Abstract: A seal assembly for a high pressure vessel. The pressure vessel can include a first material and can have a face with a bore extending through the face such that the bore has an edge at an intersection of the bore and the face. A check valve, including a second material, can extend into the bore and a seal seat, including a third material different than at least one of the first and second materials, can be positioned between the pressure vessel and the check valve body to reduce galling and/or fretting of the pressure vessel and check valve body.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for biasing a seal assembly in a high pressure fluid pump. In one embodiment, the fluid pump includes a reciprocating plunger, a seal carrier disposed about the plunger, and a seal supported by the seal carrier and sealably engaged with the plunger. The seal may be biased toward the seal carrier with a spring and may include a flange that engages the spring to restrict lateral motion of a spring relative to the reciprocating plunger. The flange may engage an inner and/or an outer surface of the spring. Where the spring is a coil spring, the flange may be continuous around the circumference of the spring or may include a plurality of spaced apart projections located around the circumference of the spring.

Abstract: A coupling for a high pressure fluid seal assembly is shown and described. The coupling includes a first member having first and second opposite ends and capable of motion along a first axis extending between the first and second ends. The first member has an engagement portion positioned toward the first end having a rounded convex engagement surface. The coupling further includes a second member also having first and second opposite ends and capable of motion along a second axis extending between the first and second ends of the second member. A second engagement portion toward the second end of the second member has a substantially flat second engagement surface engaging the first engagement surface of the first member. The interface between the first and second engagement surfaces aligns motion of the first member along the first axis with motion of the second member along the second axis. The coupling accordingly reduces the tendency for either the first or second member to bend.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for diagnosing components in high-pressure pumps to indicate when a component of the pump head is malfunctioning and to identify the malfunctioning component. In one embodiment, a high-pressure pump head incorporating a diagnostic system in accordance with the invention has a pressurization chamber and a pressurizing member at least partially received in the pressurization chamber. The pressurizing member moves within the pressurization chamber along an intake action to draw fluid into the pressurization chamber and along a pressurizing action to compress fluid in the pressurization chamber. An inlet fluid control assembly is coupled to the pressurization chamber to allow fluid to enter the pressurization chamber during the intake action, and a pressurized fluid control assembly is coupled between the pressurization chamber and an outlet chamber to selectively allow pressurized fluid into the outlet chamber during the pressurizing action.

Abstract: A high pressure fluid seal assembly is shown and described. The seal assembly includes a seal carrier having a bore through which a reciprocating pump plunger may pass, the seal carrier having a first annular groove concentric with the bore, and carrying an annular seal. The seal carrier further includes an integral annular guidance bearing positioned in a second annular groove of the seal carrier, the second annular groove and guidance bearing contained therein being axially spaced from the first annular groove and seal contained therein. An inner diameter of the guidance bearing is smaller than an inner diameter of the seal carrier in a region between the seal and the guidance bearing. The seal is therefore supported directly by the seal carrier, although the seal carrier is spaced from the reciprocating plunger by the guidance bearing. Frictional heating in the region of the seal is therefore reduced, thereby increasing the life of the seal.

Abstract: A nozzle for producing an ultrahigh-pressure fluid fan jet is shown and described. In a preferred embodiment, the nozzle has an inner surface defined by a conical bore extending from a first end to a second end, thereby creating an entrance orifice and an exit orifice in the first and second ends, respectively. A wedge-shaped notch extends inward from the second end towards the first end to a sufficient depth such that the shape of the exit orifice is defined by the intersection of the conical bore and the wedge-shaped notch. As pressurized fluid passes through the nozzle and out the exit orifice, the shape of the exit orifice causes the pressurized fluid to exit in the form of a fan jet having a substantially oval cross-section. This fan jet may be swept across a surface to be cleaned thereby selectively removing a layer of material from an underlying surface evenly and completely, without damaging the underlying surface. The fan jet may also be used to cut a fibrous or hard material.

