Abstract: A housing has a cage with supply fluid ports, vent ports and an outlet port. A pilot actuated hollow spool valve element is telescopically movable in the cage and engages poppet seats at opposite ends of the cage. Elongated supply and vent slots directed transversely to the axis of the cage and valve element provide maximum flow passages. The ends of the spool are in contact with the cage at all times and the axial extent of the contact between the spool and the cage is greater than fifty percent. The spool engages the interior of the cage at the fluid ports and vent ports for reducing flow restrictions. A recess coaxially positioned at each end of the cage receives one of the valve seats. The housing abuts the cage for properly loading the valve seats. A dash pot cushions the valve element. A pilot control stem is connected to the valve element exteriorly of the valve element. A seal carrier provides a seal between mating surfaces of an underwater control pod.

Abstract: A fail-safe system for use on a hydraulic piloted pressure reducing and regulating valve for holding the valve at the last selected operating pressure in the event of loss of control signals. A pressure regulating valve having a body and a control piston therein is provided with a pilot piston in the body which is adapted to be connected to and responsive to a hydraulic signal pilot pressure. A segmented locking ring surrounds the assembly and coacting concentric V-shaped locking grooves are provided between the locking ring and the assembly for locking the assembly. The segmented ring is biased towards an unlocked position. An annular cam ring engages the exterior of the locking ring. Coacting wedge surfaces between the cam ring and the locking ring are provided for locking and releasing the locking ring. The cam ring is biased for urging the coacting wedge surfaces into engagement.

Abstract: A hydraulic piloted pressure reducing and regulating valve which is fail safe for holding the valve at the last selected operating pressure in the event of the loss of control signals. A pressure regulating valve having a body and a control piston therein is provided with a pilot piston in the body which is adapted to be connected to a hydraulic pilot pressure. A spring is provided between the pilot piston and the control piston whereby the control piston can move in response to flow demands in the valve. A rod is connected to the pilot piston with a locking sleeve engaging the rod and releasably locking the rod and pilot piston against movement. A hydraulic pressure port is in communication with the space between the rod and the sleeve for releasing the rod upon application of pressure to the port. The port and the pilot piston are separately connected to a hydraulic fluid supply and a control system whereby upon failure the valve will maintain the last selected operating pressure.

Abstract: A pressure reducing and regulating valve which is operated to move a seal container between an inlet, outlet and vent port in response to fluid pressure. One feature allows the valve to be mounted on a subplate in which both the inlet pressure and the outlet pressure pass through a porting plate which provides a hold down force to compensate for the forces acting to separate the porting plate from the subplate mounting and thus prevent seal extrusion. Another feature of the present invention is the provision of force flow compensating holes which reduce hammering or chattering of the regulating valve.

Abstract: A seal for use in an underwater connector having first and second mating members each of which has a coacting mating surface with a plurality of fluid passageways for mating with the passageways of the other member. The seal is a resilient tubular member having threads on a portion of its outer diameter for connection to a passageway on one of the members. The seal includes a fluid sealing surface on its outer end for mating with the other member and the seal includes a fluid sealing surface on its inner end for sealing with the one member. The sealing point of the sealing surface on the outer end has a diameter at least as great as the diameter of the sealing point of the sealing surface on the inner end. The sealing surface on the inner end is formed by an O-ring seal in a groove in the annular resilient seal. The sealing surface on the outer end includes a ridge.

Abstract: A gas-liquid spherical accumulator which includes a spherical integral cast metal housing having top and bottom ports. The top port is adapted to receive a gas valve and the bottom port releasably supports a circular valve seat. A vertical guide rod is connected to the valve seat and extends upwardly in the housing. A generally cylindrical solid float is slidably mounted on the rod. The float has a rounded valve element on the bottom for seating on the valve seat closing off the bottom port. The diameter of the float is less than the diameter of the bottom port whereby the float may be removed through the port. A resilient coating is bonded on the valve seat or the valve element and preferably includes a circular ring projecting outwardly. The valve seat tapers downwardly and inwardly. A seal is positioned on the guide rod for engaging the bottom of the float for preventing gas escape. The rod, float and valve seat may be replaced with a bladder and poppet valve.

