US2969838A - Combination shearing and shut-off ram - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 31, 1961 A. E. WILDE 2,969,838

COMBINATION SHEARING AND SHUT-OFF RAM Filed July 23, 1956 r 46 57 kQ 4045 3w 4 l2 /0 IN VEN TOR, ARTHUR E. W/LDE BY I . 4//rne y COMBINATION SHEARING AND SHUT-OFF RAM Arthur E. Wilde, Big Bear Lake, Califi, assignor to Shaffer Tool Works, Brea, Calif., a corporation of California Filed July 23, 1956, Ser. No. 599,620

13 Claims. (Cl. 166-55) This invention relates generally to well drilling equipment and relates more particularly to blowout preventers such as are used in the drilling of oil wells and the like.

There are situations where it is desirable or necessary to cut a drill string and this is sometimes diflicult or hazardous, particularly in off-shore drilling operations and sometimes other complications, well known to those wherewith the string may be cut and. a complete shut-off effected.

A further object of the invention is to provide a combination shearing and complete shut-off ram arrangement in blowout preventers or control gates.

A still further object of the invention is to provide apparatus of this character that is relatively simple in construction and effective in operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide apparatus of this character that is relatively inexpensive to manufacture and install.

The characteristics and advantages of the invention are further sufficiently referred to in connection with the following detailed description of the accompanying drawings which represent a preferred embodiment. After considering this example, skilled persons will understand that variations may be made without departing from the principles disclosed, and I contemplate the employment of any structures, arrangements or modes of operation that are properly within the scope of the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side view of a double control gate with portions broken away to show the interior construction; and Fig. 2 is a perspective of both rams of the apparatus.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, there is shown a hydraulic double cellar control gate of known construction such as shown in the 1956 General Catalog of Shaffer Tool Works, page 4530. A brief description of this structure is therefore believed to be suflicient. This control gate has a body with a vertical bore 12 therethrough. There are the usual ram compartments,

.the upper being indicated at 14 and the lower being indicated at 15. The upper compartments are oppositely arranged in the usual manner and are normal to the axis of the bore 12. The rams for the upper compartthe usual hydraulic mechanism, not shown, for actuating these rams.

The lower ram chambers 15 are oppositely arranged and are also normal to the axis of the bore 12. -The States Patent 6 'side of the ram block 34. It is to be noted, however, that the rubber portions extend upwardly of the plane of "the top side of the block 34 and forwardly thereof, a

construction known in the art. There is an opening ice rams for said chambers are shown in Fig. 2 and are indicated generally at 20 and 22 respectively.

The ram 20 comprises a ram block holder 26 of generally semicircular shape. At the back or outer end there is an extension 27 of arcuate shape in which is provided an arcuate slot 28 having upwardly and downwardly extending arcuate grooves 29 at the inner end thereof, said slot and grooves being open at the end for reception of the T head 30 of a piston rod ram shaft 3-1 of the piston, not shown, which actuates said ram. The upper surface of the ram block holder 26 is provided with a semicircular recess 3-3 for reception of a ram block 34 and ram rubber therefor, the latter being indicated generally at 35. The ram block holder 26 has a lug 26a of known character at each side slidably engageabie with the respective side walls of the respective ram compartments or chambers to prevent tilting of said rams in a horizontal plane and operably guide them in said chambers. There are also the usual side skids 26b on the sides of the ram chambers which also aid in guiding the rams inwardly and outwardly in said chambers.

Ram block 34 is semicircular in shape and is provided in the bottom edge portion of the straight side with a recess 36 which extends the length of said straight side, there being an upward extension 37 of said recess. Ram rubber 35 comprises a semicircular part 38 about the back or curved portion of the ram block 34 and a diametrical portion 39' which fills the recess 36 and extension 37. The plane of the under side of the portions 38 and 39 of the ram rubbers is the same as the plane of the under through the block adjacent the rear thereof for reception of a ram block retracting screw, 40, there being an enlarged cylindrical upper end portion 41 of said bore for reception of the cylindrical head 42 of said screw. The screw is of the usual well known type and serves to attach the ram block and rubber therefor to the ram block holder 26 in the usual well known manner, said ram block holder having a tapped opening therein aligned with the bore for the screw and threadably receiving said screw. It is to be understood that the rubber is secured to the ram block in the usual manner, such as, for example, by

bonding.

