Rotary blowout preventer adaptable for use with both kelly and overhead drive mechanisms

Abstract

An improved rotary blowout preventer having a rotary housing rotably mounted within an outer housing and carrying an annular packer assembly hydraulically actuated by fluid circulated through the outer housing by hydraulic pumps. An annular adapter is detachably and reattachably connected to an upper rim of the rotary housing. The adapter has a tubular, elastomeric sleeve detachably and reattachably connected thereto that depends within the rotary housing adjacent the packer assembly. A drill pipe is received within the sleeve and is sealably engaged thereby when the packer assembly is urged inwardly by the circulated hydraulic fluid. The sleeve protects the packer assembly from wear and is easily replaced with other sleeves of like configuration. The sleeve has a plurality of rigid grippers seated therein which extend flush with an inner surface thereof for gripping the drill pipe to facilitate concomitant rotation of the sleeve and rotary housing therewith. The circulating pumps have a heat exchanger connected thereto for cooling the hydraulic fluid which reduces the internal temperature of the rotary blowout preventer to extend the operating life of various bearing and seal assemblies commonly found therein. Filters are provided to remove foreign particulate matter dislodged from the outer casing by the circulating hydraulic fluid.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.