Patent Application
20240418164
The present disclosure relates to cover assemblies for high-power pumps and related systems, apparatuses, and methods and, more particularly, to cover assemblies for ports of high-power pumps and related systems, apparatuses, and methods.
Pumps may be used to transfer a fluid having a first pressure from one location to another location at a second pressure greater than the first pressure. Pumps may often include a number of fluid seals to prevent fluid from passing from one portion of the pump to another, or from the interior of the pump to the exterior of the pump. An example of such a seal may be used to provide a fluid seal between mating components of the pump. For example, some types of pumps may include various ports that receive another component, and it may be important to provide a fluid seal between the port and the other component.
For example, a cover may be received in the port to prevent fluid from passing out of the port, and a seal may be provided between the cover and the port in order to provide a fluid seal between the two components. In order to help anchor the seal relative to the cover, a gland or groove may be provided on the cover, and the seal may be at least partially received in the groove. Some types of pumps may experience relatively large fluctuations in pressure, which may cause the seal to deflect or compress during pressure fluctuations. Applicant has recognized that this may result in causing the seal to degrade relatively more quickly, for example, as fluid pumped during operation of the pump may migrate into the groove between the deflected or compressed seal and the groove. The wear may be particularly pronounced, depending on the contents of the fluid. For example, abrasive particles and/or corrosive fluids may accelerate the wear of the seal, potentially leading to a shortened service life of the seal, thus causing frequent replacement of the seal, as well as increased downtime, reducing the efficiency of operations using the pump.
An example high-power pump may be used to pump fracturing fluid at high pressures and high flow rates during a hydraulic fracturing operation. For example, a hydraulic fracturing operation involves pumping a fracturing fluid at high flow rates and high pressures sufficient to fracture a reservoir formation to allow hydrocarbons to more easily flow from the formation toward a wellbore for production. Such high rates of flow and high pressures may result in significant wear to components associated with the fluid flow, such as high-power pumps used to pump the fracturing fluid. In addition, the fracturing fluid may contain substances, for example, proppants and fluids having abrasive and corrosive characteristics, and thus, seals associated with the fracturing operation may exhibit relatively higher wear rates or failure rates. As a result, components associated with pumps, such as seals, may require relatively more frequent replacement, which may increase downtime for the hydraulic fracturing operation and reduce efficiency and productivity.
Installation and replacement of seals, however, may present challenges. For example, in order to provide a fluid seal between a port of the high-power pump and a cover received in the port, an annular seal may be provided in an annular seal groove in an outer cylindrical surface of the cover. The cover may be inserted into the port, capturing the annular seal between the annular groove of the cover and an inner cylindrical surface of the port. The annular groove may be defined by a groove base and two opposing radial side walls formed by the relatively larger diameter of the outer cylindrical surface of the cover on each side of the annular groove. The annular seal may have an inner diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the groove base of the annular groove. As a result, in order to install the annular seal in the annular groove, the annular seal must be stretched radially outward, so that the annular seal can be moved over the relatively larger diameter of the outer cylindrical surface of the cover adjacent the annular groove and thereafter positioned in the annular groove.
Applicant has recognized that this may be challenging, particularly for annular seals formed from a relatively radially inelastic material that renders radial stretching of the annular seal difficult. As a result, it may be difficult and time consuming to install the seal in the annular groove of the cover, often requiring the use of several tools to stretch the annular seal. For similar reasons, it may be particularly challenging and time consuming to extract the annular seal from the annular groove. In addition, with operation of the pump and time, the annular seal may be expected to degrade and squeeze into a small annular gap between the outer cylindrical surface of the cover and the inner cylindrical surface of the port, for example, on one or more sides of the annular groove. The presence of material from the annular seal in the annular gap may render it challenging and time consuming to manually remove the cover from the port, often requiring the use of a number of tools, such as a pry-bar, a torch, or other tools to remove the cover from the port. Sometimes, it may be necessary to cut or damage the cover in order to remove it from the port. The use of such tools to remove the cover, in addition to being challenging and time consuming, may result in damage to the housing the includes the port.
For at least these reasons, Applicant has recognized that it may be desirable to provide cover assemblies for ports of high-power pumps and related systems, apparatuses, and methods that render it less challenging and/or less time consuming to install and/or replace seals for covers used to close ports of a high-power pump. This may reduce down time associated with installing or replacing such seals. At least some examples described herein may address one or more of the above-noted potential issues, as well as possibly others.
