Abstract: A plate segment for a reciprocating pump power end frame assembly, the power end frame assembly having a pair of end plate segments and at least one middle plate segment disposed between the end plate segments. The plate segment consists of the middle plate segment or one of the pair of end plate segments and includes a plate having a front wall, a rear wall, a top wall, a bottom wall and a pair of sidewalls and at least one opening forming a bearing support surface, the opening extending through the plate. The plate segment further includes at least one extension extending from at least one of the sidewalls of the plate at a position to align with and contact a corresponding extension on an adjacently positioned plate.

Abstract: This disclosure presents a pump body, such as a fluid end housing used in a reciprocating pump, which provides an integral seating or engagement surface (or a valve seat integrated with the pump body) for a valve member. The integral engagement surface removes the need for a separate, replaceable valve seat and can last as long as the service life of the fluid end housing. This saves multiple maintenance services during the service life of the fluid end housing, along with the associated down time, labor costs, and material costs for the new valve seats. The integral engagement surface thus performs as an integral valve seat to the pump body. In some embodiments, the integral engagement surface may be coated, heat-treated, or otherwise modified to increase its wear resistance, such as by including one or more wear-resistant inserts to at least partially contact the valve member.

Abstract: A power end frame assembly for a reciprocating pump that includes a first and second end plate segment each including annular bearing support surfaces configured to support a crankshaft bearing assembly. At least one middle plate segment is disposed between the first and second end plate segments and includes an annular bearing support surface configured to support a crankshaft bearing assembly. The annular bearing support surfaces of the first and second end plate segments and the at least one middle plate segment each have a diameter and are coaxially aligned. The diameter of at least one of the first and second end plate segments is different from the diameter of the at least one middle plate segment to facilitate insertion and removal of the crankshaft bearing assembly from the power end frame assembly.

Abstract: A swivel assembly is provided with a first pipe section having a first end fitting having an inner surface and an outer surface, at least a portion of the first end fitting is formed of a corrosion-resistant material. The swivel assembly further includes a second pipe section having a second end fitting having an inner surface and an outer surface, at least a portion of the second pipe section formed of a corrosion-resistant material. The swivel assembly further includes a swivel joint, the swivel joint rotatably securing the first and second end fittings together along a central axis, the swivel joint formed of a material having a greater hardness than the material, from which at least a portion of the second pipe section is formed.

Abstract: A valve assembly for use in a fracturing pump including a valve member movable into and out of engagement with a valve seat body. The valve seat body includes an outer surface and an inner surface, the inner surface forming a fluid bore extending between a first end and a second end of the valve seat body. The body further includes a seating surface extending radially from the inner surface and facing the valve member, the seating surface having a recessed area. An insert is disposed in the recessed area forming at least a portion of the inner surface and at least portion of the seating surface. The valve seat body first end has a diameter different from a diameter valve seat body second. The difference between diameters allows the valve seat body outer surface to be supported by the fluid passageway.

Abstract: A valve assembly for use in a fracturing pump including a valve member movable into and out of engagement with a valve seat body. The valve seat body includes an outer surface and an inner surface, the inner surface forming a fluid bore extending between a first end and a second end of the valve seat body. The body further includes a seating surface extending radially from the inner surface and facing the valve member, the seating surface having a recessed area. An insert is disposed in the recessed area forming at least a portion of the inner surface and at least portion of the seating surface. The valve seat body first end has a diameter different from a diameter valve seat body second. The difference between diameters allows the valve seat body outer surface to be supported by the fluid passageway.