Abstract: A nozzle for producing an ultrahigh-pressure fluid fan jet is shown and described. In a preferred embodiment, the nozzle has an inner surface defined by a conical bore extending from a first end to a second end, thereby creating an entrance orifice and an exit orifice in the first and second ends, respectively. A wedge-shaped notch extends inward from the second end towards the first end to a sufficient depth such that the shape of the exit orifice is defined by the intersection of the conical bore and the wedge-shaped notch. As pressurized fluid passes through the nozzle and out the exit orifice, the shape of the exit orifice causes the pressurized fluid to exit in the form of a fan jet having a substantially oval cross-section. This fan jet may be swept across a surface to be cleaned thereby selectively removing a layer of material from an underlying surface evenly and completely, without damaging the underlying surface. The fan jet may also be used to cut a fibrous or hard material.

Abstract: A high pressure relief valve for use in a high pressure fluid pump is shown and described. In a preferred embodiment, a valve seat is provided with a tapered hole and with a conduit, the tapered hole and conduit being in fluid communication with each other and with fluid having a variable pressure. A tapered pin having grooves is held in the tapered hole by a control force, or control pressure acting through a plunger. When the pressure of the fluid is sufficiently high to overcome the control force or pressure, the tapered pin is forced to move sufficiently to create an annular clearance between the tapered pin and the tapered hole, thereby allowing pressurized fluid to flow past the pin to an outlet. An outer surface of the valve seat in a region of the tapered pin is tapered in an opposite direction to that of the tapered hole, thereby weakening the valve seat in that region, such that the tapered hole is able to expand and contract as the pressure of the fluid increases and decreases.

Abstract: A self-venting seal assembly for use in an ultrahigh-pressure pump is shown and described. In a preferred embodiment, a low-pressure seal is used to energize a high-pressure seal, the low-pressure seal having a "u" shaped cross-section, thereby creating a groove in a first end of the low-pressure seal. When the first end of the seal is exposed to pressurized fluid, it expands outwardly thereby substantially preventing the leakage of fluid past it. To the extent that any pressurized fluid does leak past the seal, which would act against a second end of the seal when the pressure on the opposite side of the seal drops, the seal compresses inwardly, thereby allowing the pressurized fluid to flow back past the seal.In a preferred embodiment, the high-pressure seal comprises a sleeve seal having an annular opening through which the plunger reciprocates, the sleeve seal being supported by a backup ring, the backup ring also having an annular opening through which the plunger passes.

Abstract: A nozzle for producing an ultrahigh-pressure fluid fan jet is shown and described. In a preferred embodiment, the nozzle has an inner surface defined by a conical bore extending from a first end to a second end, thereby creating an entrance orifice and an exit orifice in the first and second ends, respectively. A wedge-shaped notch extends inward from the second end towards the first end to a sufficient depth such that the shape of the exit orifice is defined by the intersection of the conical bore and the wedge-shaped notch. As pressurized fluid passes through the nozzle and out the exit orifice, the shape of the exit orifice causes the pressurized fluid to exit in the form of a fan jet having a substantially oval cross-section. This fan jet may be swept across a surface to be cleaned thereby selectively removing a layer of material from an underlying surface evenly and completely, without damaging the underlying surface. The fan jet may also be used to cut a fibrous or hard material.

Abstract: A pressure compensation device for use in a high-pressure direct driven pump to control the output pressure of the pump is shown and described. In a preferred embodiment, the high-pressure pump has a valve assembly that selectively allows fluid pressurized by a reciprocating plunger to pass from a pressurization chamber to an outlet chamber from which the pressurized fluid is collected for use. A pressure compensation device has a lever which balances a control force against a force generated by the high-pressure fluid in the outlet chamber. When the outlet pressure exceeds a selected level, the pressure compensation device acts to prevent the further pressurization of fluid by causing the fluid to flow back out of the pressurization chamber via the same passageway(s) through which the fluid was originally introduced into the system.