As referenced above, it may be desirable to provide cover assemblies for ports of high-power pumps that render it less challenging and/or less time consuming to install and/or replace seals for covers used to close ports of a high-power pump, as well as related systems, apparatuses, and methods. In some embodiments, the systems, assemblies, apparatuses, and methods presented herein may render it relatively less challenging and/or relatively less time consuming to install and/or replace seals for covers used to close ports of high-power pumps. For example, in some embodiments, a cover assembly may include a cap and a retainer that may at least partially define an annular seal groove for receipt of an annular seal, and the cap and retainer may be separated from one another, thereby to render it relatively easier and/or less time consuming to install and/or replace the annular seal in the annular groove. In some embodiments, this may reduce or prevent the need for the use of special tools and/or may reduce or prevent damage to the cover and/or the housing in which the port is provided. In some embodiments, this may render it less challenging and/or less time consuming to install and/or replace the annular seals, which may reduce downtime associated with installing or replacing the annular seals, which may lead to improved operational efficiencies associated with operations for which the high-power pump is used.
According to some embodiments, a cover assembly for closing a port of a high-power pump may include a cap having a cap body. The cap body may be substantially cylindrical and extend between a proximal cap end and a distal cap end along a longitudinal cap axis. The cap body may include a proximal cap portion having a first exterior surface having a first diameter, and a distal cap portion having a second exterior surface having a second diameter less than the first diameter. The proximal cap portion may terminate 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. The cap body further may include a cap connector associated with the distal cap portion. The cover assembly further may include a retainer having a retainer body. The retainer body may have a substantially cylindrical outer retainer surface and extend between a proximal retainer end and a distal retainer end along a longitudinal retainer axis. The retainer body may have a proximal retainer portion having a retainer exterior surface with a retainer diameter substantially equal to the first diameter of the proximal cap portion. The retainer body further having 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.
According to some embodiments, a fluid end for a high-power pump may include 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. The fluid end further may include a cover assembly received in the access port. The cover assembly may include a cap having a cap body. The cap body may be substantially cylindrical and extend between a proximal cap end and a distal cap end along a longitudinal cap axis. The cap body may further include a proximal cap portion having a first exterior surface having a first diameter, and a distal cap portion having a second exterior surface having a second diameter less than the first diameter. The proximal cap portion may terminate 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. The cap body further may include a cap connector associated with the distal cap portion. The cover assembly further may include 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 further may have a proximal retainer portion including a retainer exterior surface having a retainer diameter substantially equal to the first diameter of the proximal cap portion. The retainer body further may have a retainer connector associated with the proximal retainer end. 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 proximal retainer portion of the retainer. The cover assembly further may include an annular seal in the annular location.
According to some embodiments, a high-power pump may include a power end positioned to convert power into reciprocating motion, and a plunger connected to the power end and positioned to reciprocate. The high-power pump further may include a fluid end connected to the power end. The fluid end may include 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, an access port providing access to the chamber, and a cover assembly received in the access port. The cover assembly may include a cap having a cap body. The cap body may be substantially cylindrical and extend between a proximal cap end and a distal cap end along a longitudinal cap axis. The cap body may further include a proximal cap portion having a first exterior surface having a first diameter, and a distal cap portion having a second exterior surface having a second diameter less than the first diameter. The proximal cap portion may terminate 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. The cap body further may include a cap connector associated with the distal cap portion. The cover assembly further may include 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 further may have a proximal retainer portion including a retainer exterior surface having a retainer diameter substantially equal to the first diameter of the proximal cap portion. The retainer body further may have a retainer connector associated with the proximal retainer end. 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 proximal retainer portion of the retainer. The cover assembly further may include an annular seal in the annular location.
According to some embodiments, a method for removing a seal from a groove having opposing side walls from a cover assembly received in an access port of a fluid end housing, may include sliding the cover assembly out of the access port, and separating a cap of the cover assembly from a retainer of the cover assembly, thereby to separate a first opposing side wall of the opposing side walls from the groove. The method further may include sliding the seal away from a second opposing side wall of the opposing side walls and out of the groove.
According to some embodiments, a method for installing a cover assembly in an access port of a fluid end housing, may include sliding 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 cross-sectional dimension. The method further may include connecting a retainer of the cover assembly to the cap, thereby to axially retain the seal adjacent the side wall of the cap. The method also may include sliding the cap, the retainer, and the seal into the access port of the fluid end housing.