At the straight side the ram block holder 26 is provided with a recess 45 which extends from said straight side inwardly and in the upper portion of the holder so that said recess is open at said straight side and also'open upwardly into the recess 33. Within the recess 45 is secured a shearing blade 46. Adjacent the rear of the blade 46 is a bore for reception of a mounting screw 47 which has an enlarged cylindrical head 48 received within a cylindrical counterbore of the bore for said screw.

The head is completely received within the counterbore and the lower end of the screw is threadably received in a tapped opening provided therefor in the ram block holder. Beneath the shearing blade a recess 50 is provided in the ram block holder to provide clearance for the shearing blade of the opposite ram. It is to be noted that the recess 50 does not extend the full distance across the straight face of the ram block holder so that there are shoulders 51 at the ends for supporting the ends of the shearing blade 46.

Ram 22 comprises a ram block holder 60 of generally the same shape as the ram block holder of the ram 20. Ram block holder 60 includes extension 27 having the slot 28 with the upwardly and downwardly extending groove 29 at the inner or bottom end of said slot. The slot and grooves are open at the ends for reception of the T head 30 of piston rod ram shaft 31 of the piston, not shown,

which actuates' said ram 22. The upper surface of the ram block holder 60 is provided with a semicirciilar 'r'ec'ess 3.3 for reception of a ram block 34 and ram rubber therefor, the latter being indicated generally at 35.

The ram block '34 and rubber-'35 therefor are of"the same structure andshapeas the corresponding parts of the ram 20 and are'similarly secured in the ram block holder 60.

said enlarged portion of the screw receiving opening.

The rams '20 and 22 are installed in the chamberI S provided therefor in the body 10. The bottom portion of the ram chamber 15 is recessed at 65 and said recesses are deeply sloped downwardly toward the borefor drainage, as is" well known, the rams being supported on guide "ribs 66.

The shearing blade 46 does not project forwardly of the straight side of the ram block holder 26 of the ram 20. However; the shearing blade 63 of the ram 22 projects forwardly of the straight side 'of'theram blockholder '60 and iti's to be noted that the extended portion ofthe blade 63 eirtends'outwardly a greater distance at one end than "at'the otherend. "Also, the blade 63 has its outer forward'*face in'clined downwardly and rearwardly sdthat the cutting"'edge' at the upper side of the blade leads" the rest'of the a'de, The cutting edge 67 is 'in about the of 'theblade 63 being received in the recess50 when the rams 'are'in the closed position.

"When it is"desired to cut a string or pipe in the bore '12 the rams 20-and 2Z are hydraulically movedto -the closed position by the usual well known hydraulic mechanism. "As the rams -close on the pipe the latteriscrushed and-then sheared by'the'blades 46 and 63. 'The tension on the string will force-the pipe upwardly when the shearing has been completed and the rams will move to the -fully closed positioni'a'nd effect a complete shut-ofi.

, It is thought tha't" the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing descrip tion and it-is thought that it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and ar- 'rang'em'ent of the parts of the invention and the method of operation thereof w ithout departing from the spirit and scope thereof or sacrificing allof its material advantages, the embodiment hereinbefore described being merely a 1 preferred one.

