Convertible modular skid with check valve support for pumps with internal combustion engines

Abstract

A diesel driven pump package converts from a drag skid to a wheeled trailer. A skid assembly includes a welded base with a basin. A removeable fuel tank fits within the basin. Multiple mounting crosspieces extend over the fuel tank overlap side rails of the welded base and are bolted to the side rails via longitudinal slots. An engine bracket is mounted on a first one of the multiple mounting crosspieces to support an engine. A pump bracket is mounted on a second one of the multiple mounting crosspieces to supports a pump. A check valve support braces a check valve extending from the pump volute. The check valve support includes an adjustable arm. A trailer package removably attaches to the skid assembly to convert the skid assembly to a wheeled trailer.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A skid assembly, comprising:
 a welded base including:
 a pair of side rails including a vertical panel and a horizontal top panel, the top panel having longitudinal slots formed therein, 
 a front end slat and a back end slat, each of the front end slat and the back end slat connected to the pair of side rails, 
 a bottom plate, wherein the bottom plate is joined to the pair of side rails, the front end slat, and the back end slats to form a basin, and 
 a pair of side plates, where each side plate is attached to an outer surface of each side rail and extends vertically above the top panel; 
   a fuel tank configured to fit within the basin, such that a top surface of the fuel tank is at or below a height of the top panel when the fuel tank is installed in the basin;   multiple mounting crosspieces configured to rest on the side rails and to be bolted to the side rails via the longitudinal slots, wherein the multiple mounting crosspieces extend over the fuel tank;   an engine bracket, configured to be mounted on a first one of the multiple mounting crosspieces, wherein the engine bracket supports an engine;   a pump bracket, configured to be mounted on a second one of the multiple mounting crosspieces, wherein the pump bracket supports a pump;   a lifting bail configured to be bolted to the pair of side plates; and   a check valve support configured to support a check valve extending from the pump, wherein the check valve support includes an adjustable arm.   
     
     
         2 . The skid assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a trailer package configured to removably attach to the skid assembly and convert the skid assembly to a wheeled trailer, wherein the trailer package includes a trailer tongue having a pair of mounts configured to be connected on opposite side of the skid assembly,   wherein each mount, of the pair of mounts, includes a horizonal surface and a vertical surface to receive bolted connections to the front end slat.   
     
     
         3 . The skid assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the mounting crosspieces includes holes configured to align with some of the longitudinal slots and to receive bolts to enable adjustment of a longitudinal position of the mounting crosspieces relative to the welded base. 
     
     
         4 . The skid assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the basin is a fluid-tight basin. 
     
     
         5 . The skid assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the check valve support further includes a bracket configured to attach to a flange of the check valve and to attach to an end of the adjustable arm. 
     
     
         6 . The skid assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the check valve support further includes angle brackets to connect the check valve support to the top panel of one of the side rails. 
     
     
         7 . The skid assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the lifting bail includes multiple lifting holes distributed transversely on the lifting bail between the pair of side rails. 
     
     
         8 . The skid assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the adjustable arm includes:
 two threaded rods in opposite orientations,   a turnbuckle joining the two threaded rods, and   a ball joint at an end of each of the two threaded rods.   
     
     
         9 . The skid assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the check valve support includes two adjustable length arms that each extend to put the adjustable arm in compression between the check valve and the welded base. 
     
     
         10 . The skid assembly of  claim 1 , wherein each side rail further includes a bottom panel, and wherein the top panel, the vertical panel, and the bottom panel form a substantially C-shaped cross section. 
     
     
         11 . The skid assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the back end slat extends around ends of the side rails such that end portions of the back end slat are in a parallel plane to the vertical panel. 
     
     
         12 . The skid assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 first vibration dampening units installed between the engine bracket and a first one of the multiple mounting crosspieces, and   second vibration dampening units installed between the pump bracket and a second one of the multiple mounting crosspieces.   
     
     
         13 . The skid assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the pump bracket further includes a flange brace including a set of bolt holes configured to match a flange pattern at a suction flange of the pump. 
     
     
         14 . The skid assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a coupling bracket attached to a pump bearing frame and the engine and around a coupling, wherein the coupling bracket is configured to align the pump bearing frame to the engine,   wherein the engine bracket further includes a flange brace including a set of bolt holes configured to match a flange pattern at an engine end of a coupling bracket.   
     
     
         15 . A method of forming a pump skid assembly, the method comprising:
 selecting, from a group of differently-sized skid bases, a welded skid base for a pump class that corresponds to a selected pump, wherein the skid base includes a pair of longitudinal side rails connected by end slats and a bottom plate;   inserting a fuel tank into a basin formed by the side rails, end slats, and bottom plate, wherein a top surface of the fuel tank is at or below a height of side rail when the fuel tank is inserted into the basin;   resting multiple mounting crosspieces on the side rails above the fuel tank;   attaching to a first of the multiple mounting crosspieces an engine bracket;   attaching to a second of the multiple mounting crosspieces a pump bracket;   securing an engine to the engine bracket;   securing a pump volute to the pump bracket;   moving the first or the second of the multiple mounting crosspieces longitudinally to couple the engine to the pump;   bolting the first and the second of the multiple mounting crosspieces to the side rails;   connecting a check valve assembly to the pump volute;   attaching a check valve support to the check valve and the welded base, wherein the check valve support includes at least one adjustable arm connected between the check valve assembly and the welded base; and   extending the adjustable arm between the check valve assembly and the welded skid base to place the adjustable arm in a compressive state.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 attaching a vibration dampening unit between a first of the multiple mounting crosspieces and the engine bracket, and   attaching a vibration dampening unit between a second of the multiple mounting crosspieces and the pump bracket.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the side rails comprise a horizontal top panel, the top panel having longitudinal slots formed therein, and wherein bolting the first and the second of the multiple mounting crosspieces to the side rails includes:
 bolting the first and the second of the multiple mounting crosspieces to the side rails via the slots.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein attaching the check valve support to the welded base includes:
 bolting the check valve support to the side rails via the slots.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 attaching, to the welded base, a trailer package that includes a trailer tongue having a pair of mounts configured to be connected on opposite side of the pump skid assembly, wherein the attaching includes:
 bolting each mount, of the pair of mounts, to a horizonal surface and a vertical surface of one of the end slats. 
   
     
     
         20 . A check valve support for a skid assembly, the check valve support comprising:
 an adjustable arm configured to connect between a check valve for a pump volute and a base of the skid assembly, wherein the adjustable arm includes:   two threaded rods configured in opposite orientations,   a turnbuckle joining the two rods, and   a ball joint at an end of each of the two rods; and
 a bracket configured to attach to a flange of the check valve and to attach to an end of the adjustable arm, 
 wherein the adjustable arm is configured to extend to put the adjustable arm in compression between the check valve and the base.