Abstract: A valve assembly includes a valve body, a seal, and a supplemental material. The valve assembly configured to reduce the effects of wear and erosion of the seal and valve body by including material with increased hardness. The supplemental material has a higher hardness level than the valve body and is inserted on the contact surface of the valve body. The seal can include a plurality of materials, each having different hardness levels. The location of the supplemental material can vary and the overall radial distribution on the contact surface may vary.

Abstract: A frac pump valve seat assembly includes a seat body and a wiper seal. The seat assembly is configured to mitigate the risk of fluid end erosion in the valve seating area by automatically clearing or wiping the mating surface of the fluid end at the time of installation. The wiper seal is located at a lower portion of the seat body and is designed to interface therewith the mating surface of the fluid end. Upon installation, the wiper seal scrapes or cleans the mating surface of propellants, sand, and other contaminants that may remain after initial cleaning. The contact surface of the seat body is optionally further reinforced with material implants with greater hardness than the material of the seat body.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for coupling a piston to a rod to form a cylinder assembly are provided. The piston has a tapped bore extending therethrough for coupling to a first threaded region of the rod. The rod end extends beyond the piston member and includes a second threaded region for coupling to a tapped bore of a retaining member. The piston member is coupled to the rod member at a low torque, e.g., up to about 1000 Nm. An external thread of each of the threaded segment of the piston bore and the first threaded region of the first portion of the rod member may be formed with a root radius of greater than 0.125 pitch or with MJ class thread. The retaining member may include setscrews offset from one another for frictional engagement with the rod end. The thread pitch between the rod and the piston may be coarser than between the rod and the retaining member.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a point-of-care (POC) station that comprises a mobile cabinet with securable compartments and a pylon release mechanism. The POC station also comprises an immovable pylon, an articulated arm, and a terminal having a monitor. The POC station extends the medication and supply infrastructure into the patient room.