Abstract: A skid for supporting a reciprocating pump assembly, the reciprocating pump assembly including a power end frame assembly having a pair of end plate segments and a plurality of middle plate segments disposed between the end plate segments. The end plate segments each have at least a pair of feet and the middle plate segments each having at least one foot. The skid includes a base and a plurality of pads extending from the base. At least a portion of the plurality of pads correspond to the end plate segment feet and at least another portion of the plurality of pads correspond to the at least one foot of each middle plate segment.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates, according to some embodiments, to a hydraulic fracturing pump comprising a fluid end assembly, the fluid end assembly comprising a cylinder body configured to receive a respective plunger from a power end; a suction bore configured to house a valve body, a valve seat, and a spring; a suction cap; and a spring retainer, wherein a surface of one or more of the cylinder body, the suction bore, the suction cap, and the spring retaining serves as a cathode, and wherein the fluid end comprises at least one of a plunger anode, a suction cap anode, a spring retainer anode, a valve top anode, a valve seat outer diameter anode, and a valve seat inner diameter anode.

Abstract: A gearbox is coupled to a power end housing of a reciprocating pump, where the gearbox includes at least one support member having a first end securely affixed to the gearbox, and the at least one support member having a second end securely affixed to an immobile part of the reciprocating pump for supporting the gearbox and resisting movement of the gearbox relative to the reciprocating pump.

Abstract: This disclosure provides a valve seat having cladded surfaces of high hardness in order to improve the service life of valve seats. The cladded surfaces may include various materials of favorable mechanical properties for mitigating failure mechanisms known for common valve seats (e.g., having a common base metal throughout). In one example, the cladded surfaces are created using an additive manufacturing process, such as laser metal deposition. The cladded surfaces offer advantages including metallurgical bonding, localized low heat input at the laser focus (thus enabling accurate control of temperature and mitigating undesirable heat treatment effects), ductility in middle layers for increasing impact resistance, variable cladding thickness (optionally exceeding 1 mm), increased hardness by material and fusing temperature selections, corrosion resistance, modification of mechanical properties of the same selected material, and allowing for sensor embedment.

Abstract: A valve member for an inlet or outlet valve assembly of a reciprocating pump assembly includes a valve body and a seal member. The valve body comprises a first body surface and a second body surface that extend circumferentially about the valve body. The valve body defines a body axis and an annular cavity. The seal member is positioned at least partially within the annular cavity of the valve body such that an outer seal portion of the seal member extends between the first body surface and the second body surface of the valve body. The outer seal portion of the seal member comprises a first seal surface and a second seal surface. The first body surface, the first seal surface, and the second seal surface extend at different angles relative to the body axis.

Abstract: A hydraulic drive system is employed to transfer energy generated by a diesel engine to a frac pump. The hydraulic drive system includes a gearbox comprising a plurality of gears being coupled to and driven to produce rotational movement by the diesel engine, at least one hydraulic pump coupled to at least one gear of the gearbox, and operable to, driven by the rotational movement of the at least one gear of the gearbox, force a fluid at high pressure into at least one high-pressure fluid conduit, and at least one hydraulic motor coupled to the at least one high-pressure fluid conduit to receive the high-pressure fluid, and operable to transform energy in the high-pressure fluid to a rotational movement, which is used to power and drive a plurality of plungers in the frac pump.

Abstract: A dual circuit lubrication system for a power end of a reciprocating pump that includes a lubrication pump that supplies lubrication fluid to a high pressure lubrication circuit and a low pressure lubrication circuit. The high pressure lubrication circuit is fluidly coupled to a crankshaft to supply lubrication fluid to journal surfaces associated with the crankshaft at a first lubrication fluid pressure. The crankshaft drives a crosshead coupled to a plunger to displace fluid from a fluid end of the reciprocating pump. The low pressure lubrication circuit is fluidly coupled to supply the lubrication fluid to a plurality of roller bearing surfaces associated with the crankshaft at a second lubrication fluid pressure. The first lubrication fluid pressure is greater than the second lubrication fluid pressure.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a fluid end block for a high pressure reciprocating pump, including forming, from a single-piece forging of a steel alloy, a main body having an outwardly facing body forward face, an outwardly facing body rear face opposite the body forward face, and opposing side surfaces connecting the forward face and the rear face, and a plurality of chambers; forming a web portion protruding outwardly from the outwardly facing body forward face, the web portion having an outwardly facing web forward face and a curvilinear side surface; forming a plurality of bosses protruding from the web forward face and having a forward facing end; and forming a plunger bore extending through each of the plurality of bosses from the forward facing end of the respective boss to one of the plurality of chambers in the main body portion, each plunger bore configured to receive a reciprocating plunger.

