Blowout preventer ram lock
AssigneeHydril Company
InventorRichard A. Olson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A ram lock for blowout preventer rams which permits locking of the ram at multiple and adjustable positions. Automatic locking of the ram at a desired position, such as in adjustable sealing positions to compensate for ram elastomer wear, is obtained. The ram also automatically unlocks in response to opening fluid pressure acting on a cylinder liner which contains a ram carrier moving the ram.
Claims28
In a blowout preventer having at least one blowout preventer ram movable therein to adjustable closed positions for sealing contact with a well pipe or the like in a bore of the blowout preventer, a ram lock comprising:
- (a) ram carrier means comprising a ram piston having a piston rod with a threaded surface formed thereon for moving the ram to the adjustable closed positions in the blowout preventer;
- (b) cylinder means for receiving opening and closing fluid pressures to operate against said ram piston to move the ram to and from open and closed positions, respectively;
- (c) lock means for locking said ram carrier means at the closed positions, comprising:
- (1) a lock nut having a threaded surface formed thereon and engaged by said threaded surface on said ram piston rod for rotational movement with respect thereto during movement of the ram;
- (2) a ram carrier clutch plate mounted with said lock nut for rotational movement therewith, said ram carrier clutch plate having ratchet teeth formed thereon;
- (3) a body clutch plate having ratchet teeth formed thereon;
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- (4) means for mounting said body clutch plate with the blowout preventer against relative rotational movement with respect thereto;
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- (d) means for urging said ratchet teeth of said body clutch plate and said ram carrier clutch plate into engagement to lock said ram carrier means;
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- (e) means for unlocking comprising cylinder liner means mounted in said cylinder and enclosing said piston of said ram carrier means;
- (f) said cylinder liner means including surface means responding to the opening fluid pressure to engage said body clutch plate to disable said means for urging and unlock said ram lock.
In a blowout preventer, a ram lock for automatically locking the ram against reverse or outward movement during inward movement to a closed position in response to closing fluid pressure for contact by the ram with a well pipe or the like in a bore of the preventer and for automatically unlocking in response to opening fluid pressure, comprising:
- (a) ram carrier means comprising a ram piston having a piston rod with a threaded surface formed thereon for moving the ram to the adjustable closed positions in the blowout preventer;
- (b) cylinder means for receiving opening and closing fluid pressures to operate against said ram piston to move the ram to and from open and closed positions, respectively;
- (c) lock means for locking said ram carrier means at the closed positions, comprising:
- (1) a lock nut having a threaded surface formed thereon and engaged by said threaded surface on said ram piston rod for rotational movement with respect thereto during movement of the ram;
- (2) a ram carrier clutch plate mounted with said lock nut for rotational movement therewith, said ram carrier clutch plate having ratchet teeth formed thereon;
- (3) a body clutch plate having ratchet teeth formed thereon;
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- (4) means for mounting said body clutch plate with the blowout preventer against relative rotational movement with respect thereto;
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- (d) means for urging said ratchet teeth of said body clutch plate and said ram carrier clutch plate into engagement to lock said ram carrier means;
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- (e) means for unlocking comprising cylinder liner means mounted in said cylinder and enclosing said piston of said ram carrier means;
- (f) said cylinder liner means including surface means responding to the opening fluid pressure to engage said body clutch plate to disable said means for urging and unlock said ram lock.
A ram lock for a blowout preventer ram for locking a ram for sealing contact with a well pipe or the like in the blowout preventer, comprising:
- (a) ram carrier means comprising a ram piston having a piston rod with a threaded surface formed thereon for moving the ram to the adjustable closed positions in the blowout preventer;
- (b) cylinder means for receiving opening and closing fluid pressures to operate against said ram piston to move the ram to and from open and closed positions, respectively;
- (c) lock means for locking said ram carrier means at the closed positions, comprising:
- (1) a lock nut having a threaded surface formed thereon and engaged by said threaded surface on said ram piston rod for rotational movement with respect thereto during movement of the ram;
- (2) a ram carrier clutch plate mounted with said lock nut for rotational movement therewith, said ram carrier clutch plate having ratchet teeth formed thereon;
- (3) a body clutch plate having ratchet teeth formed thereon;
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- (4) means for mounting said body clutch plate with the blowout preventer against relative rotational movement with respect thereto;
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- (d) means for urging said ratchet teeth of said body clutch plate and said ram carrier clutch plate into engagement to lock said ram carrier means;
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- (e) means for unlocking comprising cylinder liner means mounted in said cylinder and enclosing said piston of said ram carrier means;
- (f) said cylinder liner means including surface means responding to the opening fluid pressure to engage said body clutch plate to disable said means for urging and unlock said ram lock.
A ram lock for automatically locking the ram against reverse or outward movement during inward movement to a closed position in response to closing fluid pressure for contact by the ram with a well pipe or the like in a bore of the preventer and for automatically unlocking in response to opening fluid pressure, comprising:
- (a) ram carrier means comprising a ram piston having a piston rod with a threaded surface formed thereon for moving the ram to the adjustable closed positions in the blowout preventer;
- (b) cylinder means for receiving opening and closing fluid pressures to operate against said ram piston to move the ram to and from open and closed positions, respectively;
- (c) lock means for locking said ram carrier means at the closed positions, comprising:
- (1) a lock nut having a threaded surface formed thereon and engaged by said threaded surface on said ram piston rod for rotational movement with respect thereto during movement of the ram;
- (2) a ram carrier clutch plate mounted with said lock nut for rotational movement therewith, said ram carrier clutch plate having ratchet teeth formed thereon;
- (3) a body clutch plate having ratchet teeth formed thereon;
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- (4) means for mounting said body clutch plate with the blowout preventer against relative rotational movement with respect thereto;
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- (d) means for urging said ratchet teeth of said body clutch plate and said ram carrier clutch plate into engagement to lock said ram carrier means;
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- (e) means for unlocking comprising cylinder liner means mounted in said cylinder and enclosing said piston of said ram carrier means;
- (f) said cylinder liner means including surface means responding to the opening fluid pressure to engage said body clutch plate to disable said means for urging and unlock said ram lock.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.