According to some embodiments, 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, may include sliding the cover assembly out of the access port, and 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. The method further may include sliding the first seal away from the second opposing side wall, thereby to separate the first seal from the cap of the cover assembly. The method also may include 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 dimension. The method further may include 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. The method also may include sliding the cap, the retainer, and the second seal into the access port of the fluid end housing.
According to some embodiments, a cover assembly for closing a port of a high-power pump may include a cap including a cap body. The cap body may extend between a proximal cap end and a distal cap end along a longitudinal cap axis. The cap body may include a proximal cap portion having a first exterior surface having a first cross-sectional dimension. The cap body further may include a distal cap portion having a second exterior surface having a second cross-sectional dimension less than the first cross-sectional dimension. The proximal cap portion may terminate at the distal cap portion, thereby to form a first wall extending between the first exterior surface and second exterior surface and a second wall coextensive with the second exterior surface of the distal cap portion. The cap body also may include a cap connector associated with the distal cap portion. The cover assembly further may include a retainer including a retainer body. The retainer body may extend between a proximal retainer end and a distal retainer end along a longitudinal retainer axis. The retainer body may include a proximal retainer portion having a retainer exterior surface having a retainer cross-sectional dimension different than the second cross-sectional dimension of the distal cap portion. The retainer body further may include a retainer connector associated with the proximal retainer end. The cap connector and the retainer connecter may be positioned to connect the cap and the retainer to one another, thereby to provide a location for a seal between the first wall of the distal cap portion and the proximal retainer portion of the retainer.
According to some embodiments, a fluid end fluid end for a high-power pump may include a fluid end housing at least partially defining a chamber and an access port providing access to the chamber. The fluid end further may include a cover assembly received in the access port. The cover assembly may include a cap including a cap body. The cap body may extend between a proximal cap end and a distal cap end along a longitudinal cap axis. The cap body may include a proximal cap portion, and a distal cap portion. The proximal cap portion may terminate at the distal cap portion, thereby to form a first wall extending between the proximal cap portion and the distal cap portion. The cap body further may include a cap connector associated with the distal cap portion. The cover assembly also may include a retainer including a retainer body. The retainer body may extend between a proximal retainer end and a distal retainer end along a longitudinal retainer axis. The retainer body may have a proximal retainer portion and a retainer connector associated with the proximal retainer end. The cap connector and the retainer connecter may be positioned to connect the cap and the retainer to one another, thereby to provide a location for a seal between the first wall and the proximal retainer portion of the retainer.
According to some embodiments, a high-power pump may include a power end positioned to convert power into reciprocating motion, and a plunger connected to the power end and positioned to reciprocate. The pump further may include a fluid end connected to the power end. The fluid end may include a fluid end housing at least partially defining a chamber, and an access port providing access to the chamber. The pump also may include a cover assembly received in the access port. The cover assembly may include a cap including a cap body. The cap body may extend between a proximal cap end and a distal cap end along a longitudinal cap axis. The cap body may include a proximal cap portion having a first exterior surface having a first cross-sectional dimension. The cap body further may include a distal cap portion having a second exterior surface having a second cross-sectional dimension less than the first cross-sectional dimension. The proximal cap portion may terminate at the distal cap portion, thereby to form a first wall extending between the first exterior surface and second exterior surface and a second wall coextensive with the second exterior surface of the distal cap portion. The cap body also may include a cap connector associated with the distal cap portion. The cover assembly further may include a retainer including a retainer body. The retainer body may extend between a proximal retainer end and a distal retainer end along a longitudinal retainer axis. The retainer body may include a proximal retainer portion having a retainer exterior surface having a retainer cross-sectional dimension different than the second cross-sectional dimension of the distal cap portion. The retainer body further may include a retainer connector associated with the proximal retainer end. The cap connector and the retainer connecter may be positioned to connect the cap and the retainer to one another, thereby to provide a location for a seal between the first wall of the distal cap portion and the proximal retainer portion of the retainer.
Still other aspects and advantages of these exemplary embodiments and other embodiments, are discussed in detail herein. Moreover, it is to be understood that both the foregoing information and the following detailed description provide merely illustrative examples of various aspects and embodiments and are intended to provide an overview or framework for understanding the nature and character of the claimed aspects and embodiments. Accordingly, these and other objects, along with advantages and features of the present disclosure, will become apparent through reference to the following description and the accompanying drawings. Furthermore, it is to be understood that the features of the various embodiments described herein are not mutually exclusive and may exist in various combinations and permutations.
