US Patent 7290560 Valve cover locking system

An apparatus and method to assemble and disassemble a valve cover locking screw assembly for a reciprocating pump module block. The module block has a bore, a removable valve cover closing the bore, and a valve cover locking ring securable to the block and surrounding the bore with internal threads. A valve cover locking screw has cylindrical walls with external threads, a closed top, and an open bottom. A plurality of threaded bolts engage a plurality of threaded openings through the cylindrical walls of the locking screw so that the bolts force the valve cover against the module block thereby creating a fluid tight seal.