Pipe alignment apparatus

Claim 2

Pipe alignment apparatus for use with blowout preventers used when running dual pipe strings into wells comprising: a housing having two spaced-apart pipe alignment ram chambers; an alignment ram arranged in each alignment chamber; said alignment rams being movable toward each other to a closed position and away from each other to an open position; and each alignment ram front face being configured such that when said alignment rams are moved to the closed position thereof proper positioning of said dual pipe strings for engagement with grooves formed in each ram gate front face of a ram-type blowout preventer is ensured.

Claim 3

Apparatus as recited in claim 1 including means for remotely closing and opening said alignment rams.

Claim 4

Apparatus as recited in claim 1 in which each alignment ram front face is formed with a surface which slants from one end thereof in a horizontal direction away from the opposing alignment ram front face and then extends to the other end thereof in a horizontal direction toward the opposing ram front face, the angle of each slanted surface which slants away from the opposing alignment ram front face is at least sufficient to permit said pipes to move relative to each other and be properly aligned with each other in a plane perpendicular to the direction of closure of the alignment rams to thereby prevent crushing of the pipe members when the alignment rams close.

Claim 5

Apparatus as recited in claim 3 in which the slanted surface extending toward the opposing ram surface contains a curved portion the degree of which is substantially the same as the curvature of said pipes.

Claim 6

Apparatus as recited in claim 4 in which each of the ends of said slanted surfaces on each alignment ram is provided with pipe guide members adapted to overlap when said alignment rams close.

Claim 7

Blowout control apparatus used when running dual pipe strings into wells comprising: a BOP housing having two ram gate chambers therein; a ram gate arranged in each chamber and having two grooves formed in the front face thereof; a pipe alignment chamber arranged in each ram gate; a pipe alignment ram arranged in each alignment chamber; means in each alignment chamber for urging said alignment ram to protrude from the face of said ram gate but permitting retraction of said alignment ram into said alignment chamber as the front face of said alignment ram engaGes and aligns said dual pipes into proper position for engagement in said ram gate grooves; each alignment ram front face being configured such that when said alignment rams are moved to the closed position thereof proper positioning of said dual pipe for engagement with said grooves formed in each ram gate front face is ensured.

Claim 8

Blowout control apparatus used when running dual pipe strings into wells comprising: a BOP housing having two ram gate chambers therein; a ram gate arranged in each chamber and having two grooves formed in the front face thereof; a pipe alignment chamber arranged in each ram gate; a pipe alignment ram arranged in each alignment chamber; means in each alignment chamber for urging said alignment ram to protrude from the face of said ram gate but permitting retraction of said alignment ram into said alignment chamber as the front face of said alignment ram engaGes and aligns said dual pipes into proper position for engagement in said ram gate grooves; each alignment ram front face being configured such that when said alignment rams are moved to the closed position thereof proper positioning of said dual pipe for engagement with said grooves formed in each ram gate front face is ensured.

Claim 9

Apparatus as recited in claim 6 including means for remotely closing and opening said alignment rams.

Claim 10

Apparatus as recited in claim 6 in which each alignment ram front face is formed with a surface which slants ram front from one end thereof in a horizontal direction away from the opposing alignment ram front face and then extends to the other end thereof in a horizontal direction toward the opposing ram front face, the angle of each slanted surface which slants away from the opposing alignment ram front face is at least sufficient to permit said pipes to move relative to each other and be properly aligned with each other in a plane perpendicular to the direction of closure of the alignment rams to thereby prevent crushing of the pipe members when the alignment rams close.

Claim 11

Apparatus as recited in claim 8 in which the slanted surface extending toward the opposing ram surface contains a curved portion the degree of which is substantially the same as the curvature of said pipes.

Claim 12

Apparatus as recited in claim 9 in which each of the ends of said slanted surfaces on each alignment ram is provided with pipe guide members adapted to overlap when said alignment rams close.