Packing Nut Lock Prevents Vibration Loosening in High Pressure Pumps

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

High pressure reciprocating pumps in oil field operations experience loosening of threaded assemblies due to vibration, leading to potential fluid ejection and safety hazards, necessitating frequent shutdowns and backup pumps.

Innovation Solution

A packing nut lock apparatus with a body and pins that engage with the threaded nut, preventing rotation and loosening by transferring forces to a non-rotatable device, ensuring secure engagement and preventing back-out.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If threaded assemblies are used in high pressure pumps, then the pump can be assembled and operated, but the threaded assemblies loosen due to vibration during operation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvethreaded assembly securityVSAvoidvibration-induced loosening

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The lock apparatus is installed on the threaded nut before pump operation begins, preventing loosening from occurring in the first place. The pins are positioned to engage with the nut's apertures ahead of time, so when vibration occurs during operation, the preventive mechanism is already in place to counteract the loosening forces.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The lock apparatus serves as an intermediary device between the threaded nut and the pump housing. It includes a body with pins that engage the nut's apertures and a shank that contacts a non-rotatable portion of the pump, mediating the interaction and preventing relative rotation without interfering with the normal function of the threaded assembly.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If operators stop the pump when threaded assemblies loosen, then safety is maintained, but productivity decreases due to frequent shutdowns

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesafety from fluid ejectionVSAvoidpump operation continuity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The lock apparatus is installed before operation to prevent loosening from occurring during pump operation. By having the preventive mechanism in place beforehand, the pump can continue running without shutdowns, maintaining productivity while ensuring safety through the preventive locking action.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple threaded assemblies are used in the pump, then the pump functionality is complete, but the complexity of ensuring all assemblies remain secure increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepump functionalityVSAvoidthreaded assembly management

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The lock apparatus is designed as a segmented system with a body containing multiple pins that can engage with multiple apertures in the threaded nut. This segmentation allows each pin to independently secure the nut, providing simple, modular protection for each threaded assembly without requiring complex interconnections or management systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS9157468B2Packing nut lock and method of use

Publication Date: 2015.10.13 SPM OIL & GAS INC

AI summary

An apparatus for preventing a threaded nut from unscrewing from a threaded bore of a device. The threaded nut has a circular periphery containing a plurality of apertures. The apparatus has a body with a first pin configured to insert into one of the apertures of the threaded nut, and a retainer that releasably holds the first pin within the aperture.