Multi-part sealing assembly for reciprocating pump fluid end
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Solution Overview
Problem
High pressure reciprocating pumps face challenges with conventional sealing assemblies that create high frictional resistance during installation and maintenance, leading to wear and reduced lifespan due to abrasive fluids and particulates, necessitating frequent maintenance and complex, costly designs.
Innovation Solution
A sealing assembly with a compressible seal and adjustable closure element, featuring a grooveless lateral surface and anti-rotation elements, which can be pre-assembled and easily installed without high friction, allowing for user-controlled tightening to maintain a fluid-tight seal over time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional non-compressible seals (e.g., standard rubber seals) are used to closely conform to the fluid end segment, then sealing effectiveness is improved, but frictional resistance during installation and removal increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state of the seal from non-compressible to compressible. The compressible seal element can be compressed radially inward to reduce its outer diameter, allowing it to be installed on the closure element without excessive friction, and then expanded to conform to the fluid end segment interior wall to create an effective seal.
2Reliability
If the closure element is tightened to energize the seal and ensure it remains sealed over time, then sealing reliability is improved, but the complexity of assembly and adjustment increases
Solution Approach 1:
The closure element is divided into two separate body portions (first and second body portions) that can be assembled around the seal element. This segmentation allows the seal to be installed independently on the closure element before final assembly, simplifying the overall installation process while maintaining the ability to tighten and energize the seal over time.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the lateral surface of the closure element has grooves or features to retain the seal, then seal positioning is improved, but wear points increase and lifespan decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the seal retention function from the lateral surface of the closure element. Instead of having grooves or features built into the closure element, the seal is retained by the geometry of the seal element itself and its interaction with the closure element's outer surface, eliminating wear points on the closure element while maintaining stable seal positioning.
4Ease of operation
If the seal element is made compressible to reduce friction during installation, then installation ease is improved, but the ability to maintain seal pressure over time may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The seal element transitions from a static, fixed-size component to a dynamic component that can change its radial dimensions. During installation, the seal is compressed radially to reduce friction. Once installed, the seal can expand radially to conform to the fluid end segment interior wall and maintain sealing pressure, with the ability to be re-compressed and re-expanded as needed during operation and maintenance.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution reduces frictional resistance during installation, extends seal life, minimizes wear, and simplifies maintenance by allowing for adjustable tightening, thereby increasing the operational time between maintenance cycles and reducing maintenance costs.
Implementation Method 1
the closure element can be tightened onto the seal to energize the seal
Implementation Method 2
the seal and the one or more seal carriers may comprise packing rings
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
A sealing assembly (300) for a fluid end (104) of a reciprocating pump (100) is installable within a segment (2124,2224,2226) of a casing of the fluid end and is arranged to form a seal with the segment. The sealing assembly includes a closure element (302) and a seal element (320). The closure element (302) has a sealing portion (310) with a lateral surface (314) that faces an interior wall of the segment of the fluid end. The seal element (320) is sized to be installed around the closure element (302) and includes a seal (321) and one or more seal carriers (322). The seal (321) is configured to form a seal between the lateral surface (314) of the closure element (302) and the interior wall of the segment. The one or more seal carriers (322) are configured to position the seal (321) with respect to the closure element (302).