Abstract: A pressure reducing and regulating valve having a body with a body cavity and a seal container movable in the cavity. The container includes primary and vent seals. At least one flow plate is positioned in the body adjacent the container and includes primary, secondary and vent ports. The improved seal container has the primary and vent seals positioned in the container on opposite sides of the central axis of the container, allowing the container and thus the body to be of a smaller size, thereby reducing the pressure forces applied against the interior of the body. The primary and vent seals are spaced on opposite sides of the central axis at locations for reducing the side loading forces acting around the central axis as the container is moved.

Abstract: In a hydraulic subsea control system having two separate redundant subsea control pods in which each pod is supplied with a hydraulic power supply line and a plurality of fluid control lines by surface controls. The improvement in means for alternately connecting and disconnecting the fluid control lines to each pod. Coacting quick disconnect couplings having first and second portions are positioned between the surface controls and each of the sets of fluid control lines to each pod. Each coupling portion includes a valve whereby when the first and second portions are engaged the valves permit fluid flow and when they are disengaged shut off fluid flow. First and second junction plates are connected between the surface controls and the connected fluid control lines and a hydraulic cylinder and piston assembly is connected between the first and second plates for alternately connecting and disconnecting the couplings to each pod whereby the two pods are controlled separately, but redundantly.

Abstract: A safety apparatus for preventing the traveling block of a drilling rig from being drawn into the top of the rig and also for preventing the traveling block from falling downwardly below a predetermined bottom position. A high position limiting valve has an air inlet and an air outlet with a valve stem providing communication between the inlet and the outlet when a predetermined amount of cable is spooled onto the drum. A low position limiting valve has an air inlet and an air outlet with a stem yieldably urged at all times into engagement with the cable for actuation and providing communication between the inlet and the outlet when a predetermined amount of cable is spooled off of the drum. An air supply is connected to the inlets of the valve and the outlets of the valves supply air to stop the actuation of the cable drum. The longitudinal axis of the valves are positioned generally perpendicular to the surface of the cable drum and their stems are longitudinally movable.

Abstract: A hose clamp for supporting a vertically extending control line or hose from a position above water to subsea equipment below the water from a vertically extending vertical support such as a wire cable. The clamp includes a circular body with semi-circular halves pivotally connected at one side and having coacting locking means at their second sides for encircling the control line. The interior of the body includes a plurality of projections, preferably a plurality of vertically spaced circular rows of arcuate projections. The hose includes matching and coacting recesses on the exterior of the hose for mating with the projections on the body when the clamp is locked on the hose. Preferably, the recesses are formed by placing a heated clamp mold around the control line having heated projections similar to the projections on the body which will form the recesses by melting the exterior of the lines.

Abstract: An underwater connector for interconnecting a plurality of fluid power and control lines for controlling and actuating underwater equipment. The connector includes one or more members adapted to be positioned underwater some each of which includes a vertically positioned flat surface with a plurality of fluid passageways terminating at the flat surfaces of the members. Another member is adapted to engage and disengage from underwater members and also includes one or more vertically positioned flat surface for mating with the flat surfaces of the underwater members and includes a plurality of passageways terminating at the other member flat surface for sealingly mating with the passageways of the underwater members. Coacting cam means are provided between the underwater members and the retrievable member for horizontally moving the underwater members into a sealing relationship with the retrievable member as they move vertically together.