I claim: i 1. In a control gate a body having a bore therethrough for reception of a :wellstring and oppositely arranged ram chambers in a :plane normal to said bore; aram in each of said chambers, one of'said rams comprising a ram blockholder of semicircular shape and having a semicircular recess in the upperside, extendingrearw-ardly from the-inner diametrical, straight open side thereofand having-a substantially horizontal bottom and'a semicircular vertical wall; a sem-icircular ram-block having==-a recess at the lower corner of the straight side, said rec'ess including an offset portion; a complete shut-off rubber on said ram block, said rnbberwincluding aportion in' said raniblock recess-and offset and a portiona aroundethe semicircularportionofthe razrn'block, said ramblock and rubber beingoperably securedinsaid recess 'of the ram block holder with the upper edge portion-of'the arcuate portion of therubber upstanding above the topsurface'of the ram block'holder and the "forward edge portionofthe straight side of said rubber extending forwardly of the "straightside'of 'said' ram block holder and ram block; said ram block holder having a further recess in the bottom of the first mentioned recess, said further recess being 5 at the straight side of the ram block holder and having closed ends; a shearing blade removably secured in said further recess and havingits'outer side in substantially the same plane as the straight side of said ram blockholder, said rambloclholder having a clearance recess beneath it! -said' 'shearing 'blade;said clearance recess being shorter ithan'the blade'recess andhaving the ends thereof closed; the other ram comprising a semicircular ram block holder having a semicircular recess in the upper side extending rearwardly' from'the diametrical straight open side thereof and having a horizontal bottom Wall and a semicircular vertical wall; a ram block and complete shutoff rubber therefor, corresponding to ram block and rubber therefor of said one ram, operably secured in said recess; the ram block holder of said other ram having a blade receiving re'cess in 'the lower edge portion of the straight side 'thereof; a blade removably secured in said recess, said blade having a portion projecting forwardly of the straight side of the rain block holder of said other ram and taper- ."ir'ig from one end'toward the other, said blade also taper- 'ing from the upper free edge downwardly and rearwardly, the planes of the adjacent sides of said blades being such "th'atthe adjacent edges of said blades operably cooperate "for shearing action when said rams are moved to the a closed position, the projecting portion of the blade of said "oth'er"ra'm being received in said clearance recess when "sa'id'fanis'ar'e closed; and means for actuating said rains toward and away from each other in the chambers thereof. :2.; n'f-a"control;gate: a body having a bore theremreng 'forre c'eption of a well string and oppositely/ ar- V ranged chambers in a-plane normal to said bore; a rain "bperably' disposed in each of said chambers-and "aaapte'dto be actuated between open and closed-positions, one of said rams comprising a'ram block holder of 40 seniic'ircularshape and-having a semicircular recess in the upper'side, extending rearwardly from the inner diametrical, ropenside thereof, said recess having a substan- "tiallyhorizontalbottom and a semicircular vertical wall; aser'nicircular ram block having a recess at the lower corner of the straight side; a complete shut-01f rubber fonsaid 'raintbloch 'said rubber including a portionwin said rarriblockrecess anda portion around the semicircular portion ofthe ram block, said ram block and ."russeisein ,operably secured in said recess of the ram block holder with the upper edge portion of the arcuate portion of the rubber upstanding above the top sur- "face'of'the ram block holder and the forward edge portion'bf'the straight side of said rubber extending forwardly bf the straight side of said ram block holder and ram block; said ram block holder having a further ff'c'celss' 'in"the bottom 'of the first mentioned recess, said "'fiirtliefrece's's being open at the straight side of the ram block holder and having closed ends; a shearing blade se. ctiredin saidfurther recess and having its outer sidein sul5s tantially the same plane as the straight side of said ram block "holder, said ram block holder having a clearance recess beneath said shearing blade, said o'learance"rece'ss beingopedat the straight side of said ram *blo'ckf" holdenand shorter than the blade recess, the e'ndsbf 'said clearance"recess being closed;the otherram comprising 'aSeihicir'crilar ram block holder having a emicircuIar recess in the upper side extending rear- -wardlyfrom the diametrical straight open sidethere'of land having: a horizontal'bottom wall and a semicircular 'vertical c-wallr aram block. and complete shut-ofi rubber thereforg -corresponding to ram block and rubber therefor ass-said one ram; operably secured in said recess; -the ram block holder of said other ram having a blade refceivingre'cess in the lower edge portion of the straight aside thereof; and a blade secured in said recess,-'-said aeeasas blade having a portion projecting forwardly of the straight side of the ram block holder of said other ram and tapering from one end toward the other, said blades cooperating for shearing action when said rams are moved to the closed position, the projecting portion of the blade of said other ram being received in said clearance recess when said rams are closed.

