System and method for reinforcing reciprocating pump

• US 10,677,244 B2
• Filed: 07/24/2015
• Issued: 06/09/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SPM Oil & Gas Incorporated (Caterpillar Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: SPM Flow Control Inc. (Caterpillar Incorporated)
• Inventors: Byrne, Joseph H., Kotapish, Edward C., Bayyouk, Jacob A., Waweru, Lawrence
• Primary Examiner(s): Comley, Alexander B
• Application Number:
  US14/808,618
• Publication Number:
  US 20160025082A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,782 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B21K 1/26 housings or supporting parts, e.g. axle housings, engine mountings
• CPC Class Codes: B21K 23/00 Making other articles
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 1/0404 Details or component parts
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 1/053 with actuating or actuated elements at the inner ends of the cylinders
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 19/22 of reciprocating-piston type
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 2201/06 Valve parameters
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 37/00 Pumps having pertinent characteristics not provided for in, or of interest apart from, groups F04B25/00 - F04B35/00
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 39/128 Crankcases
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 53/006 Crankshafts
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 53/14 Pistons, piston-rods or piston-rod connections
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 53/16 Casings; Cylinders; Cylinder liners or heads; Fluid connections
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 53/162 Adaptations of cylinders
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 53/22 Arrangements for enabling ready assembly or disassembly
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 7/0069 for a sliding member
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 9/02 the means being mechanical
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 9/045 the means being eccentrics
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 35/04 in the case of ball or roller bearings
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 35/067 Fixing them in a housing with interposition of an element F16C35/07
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 9/02 Crankshaft bearings

Abstract

A drive system for a fluid end of a reciprocating pump assembly including a drive member and a power end housing having a crankshaft rotatably disposed therein. The assembly includes a gearbox secured to the power end housing, the gearbox operatively connecting the drive member to the crankshaft for rotation thereof. The assembly further includes at least one arm member extending between the gearbox and the power end housing, the at least one arm member positioned to resist relative movement between the gearbox and the power end housing.

Claims

1. A drive system for a fluid end of a reciprocating pump assembly, the drive system comprising:

a drive member;

a power end housing having a crankshaft rotatably disposed therein, the power end housing having an outer wall;

a gearbox housing having a gear assembly disposed therein, the gearbox housing secured to the power end housing, the gear assembly operatively connecting the drive member to the crankshaft for rotation thereof, the gearbox housing having an outer wall; and

at least one stationary arm member extending externally between and secured to the respective outer walls of the gearbox housing and the power end housing, the at least one stationary arm member positioned to resist relative movement between the gearbox housing and the power end housing, wherein the at least one stationary arm member is adjustable in length along an axial direction of the at least one stationary arm member;

wherein the at least one stationary arm member includes a threaded bolt to adjust the axial length of the at least one stationary arm member.

2. The drive system of claim 1, wherein the at least one stationary arm member includes at least two stationary arm members extending between the gearbox housing and the power end housing to resist relative movement between the gearbox housing and the power end housing.

3. The drive system of claim 2, wherein the at least two stationary arm members are parallel with respect to each other.

4. The drive system of claim 1, wherein the at least one stationary arm member includes at least two stationary arm members extending between the gearbox housing and the power end housing on a same plane.

5. The drive system of claim 1, wherein the at least one stationary arm member is pivotably secured to the power end housing.

6. The drive system of claim 1, wherein the at least one stationary arm member is pivotably secured to the gearbox housing.

7. The drive system of claim 1, wherein the power end housing is formed having a front wall, a rear wall, a top wall and a bottom wall, the at least one stationary arm member coupled to the power end housing adjacent the front wall.

8. The drive system of claim 7, wherein the at least one stationary arm member is pivotably secured to the power end housing adjacent the top wall.

9. The drive system of claim 1, wherein the entirety of the at least one stationary arm member extends between the power end housing outer wall and the gearbox housing outer wall.

10. The drive system of claim 1, wherein the at least one stationary arm member is secured to the respective outer walls of the gearbox housing and the power end housing via pivotable ball joints at both ends of the at least one stationary arm member, wherein the at least one stationary arm member includes a threaded bolt rotatably coupled with one of the pivotable ball joints.

11. The drive system of claim 10, wherein the at least one stationary arm member further includes a locking mechanism securing an adjusted length.

12. The drive system of claim 11, wherein the at least one stationary arm member includes at least one threaded adjustment member for extension in length and wherein the locking mechanism includes a nut configured to tighten the at least one threaded adjustment member and prevent rotation thereof for securing the adjusted length.

13. The drive system of claim 1, wherein the at least one arm member includes an elongate body and ball joints movable relative to the elongate body via threaded adjustment bolts and a lock nut tightenable against the elongate body to prevent movement of the threaded adjustment bolt relative to the elongate body.

14. The drive system of claim 13, further comprising threaded adjustment bolts at respective ends of the elongate body to support the ball joints thereon, the adjustments bolts extendable from and retractable within the elongate body in response to rotation of the elongate body.

15. A method of assembling a drive system for a fluid end of a reciprocating pump assembly, the method comprises:

providing a drive member;

providing a power end housing having a crankshaft rotatably disposed therein and having an outer wall;

securing a gearbox housing having a gear assembly therein to the power end housing so as to operatively connect the drive member to the crankshaft for rotation thereof, the gearbox housing having an outer wall; and

providing at least one stationary arm member extending externally between and secured to the outer wall of the power end housing and the outer wall of the gearbox housing to resist relative movement between the gearbox housing and the power end housing, wherein the at least one stationary arm member is adjustable in length along an axial direction of the at least one stationary arm member;

adjusting a length of the at least one stationary arm member to extend between the gearbox housing and the power end housing, wherein adjusting the length of the at least one stationary arm member includes rotating a threaded bolt of the at least one stationary arm member.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein securing the at last one stationary arm member between the power end housing and the gearbox housing includes securing at least two stationary arm members between the gearbox housing and the power end housing.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein securing the at least one stationary arm member comprises securing at least two stationary arm members between the gearbox housing and the power end housing in a parallel relationship.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising securing the at least two stationary arm members between the gearbox housing and the power end housing in a same plane.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising pivotably securing an end of the at least one stationary arm member to the power end housing.

20. The method of claim 15, further comprising pivotably securing an end of the at least one stationary arm member to the gearbox housing.

21. The method of claim 15, further comprising securing the at least one stationary arm member adjacent to a front wall of the power end housing.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising securing the at least one stationary arm member adjacent to a top wall of the power end housing.

23. The method of claim 15, further comprising securing an end of the at least one stationary arm member to a skid that supports the power end housing.

24. A reciprocating pump assembly comprising:

a power end housing having a crankshaft rotatably disposed therein, the power end housing having an outer wall;

a fluid end housing;

a drive member;

a gearbox housing having a gear assembly therein, the gearbox housing secured to the power end housing, the gear assembly operatively connecting the drive member to the crankshaft for rotation thereof, the gear box housing having an outer wall;

a plunger assembly coupled to the crankshaft and reciprocating between the power end housing and the fluid end housing in response to rotation of the crankshaft; and

at least one stationary arm member extending externally between and secured to the outer wall of the gearbox housing and the outer wall of the power end housing, the at least one stationary arm member positioned to resist relative movement between the gearbox housing and the power end housing, wherein the at least one stationary arm member is adjustable in length along an axial direction of the at least one stationary arm member;

wherein the at least one stationary arm member includes a threaded bolt to adjust the axial length of the at least one stationary arm member.