Axially Compressed Ring Patents (Class 277/327)
  • Patent number: 12152458
    Abstract: A packer for a blowout preventer includes an elastomer body and one or more inserts coupled to the elastomer body. At least one insert of the one or more inserts includes an insert body with an elastomer-contacting surface and one or more fixed extensions that extend from the elastomer-contacting surface to engage the elastomer body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2024
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ray Zonoz, Xuming Chen
  • Patent number: 12146377
    Abstract: A technique facilitates reliable operation of a blowout preventer (BOP) system in a wide range of challenging environments. To enable dependable and rapid closing of the internal passageway of the BOP system, an annular closing system is employed. The annular closing system is fully electrically actuated and may comprise a variety of components which cooperate to provide reliable sealing of the internal passageway. Examples of those components comprise a packer which may be compressed inwardly to seal off flow along the interior passage. Additionally, a pusher mechanism is positioned in the annular closing system and is linearly shiftable such that its linear motion causes the packer to be compressed in the radially inward direction. Electrically operated linear actuators are positioned and selectively actuatable to shift the pusher mechanism linearly when causing compression of the packer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2024
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Bruce Boulanger, Gerrit Kroesen
  • Patent number: 12000230
    Abstract: A packer assembly for an annular blowout preventer (BOP) includes an elastomeric sealing packer and multiple inserts that support the elastomeric sealing packer. Each insert of the multiple inserts includes an upper member and an intermediate member that are rotatably coupled to one another. For example, the upper member and the intermediate member are rotatably coupled to one another via a pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Nicolas Arteaga
  • Patent number: 11781398
    Abstract: A rotating control device (RCD) system includes a housing having a bore, a seal element positioned within the housing, a piston assembly supported within the housing and configured to drive the seal element to seal the bore, and a bearing assembly supported within the housing and configured to enable the seal element to rotate relative to the housing. The bearing assembly includes a first bearing section positioned between the housing and the seal element and a second bearing section positioned between a piston of the piston assembly and the seal element. The piston assembly is configured to selectively actuate the seal element into a first configuration, where the seal element extends into the bore and seals with a tubular therein, and a second configuration, where the seal element extends entirely through the bore and seals the bore without a tubular extending therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Harold Tenorio, Vikas Rakhunde, Jon Tyler, Matthew Givens
  • Patent number: 11761287
    Abstract: The present invention relates to sealing elements for blowout preventers comprising a sealing interface region, and a second region, wherein said sealing interface region is formed of a first polymer and said second region is formed of a second polymer, the first and second polymers having different Shore A hardnesses, including sealing elements made of dual hardness polyurethane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: LANXESS Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew P. Burdzy, Thomas Harald Peter
  • Patent number: 11674597
    Abstract: An improved remotely adjustable gland follower for a stuffing box of a rotary or reciprocal mechanical device is provided. In one embodiment of the invention, the gland follower includes a body portion with at least one cylinder having a fluid inlet at the power end and a piston. The piston has a hydraulic end positioned within the cylinder and an opposed packing face surrounding the shaft and configured to extend into the seal cavity. The piston engages and compresses the packing in the seal cavity when pressurized by fluid introduced into the fluid inlet at the power end of the cylinder. At least one o-ring groove may be formed in the hydraulic end of the piston to receive at least one o-ring for improving the hydraulic seal in the cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: SEAL-RYT CORP.
    Inventor: Thomas B. Monahan
  • Patent number: 9388657
    Abstract: A blow-out preventer contains high pressure material within a drill casing. Specifically, an automatic blow-out preventer cuts off communication between a casing and a riser automatically when pressures rise within the casing. More specifically, the blow-out preventer comprises a plurality of curved blades or “petals” that automatically close to seal off casing pressure from riser pressure when pressure rises within the casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Inventor: Clinton D. Nelson
  • Patent number: 9080411
    Abstract: An apparatus for diverting a fluid from a subsea well has a blowout preventer with an upper portion and a lower portion, and a diverter affixed between the upper and lower portions of the blowout preventer. Each of the upper portion and lower portion of the blowout preventer has a flow passageway extending vertically therethrough. The diverter has an interior passageway extending vertically therethrough in alignment with the flow passageway of the upper and lower portions of the blowout preventer. The diverter has a flowline communicating with the interior passageway and extends outwardly therefrom. The flowline has a valve thereon which is movable between an open position and a closed position. The open position is suitable for allowing at least a portion of the fluid from the flow passageway to pass outwardly of the flowline to a location remote from the blowout preventer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: TRENDSETTER ENGINEERING, INC.
    Inventor: Mario R. Lugo
  • Publication number: 20150115535
    Abstract: Embodiments of a seal having a variable elastic modulus are provided herein. In one embodiment, a seal having a variable elastic modulus includes: a body fabricated from an elastomeric material; a channel formed within the body; a tube disposed within the channel, the tube comprising a plurality of interwoven fibers; and an inlet formed in an outer surface of the body, the inlet fluidly coupled to an inner volume of the tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2013
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Deepak Trivedi, Gregory Ronald Gillette, Joseph Alan Incavo
  • Patent number: 8870186
    Abstract: A seal assembly for use with a casing hanger that includes a pair of split rings held together by a threaded fastener. Torqueing the fastener axially compresses one of the rings so that it expands radially inward into sealing engagement with a wall of wellbore casing, and radially outward against an inner wall of a wellhead housing. Support grommets are provided where the fastener enters and exits the compressible ring. Protrusions on a side of the support grommets project into the compressible ring and create a sealing interface between each support grommet and compressible ring. O-rings line inner circumferences of the support grommets to seal between the support grommets and fasteners. A threaded end on a lower end of the fastener has a diameter less than an inner diameter of the O-rings to prevent damaging the O-rings during assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Vetco Gray Inc.
