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US 10,590,728 B2Granted
Annular blowout preventer packer assembly
AssigneeCameron International Corporation
InventorsRay Zonoz, Raul Araujo
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A packer assembly for an annular blowout preventer includes an annular packer and a plurality of inserts arranged circumferentially about the annular packer. The plurality of inserts are curved along an axial axis of the packer assembly and are configured to rotate radially inwardly to enable the packer assembly to move from an open position in which the packer assembly enables fluid flow through a central bore to a closed position in which the packer assembly blocks fluid flow through the central bore.
Claims16
A packer assembly for an annular blowout preventer, comprising:
- an annular packer disposed about a central axial axis;
- and
- a plurality of inserts arranged circumferentially about a first axial end portion of the annular packer, wherein each of the plurality of inserts is coupled to the annular packer via a mounting interface extending along a first central axis, the first central axis does not intersect the central axial axis of the annular packer, the plurality of inserts are curved along the central axial axis of the packer assembly and are configured to rotate about the central axial axis as the plurality of inserts are directed radially inwardly to enable the packer assembly to move from an open position in which the packer assembly enables fluid flow through a central bore to a closed position in which the packer assembly blocks fluid flow through the central bore;
- and
- an annular collapsible ring insert formed from a rigid material and extending circumferentially about the annular packer proximate to a second axial end portion of the annular packer, wherein the annular collapsible ring insert is separate from the plurality of inserts and comprises multiple segments arranged to form an annular structure, and the multiple segments are configured to move in a circumferential direction relative to one another to enable the annular collapsible ring insert to transition from an expanded position to a collapsed position;
- wherein the collapsible ring insert is configured to transition from the expanded position to the collapsed position as the packer assembly moves from the open position to the closed position.
3 more elements
An annular blowout preventer, comprising:
- a housing;
- an annular piston positioned within the housing;
- and
- a packer assembly positioned within the housing, wherein the packer assembly comprises:
- an annular packer;
- a plurality of inserts arranged circumferentially about a first axial end portion of the annular packer;
- and
- an annular collapsible ring insert formed from a rigid material and extending circumferentially about the annular packer proximate to a second axial end portion of the annular packer, wherein the annular collapsible ring insert is separate from the plurality of inserts and comprises multiple segments arranged to form an annular structure, and the multiple segments are configured to move in a circumferential direction relative to one another to enable the annular collapsible ring insert to transition from an expanded position to a collapsed position;
- wherein the annular piston is configured to contact a bottom surface of the annular packer to drive the packer assembly in an axial direction within the housing, thereby compressing the annular packer, causing the plurality of inserts to move over a range of movement including rotating radially inwardly, and moving the annular blowout preventer to a closed position, wherein the annular piston does not contact the plurality of inserts while the annular blowout preventer is in an open position, the closed position, and any position therebetween and wherein the collapsible ring insert is configured to transition from the expanded position to the collapsed position as the annular blowout preventer moves from the open position to the closed position.
6 more elements
A system, comprising:
- a packer assembly, comprising:
- an annular packer;
- a plurality of inserts arranged circumferentially about a first axial end portion of the annular packer;
- and
- an annular collapsible ring insert formed from a rigid material and extending circumferentially about the annular packer proximate to a second axial end portion of the annular packer, wherein the annular collapsible ring insert is separate from the plurality of inserts and comprises multiple segments arranged to form an annular structure, and the multiple segments are configured to move in a circumferential direction relative to one another to enable the annular collapsible ring insert to transition from an expanded position to a collapsed position;
- wherein the plurality of inserts are configured to rotate radially inwardly as the packer assembly moves from an open position in which the packer assembly enables fluid flow through a central bore to a closed position in which the packer assembly blocks fluid flow through the central bore, and the collapsible ring insert is configured to transition from the expanded position to the collapsed position as the packer assembly moves from the open position to the closed position.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.