The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the embodiments of the present disclosure, are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the present disclosure, and together with the detailed description, serve to explain principles of the embodiments discussed herein. No attempt is made to show structural details of this disclosure in more detail than may be necessary for a fundamental understanding of the embodiments discussed herein and the various ways in which they may be practiced. According to common practice, the various features of the drawings discussed below are not necessarily drawn to scale. Dimensions of various features and elements in the drawings may be expanded or reduced to more clearly illustrate embodiments of the disclosure.
The drawings include like numerals to indicate like parts throughout the several views, the following description is provided as an enabling teaching of exemplary embodiments, and those skilled in the relevant art will recognize that many changes may be made to the embodiments described. It also will be apparent that some of the desired benefits of the embodiments described may be obtained by selecting some of the features of the embodiments without utilizing other features. Accordingly, those skilled in the art will recognize that many modifications and adaptations to the embodiments described are possible and may even be desirable in certain circumstances. Thus, the following description is provided as illustrative of the principles of the embodiments and not in limitation thereof.
The phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. As used herein, the term “plurality” refers to two or more items or components. The terms “comprising,” “including,” “carrying,” “having,” “containing,” and “involving,” whether in the written description or the claims and the like, are open-ended terms, in particular, to mean “including but not limited to,” unless otherwise stated. Thus, the use of such terms is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter, and equivalents thereof, as well as additional items. The transitional phrases “consisting of” and “consisting essentially of,” are closed or semi-closed transitional phrases, respectively, with respect to any claims. Use of ordinal terms such as “first,” “second,” “third,” and the like in the claims to modify a claim element does not by itself connote any priority, precedence, or order of one claim element over another or the temporal order in which acts of a method are performed, but are used merely as labels to distinguish one claim element having a certain name from another element having a same name (but for use of the ordinal term) to distinguish claim elements.
The present disclosure generally is directed to systems, assemblies, apparatuses, and methods that may provide a relatively enhanced fluid seal between pump components, such as seals and adjacent components, which may result in relatively reduced damage, deformation, wear, and/or leakage during operation of high-power pumps including the seals and components. For example, in some embodiments, the seals and associated components may be configured to reduce or prevent damage, deformation, wear, and/or leakage of the seals and associated components during operation of a high-power pump.
For example,
For example, a reciprocating plunger pump may be used to pump a fracturing fluid at high flow rates and high pressures sufficient to fracture a reservoir formation to allow hydrocarbons to more easily flow from the formation toward a wellbore for production. A hydraulic fracturing operation may include as many as six or more hydraulic fracturing units, and each of the hydraulic fracturing units may include a prime mover, such as an electric motor or internal combustion engine, cither directly connected, or connected via a transmission, to the reciprocating plunger pump to supply power to drive the reciprocating plunger pump to pump the fracturing fluid into the formation to stimulate production of the well. For example, typical flow rates for a hydraulic fracturing operation may range from about 1,500 to about 4,000 gallons per minute, and typical pressures may range from about 7,500 to about 15,000 pounds per square inch. Although many examples discussed in this disclosure are explained in relation to hydraulic fracturing pumps, such as reciprocating plunger pumps for pumping fracturing fluid and related methods, other flow control-related and/or pumping-related operations, components, and methods are contemplated.
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In some embodiments, a retainer assembly 38 may be used to secure the cover assembly 36 within the access port 34. As shown, in some embodiments, the retainer assembly 38 may include an outer housing 40 configured to be secured to an exterior surface of the fluid end housing 18 adjacent the access port 34, for example, via one of more fasteners 42 (e.g., studs and nuts), as shown. The outer housing 40 may define a receiver aperture 44 provided with interior threads 46. The retainer assembly 38 further may include a retainer 48, which may include a substantially cylindrical body having exterior threads configured to threadedly engage the interior threads 46 of the outer housing 40. In some embodiments, the cover assembly 36 may include a shoulder 52 and a flange 54 having an exterior end 56 opposite an interior end 58 facing the chamber 24 (see, e.g.,
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In some embodiments, when the retainer 66 is separated from the cap 64, the radially extending face of the proximal retainer portion 98, which forms one of the opposing side walls 103 of the annular location 104, is separated from the radial wall 84 and the axial wall 86 of the distal cap portion 80 of the cap 64, which form another of the opposing side walls 101 and the base 105 of the annular location 104 or annular groove 68. This, in turn, opens the annular location 104 (e.g., the annular groove), thereby rendering it easier, during installation of the annular seal 14, to slide the annular seal 14 onto the axial wall 86, which forms the base of the annular location 104. Thereafter, the cap 64 and the retainer 66 may be connected to one another, thereby re-forming the annular location 104 (e.g., the annular groove 68). According to some embodiments, this may render it possible to install the annular seal 14 in the annular location (e.g., in the annular groove 68) without the use of special tools. In addition, the configuration of the cap 64 and the retainer 66 may render it easier, during removal of the annular seal 14, to slide the annular seal 14 off the axial wall 86, which forms the base of the annular location 104. According to some embodiments, this may render it possible to remove the annular seal 14 from the annular location (e.g., in the annular groove 68) without the use of special tools.