Abstract: A pressure reducing and regulating valve having a container with a plurality of openings for moving between first and second flow plates having a plurality of inlet ports and a plurality of outlet ports for providing multiple flow paths through the valve for providing maximum flow with a short regulating stroke. The valve may be actuated by a combination of a manual screw adjustment and/or a powered operated overdrive which utilize drive gear to provide a failsafe operation as the power overdrive maintains the regulated pressure even if the pilot source fails. Valve means and stop means control the extent of travel of the adjustment screw. An integral pilot operated bypass valve may be utilized for remotely controlling the actuation of the valve.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of compensating for the closing force on a blowout preventer caused by well pressure for reducing the wear on the blowout preventer sealing element when moving a drill string through a closed blowout preventer. A hydraulic opening force is applied to the blowout preventer which is actuated by and is proportional to the well pressure. A compensating line is connected between the blowout preventer fluid supply line and the blowout preventer opening line. A control valve is provided in the compensating lines for applying an opening force on the blowout preventer and a pilot control pressure regulator is provided in the compensating line for limiting the compensating pressure. The pilot control line is connected between the regulator and the well pressure in the blowout preventer whereby the output pressure is proportional to the well pressure for compensating for the closing force on the blowout preventer caused by the well pressure.

Abstract: An underwater fluid connector for interconnecting a plurality of fluid lines. A first male member or plurality of members are adapted to be positioned underwater including at least one upright position flat side with a plurality of fluid passageways terminating at said side. An inverted U-shaped retrievable female member having first and second flat interior faces and adapted to engage and disengage from the first member wherein the faces are positioned for alignment with but spaced from the first member flat side when engaged for providing a venting space therebetween and having a plurality of passageways terminating at the interior faces for axial alignment with the first member passageways. A metal valve seat is releasably connected to the first member flat sides about each of the first member passageways. A valve is positioned in each of the second member passageways having a movable element, a hydraulic supply port, and a pilot actuator connected to the valve element.

Abstract: A control and recorder system for a blowout preventer for providing a record of operation and status of the various components of the blowout control system at periodic times and after a function operation. The system monitors various functions such as whether the accumulator pump is running, the open and close status of the various rams, bypass, annular, flow line, kill line and choke line as well as various pressures, such as in the annular, the accumulator and the manifold, flow measurements of various fluids in the system and provides alarms for various parameter values. Control and status information may be transmitted through fiber optic cables between various control stations at the rig floor, accumulators and remote locations for avoiding interference by electrical noises or radio frequencies and providing a safety link through hazardous gas areas.

Abstract: An underwater connector for interconnecting a plurality of fluid power and control lines for controlling and actuating underwater equipment. The connector includes one or more members adapted to be positioned underwater some each of which includes a vertically positioned flat surface with a plurality of fluid passageways terminating at the flat surfaces of the members. Another member is adapted to engage and disengage from underwater members and also includes one or more vertically positioned flat surface for mating with the flat surfaces of the underwater members and includes a plurality of passageways terminating at the other member flat surface for sealingly mating with the passageways of the underwater members. Coacting cam means are provided between the underwater members and the retrievable member for horizontally moving the underwater members into a sealing relationship with the retrievable member as they move vertically together.

Abstract: A guided-float accumulator suitable for use with a hydraulic system for an oil well blowout preventer is provided with a wing shut-off valve. Radially inwardly directed outlet parts are aimed at the bottom of the valve wing to generate unbalanced reaction forces which oppose the bernoulli effect forces caused by rapid movement of fluid through the chamber of the shut-off valve, thus preventing premature closing of the valve.

Abstract: A guided-float accumulator suitable for use with a hydraulic system for an oil well blowout preventer is provided with a vented float movable along a transversely centered, normally vertical guide rod according to the level of the liquid fill within the vessel. The vent outlet for the float and a ballast weight for the float are positioned on opposite sides of the guide rod and the float is mounted for free turning around the guide rod. Whatever the degree of liquid fill of the vessel, sidewise tilting of the vessel will be accompained by rotation of the vent outlet to the then-high side of the guide rod to maintain the float directly vented to the ullage space of the vessel.

Abstract: A guided-float accumulator suitable for use with a hydraulic system for an oil well blowout preventer utilizes an array of float elements of syntactic foam material. The float elements are sequentially inserted into the pressure vessel which forms the accumulator proper, and are then manipulated from the exterior of the vessel to be interlocked into a float array.