Patent Publication Number: US-11045934-B1

Title: Hydraulic pancake jack

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Priority is claimed from provisional patent application U.S. Ser. No. 62/656,880 filed on Apr. 12, 2018, and incorporated by reference herein. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     In general, the present invention relates to an apparatus and system for a hydraulic pancake jack. More particularly, the present invention provides an improved jack that may be utilized to remove valve seats, pump liners and so forth from oilfield fracturing pumps, mud pumps, nitrogen pumps, and other equipment found in the oil and gas industry as well as other equipment utilizing same. It is also understood the current invention may be utilized in any other pump type that utilizes replaceable open face seats. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     It is understood that in various piston type reciprocating pumps there are valves, which open and close in order to direct the flow. The valve mates to a replaceable seat in order to create a seal, stopping the fluid, which is being pumped, moving in the direction it is being forced. Over time with the opening and closing of the valves against seat creates wear causing the valves not to seal. The common term used for worn seats is “washed”. At this time, the seats must be replaced with new ones. 
     Valve seats in most pumps are generally slightly tapered, with or without an O-ring, for sealing the seat to the pump head. They are typically held in place by the taper, in that they are pressed into place. When a seat is replaced, it is removed with a puller. There are several different types of pullers used, which include a two half puller that spreads out to the inside dimension of the seat by threading the puller shaft inside it, opening the two outer halves far enough to catch the bottom of the seat. This is typically done by two people where one lowers the puller shaft down through the seat, while another person reaches the two half parts of the puller through an open port in the head. The person with the threaded shaft then attempts to thread the puller shaft into the expandable halves. A hydraulic jack, such as hollow shaft jack, is then generally utilized to pull the shaft. 
     Due to the nature of seats in general, it is often extremely difficult to remove the seat after it is installed. It is not unusual for the down time in removing a valve seat with prior art devices to run 8-20 hours. There are many prior art devices for pulling pump valve seats and liners, but most of them are complex and expensive. 
     Therefore, it is desirable to provide a jack to be utilized in conjunction with valve seat puller and or extractor that may easily be affixed to the puller, be light enough for one person to handle, and provide a high pull weight. 
     Present day drilling operations are extremely expensive, and an effort to increase the overall efficiency of the drilling operation while minimizing expense requires the essentially continuous operation of the drilling rig. Thus, it is imperative that downtime be minimized. The above discussed limitations in the prior art is not exhaustive. Thus, there is a need for an apparatus, method and system to remove valve seats, pump liners, and so forth easily and quickly. The current invention provides an inexpensive, time saving, more reliable apparatus and system where the prior art fails. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of jacks now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new and improved apparatus and system, which is easier to utilize and more time efficient. As such, the general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new and improved jack apparatus and system for replacing seats, which has all the advantages of the prior art devices and none or fewer of the disadvantages. 
     To attain this, the present invention essentially comprises a new and improved pancake jack that provides sufficient strength for forces required to pull out the seat, pump liner and so forth and may comprise a through hole for placing a puller, be able to create a pulling force of over 200 tons, be made of aluminum, retract automatically, and so forth that may be utilized for removing various seats, valve seats, pump liners and so forth from oilfield fracturing pumps, mud pumps, nitrogen pumps, and other equipment found in oil and gas industry as well as other equipment utilizing same. The invention may also include a jack puller system comprising a jack and puller. 
     There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
     In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in this application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception upon which this disclosure is based may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods, and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way. 
     Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved jack apparatus, system and method for removing and or pulling seats, pump liners, and so forth, which may be easily and efficiently utilized. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new and improved jack apparatus, system and method for removing seats, pump liners, and so forth, which is of a durable and reliable construction and may be utilized with multiple types of applications in the oil and gas field as well as other applications. 
     An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved jack apparatus, system and method for removing seats, pump liners, and so forth, which is generally susceptible to a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly is then susceptible to low prices of sale to the consuming industry, thereby making such tool economically available to those in the field. 
     Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved jack apparatus, system and method for removing seats, pump liners, and so forth, which provides all of the advantages of the prior art, while simultaneously overcoming some of the disadvantages normally associated therewith. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved jack apparatus, system and method for removing seats, pump liners, and so forth that is light weight and easily handled by one person such as but not limited to making the jack from aluminum and providing handles. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved jack apparatus, system and method for removing seats, pump liners, and so forth that limits the length of the usable stroke as well as retracts automatically. 
     Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved jack apparatus, system and method for removing seats, pump liners, and so forth, which increases the speed of the replacement operation regarding changing out of associated parts. 
     An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved jack apparatus, system and method for removing seats, pump liners, and so forth that provides a robust device capable of extreme and numerous uses and may generally withstand much greater amounts of pressure than existing jacks known in the art. 
     These, together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty, which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages, and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PICTORIAL ILLUSTRATIONS, GRAPHS, DRAWINGS, AND APPENDICES 
       The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed pictorial illustrations, graphs, drawings, and appendices. 
         FIG. 1  is generally a depiction of a cross section of preferred embodiment of the invention generally showing a piston collapsed and or first position and utilized with a spring return system in accordance with the current invention. 
