Abstract: A valve seat for hydraulic fracturing valves employs a through-hardening process, for example, with austempering, to provide greater wear resistance at the interface between the valve seat and the valve plug as well as resistance to abrasion and leakage in the interface between an alignment ring of the valve seat and a bore in the pump body.

Abstract: A speed nut provides a separable housing, when closed, defining an internally threaded cavity for engaging a threaded shaft, and when open, allowing movement of the speed nut along the shaft without engagement of the threads. Interdigitated knuckles on the housing portions provide robust resistance against axial shifting when the nut is used to apply axial force to the threaded shaft. The knuckles may also provide a hinge point allowing the nut to be opened and closed with a simple hinging action and a means for locking the nut portions together through a releasable pin passing through the opposite knuckles.