In some embodiments, for example, as shown in
In some embodiments consistent with
In some embodiments consistent with
In some embodiments, the cap connector 88 of the cap 64 may include a connector recess, and the retainer connector 102 of the retainer 66 may include a connector projection. For example, the retainer connector may include a connector projection extending from the proximal retainer end of the proximal retainer portion. The connector projection may have a neck portion extending from the proximal retainer end of the retainer body. The neck portion may have a neck diameter less than the retainer diameter of the proximal retainer portion. The connector projection further may include an engagement portion extending from the neck portion. The engagement portion may have an engagement diameter (a) greater than the neck diameter and (b) less than the second diameter of the distal cap portion. The cap connector may include a connector recess extending into the distal cap portion toward the proximal cap end. The connector recess may include an annular lip extending radially inward at the distal cap end and toward the proximal cap end. The annular lip may have a lip diameter less than the engagement diameter of the connector projection. The connector recess further may include an engagement cavity extending axially from the annular lip toward the proximal cap end. The engagement cavity have a cavity diameter greater than the lip diameter. In some embodiments, the engagement portion of the connector projection and the annular lip of the connector recess may be configured to engage one another and connect the cap and the retainer to one another.
In some embodiments, as shown in
For embodiments in which the annular seal is not connected to the retainer 66, for example, the annular seal 14, the annular seal 14 has an axial seal width SW, and the distal cap portion 80 has a distal cap portion axial length AL. In some embodiments, the axial seal width SW may be substantially equal to the distal cap portion axial length AL, for example, as shown in
In some embodiments, at least a portion (e.g., all) of the retainer 66 may include a deformable material and/or a frangible material. In some embodiments, the material may include, for example, a polymeric material, aluminum, a composite material, steel, and/or bronze. In some embodiments, at least a portion of the retainer 66 may include or be formed from any other material having similar deformable and/or frangible characteristics. Forming the retainer 66 from a deformable and/or a frangible material may reduce or prevent damage to other parts of the pump if, for example, a hard object passes through the pump and damages the retainer 66, causing portions or all the retainer 66 to pass through the fluid end housing, valves, and/or other portions of the pump.
In some embodiments, as mentioned above, the radial wall 84, the second exterior surface 82 of the distal cap portion 80, and the proximal retainer end 94 of the retainer 66 may at least partially define the annular seal groove 68, for example, at the annular location 104. The cover assembly 36 further may include an annular seal (e.g., either the annular seal 14 or the annular seal 130) received in the annular seal groove 68 when the cap 64 and the retainer 66 are connected to one another. For example, the annular location 104 may include the annular seal groove 68, and the cover assembly 36 may further include an annular seal 14 or 130 received in the annular seal groove 68 between the radial wall 84 and the retainer 66 when the cap 64 and the retainer 66 are connected to one another.
In some embodiments, a method for removing an annular seal from an annular groove having opposing radial side walls from a cover assembly received in an access port of a fluid end housing, may include sliding the cover assembly out of the access port, and separating a cap of the cover assembly from a retainer of the cover assembly, thereby to separate a first opposing radial side wall of the opposing radial side walls from the annular groove. The method further may include sliding the annular seal away from a second opposing radial side wall of the opposing radial side walls and out of the annular groove. In some embodiments, separating the cap of the cover assembly from the retainer of the cover assembly may include spinning or rotating the cap and the retainer relative to one another, thereby to disengage a threaded engagement between the cap and the retainer. In some embodiments, separating the cap of the cover assembly from the retainer of the cover assembly may include pulling the cap and the retainer from one another, thereby to disengage a snap-fit or press-fit engagement between the cap and the retainer. In some embodiments, the annular seal may be connected to the retainer, and sliding the annular seal away from the second opposing radial side wall may include separating the retainer from the cap. In some embodiments, the method further may include removing one or more fasteners connecting the cap to the retainer prior to separating the cap from the retainer. In some embodiments, the method for removing the annular seal from the annular groove may include separating the annular seal from the retainer.
