Combination shearing and shut-off ram for blowout preventer

Claim 2

A blowout preventer including, a. a body member having a bore therethrough for reception of a drill string and having opposed ram-receiving chambers in a plane normal to said bore, b. a first ram assembly in one of said ram-receiving chambers, the first ram assembly comprising, i. a ram block holder having an upwardly opening recess on the upper side, ii. a ram block secured within the recess of the holder (b) (i), said ram block having a downwardly opening recess formed on the lower side thereof along but spaced from an open side of said ram block, iii. a first seal member disposed between the holder (b) (i) and the ram block (b) (ii), and iv. a second seal member disposed within the downwardly opening recess of the ram block (b) (ii), and c. a second ram assembly in the other of said ram-receiving chambers, the second ram assembly comprising, i. a ram block holder having an upwardly opening recess on the upper side, ii. a ram block secured within the recess of the holder (b) (i), iii. a shearing blade member secured to and projectingly disposed along an open side of the ram block holder (c) (i) adapted to coact with the ram block (b) (ii) of the first ram assembly (b) to shear a drill string and further adapted after said shearing action to sealingly engage the second seal member (b) (iv) of the first ram (b), when the rams (b) and (c) are moved to the closed poSition, and iv. a seal member disposed between the holder (c) (i) and the block (c) (ii), and d. means for actuating said ram assemblies closingly toward and openingly away from each other in the chambers thereof normal to the bore of the body member (a).

Claim 3

The invention of claim 1 wherein the lower edge of the open side of the ram block (b) (ii) forms a shearing blade to coact with the shearing blade member (c) (iii) of the second ram assembly (c) when the rams (b) and (c) are moved to the closed position.

Claim 4

The invention of claim 1 wherein the second seal member (b) (iv) of the first ram assembly (b) extends at least the length of the open side of the ram block (b) (ii).

Claim 5

The invention of claim 1 wherein the first seal member (b) (iii) and (c) (iii) each comprise, a half-ring strip of resilient material, and a half-ring reinforcing bar molded in the resilient material yet exposed on one side for engagement with the ram blocks (b) (ii) and (c) (ii) respectively.

Claim 6

The invention of claim 1 wherein the second seal member (b) (iv) disposed within the downwardly opening recess of the ram block (b) (ii) comprises, a strip of resilient material at least as long as the shearing blade member (c) (iii) and mounted within said recess so as to be substantially flush with the lower surface of the ram block (b) (ii), and an elongate metal supporting plate embedded in the strip of resilient material and adapted to pressingly engage the shearing blade member (c) (iii) when the ram assemblies (b) and (c) are moved to the closed position.

Claim 7

The invention of claim 5 wherein a portion of the resilient material of the second seal member (b)(iv) is disposed between the elongate metal supporting plate and the edge of the open side of the ram block (b)(ii) and is adapted to compressively engage the upper surface of the shearing blade member (c)(iii) when the rams (b) and (c) are moved to the closed position.

Claim 8

A blowout preventer including, a. a body member having a bore therethrough for reception of a drill string and having opposed ram-receiving chambers in a plane normal to said bore, b. a first ram assembly in one of said ram-receiving chambers, the first ram assembly comprising, i. a ram block holder of semi-circular configuration having a substantially concentric semi-circular upwardly extending recess on the upper side formed about and forming an upwardly extending longitudinal protuberance along the diametrical, open side of the holder, ii. a semi-circular ram block secured within the recess of the holder (b)(i), said ram block having a downwardly opening, substantially longitudinal recess formed on the lower side thereof, a portion of the recess matingly engaging the protuberance of the holder (b)(i), iii. a first seal member disposed along and between at least the circular portions of the holder (b)(i) and the block (b)(ii), and iv. a second seal member disposed within the recess of the lower side of the ram block (b)(ii) substantially parallel to but spaced form the diametrical open side of the block (b)(ii), and engaging the protuberance of the ram block holder (b)(i), c. a second ram assembly in the other of said ram-receiving chambers, the second ram assembly comprising, i. a ram block holder of semi-circular configuration having a substantially concentric, semi-circular, upwardly opening recess on the upper side, ii. a semi-circular ram block secured within the recess of the holder (b)(i), iii. a shearing blade member secured to the ram block holder (c)(i) so as to laterally project beyond the diametrical open side of the ram block holder (c)(i) and adapted to coact with the ram block (b)(ii) of the first ram (b) to shear a drill string and further adapted after said shearing action to sealingly engage the seal member (b)(iv) of the first ram (b) when the rams (b) and (c) are moved to the closed position, and iv a seal member disposed along and between at leasT the circular portions of the holder (c)(i) and the block (c)(ii), and d. means for actuating said ram assemblies closingly toward and openingly away from each other in the rams thereof normal to the bore of the body member (a).

