Blowout preventer packing element with metallic inserts

A packing element for an annular blowout preventer, comprising:

• an annular elastomeric body disposed about a longitudinal axis and adapted to be compressively displaced inwardly towards the axis;
• a plurality of metallic inserts embedded in said body in generally circularly spaced fashion in respective radial planes extending from the axis for reinforcing said body, each of said inserts comprising:
• upper and lower flanges;
• and
• a web element extending between the flanges, the web element including
• leading and trailing edges each having outer arcuate surfaces that are substantially semicircular for distributing the loads applied to a bond line between said insert and said elastomeric body during the operation of the packing element, and
• a central rib extending between the edges, the rib being thinner than the edges, whereby the web element exhibits a substantially dumbbell shaped cross section for efficient reinforcement of said elastomeric body,
• the shape of the web element increasing the volume of said elastomeric body and decreasing the volume of said metallic inserts in the packing element to reduce the loads applied to the bond line.

In an annular blowout preventer having an annular elastomeric body including a plurality of equally spaced metal inserts embedded in the elastomeric body for moving with the elastomeric body as the elastomeric body is forced toward the center of the preventer to engage a tubular member extending through the preventer or to close the opening through the annular elastomeric body, the improvement comprising:

• providing each metal insert with generally wedge-shaped upper and lower flanges and a connecting web attached to and extending between the flanges, the web comprising:
• a generally flat sided flange connecting member extending between and connected to the upper and lower flanges and positioned in a radial plane extending from the center of the preventer;
• edge portions having a circular cross-section and integrally connected to the edges of the flat sided flange;
• wherein the flat sided flange is thinner than the edge portions and the web exhibits a substantially dumbbell-shaped cross-section to reduce the volume of metal embedded in the elastomeric body and the stress imposed on the elastomeric body when the elastomeric body is forced into position to seal the opening through the preventer.