Patent Application
20230243454
The present disclosure relates generally to well service pumps, and more particularly to systems that inhibit rotation of threaded retainers covering access ports in well service pumps. The present disclosure also relates to methods for resisting loosening or backing out of such threaded retainers from sealing engagement with the access ports.
Well service pumps, also referred to as “hydraulic fracturing pumps”, are commonly used in oilfield operations to supply pressurized fluid downhole. Well service pumps are typically constructed as multi-cylinder reciprocating pumps with a power end and a fluid end. The power end comprises the driving assembly that operates piston plungers to reciprocate into and out of the cylinders of the fluid end of the well service pump.
In one aspect, the present disclosure is directed to an anti-rotation system that includes a plurality of key components, each sized and shaped to fit within and form a rotationally keyed relationship with a corresponding internal drive recess of a threaded retainer covering an access port in a fluid end of a pump; and a single locking bar that spans between and couples to each of the plurality of key components after the key components are fit within the corresponding internal drive recesses. In some implementations, each of the plurality of key components and each of the corresponding internal drive recesses is hex shaped. In some implementations, a front end of each of the plurality of key components and/or a face of the single locking bar that engages each of the plurality of key components may be surface textured.
The system may further include a plurality of threaded connectors, each operable to couple the single locking bar to one of the plurality of key components. In some implementations, each of the plurality of threaded connectors extends through an opening in the single locking bar aligned with a corresponding threaded hole at the rotational centerpoint of one of the plurality of key components to form a threaded connection.
The system may further include a plurality of washers, each positioned between one of the plurality of threaded connectors and the single locking bar when the single locking bar is coupled to each of the plurality of key components. In some implementations, at least one side of each of the plurality of washers is surface textured.
The system may further include a plurality of magnets, each coupled to a bottom end of one of the plurality of key components. The system may further include a plurality of threaded fasteners, each operable to couple one of the plurality of magnets to the bottom end of one of the plurality of key components. In some implementations, each of the plurality of magnets is received within a recess in the bottom end of one of the plurality of key components.
In another aspect, the present disclosure is directed to a well service pump that includes an anti-rotation system as disclosed herein.
In yet another aspect, the present disclosure is directed to a method that includes fitting each of a plurality of key components into a corresponding internal drive recess of a plurality of threaded retainers covering access ports in a fluid end of a pump, coupling a single locking bar to each of the plurality of key components to form an anti-rotation system, and inhibiting rotation of the plurality of threaded retainers during operation of the pump using the anti-rotation system. In some implementations, the fitting step further includes rotationally orienting each of the plurality of key components with a rotational orientation of the corresponding internal drive recess into which the key component is being fitted. In some implementations, the inhibiting rotation step further includes rotationally engaging each of the plurality of key components with the threaded retainer into which the key component is fitted as the threaded retainer is urged to rotate in a loosening direction, forming an attachment between the plurality of threaded retainers via the single locking bar coupled to the plurality of key components, and resisting rotation of the plurality of key components via friction between the single locking bar and the plurality of key components coupled thereto.
The method may further include coupling each of a plurality of washers to the single locking bar and to one of the plurality of key components. The method may further include increasing a coefficient of friction between the plurality of key components and the single locking bar. The method may further include self-tightening a threaded connection between one of the plurality of key components and the single locking bar. The method may further include magnetically coupling the plurality of key components with the fluid end during the fitting step.
The details of one or more implementations are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, objects, and advantages of the implementations will be apparent from the description and drawings.
For a more complete understanding of this disclosure and its features, reference is now made to the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
Like reference symbols in the various drawings indicate like elements.
A well service pump may be a multi-cylinder reciprocating pump with a power end and a fluid end. The power end drives piston plungers reciprocating into and out of cylinders in the fluid end. As a result, fluid is drawn into the cylinders of the fluid end through a suction manifold and then discharged under pressure through a discharge outlet of the fluid end.
The fluid end of a well service pump includes access ports that provide access to the suction, discharge and/or cylinder components of the well service pump when service or repair is required. For normal operations, each access port is hydraulically blocked and sealed with a suction cover held in place by a threaded retainer that is threaded and torqued into compressive engagement with the cover to counteract hydraulic pressure within a cylinder of the fluid end.
