Multiplunger reciprocating pump

Claim 1

A reciprocating pump comprising 1. a cylinder head having a. first, second, third, and fourth faces; b. a plurality of cylindrical chambers each with 1. a larger diameter portion communicating with and axially normal to the common first face, 2. a smaller diameter portion coaxial with a larger diameter portion and communicating with the second face, and 3. a central portion of intermediate diameter; c. an inlet manifold serially connecting the chambers at the central portions and porting at an exterior surface of the cylinder head; d. a discharge manifold providing communication between the smaller diameter portions of the chambers and porting at an external surface of the cylinder head; and for each chamber 2. a cylindrical valve body coaxially positioned in the cylinder chamber having a. portions of reduced diameter dimensioned to fit into the smaller and central portions of the cylinder head chamber; b. a discharge face bearing against the smaller diameter portion of the chamber and an inlet face protruding beyond the common first face of the cylinder head; c. a first annular recess aligned with the inlet manifold: d. a bore having first and second enlarged diameters at the inlet and discharge faces respectively, a second annular recess in the first diameter, and valve seats at each end of the smallest diameter portion of the bore; e. a plurality of inlet ports communicating between the annular recess and the first enlarged diameter of the bore; 3. a cylindrical inlet valve slidably positioned in the first enlarged diameter of the valve body bore having a. a bore with large and small diameters; b. an inner face, and c. radial ports communicating between the external diameter and the large diameter of the bore; 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 second face coaxial with the cylinder head chamber and larger in diameter at the second face; 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 the stuffing box at the second face of the stuffing box; 7. a cylinder head plug with a. a cylindrical portion dimensioned to fit in the smaller diameter portion of the cylinder head chamber; and b. a mating face bearing against the second face of the cylinder head; 8. discharge valve; and 9. a cylindrical discharge valve plug and spring retainer slidably positioned in the second enlarged diameter of the valve body bore having a stepped bore adapted to receive the discharge valve at one end; whereby a reciprocating motion imparted to a piston, when the inlet manifold is connected to an external source of fluid, produces axial motion of the inlet valve and discharge valve plug in the same direction and seating of the inlet and discharge valves on alternate strokes thereby resulting in fluid flow from the inlet to the outlet manifolds and permitting flow of the inlet fluid tHrough said first annular recess from the valve body of a piston in the discharge stroke to the valve body of a piston in the suction stroke.