Variable position ram lock for blowout preventers
AssigneeHydril Company
InventorRobert E. Abbe
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A new and improved ram lock and blowout preventer are provided for locking a blowout preventer ram in any of a number of variable, adjustable sealing positions in a bore in the preventer. A ram carrier is mounted in a housing to move the ram to and from the sealing positions. The housing is provided with a tapered inner surface which selectively engages locking wedge members mounted with the ram carrier. A locking cone mounted with the ram carrier responds to fluid pressure during movement of the ram carrier to move the locking wedges into engagement with the tapered inner surface for locking purposes.
Claims50
In a blowout preventer, a ram lock for locking a ram of said preventer in a sealing position to seal a bore of said preventer, comprising:
- (a) ram carrier means for moving said ram to and from the sealing position;
- (b) housing means receiving said ram carrier means therein, said housing means further having a tapered surface formed along an inner portion thereof;
- (c) locking wedge means mounted with said ram carrier means for movement therewith, said locking wedge means having a tapered surface adapted to engage said tapered surface of said housing means to lock said ram;
- and
- (d) locking cone means mounted for relative movement with respect to said ram carrier means for engaging said locking wedge means and moving said tapered surface thereof into engagement with said tapered surface of said housing means to lock said ram in the sealing position.
A ram lock adapted for installation in a housing having a tapered inner surface in a blowout preventer for locking a ram of the preventer in a sealing position to a seal bore of the preventer, comprising:
- (a) ram carrier means adapted for movement in the housing when installed therein;
- (b) locking wedge means mounted with said ram carrier means for movement therewith, said locking wedge means having a tapered surface adapted to engage said tapered surface of said housing means to lock said ram;
- and
- (c) locking cone means mounted for relative movement with respect to said ram carrier means for engaging said locking wedge means and moving said tapered surface thereof into engagement with said tapered surface of said housing means to lock said ram in the sealing position.
A method of locking a blowout preventer ram in a sealing position in a bore of the preventer, with the preventer including a housing having a tapered inner surface, comprising the steps of:
- (a) moving a ram carrier in the housing inwardly towards the bore of the blowout preventer until the ram is in the sealing position in the bore;
- (b) simultaneously moving a locking cone and locking wedge members, each having a tapered surface adapted to engage the tapered inner surface of the housing inwardly with the ram carrier until the locking wedge members reach the tapered inner surface of the housing;
- (c) thereafter pivoting the locking wedges to move the tapered surfaces thereof into engagement with the tapered inner surface of the housing;
- and
- (d) locking the locking wedges between the locking cone and the tapered inner housing to lock the ram carrier and the ram against rearward movement from the sealing position.
A ram carrier adapted to move, when installed, in a blowout preventer housing which has an inner portion with a tapered surface along part of its length, and move a ram to and from multiple sealing positions in a bore of the blowout preventer, comprising:
- (a) a piston rod adapted to receive the ram on an inner end thereof:
- (b) a disk member extending outwardly from an intermediate portion of said piston rod;
- (c) a skirt member extending from said disk member;
- (d) said skirt member having a plurality of pockets formed therein;
- (e) locking wedge members mounted in said pockets and having surfaces adapted to engage the inner portion of the blowout preventer housing during movement through the housing with said skirt member;
- (f) said locking wedge members pivoting for movement to form tapered surfaces to engage the tapered surface of the inner portion of the housing when the ram is in the sealing positions;
- and
- (g) a locking cone assembly mounted on said piston rod for relative movement therewith to contact said locking wedge members and move said locking wedge members to engage the tapered inner surface of the blowout preventer housing to thereby lock said piston rod in the sealing positions.
A locking cone assembly adapted to be mounted for relative movement with a ram carrier in a housing having a tapered inner surface to contact a locking wedge and move the wedge into engagement with the tapered inner surface of the housing to lock a ram in sealing position in a bore of a blowout preventer when installed, comprising:
- (a) a body member having a tapered camming surface movable with respect to the ram carrier when installed to contact the locking wedge and move same into engagement with the tapered inner surface of the housing;
- (b) floating piston means for moving said body member so that said tapered camming surface may move into contact with the locking wedge and move the wedge into engagement with the tapered inner surface of the housing;
- and
- (c) said body member having a piston sleeve formed extending from said camming surface for receipt of said floating piston means.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.