    Inventors: Chau Hoang, Khanh Anh Duong, William Ryan Moore, Karl A. Parfrey, Clayton Griffin
  • Patent number: 8631878
    Abstract: A ring like seal assembly for a wellhead assembly that seals between a pair of coaxial tubulars. The seal assembly includes a spring member for exerting an axial force on the seal. The spring member projects from an end of the seal assembly substantially parallel to the axis of the seal assembly and is compressed when installing the seal assembly between the tubulars. Compressing the spring member maintains an axial force on the seal assembly to keep the seal assembly radially deformed so that it can maintain sealing contact with both coaxial tubulars.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Vetco Gray Inc.
    Inventor: Khanh A. Duong
  • Patent number: 8166993
    Abstract: Blowout preventer (BOP) and method for sealing a well. The BOP includes a body having first and second conduits, the first conduit being substantially perpendicular on the second conduit; a piston extending through the first conduit and being configured to reciprocate inside the first conduit, the piston having a body portion, a neck portion and a head portion in this order; a ram block disposed on the piston and configured to move with the piston inside the first conduit for closing the second conduit; and a shim configured to fill a gap between a back region of the ram block and the body portion of the piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Hydril USA Manufacturing LLC
    Inventor: Leonard Childers
  • Publication number: 20110012311
    Abstract: a seal comprises a metal seal ring with a first slanted mating surface for sealing engagement with a mating surface on a body and a second slanted mating surface for sealing engagement with a mating surface on a bonnet. The mating surfaces are the same angle as measured from the axis of the ram of the BOP. The seal also defines opposing slanting surfaces which provide a degree of flexure to the seal for sealing engagement. With the application of pressure on the inside surfaces of the seal, the mating surfaces are pressed even harder against the mating surfaces of the body and bonnet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2009
    Publication date: January 20, 2011
    Applicant: National Oilwell Varco, Inc.
    Inventor: Perry Lee McClanahan
  • Patent number: 7789161
    Abstract: A seal assembly, for sealing between a stationary conduit and a rotating conduit, comprises an upper gland assembly, a washpipe, and a lower gland assembly. The upper gland assembly is operable to engage the stationary conduit. A washpipe partially disposed within the upper gland assembly. An upper seal member is disposed within the upper gland assembly around a periphery of the washpipe. An upper packing ring is engaged with the upper gland assembly so as to compress the upper seal member into sealing engagement with the washpipe. A lower gland assembly is disposed about the washpipe and operable to engage the rotating conduit. A lower seal member is disposed within the lower gland assembly and is compressed into sealing engagement with the washpipe by a lower packing ring that is engaged with the lower gland assembly. The engagement of the packing rings with their respective gland assemblies is independent of the engagement of the gland assemblies and the conduits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: National Oilwell Varco, L.P.
    Inventors: Andrew Dale Riley, Randall Ferrain Weaver
  • Publication number: 20090072485
    Abstract: A seal includes a seal body configured to form a teardrop shaped seal member upon axial compression of the seal body; a gauge ring in operable communication with the seal body and capable of applying an axial load on the seal body and method
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2007
    Publication date: March 19, 2009
    Applicant: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Sean L. Gaudette, James C. Doane
  • Patent number: 7343968
    Abstract: A coupling seal assembly is described for directing a pressurized abrasive fluid between a non-rotating conduit member and a rotating second conduit member. The seal assembly includes a first ceramic floating seal member secured to the non-rotating conduit member and a second ceramic seal member secured to the rotating conduit member. Enhanced service life of the seal assembly under high pressures and high rotary speeds is achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: Deublin Company
    Inventor: Zbigniew Kubala
  • Patent number: 6425444
    Abstract: A method of providing a downhole seal, such as a packer (12), in a drilled bore between inner tubing (11) and outer tubing (16) comprises: providing an intermediate tubing section (18) defining a seal arrangement for engaging with the inner tubing; and radially plastically deforming the intermediate tubing section downhole to form an annular extension (40a, 40b). The extension creates a sealing contact with the outer tubing (16).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2002
    Assignee: Weatherford/Lamb, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul David Metcalfe, Neil Andrew Abercrombie Simpson
  • Patent number: 6394461
    Abstract: A packing arrangement for a reciprocating pumps, particularly oil well pumps, in which a stuffing box housing contains a pressure chamber, packing seals mounted within the pressure chamber, a pump rod extending through the housing and the packing seals within said pressure chamber in a manner permitting reciprocation of the rod, utilizes pressure amplification feature by which tubing pressure is amplified in an appropriate ratio and applied to the packing seals to insure that they are correctly compressed at all times without producing a binding of the packing seals with the pump rod. Furthermore, the stuffing box is mounted to the well head in a manner which permits a floating self-alignment upon loosening of a few bolts. Additionally, a venturi connection is provided which flushes the underside of the packing area so as to keep it free and clear of debris buildup.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2002
    Inventor: Tom Henderson
  • Patent number: 5851013
    Abstract: A packing element for an annular blowout preventer includes an annular elastomeric body disposed about a longitudinal axis that is adapted to be compressively displaced inwardly towards the axis. A plurality of the metallic inserts are embedded in the body in generally circular fashion spaced apart in respective radial planes extending from the axis for reinforcing the body. Each of the inserts include upper and lower flanges, and a web element extending between the flanges. The web element includes leading and trailing edges, each having outer arcuate surfaces that are substantially semicircular in cross-section for distributing the loads applied to a bond line between the insert and the elastomeric body during the operation of the packing element. A central rib extends between the leading and trailing edges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 22, 1998
    Assignee: Hydril Company
    Inventor: Stephen P. Simons