Abstract: A low wear poppet valve in a high pressure reciprocating pump. Relative movement of the mating surfaces due to compressive distortion is eliminated. There is a valve seat having a flow passage and an upper mating surface, and a poppet element which sealingly abuts this. The flow passage is in communication with a low pressure zone, and the outer surfaces of the seat and element are in communication with a high pressure zone. The poppet element has a recess in its mating surface surrounded by a wall portion, and the low pressure zone is communicated from the flow passage into the interior of the recess. This enables the wall portion of the element to be displaced inwardly and outwardly in concert with the wall portion of the seat by the cyclic pressure differential which is generated between the zones by the operation of the pump. This eliminates relative movement between these parts which would otherwise cause fretting wear of their mating surfaces.

Abstract: A seal assembly for a high pressure pump where there is an O-ring positioned in a seal groove having side seal surfaces and a back seal surface, with said O-ring being exposed alternately to high and low pressures in the pumping chamber. A pressure relief passageway is provided to the O-ring at a side surface portion thereof to provide pressure relief at the back side of the O-ring and thus alleviate unwanted fluid accumulation behind the O-ring, thus extending the longevity of the O-ring.

Abstract: A seal assembly having a backup ring through which a piston reciprocates. There is a seal sleeve made of a non-abrading, extrusion resistant material that surrounds the piston at a location forwardly of the backup ring. The backup ring has an opening to receive the piston, and the opening is formed to define a radially and rearwardly expanding gas between the piston and backup ring to receive and discharge any seal material which may extrude into the gap. There is a positioning flange integral with the backup ring that surrounds the seal sleeve to press the seal sleeve into engagement with the piston, and there is an outer seal portion to form a seal between the positioning flange (or the outer portion of the backup ring) and the cylinder.

Abstract: A high pressure fluid pump having a reciprocating piston which pumps fluid through a central passageway in a valve body of a valve assembly. The valve body forms with an end section of the housing a high pressure fluid chamber axially aligned with the piston. The effective pressure area in the valve chamber acting on the valve body is greater than the effective pressure area acting on the valve body from the cylinder chamber in which the piston reciprocates, so that a net rearward force is exerted on the valve body. There are forward and rear seal members around the valve body which are caused to come into sealing engagement due to fluid pressure in the valve chamber.

Abstract: A seal assembly having a first seal member made of a deformable material which maintains its deformed configuration after release of the deforming force. The seal in a preformed condition is placed around the rear end of a retaining insert, with a nozzle element also being placed within the seal member. The assembled components are inserted in the discharge end of a high pressure housing which is then pressurized to cause the seal material to deform into sealing of engagement and also to grip the insert and the nozzle element to form a unitary nozzle assembly which can easily be removed from the housing.

Abstract: A high pressure hose fitting, and method for sealing the hose to a fitting, is disclosed for use with hoses of the type including a linear disposed about an axially extending passageway, and a reinforcement layer circumventing the liner. The liner is preferably pulled slightly beyond the edge of the reinforcement layer to form a protruding edge region. An end fitting, having a flange with a liner-receiving groove, is inserted into the passageway until the protruding edge of the liner contacts the end wall of the groove, and the flange abuts the reinforcement layer. A swagable collar circumventing the foregoing components is swaged radially inwardly to clamp the liner on its outside diameter.

Abstract: A nozzle assembly for enlarging an inground passageway produced by, for example, a boring device is disclosed herein. The nozzle assembly is comprised of a longitudinally extending nozzle body defining an interior cavity adapted to receive fluid under pressure from an external source and at least one arrangement of outwardly facing adjacent stepped surfaces which provide longitudinally spaced cutting jets directed normal to the movement of the boring device and nozzle assembly as the latter moves through a previously provided passageway in order to progressively enlarge the passageway.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for attaching blades to a rotating structure where the blades are clamped by blocks at the leading and trailing edges then to an intermediary member which is attached to the rotating structure.