Fracture Fluid Pump Assembly Without Stay Rod Cracking
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional hydraulic fracturing pumps experience premature failure due to cyclical forces causing cracking and shearing of stay rods at the power and fluid ends, leading to reduced useful life.
Innovation Solution
A pump assembly design featuring a platform, frame, and upper brace that securely holds the fluid end in place, eliminating the need for conventional stay rods, and using extended clamps to facilitate component removal and service, thereby reducing stress concentrations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If conventional stay rods are used to connect power end and fluid end, then the pump can operate at high pressure, but the stay rods experience cyclical forces causing cracking and shearing leading to premature failure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the conventional stay rods from the pump assembly entirely. Instead of using threaded stay rods that connect the power end and fluid end, the invention integrates these components directly to the pump frame, eliminating the stay rods and their associated failure points from the system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the functions of the stay rods, power end, and fluid end into integrated components that are directly mounted to the pump frame. This consolidation eliminates the separate stay rod components and their connection points, reducing the number of potential failure locations.
2Ease of manufacture
If conventional stay rods with threaded connections are used, then the pump structure can be assembled, but stress concentrations occur at the threaded connections leading to cracking
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates the threaded connection points by removing the stay rods entirely. The power end and fluid end are directly mounted to the pump frame without threaded stay rod connections, eliminating the stress concentration zones that occur at thread roots and connection interfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using threaded connections to assemble components (conventional approach), the invention inverts the approach by using direct mounting to the frame, eliminating the need for threaded assemblies and their associated stress concentrations.
3Strength
If conventional clamps are used to attach plungers to crossheads, then the components can be secured, but maintenance and component removal become difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs extended clamps with movable or adjustable components that allow for dynamic adjustment during assembly and maintenance. The extended design provides clearance and accessibility, enabling technicians to easily install and remove plungers and other components without requiring complete disassembly of the pump system.
Solution Approach 2:
The extended clamp design segments the attachment mechanism into distinct, accessible portions that can be independently manipulated. This segmentation allows maintenance personnel to work on individual components (plungers, crossheads) without affecting the entire pump assembly, significantly improving ease of repair.
Data Source
AI summary
An assembly for a high-pressure pump is disclosed. A base, a skid, or a platform has a power end disposed thereon, and a framed housing or a frame on the platform holds a fluid end. An upper support or brace extends from the bearing housings of the power end across to the fluid end and the framed housing so as to constrain the fluid end without the need for stay rods.