Ram type blowout preventer having improved ram front packings

A blowout prevent ram, comprising

• a ram body guidably slidable in a guideway of the body of a blowout preventer which extends from a vertical bore in the body which is adapted to receive a well pipe, and
• means carried by the ram body for sealing with respect to the pipe and a ram in an opposed guideway as well as with respect to the preventer body, when the opposed rams are moved inwardly to close the bore,
• said sealing means including
• a ram front packing received within a recess across the front face of the ram body and having
• a seal strip of elastomeric material,
• seal strips of non-elastomeric, relatively rigid material above and below the elastomeric seal strip, and
• top and bottom metal plates respectively above and below the seal strips for preventing extrusion of the seal strips between the front ends of the ram bodies,
• the front ends of the ram body, seal strips and metal plates having vertical recesses therein to fit about the pipe,
• the elastomeric seal strip including portions behind the rear ends of the non-elastomeric seal strip and metal plates, so that, upon engagement of the opposed front ends of the plates with one another during inward movement of the rams, the front ends of the seal strips are urged tightly against one another and the pipe, and
• said non-elastomeric seal strips being free to slide with respect to the metal plates.

For use in a blowout preventer ram having a body guidably slidable in a guideway of the body of a blowout preventer which extends from a bore for receiving a well pipe, across the front face of the ram body, a ram front packing disposable within a recess across the front face of the ram body and comprising

• a seal strip of elastomeric material,
• seal strips of non-elastomeric, relatively rigid material above and below the elastomeric seal strip, and
• top and bottom metal plates respectively above and below the seal strips for preventing extrusion of the seal strips between the front ends of the ram bodies,
• the front ends of the seal strips and metal plates having vertical recesses therein to fit about the pipe,
• the elastomeric seal strip including portions behind the rear ends of the non-elastomeric seal strip and metal plates, so that, upon engagement of the opposed front ends of the plates with one another during inward movement of the opposed rams, the front ends of the seal strips are urged tightly against one another and the pipe, and
• said non-elastomeric seal strips being free to slide with respect to the metal plates.