3. In a control gate: a body having a bore therethrough for reception of a well string and oppositely arranged ram chambers in a plane, normal to said bore; complete shut-off rams operably mounted in said chambers, each of said rams including a ram block holder of semicircular shape and having a semicircular recess in the upper side, extending rearwardly from the inner diametrical, open side thereof and having a substantially horizontal bottom and a semicircular vertical wall; a semicircular ram block having a recess at the lower corner of the straight side; a complete shut-off rubber on said ram block, said rubber including a portion in said ram block recess and a portion around the semicircular portion of the ram block, said ram block and rubber being operably secured in said recess of the ram block holder with the upper edge portion of the arcuate portion of the rubber upstanding above the top surface of the ram block holder and the forward edge portion of the diametrical side of said rubber extending forwardly of the diametrical side of said ram block holder and ram block; one of said ram block holders having a further recess in the bottom of the first mentioned recess, said further recess being open at the diametrical side of the ram block holder and having closed ends; a shearing blade removably secured in said further recess and having its outer side substantially the diametrical side of said ram block holder, said ram block holder having a clearance recess open at the diametrical side of said holder and beneath said shearing blade, said clearance recess being shorter than the blade recess and having the ends thereof closed; the other ram including a ram block holder having a blade receiving recess in the lower edge portion of the diametrical side; and a blade removably secured in said recess, said blade having a portion projecting forwardly of the diametrical side of the ram block holder of said other ram tapering from one end toward the other, said blades being adapted to operably cooperate for shearing action when said rams are moved to the closed position, the projecting portion of the blade of said other ram being received in said clearance recess when said rams are closed.

4. In a control gate: a body having a bore therethrough for reception of a well string and oppositely arranged ram chambers in a plane normal to said bore; a complete ram in each of said chambers, said rams being adapted to be actuated between open and closed positions, said rams each including a ram block holder of generally semicircular shape, one of said holders having a shear blade receiving recess open at the straight side of said ram block holder and having closed ends; a shearing blade removably secured in said recess and having its outer side in substantially the same plane as the straight side of said ram block holder, said ram block holder having a clearance recess beneath said shearing blade; the other ram block holder having a blade receiving recess in the lower edge portion of the straight side thereof in line with said clearance recess; a blade removably secured in said recess of the other ram block holder, said blade having a portion projecting forwardly of the straight side of the ram block holder of said other ram and tapering from one end toward the other, said blades being arranged so that the adjacent edges thereof cooperate for shearing action when said rams are moved to the closed position, the projecting portion of the blade of said other ram being received in said clearance recess when said rams are closed.

5. A complete shut-off ram for control gates, comprising: a ram block holder of semicircular shape and having a semicircular recess in the upper side, extending rear-,

wardly from the diametrical, straight open side thereof and having a bottom parallel to the sides of said holder, and a semicircular vertical wall; a semicircular'ram block having a recess at the lower corner of the straight side, said recess including an offset portion; a complete shutoff rubber on said ram block, said rubber including a portion in said ram block recess and ofiset and a portion around the semicircular portion of the ram block, said ram block and rubber being operably secured in said recess of the ram block holder with the upper edge portion of the arcuate portion of the rubber upstanding above the top surface of the ram block holder and the forward edge portion of the straight side of said rubber extending forwardly of the straight side of said ram block holder and ram block; said ram block holder having a further recess in the bottom of the first mentioned recess, said further recess being at'the'straight side of the ram block holder and having closed ends; and a shearing blade removably secured in said further recess and having its outer side in substantially the same plane as the straight side of said ram block holder, said ram block holder having a clearance recess beneath said shearing blade, said clearance recess being shorter than the blade recess and having the ends thereof closed.

6. A complete shut-off ram for control gates, comprising: a semicircular ram block holder having a semicircular recess therein having a horizontal bottom wall and a semicircular vertical wall; a ram block and complete shut-01f rubber therefor disposed in said recess; means securing said ram block and rubber therefor in said recess; said ram block holder having a blade receiving recess in the lower edge portion of the straight side thereof; and a blade secured in said recess, said blade having a portion projecting outwardly'of the straight side of the ram block holder and tapering from one end toward the other, said blade also tapering from the upper free edge downwardly and rearwardly.