Claim 9

A blowout preventer including, a. a body member having a bore therethrough for reception of a drill string and having opposed ram-receiving chambers in a plane normal to said bore, b. a first ram assembly in one of said ram-receiving chambers, the first ram assembly comprising, i. a ram block holder of semi-circular configuration having a substantially concentric semi-circular upwardly extending recess on the upper side formed about and forming an upwardly extending longitudinal protuberance along the diametrical, open side of the holder, ii. a semi-circular ram block secured within the recess of the holder (b)(i), said ram block having a downwardly opening, substantially longitudinal recess formed on the lower side thereof, a portion of the recess matingly engaging the protuberance of the holder (b)(i), iii. a first seal member disposed along and between at least the circular portions of the holder (b)(i) and the block (b)(ii), and iv. a second seal member disposed within the recess of the lower side of the ram block (b)(ii) substantially parallel to but spaced form the diametrical open side of the block (b)(ii), and engaging the protuberance of the ram block holder (b)(i), c. a second ram assembly in the other of said ram-receiving chambers, the second ram assembly comprising, i. a ram block holder of semi-circular configuration having a substantially concentric, semi-circular, upwardly opening recess on the upper side, ii. a semi-circular ram block secured within the recess of the holder (b)(i), iii. a shearing blade member secured to the ram block holder (c)(i) so as to laterally project beyond the diametrical open side of the ram block holder (c)(i) and adapted to coact with the ram block (b)(ii) of the first ram (b) to shear a drill string and further adapted after said shearing action to sealingly engage the seal member (b)(iv) of the first ram (b) when the rams (b) and (c) are moved to the closed position, and iv a seal member disposed along and between at leasT the circular portions of the holder (c)(i) and the block (c)(ii), and d. means for actuating said ram assemblies closingly toward and openingly away from each other in the rams thereof normal to the bore of the body member (a).

Claim 10

The invention of claim 7 wherein the lower edge of the diametrical open side of the ram block (b)(ii) forms a shearing blade to coact with the shearing blade member (c)(iii) of the second ram assembly (c) when the ram assemblies (b) and (c) are moved to the closed position.

Claim 11

The invention of claim 7 wherein the second seal member (b)(iv) of the first ram assembly (b) extends at least the length of the diametrical open side of the ram block (b)(ii).

Claim 12

The invention of claim 7 wherein the first seal members (b)(iii) and (c)(iii) each comprise, a half-ring strip of resilient material, and a half-ring reinforcing bar embedded in the resilient material yet exposed on one side for engagement with the ram block,

Claim 13

The invention of claim 7 wherein the second seal member (b)(iv) disposed within the recess of the lower side of the ram block (b)(ii) comprises, an elongate resilient strip member at least as long as the shearing blade (c)(iii) and mounted within said recess such that it engages the protuberance of the ram block holder (b)(i) on at least one side and the recess of the ram block (b)(ii) on at least another side, and an elongate metal supporting plate embedded longitudinally in the resilient strip member and adapted to pressingly engage the shearing blade member (c)(iii) when the rams (b) and (c) are moved to the closed position.

Claim 14

The invention of claim 11 wherein a portion of the resilient material of the second seal member (b)(iv) is disposed between the elongate metal supporting plate and the edge of the diametrical open side of the ram block (b)(ii) and is adapted to compressively engage the upper surface of the shearing blade member (c)(iii) when the rams (b) and (c) are moved to the closed position.

Claim 15

The invention of claim 12 wherein, in the downwardly opening, substantially longitudinal recess formed on the lower side of the ram block (b)(ii), the wall of the recess nearest the diametrical open side of the ram block (b)(ii) tapers outwardly and downwardly, and the elongate resilient strip member is of a configuration substantially conforming to said recess.

