Wireline blowout preventer

Claim 2

A blowout preventer ram adapted to sealingly engage a wireline in a well pipe, comprising; a first ram body; an upper guiDe member on said first ram body; a lower guide member on said first ram body below said upper guide member and spaced therefrom to form a lateral slot therebetween which has an outer slot surface; said body having a semi-circular slot in its upper portion only and terminating in end recesses which communicate with said lateral slot; a resilient seal strip disposed in said semi-circular slot and said end recesses; an inner ram seal assembly disposed in said lateral slot and including a resilient central seal member having a substantially T-shape, and a metal back-up plate above and below said seal member alongside the leg of said T-shape; the head of said T-shape being disposed in contact with said outer surface of said lateral slot and said seal strip at said end recesses; the inner surface of said central seal member and said metal back-up plates being in the same plane; means to secure said inner seal assembly in said lateral slot; said upper guide member having an inclined surface for guiding engagement of said wireline towards contact with said ram seal; said lower guide member having an inclined surface for guiding engagement of said wireline towards contact with said ram seal; and said inclined surface of said upper and lower guide members being at opposite angles of inclination with respect to each other.

Claim 3

The structure set forth in claim 1, wherein said blowout preventer ram has a second ram body with a semi-circular slot in its upper portion only and terminating in end recesses, and including: an upper guide member on said second ram body having an inclined surface for guiding engagement with a wireline and adapted to interfit with said upper guide member on said first ram body for guiding a wireline as the rams are moved towards each other; a lower guide member on said second ram body below said upper guide member on said second ram body and spaced therefrom to form a lateral slot which has an outer slot surface, and said lower guide member also having an inclined surface for guiding engagement with a wireline and adapted to interfit with said lower guide member on said first ram body for guiding a wireline as the rams are moved towards each other; said end recesses and said lateral slot in said second ram body being in communication with each other; a second resilient seal strip disposed in said semi-circular slot and said end recesses of said second ram body; a second inner ram seal assembly disposed in said lateral slot of said second ram body and including a central seal member having a substantially T-shape, and a metal back-up plate above and below said seal member alongside the leg of said T-shape; the head of said T-shape being disposed in contact with said outer surface of said lateral slot in said second ram body and said seal strip at said end recesses; the inner surface of said central seal member and said metal back-up plates of said second seal assembly being in the same plane; and means to secure said second seal assembly in said lateral slot of said second ram body.

Claim 4

The structure set forth in claim 2, wherein: said upper guide members on said first and second ram bodies are in substantially the same plane; and said lower guide members on said first and second ram bodies are in substantially the same plane.

Claim 5

The structure set forth in claim 3, wherein: said inclined surfaces on said upper guide members are at substantially the same angle of inclination; and said inclined surfaces on said lower guide members are at substantially the same angle of inclination.

Claim 6

The structure set forth in claim 4, wherein: each of inclined surfaces on said upper guide members has a notch which is complementary to the notch on the other upper guide member and which notches are of a size to form an opening for a wireline to extend therethrough when said ram seals are in sealing engagement with the wireline.

Claim 7

The structure set forth In claim 4, wherein: each of inclined surfaces on said lower guide members has a notch which is complementary to the notch on the other lower guide member and which notches are of a size to form an opening for a wireline to extend therethrough when said ram seals are in sealing engagement with the wireline.

Claim 8

The structure set forth in claim 4, wherein: each of inclined surfaces on said upper guide members has a notch which is complementary to the notch on the other upper guide member and which notches are of a size to form an opening for a wireline to extend therethrough when said central seal members are in sealing engagement with the wireline; and each of inclined surfaces on said lower guide members has a notch which is complementary to the notch on the other lower guide member and which notches are of a size to form an opening for a wireline to extend therethrough when said central seal members are in sealing engagement with the wireline.

Claim 9

The structure set forth in claim 2, wherein: each of said inclined surfaces on said guide members has an increased taper in proximity to the central portion thereof to facilitate the guiding action of a wireline towards such central portion.