7. In a complete shut-off ram for control gates: a ram block holder of semicircular shape having a blade receiving recess at the straight side of the ram block holder and a seal receiving recess opening at said straight side; a sealing element secured in the latter recess; and a shearing blade secured in said blade receiving recess, said ram block holder having a clearance recess beneath said shearing blade.

8. In a complete shut-off ram for control gates: a ram block holder of semicircular shape, said ram block holder having a blade receiving recess in the lower edge portion of the straight side thereof and a sealing element receiving recess opening at said straight side; a sealing element secured in the latter recess; and a blade removably secured in the first mentioned recess, said blade having a portion projecting forwardly of the straight side of the ram block holder and tapering from one end toward the other.

9. In a control gate: a body having a bore therethrough for reception of a well string and oppositely arranged ram chambers in a plane normal to said bore; a complete shutoff ram slidably disposed in each of said chambers adapted to be actuated away from and toward each other between open and closed positions, said rams each including a ram block holder of semicircular shape, one of said ram block holders having a cutting edge at the straight side thereof, and the other ram block holder having a shearing blade projecting ahead of the straight side thereof and cooperating with the cutting edge of said one ram block holder for shearing action when the rams are moved to the closed position; and sealing means carried by each of said rams at their adjacent sides.

10. In a control gate: a body having a bore therethrough for reception of a well string and oppositely arranged rarn chambers in a plane normal to said bore; a shutoff ram slidably disposed in each of said chambers adapted to be actuated between open and closed positions, said rams each including a ram block holder of '7 semibirhlarslrape, one of said ram block holders having ar-shearing b1ade'-atathestraight side thereof, the cutting edge'of said-blade being substa'ntiallyinthefplane of said" strai'ght side of- -saidbne ram block holder, and

-theother ram block holder having a cooperating 'shear- 1 slidably disposed'ineach'of-the upper chambers adaptedto be actuated toward and away from each other between closed and open positions; at complete shutoff rarn operably disposed in each of the lowercharnbers' and adapted to be actuated between open and-closed positions, said rams each including airarn block holder having a shearing blade at the inner-side thereof and the other'ram block holder having arcooperating shearing blade," said blades cooperating for shearingflaction When' said trams are moved 'to the closed positionyandsealing means carried by said rams at their adjacent sides.

12. In a control gate:-a body. having a bore therethrough for reception of a'well' string and oppositely arranged ram chambersin'a plane normal to said bore; L-a complete shut-oii :ram 1 operably disposed- :in= each-of 'said chambers and adapted to*be1 actuated between open 'and closed positions,- said rams -r each including a ram blo'ck holder of semicircular shape, one ofmsaid': ram 'block" holders having ashearing bladez'at the straightside thereof having' a straight "cutting edge, the I other. ram

1 block holder having acooperating shearing blade :in a parallel plane oifs'et from the plane of the blade of said one ram block holder, the second rnentioned shearing blade having a straight cutting edge-and the cutti-ng' edges of said blades being along leading adjacent edges of said blades and being inclined'relative'to-each other-for cooperative shearingaction when'said rams are movcd to the closed pos'ition; and sealing means carriedwby said r'a'rns at their straight sides.

13.-'A"-ram for-control gates including: a ram block holder having aniinwardly-iacing straight side; a shearing blade secured to said holder andhaving a shearing edge disposed generally along said straight side; anda deformables'ealing element =secured to said-holder, said seating element having a straight sealing surface disposed generally along-the length of said straight side, said shearing blade and-said straight'sealing surface being ofiset vertically from each other along said straight side and with said shearing edge projecting beyond saidstraight sealing surface of said sealing element.

R'efe'rence's Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 369,872 Olsen et a1.- Sept. 13, 1887 1,106,026 Barber Aug. 4, 1914 1,802,564 Lacey Apr. 28, 1931 1,802,732 Muller .Apr. 28, 1931 1,875,673 sto'ckstill e Sept. 6', 1932 1,949,672 :Barrier Mar 6, 1934 2',052,939 Otis- Sept. 1, 1936 2,398,840 Mo'rin -'-Apr.-- 23, 1946 2,631,609 Schweitzer "-Mar. 17, 1953 2,919,111 Nicolson t. -Dec. 29, 1959

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