumventing the hub and abutted with an inner wall of the suction manifold, and a plurality of spokes coupling the hub with the outer ring, the plurality of coupler rods is fixedly connected to the hub, and 
 gaps are defined between consecutive spokes of the plurality of spokes to provide passage to the fluid flow across the end support and allow the first axial end to receive the fluid flow. 
 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein
 the auger defines a void passing through the helical body to define an inner helical periphery of the helical body, a plurality of coupler rods fixedly connected to the helical periphery and to the end flange to fixedly retain the end flange with the helical body, and   the end flange defines a base and a stepped surface extending from the base, the stepped surface is insertable into the suction manifold through the opening to center the second axial end of the auger relative to the suction manifold, and the base is configured to rest against the end of the suction manifold.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein
 the clamp arrangement includes a first clamping part and a second clamping part claspable with the first clamping part to move the clamp arrangement to the clamped state, and   the first clamping part is configured to engage first portions of the end and the end flange with each other and the second clamping part configured to engage second portions of the end and the end flange with each other when the first clamping part is clasped with the second clamping part to removably and immovably retain the auger within the suction manifold.