         FIG. 2  is generally a depiction of a cross section of preferred embodiment of the invention generally showing a piston extended and or second position and utilized with an air return system in accordance with the current invention. 
         FIG. 3A  is generally a preferred embodiment of the invention depicting a puller after it has passed completely through valve seat and in communication with a jack for lifting to remove valve seat in accordance with the current invention. 
         FIG. 3B  is generally a preferred embodiment depicting a puller after it has passed completely through valve seat and in communication and after a jack has lifted and removed seat in accordance with the current invention. 
         FIG. 4  is generally a perspective view of a preferred embodiment with the piston collapsed in accordance with the current invention. 
         FIG. 5  is generally a perspective view of a preferred embodiment with the piston extended in accordance with the current invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to the illustrations, drawings, and pictures, reference character  10  generally designates a new and improved jack and or jack puller device, assembly, system and method of using same constructed in accordance with the present invention. Invention  10  is generally used in oil and gas well operations but may be utilized in other applications. The current invention should not be considered limited to just seat, valve seat, pump liners, and so forth removal. 
     Now referring to the illustrations and more in particular to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , invention  10  may include a jack  15  having a housing  20 , a piston  30  disposed therein, and a hydraulic system  40  for moving piston  30  within housing  20 . It is contemplated that invention  10  may be made from mainly aircraft aluminum to be approximately 50% lighter than standard steel constructed jacks such as but not limited to modern alloys with high yield strengths such as 7075-T6511, 7050-T6511 and others of similar characteristics. It is contemplated that jack  15  may be 35 or 40 pounds but it is understood that more or less weight is contemplated. The weight is an issue such that the prior art devices are too heavy for one person to operate whereas the current invention may be handled and or utilized by one person. 
     Housing  20  may include central axis  50 , an aperture  60 , a top  70 , a bottom  80 , an interior  90 , an exterior  100 , and a port  110  from exterior  100  to interior  90  for passing hydraulic fluid. Port  110  may have a threaded interior  115  for connection known in the prior art. Port  110  may include a threaded exterior  117  for placing in housing  20 . 
     Housing may also include a first handle  120  and a second handle  130 . It is understood that shapes, sizes, number and or locations of same should not be considered limited by the illustrations. 
     Piston  30  may have a central axis  140 , an aperture  150 , a top  160 , a bottom  170 , and an exterior  180 . It is contemplated that piston  30  may have but is not limited to a 1 inch stroke. Stroke may be defined as the amount of movement upward of piston  30  from housing  20 . Piston  30  is generally positioned to sit in interior  90  of housing  20  and hydraulically moved upward as desired. 
     Hydraulic system  40  may include a power source and or pump  190  of hydraulic fluid and or fluid  200  that may communicate with housing  20  port  110  via conduit  210 . It is understood that piston  30  is moved upward when hydraulic pressure is applied to bottom  170  of piston  30  and may lower when hydraulic pressure is decreased. Upon hydraulic pressure being applied to housing  20  by pump  190  through port  110 , fluid  200  travels past spring  220  and ball  230  up through port  240  into piston cavity  250 . When pressurized volume increases, piston  30  is forced upward as piston cavity  250  is increased by fluid volume. As piston  30  rises, valve pin  260  is held in place from traveling with piston  30  by spring  220 . Spring  270  is retained inside of piston  30  by plug  280 , which is threaded into piston  30  through spring  270  cavity  290 . Fluid  200  is held from leaking past piston  30  by seals  300  located on outer and inner circumference of piston  30 . As piston  30  continues to rise, the shoulder on valve pin  260  contacts shoulder  310  inside spring  270  cavity  290 , and begins to travel upward with piston  30 . 
     Valve pin  260  may include flow port  265  and have a stopping point  267 . As piston  30  travels upward, towing valve pin  260  with it, tapered end  320  of valve pin  260  moves upward, out of valve pin cavity  340 , which allows spring  220  to move ball  230  to coincide plunger  330 , forcing plunger  330  to travel into valve pin cavity  340 , allowing ball  230  to rest on seat  350 , thus stopping fluid  200  flow into piston cavity  250  through port  240 . At this point, all fluid  200  pressure coming from pump  190  is halted at valve  360 , leaving only the pressure required to move piston  30 , to its current raised position, in the piston cavity  250 . 
     Manufacturing specifications set the length of the tapered end  320  of valve pin  260  so that piston  30  does not rise to contact top cover  370  when ball  230  engages seat  350  and stops fluid  200  flow, but rather leaves a gap  380  between piston  30  and top cover  370 . To ensure that valve pin  260  remains aligned with plunger  330 , guide pin  390  has been added, which mates to a guide pin mating bore  400  in piston  30  to ensure that piston  30  may not rotate out of alignment. Further guide pin  390  may have a relief hole  410  drilled through the side and top, to allow displacement of fluid  200  as the piston  30  is actuated in both directions. Guide pin  390  may also have threads  397  for securing to housing  20 . 
     Top cover  370  may use bolt(s)  375  and threaded engagement  377  in housing  20 . It is contemplated to provide gap  395  between valve pin  260  and top cover  370 . It is understood that numerous securing methods as known in the art are contemplated. 