In some embodiments, a method for installing a cover assembly in an access port of a fluid end housing, may including sliding an annular seal onto a cap of the cover assembly, the cap having a radial side wall and an exterior surface having a first diameter, and the annular seal having an inner diameter substantially equal to the first diameter. The method further may include connecting a retainer of the cover assembly to the cap, thereby to axially retain the annular seal adjacent the radial side wall of the cap. The method further may include sliding the cap, the retainer, and the annular seal into the access port of the fluid end housing. Connecting the retainer to the cap may include spinning or rotating the cap and the retainer relative to one another, thereby to threadedly engage the cap and the retainer with one another. In some embodiments, connecting the retainer to the cap may include pushing the cap and the retainer toward one another, thereby to cause a snap-fit engagement between the cap and the retainer. In some embodiments, the annular seal may be connected to the retainer, and sliding the annular seal onto the cap may include pushing the cap and the retainer toward one another. In some embodiments, the annular seal may be connected to the retainer, and sliding the annular seal onto the cap may include moving the retainer toward the cap, so the retainer and the cap are adjacent one another. In some embodiments, connecting the retainer to the cap may include 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.
A method for replacing a first annular seal providing a fluid seal between an access port of a fluid end housing and a cover assembly received in the access port, may include sliding the cover assembly out of the access port. The method further may include separating a cap of the cover assembly from a retainer of the cover assembly, thereby to separate a first opposing radial side wall from a second opposing radial side wall of an annular groove in which the first annular seal is received. In some embodiments, the method may include sliding the first annular seal away from the second opposing radial side wall, thereby to separate the first annular seal from the cap of the cover assembly. The method further may include sliding a second annular seal onto the cap of the cover assembly and adjacent the second opposing radial side wall, the cap including an exterior surface having a first diameter, and the second annular seal having an inner diameter substantially equal to the first diameter. The method further may include connecting the retainer of the cover assembly to the cap, thereby to axially retain the second annular seal adjacent the second opposing side wall of the cap. The method also may include sliding the cap, the retainer, and the second annular seal into the access port of the fluid end housing.
Having now described some illustrative embodiments of the disclosure, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that the foregoing is merely illustrative and not limiting, having been presented by way of example only. Numerous modifications and other embodiments are within the scope of one of ordinary skill in the art and are contemplated as falling within the scope of the disclosure. In particular, although many of the examples presented herein involve specific combinations of method acts or system elements, it should be understood that those acts and those elements may be combined in other ways to accomplish the same objectives. Those skilled in the art should appreciate that the parameters and configurations described herein are exemplary and that actual parameters and/or configurations will depend on the specific application in which the systems, methods, and/or aspects or techniques of the disclosure are used. Those skilled in the art should also recognize or be able to ascertain, using no more than routine experimentation, equivalents to the specific embodiments of the disclosure. It is, therefore, to be understood that the embodiments described herein are presented by way of example only and that, within the scope of any appended claims and equivalents thereto, the disclosure may be practiced other than as specifically described.
This application claims priority to, and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/508,671, filed Jun. 16, 2023, titled “COVER ASSEMBLY FOR HIGH-POWER PUMPS AND RELATED SYSTEMS, APPARATUSES, AND METHODS,” the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
Furthermore, the scope of the present disclosure shall be construed to cover various modifications, combinations, additions, alterations, etc., above and to the above-described embodiments, which shall be considered to be within the scope of this disclosure. Accordingly, various features and characteristics as discussed herein may be selectively interchanged and applied to other illustrated and non-illustrated embodiment, and numerous variations, modifications, and additions further may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure as set forth in the appended claims.
This application claims priority to, and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/508,671, filed Jun. 16, 2023, titled “COVER ASSEMBLY FOR HIGH-POWER PUMPS AND RELATED SYSTEMS, APPARATUSES, AND METHODS,” the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63508671 | Jun 2023 | US |