Claim 16

In a blowout preventer having a body member having a bore therethrough for reception of a drill string and having opposed ram-receiving chambers in a plane normal to said bore, b. a first ram assembly in one of said ram-receiving chambers, the first ram assembly comprising, i. a ram block holder of semi-circular configuration, ii. a semi-circular ram block, iii. a first seal member disposed along and between at least the circular portions of the holder (b)(i) and the block (b)(ii), c. a second ram assembly in the other of said ram-receiving chambers, the second ram assembly comprising, i. a ram block holder of semi-circular configuration having a substantially concentric, semi-circular upwardly opening recess on the upper side, ii. a semi-circular ram block secured within the recess of the holder (b)(i), iii. a shearing blade member secured to the ram block holder (c)(i), and iv. a seal member disposed along and between at least the circular portions of the holder (c)(i) and the block (c)(ii), and d. means for actuating said ram assemblies closingly toward and openingly away from each other in the chambers thereof normal to the bore of the body member (a), the improvement in the first ram assembly wherein, e. in the ram block holder (b)(i), a concentric semi-circular, upwardly opening recess on the upper side is formed about and forms an upwardly extending longitudinal protuberance along the diametrical open side of the holder, f. in the ram block (b)(ii), the ram block being secured within the recess of the holder (b)(i), said ram Block has a downwardly opening, substantially longitudinal recess formed on the lower side thereof, a portion of the recess matingly engaging the protuberance of the holder (b)(i), and g. a second seal member is disposed within the recess of the lower side of the ram block (b)(ii) substantially parallel to but spaced from the diametrical open side of the ram block (b)(ii) and engaging the protuberance of the ram block holder (b)(i), and the improvement in the second ram assembly wherein, h. the shearing blade member (c)(iii) is secured to the ram block holder (c)(i) so as to laterally project beyond the diametrical open side of the ram block holder (c)(i) and is adapted to coact with the ram block (b)(ii) of the first ram assembly (b) to shear a drill string and further adapted after said shearing action to sealingly engage the second seal member (g) of the first ram assembly (b), when the ram assemblies (b) and (c) are moved to the closed position.

Claim 17

In a blowout preventer having a body member having a bore therethrough for reception of a drill string and having opposed ram-receiving chambers in a plane normal to said bore, b. a first ram assembly in one of said ram-receiving chambers, the first ram assembly comprising, i. a ram block holder of semi-circular configuration, ii. a semi-circular ram block, iii. a first seal member disposed along and between at least the circular portions of the holder (b)(i) and the block (b)(ii), c. a second ram assembly in the other of said ram-receiving chambers, the second ram assembly comprising, i. a ram block holder of semi-circular configuration having a substantially concentric, semi-circular upwardly opening recess on the upper side, ii. a semi-circular ram block secured within the recess of the holder (b)(i), iii. a shearing blade member secured to the ram block holder (c)(i), and iv. a seal member disposed along and between at least the circular portions of the holder (c)(i) and the block (c)(ii), and d. means for actuating said ram assemblies closingly toward and openingly away from each other in the chambers thereof normal to the bore of the body member (a), the improvement in the first ram assembly wherein, e. in the ram block holder (b)(i), a concentric semi-circular, upwardly opening recess on the upper side is formed about and forms an upwardly extending longitudinal protuberance along the diametrical open side of the holder, f. in the ram block (b)(ii), the ram block being secured within the recess of the holder (b)(i), said ram Block has a downwardly opening, substantially longitudinal recess formed on the lower side thereof, a portion of the recess matingly engaging the protuberance of the holder (b)(i), and g. a second seal member is disposed within the recess of the lower side of the ram block (b)(ii) substantially parallel to but spaced from the diametrical open side of the ram block (b)(ii) and engaging the protuberance of the ram block holder (b)(i), and the improvement in the second ram assembly wherein, h. the shearing blade member (c)(iii) is secured to the ram block holder (c)(i) so as to laterally project beyond the diametrical open side of the ram block holder (c)(i) and is adapted to coact with the ram block (b)(ii) of the first ram assembly (b) to shear a drill string and further adapted after said shearing action to sealingly engage the second seal member (g) of the first ram assembly (b), when the ram assemblies (b) and (c) are moved to the closed position.

Claim 18

The invention of claim 14 wherein the diametrical open sides of the ram block (c)(ii) and the ram block holder (b)(i) are recessed to accommodate a sheared drill string.

Claim 19

The invention of claim 14 wherein the second seal member (g) disposed within the recess of the lower side of the ram block (b)(ii) comprises, an elongate resilient strip member at least as long as the shearing blade (c)(iii) and mounted within said recess such that it engages the protuberance of the ram block holder (b)(i) on at least one side and engages the recess of the ram block (b)(ii) on at least another side, and an elongate metal supporting plate embedded and adapted to pressingly engage the shearing blade member (c)(iii) when the ram assemblies (b) and (c) are moved to the closed position, a portion of the strip of resilient material being disposed between the elongate metal supporting plate and the edge of the diametrical open side of the ram block (b)(ii) and being adapted to compressingly engage the upper surface of the shearing blade member (c)(iii) when the rams (b) and (c) are moved to the closed position.

Claim 20

The invention of claim 16 wherein, in the downwardly opening substantially longitudinal recess (f) formed on the lower side of the ram block (b)(ii), the wall of the recess (f) nearest the diametrical open side of the ram block (b)(ii) tapers outwardly and downwardly, and the elongate resilient strip member is of a configuration substantially conforming to said recess.

Claim 21

The invention of claim 16 wherein the ram blocks (b)(ii) and (c)(ii) are secured to the ram block holders (b)(i) and (c)(i), respectively by means providing limited lateral movement of the ram blocks relative to the ram block holders such that force may be exerted by the protuberance of the ram block holder (b)(i) against the second seal member (g).