Multi-plunger reciprocating pump

Claim 1

A reciprocating pump comprising 1. a cylinder head having a. first, second, and third faces: b. a plurality of cylindrical chambers with 1. a larger diameter portion communicating with and axially normal to the first face, and 2. a smaller diameter portion coaxial with the larger diameter portion; c. an inlet manifold serially connecting the larger diameter portions of the chambers; and d. a discharge manifold providing communication between the smaller diameter portions; and for each said chamber 2. a cylindrical valve body coaxially positioned in the chamber having a. an inlet face and a discharge face; b. a bore coaxial with the chamber terminating in a conical valve seat at the inlet face and an enlarged diameter at the discharge face, and having a second valve seat where the bore diameter changes; c. an annular recess aligned with the inlet manifold; and d. a plurality of inlet passages communicating between the annular recess and the conical valve seat; 3. a funnel shaped inlet valve having a. a cylindrical portion dimensioned to permit reciprocating movement of the inlet valve in the valve body bore; b. a conical portion with an annular recess that conjoins with the inlet passages of the conical valve seat when the inlet valve is seated; c. a bore coaxial with the valve body bore; d. a plurality of ports communicating between the bore and the cylindrical face of the inlet valve; and e. at least one slot in the base of the cone; 4. a stuffing box with first and second faces adapted to matably bear the first face against the inlet face of the valve body and having a. a stepped bore extending between the first face and the second face, coaxial with the cylinder head chamber and an enlarged diameter at the first face; and b. a sleeve positioned against a step in the bore defining a compression chamber coaxial with the bore; 5. a piston adapted to reciprocate axially in the stuffing box; 6. packing means adapted to prevent fluid leakage between the piston and stuffing box at the second face of the stuffing box; 7. a cylindrical inlet valve stop coaxial with and positioned within the larger diameter bore of the stuffing box having a stepped bore adapted to receive the inlet valve; 8. a discharge valve; and 9. a cylindrical discharge valve plug slidably positioned in the valve body having a stepped bore adapted to receive the discharge valve; whereby a reciprocating motion imparted to a piston when the inlet manifold is connected to an external source of fluid will produce axial motion of the inlet valve and discharge valve plug in the same direction and seating of the inlet and the discharge valve in alternate strokes, thereby resulting in fluid flow from the inlet to the outlet manifold and permitting flow of inlet fluid through said annular recess around the valve body of a piston in the discharge stroke to the valve body of a piston in the suction stroke.