     There are two types of automatic piston  30  return systems to be described. The first is a spring return system  450  as shown in  FIG. 1  that allows the piston  30  to collapse back into housing  40  via spring bias. The second is an air return system  460  as shown in  FIG. 2  that pushes piston  30  back into housing  20 . 
     Spring Return System  450   
     As the piston  30  rises, it compresses return spring  420  between piston  30  and top cover  370 . Once inlet flow is released at the pump  190 , return spring  420  forces piston  30  down, forcing fluid  200  through port  240 , causing ball  230  to compress valve spring  220  and allow fluid  200  to escape past seat  350 . As piston  30  continues to travel to its collapsed position, valve pin  260  engages plunger  330 , forcing it to push ball  230  away from valve seat  350 , opening passage for fluid  200 , allowing fluid to return to pump  190  until piston  30  is fully retracted, as it is pictured in  FIG. 1 . The assembly is now ready to be used to pull remaining seats. 
     Air Return System  460   
     As many companies are now using air operated pumps instead of hand operated manual pumps to actuate hydraulic jacks, invention  10  contemplates an air return system  460  as generally depicted in  FIG. 2 . It is contemplated to use the already present air supply to retract the jack  15  piston  30 . After the pump  190  has extended the piston  30 , it is retracted by air pressure applied to the remaining gap  380  between the piston  30  and the top cover  370 , through the air inlet and or port  430 . Standard air pressure, from the air supply  435  that is used to operate the pneumatic hydraulic pump  190 , is hooked to the jack  15  air inlet and or port  430  via common air hose, creating a degree of downward force on the piston  30 . The downward force is calculated by the amount area on top of the piston under the top cover  370 . This creates very little resistance in comparison to the lift capacity of the invention, but enough to compress the jack  15  once the pump  190  return valve has been opened, allowing the hydraulic fluid  200  to return out of the housing  20 , to the pump  190 . The air is contained inside the housing  20  by the lower hydraulic seals  300  on the piston  30 , and by top cover seal  440  located on the inner diameter of the top cover  370 . In this case, the air from the air supply which may be between 125 psi and 175 psi creates a “spring” effect inside the upper piston  30  portion. 
     Operation 
     Referring now again to the figures and more in particular to  FIGS. 3A and 3B , when removing seat  470  from a pump  480 , a puller  490  is inserted into the discharge access hole  500  in the top of the fluid end. After puller  490  shaft bottom and or bottom end  510  is engaged in seat  470  to be pulled, jack  15  can be installed over the puller  490  through apertures  150  in piston  30  in the center of jack  15 . On drilling style mud pumps it is often necessary to use a large spacer or “H” block between the fluid end and jack  15 , for proper surface area contact with jack  15 , as some fluid ends have a bolt on flange on top of the fluid end. Once jack  15  is installed onto the puller  490  shaft top  520 , a nut  530  is threaded onto the puller  490  second end and or shaft top  520 , and secured against the top  160  of piston  30 . Seat  470  is now ready for removal as piston  30  travels upward from housing  20  as depicted generally in  FIG. 5 . 
     After seat  470  removal, piston may be returned to original and or collapsed position as depicted in  FIG. 4 . This may be accomplished by spring return system  450 , air return system  460 , and or combinations thereof. It is contemplated that invention  10  may withstand the high hydraulic pressures required of 10,000 psi operating pressure and a range in excess of 200 tons. 
     It is therefore contemplated to provide a jack puller system to remove valve seats or pump liners comprising a housing having a top, a bottom, an aperture extending between said top and said bottom having an axis perpendicular to said top and said bottom, a port into said housing to a cavity contained inside said housing for hydraulic fluid operations; a piston having a top, a bottom, an aperture extending between said top and said bottom having an axis perpendicular to said top and said bottom wherein said piston is adapted to fit inside said cavity of said housing, said axis of said piston is aligned with said axis of said housing; wherein said piston has a first position wherein said top of said piston is flush with said top of said housing and wherein said piston has a second position wherein in said top of said piston is pushed above said top of said housing; a hydraulic system having a pump to selectively provide and remove said hydraulic fluid to said cavity of said housing via said port below said bottom of said piston wherein said piston is moved from said first position to said second position by said hydraulic system; a return system for automatically moving said piston from said second position to said first position; and a puller having a bottom end for removably inserting through said aperture of said piston and adapted to engage said valve seat or said pump liner for removal, and a second end adapted to be removably attached to said top of said piston. 
     It is also contemplated said housing and said piston combined weight is under 50 pounds, wherein said return system includes a spring biased to push said piston down when said hydraulic fluid is removed from said cavity via said port and said hydraulic system, wherein said housing includes an air inlet adapted to provide air to said return system to push said piston down when said hydraulic fluid is removed from said cavity via said port and said hydraulic system; and wherein said jack puller system is adapted to provide a pulling force of over 200 tons. 
     Changes may be made in the combinations, operations, and arrangements of the various parts and elements described herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Furthermore, names, titles, headings and general division of the aforementioned are provided for convenience and should, therefore, not be considered limiting.