Reciprocating pump assembly

• US 8,707,853 B1
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Issued: 04/29/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SPM Oil & Gas Incorporated (Caterpillar Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: SPM Flow Control Inc. (Caterpillar Incorporated)
• Inventors: Dille, Mark C., Freed, Wesley D., Arnoldy, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Landrum, Edward
• Assistant Examiner(s): KRAFT, LOGAN M
• Application Number:
  US13/843,525
• Time in Patent Office: 410 Days
• Field of Search: 92/13, 921/91, 922/55, 922/58, 921/65.R, 921/87
• US Class Current: 92/165.R
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 39/0005 adaptations of pistons
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 39/0022 piston rods
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 53/14 Pistons, piston-rods or piston-rod connections
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 53/147 Mounting or detaching of piston rod
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 53/16 Casings; Cylinders; Cylinder liners or heads; Fluid connections

Abstract

A reciprocating pump assembly having a power end housing and a fluid end housing and a cylinder having at least a portion within the power end. A plunger assembly reciprocates between the power end housing and the fluid end housing of the pump assembly, the plunger assembly having a crosshead, a first section limited to movement within the power end and a second section moveable within the fluid end housing. The pump assembly also includes a seal housing disposed within the cylinder, the seal housing having a proximal end adjacent an entrance to the cylinder, and a distal end disposed within the cylinder. A power end seal is secured to the seal housing proximate the distal end and a fluid end seal is disposed within the fluid end housing. The power end seal sealingly engages an outer surface of the first section and the fluid end seal sealingly engages an outer surface of the second section such that during the reciprocating movement of the plunger assembly, fluid end proppant is deterred from contaminating the outer surface of the first section and thus, contaminating the power end seal.

Claims

1. A reciprocating pump assembly, comprising:

a power end housing and a fluid end housing;

a cylinder having at least a portion within the power end;

a plunger assembly reciprocating between the power end housing and the fluid end housing of the pump assembly, the plunger assembly having a crosshead, a first section limited to movement within the power end and a second section moveable within the fluid end housing;

a retainer member configured to secure the first section and the second section to the crosshead, wherein the retainer member is tensioned such that the second section compresses the first section against the crosshead;

a seal housing disposed within the cylinder, the seal housing having a proximal end adjacent an entrance to the cylinder, and a distal end disposed within the cylinder,

a power end seal secured to the seal housing proximate the distal end;

a fluid end seal disposed within the fluid end housing; and

wherein the power end seal sealingly engages an outer surface of the first section and the fluid end seal sealingly engages an outer surface of the second section such that during the reciprocating movement of the plunger assembly, fluid end proppant is deterred from contaminating the outer surface of the first section and thus, contaminating the power end seal.

2. The pump assembly of claim 1, further comprising a crankshaft rotatably mounted in the housing for reciprocatingly moving the plunger assembly.

3. The pump assembly of claim 2, further comprising a connecting rod having a crankshaft end connected to the crankshaft and a connecting rod end connected to the crosshead by a wrist pin.

4. The pump assembly of claim 1, further comprising a gap formed between the first and second sections.

5. The pump assembly of claim 1, wherein the first section includes an outside diameter that is the same size as an outside diameter of the second section.

6. The pump assembly of claim 1, wherein the first section includes an outside diameter that is a different size from an outside diameter of the second section.

7. The pump assembly of claim 1, wherein the crosshead includes a recessed portion to receive at least a portion of the first section therein.

8. A reciprocating pump assembly, comprising:

a power end housing and a fluid end housing;

a cylinder having at least a portion within the power end;

a plunger assembly reciprocating between the power end housing and the fluid end housing of the pump assembly, the plunger assembly having a crosshead, a first section limited to movement within the power end and a second section moveable within the fluid end housing;

a retainer member extending from the crosshead, through the first section, and at least partially through the second section, the retainer member compressing the first and second sections against the crosshead to securely fasten the second section and the first section to the cross head.

9. The pump assembly of claim 8, wherein the crosshead comprises a recessed portion, the first section disposed at least partially within the recessed portion.

10. The pump assembly of claim 8, wherein the crosshead comprises a boss and the first section includes a counter bore sized to overlay the boss to create a sealing surface of increased length.

11. The pump assembly of claim 8, wherein the retainer member is threadingly secured to the fluid end section.

12. The pump assembly of claim 8, wherein the retainer member is disposed within, and longitudinally extends through, the first section.

13. The pump assembly of claim 8, wherein the retainer member is disposed along a central axis of the plunger assembly.

14. The pump assembly of claim 8, further comprising a fluid end seal disposed within the fluid end housing, the fluid end seal adapted to sealingly engage an outer surface of the second section.

15. The pump assembly of claim 14, further comprising a seal housing disposed within the cylinder, the seal housing having a proximal end adjacent an entrance to the cylinder, and a distal end disposed within the cylinder, a power end seal secured proximate the distal end to sealingly engage an outer surface of the first section.

16. The pump assembly of claim 8, further comprising a crankshaft rotatably mounted in the housing for reciprocatingly moving the plunger assembly.

17. The pump assembly of claim 16, further comprising a connecting rod having a crankshaft end connected to the crankshaft and a connecting rod end connected to the crosshead by a wrist pin.

18. The pump assembly of claim 8, wherein the first section includes an outside diameter that is the same size of an outside diameter of the second section.

19. A reciprocating pump assembly, the assembly comprising a first pump and a second pump disposed in a back-to-back assembly having a width that is less than about 102 inches, each of the first and second pump comprising:

a power end housing and a fluid end housing;

a cylinder having at least a portion within the power end;

a plunger assembly reciprocating between the power end housing and the fluid end housing of the pump assembly, the plunger assembly having a crosshead, a first section limited to movement within the power end and a second section moveable within the fluid end housing;

a retainer member configured to secure the first section and the second section to the crosshead, wherein the retainer member is tensioned such that the second section compresses the first section against the crosshead;

a seal housing disposed within the cylinder, the seal housing having a proximal end adjacent an entrance to the cylinder, and a distal end disposed within the cylinder,

a power end seal secured to the seal housing proximate the distal end;

a fluid end seal disposed within the fluid end housing; and

wherein the power end seal sealingly engages an outer surface of the first section and the fluid end seal sealingly engages an outer surface of the second section such that during the reciprocating movement of the plunger assembly, fluid end proppant is deterred from contaminating the outer surface of the first section and thus, contaminating the power end seal.