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The Secret to More Durable and Efficient Mud Pump Performance

Common Mud Pump Fasteners & Their Limitations

Oil and gas drilling operations rely on high-performance equipment to maintain efficiency and minimize downtime. Mud pumps are a key component of these systems, ensuring the circulation of drilling fluid to keep the operation running. However, the intense vibration and pressure fluctuations these pumps endure can lead to premature wear on vital components, particularly the fasteners that hold everything together. Standard bolts used in mud pumps and other oil rig components often loosen over time due to constant vibration and stress. This leads to frequent maintenance needs, unexpected failures, and costly downtime. Drilling rigs operate on tight schedules, and equipment failures can bring production to a halt, costing thousands of dollars per hour. When standard bolts loosen or fail due to constant vibration, it can lead to fluid leaks and pressure loss, emergency maintenance and repair costs, and full-scale shutdowns that delay project timelines. This is why oil and gas operators need a fastening solution that can withstand these conditions to improve mud pump efficiency.

The Solution: Place Bolts for High-vibration Drilling Environments

An effective solution for improving the durability and reliability of mud pump parts is Place bolts. Unlike standard bolts, Place bolts are self-locking fasteners designed to resist movement in high-vibration environments. In fact, Place bolts are known to have up to seven times more vibration resistance than traditional hex head cap screws, another common choice for these applications. There are three types of Place bolts: AA - The original design was invented by Charles Place in the 1950s - Symmetrical six-slot head with an undercut; B - Wilson-Garner’s improved design - Asymmetrical five-slot head with an undercut; BH - Wilson-Garner’s further improved design - Asymmetrical five-slot oversized head with an undercut. The asymmetrical, oversized head in the most recent Place bolt design provides an even stronger locking effect than past versions.

Place Bolt Benefits Beyond Vibration Control

Vibration control is the most important capability Place bolts provide in mud pump applications. However, since their self-locking nature eliminates the need for locking washers, they also provide the added benefits of reduced parts inventory, reduced parts cost, and fast and simplified assembly.

Other Place Bolt Uses in Oil and Gas Applications

While Place bolts provide a game-changing solution for mud pump efficiency, they are also valuable in other high-vibration applications within oil rig equipment. Oil and gas producers rely on a wide range of support equipment, including pumps, trucks, and heavy machinery, all of which experience intense operational stress. By utilizing high-quality, self-locking fasteners, operators can improve the longevity and reliability of their entire support system, including mud pump components, structural and functional oil rig equipment, and service trucks and support vehicles.