Blow out preventers
AssigneeEnovate Systems Limited
InventorJeffrey Charles Edwards
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A blow out preventer (10) includes a housing (40) defining a longitudinal throughbore (16) and a ram cavity (34) and at least one pair of opposed rams (12, 14) located in the ram cavity. Each ram includes a seal (18, 24) disposed on an upper surface (20, 26) and the rams are movable transversely across the bore. The blow out preventer further includes at least one seal seat (30) having a seal surface (36) for engaging with the ram seals. There is a seal seat associated with each at least one pair of rams, the seal seat being moveably mounted in the ram cavity. In one embodiment the seal seat continuously engages the rams as the rams move from a cavity open position to a cavity closed position.
Claims24
A blow out preventer including:
- a housing defining a longitudinal throughbore and a ram cavity;
- at least one pair of opposed rams located in the ram cavity, each ram including a seal disposed on an upper surface, the rams being movable transversely across the bore in a first direction, and
- at least one seal seat having a seal surface for engaging with the ram seals, the at least one seal seat being associated with each at least one pair of rams, each seal seat being mounted in the ram cavity and being configured to move towards the ram seals in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction solely responsive to fluid pressure on the upper surface of the at least one pair of rams being greater than fluid pressure on an opposing surface of the at least one pair of rams, the at least one seal seat being mounted within a top surface of the ram cavity.
A blow out preventer including:
- a housing defining a longitudinal throughbore and a ram cavity;
- at least one pair of opposed rams located within the ram cavity, each ram including a seal disposed on an upper surface of the ram, the at least one pair of rams being movable in a first direction from a first position wherein the throughbore is open to a second position wherein the throughbore is closed, and
- at least one seal seat arranged in the ram cavity and associated with each pair of rams, the at least one seal seat having a seal surface for continuously engaging with the ram seals as the at least one pair of rams moves from the first position to the second position, each seal seat being mounted in the ram cavity and being configured to move towards the ram seals in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction solely responsive to fluid pressure on the upper surface of the at least one pair of rams being greater than fluid pressure on an opposing surface of the at least one pair of rams, the at least one seal seat being mounted within a top surface of the ram cavity.
A method of sealing a blow out preventer having a housing that defines a ram cavity, a throughbore and at least one pair of rams located within the ram cavity, the rams closing said throughbore in a first direction when the pressure above the at least one pair of rams is greater than the pressure below at least one pair of rams, said method comprising the step of:
- applying a pressure to a moveable seal seat sufficient to move the movable seal seat towards, and form a contact seal with, the at least one pair of closed rams, the seal seat being mounted in the ram cavity and being configured to move towards the ram seals in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction solely responsive to fluid pressure on the upper surface of the at least one pair of rams being greater than fluid pressure on an opposing surface of the at least one pair of rams, the seal seat being mounted within a top surface of the ram cavity.
A method of maintaining seal integrity of a seal disposed on at least one pair of opposed rams of a blow out preventer as said at least one pair of rams travels across a throughbore of the blow out preventer, said blow out preventer including a housing defining the throughbore and a ram cavity, said at least one pair of rams being located in the ram cavity, said method comprising the steps of:
- moving the at least one pair of rams in a first direction from a throughbore open position to a throughbore closed position;
- and
- continuously engaging the seal with a seal seat throughout the movement of the at least one pair of rams between the throughbore open and throughbore closed positions, the seal being mounted within the ram cavity and being configured to move towards the ram seals in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction solely responsive to fluid pressure on the upper surface of the at least one pair of rams being greater than fluid pressure on an opposing surface of the at least one pair of rams, the seal seat being mounted within a top surface of the ram cavity.
A blow out preventer including:
- a housing defining a longitudinal throughbore and a ram cavity;
- at least one pair of opposed rams located in the ram cavity, each ram including a seal disposed on an upper surface, the rams being movable transversely across the bore in a first direction, and
- at least one seal seat having a seal surface for engaging with the ram seals, the at least one seal seat being associated with each at least one pair of rams, each seal seat being mounted in the ram cavity and being configured to move towards the ram seals in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction if pressure on the upper surface of the at least one pair of rams is greater than pressure on an opposing surface of the at least one pair of rams, the at least one seal seat being mounted within a top surface of the ram cavity,
- wherein the at least one seal seat has a seal surface which continuously engages the ram seals throughout the movement of the at least one pair of rams.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.