During operation, a well service pump may experience significant vibrations that are inconsistent in magnitude and direction. Over time, these vibrations may promote loosening of the threaded retainer out of compressive engagement with the suction cover, and fluid leaks may occur as a result.
The present disclosure relates to systems that inhibit rotation of threaded retainers covering access ports in well service pumps. The present disclosure also relates to methods for resisting loosening or backing out of such threaded retainers from sealing engagement with the access ports.
Referring now to the drawings, where like reference numerals represent like components,
Fluid end 100 comprises a suction inlet port 102 through which fluid is drawn into the cylinders and a discharge chamber 104 through which the fluid is discharged under pressure. The fluid end 100 further comprises separate access ports 120, 122, 124, 126, 128 to each cylinder portion of the fluid end 100, and separate access ports 130, 132, 134, 136, 138 to each discharge portion of the fluid end 100. Further, the access ports 120, 122, 124, 126, 128 to each cylinder portion of the fluid end 100 are hydraulically blocked and sealed with a suction cover (internal to the fluid end 100) that is held in place by a retainer 140, 142, 144, 146, 148 that is threaded and torqued into compressive engagement with the suction cover to counteract hydraulic pressure within the cylinders of the fluid end 100. Each of the threaded retainers 140, 142, 144, 146, 148 includes an internal drive recess 150, 152, 154, 156, 158, often hex shaped, to receive a wrench for installing and removing the threaded retainers 140, 142, 144, 146, 148. A gauge connection 135 may be provided within an access port, such as within the middle access port 136 on the discharge portion of the fluid end 100 as shown in
As described with respect to
Referring first to
As depicted in
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Referring again to
During operation, as the fluid end 100 experiences vibrations and the threaded retainers 140, 142, 144, 146, 148 tend to rotate in a direction that will cause them to loosen or “back out”, the key components 210, 212, 214, 216, 218 will be engaged and the retainers 140, 142, 144, 146, 148 will encounter resistance. This is due to the key components 210, 212, 214, 216, 218 being anchored by the locking bar 220 and thereby inhibited from rotating. Specifically, rotation of the key components 210, 212, 214, 216, 218 is resisted by friction between the face of the locking bar 220 and the front faces of the key components 210, 212, 214, 216, 218. If the optional washers 250, 252, 254, 256, 258 are provided, that friction is only increased. In addition, the locking bar 220 cannot rotate due to its attachment across the threaded retainers 140, 142, 144, 146, 148. Should any one of the key components 210, 212, 214, 216, 218 rotate with respect to the threaded connector 240, 242, 244, 246, 248 that couples it to the locking bar 220, that will only serve to self-tighten the connection. In more detail, the rotational direction that loosens the threaded retainers 140, 142, 144, 146, 148 is the rotational direction that tightens the threaded connectors 240, 242, 244, 246, 248, and this self-tightening force only serves to improve the anti-rotation function of the system 200.
Thus, the anti-rotation system 200 operates to resist rotation of individual threaded retainers 140, 142, 144, 146, 148 via attachment to other threaded retainers 140, 142, 144, 146, 148 and via friction between components of the anti-rotation system 200. In some implementations of the anti-rotation system 200, the coefficient of friction can be increased in various ways, such as by surface texturing the locking bar 220, surface texturing the front faces of the key components 210, 212, 214, 216, 218, and adding washers 250, 252, 254, 256, 258. Surface texturing may also be applied to the washers 250, 252, 254, 256, 258. In some implementations, surface texturing may be achieved by knurling, by roughening a surface, or by adding protrusions or ribs that deform corresponding surfaces when components engage one another.
It is to be understood the implementations are not limited to particular systems or processes described which may, of course, vary. It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular implementations only, and is not intended to be limiting. As used in this specification, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” include plural referents unless the content clearly indicates otherwise. As another example, “coupling” includes direct and/or indirect coupling of members.
Although the present disclosure has been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations may be made herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure as defined by the appended claims. Moreover, the scope of the present application is not intended to be limited to the particular embodiments of the process, machine, manufacture, composition of matter, means, methods and steps described in the specification. As one of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate from the disclosure, processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps, presently existing or later to be developed that perform substantially the same function or achieve substantially the same result as the corresponding embodiments described herein may be utilized according to the present disclosure. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to include within their scope such processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps.