Abstract: A skid for supporting a reciprocating pump assembly, the reciprocating pump assembly including a power end frame assembly having a pair of end plate segments and a plurality of middle plate segments disposed between the end plate segments. The end plate segments each have at least a pair of feet and the middle plate segments each having at least one foot. The skid includes a base and a plurality of pads extending from the base. At least a portion of the plurality of pads correspond to the end plate segment feet and at least another portion of the plurality of pads correspond to the at least one foot of each middle plate segment.

Abstract: The valve member includes a valve body and a seal. The valve body defines a first frusto-conical surface and an outside annular cavity. The seal extends within the outside annular cavity and includes a first tapered and circumferentially-extending surface adapted to sealingly engage the tapered surface of the valve seat. In another aspect, the seal includes an annular bulbous protrusion from which the first tapered and circumferentially-extending surface angularly extends, the first tapered and circumferentially-extending surface extending between the annular bulbous protrusion and the first frusto-conical surface of the valve body. In another aspect, an offset distance is defined between the first frusto-conical surface of the valve body and at least a portion of the first tapered and circumferentially-extending surface of the seal, the offset distance extending in a direction that is perpendicular to at least the first frusto-conical surface of the valve body.

Abstract: A gearbox is coupled to a power end housing of a reciprocating pump, where the gearbox includes at least one support member having a first end securely affixed to the gearbox, and the at least one support member having a second end securely affixed to an immobile part of the reciprocating pump for supporting the gearbox and resisting movement of the gearbox relative to the reciprocating pump.

Abstract: This disclosure provides a valve seat having cladded surfaces of high hardness in order to improve the service life of valve seats. The cladded surfaces may include various materials of favorable mechanical properties for mitigating failure mechanisms known for common valve seats (e.g., having a common base metal throughout). In one example, the cladded surfaces are created using an additive manufacturing process, such as laser metal deposition. The cladded surfaces offer advantages including metallurgical bonding, localized low heat input at the laser focus (thus enabling accurate control of temperature and mitigating undesirable heat treatment effects), ductility in middle layers for increasing impact resistance, variable cladding thickness (optionally exceeding 1 mm), increased hardness by material and fusing temperature selections, corrosion resistance, modification of mechanical properties of the same selected material, and allowing for sensor embedment.

Abstract: A monitoring apparatus is adapted to monitor lubricant in a hydraulic fracturing pump system, and includes a gateway and one or more sensors configured to be in communication with the gateway. The one or more sensors are configured to measure quality of the lubricant, a pressure of the lubricant, and a temperature of the lubricant. The gateway is configured to receive sensor data associated with the quality of the lubricant, the pressure of the lubricant, and the temperature of the lubricant. To monitor the lubricant, the gateway is configured to: store the sensor data on the non-transitory computer readable medium; transmit to another computing device the sensor data and/or representative data based on the sensor data; visually indicate a status of the quality of the lubricant; visually indicate a status of the pressure of the lubricant; visually indicate a status of the temperature of the lubricant; or any combination thereof.

Abstract: This disclosure presents a pump body, such as a fluid end housing used in a reciprocating pump, which provides an integral seating or engagement surface (or a valve seat integrated with the pump body) for a valve member. The integral engagement surface removes the need for a separate, replaceable valve seat and can last as long as the service life of the fluid end housing. This saves multiple maintenance services during the service life of the fluid end housing, along with the associated down time, labor costs, and material costs for the new valve seats. The integral engagement surface thus performs as an integral valve seat to the pump body. In some embodiments, the integral engagement surface may be coated, heat-treated, or otherwise modified to increase its wear resistance, such as by including one or more wear-resistant inserts to at least partially contact the valve member.