Visual ram position indicator apparatuses and methods
First Claim
1. An apparatus for providing a visual indication outside a ram blowout preventer (BOP), the apparatus comprising:
- an indicator rod having an end extending outside an end cap of the BOP and exposed to fluid pressure of the environment outside the BOP, the indicator rod configured to engage with a tail rod inside the BOP, and to rotate between a first position when the BOP is in an open state, and a second position when the BOP is in a closed state, the indicator rod having one or more helical slots configured to engage with one or more pins attached to the tail rod;
a dial pointer attached to the end of the indicator rod which extends outside the end cap, and configured to point towards different directions;
an indicator dial attached to the end cap and marked to quantify a direction pointed at by the dial pointer, which direction is correlated with the current position of the indicator rod; and
a sealing assembly configured to seal a space inside the end cap from an environment in which the BOP operates.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatuses for providing a visual indication outside a blowout preventer (BOP) relative to a position of ram blocks inside the BOP, and methods of adding such apparatuses to existing blowout preventers are provided. An apparatus has an indicator rod, a detectable portion and a sealing assembly. The indicator rod has an end extending outside an end cap of the BOP, and is configured to engage with a tail rod of a ram block of the BOP, and to switch between a first position when the BOP is in a close state, and a second position when the BOP is in an open state. The detectable portion is located outside the end cap and is configured to provide a visual indication relative to a current position of the indicator rod. The sealing assembly is configured to seal a space inside the end cap from an environment in which the BOP operates.
13 Citations
17 Claims
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1. An apparatus for providing a visual indication outside a ram blowout preventer (BOP), the apparatus comprising:
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an indicator rod having an end extending outside an end cap of the BOP and exposed to fluid pressure of the environment outside the BOP, the indicator rod configured to engage with a tail rod inside the BOP, and to rotate between a first position when the BOP is in an open state, and a second position when the BOP is in a closed state, the indicator rod having one or more helical slots configured to engage with one or more pins attached to the tail rod; a dial pointer attached to the end of the indicator rod which extends outside the end cap, and configured to point towards different directions; an indicator dial attached to the end cap and marked to quantify a direction pointed at by the dial pointer, which direction is correlated with the current position of the indicator rod; and a sealing assembly configured to seal a space inside the end cap from an environment in which the BOP operates. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method of adding a ram position indicator apparatus to a ram BOP having
(i) a BOP body with a vertical chamber aligned with a riser and a horizontal chamber substantially perpendicular to and intersecting the vertical chamber, (ii) first and second ram blocks configured to move along the horizontal chamber between respective open positions when the ram blocks are outside the vertical chamber, and respective closed positions when the ram blocks are face-to-face inside the vertical chamber, thereby severing a fluid flow passing therethrough, and (iii) first and second tail rods attached respectively to each of the first and second ram blocks on opposite sides of the vertical chamber, and pointing towards respective first and second end caps of the horizontal chamber, the method comprising: -
(a) making a hole in a first end cap of the horizontal chamber; (b) attaching a first indicator rod to the first tail rod pointing to the first end cap, the first indicator rod having an end extending outside the first end cap and exposed to fluid pressure of the environment outside the BOP, the first indicator rod rotating between a first position when the first ram block is in an open position, and a second position when the first ram block is in a closed position, the first indicator rod having one or more helical slots configured to engage with corresponding one or more pins attached to the first tail rod; (c) attaching a first detectable portion outside the first end cap, the first detectable portion being configured to provide a visual indication related to a current position of the first indicator rod, the first detectable portion comprising; a first dial pointer attached to the end of the first indicator rod that extends outside the first end cap, and configured to point towards different directions; and
a first indicator dial attached to the first end cap and marked to quantify a direction pointed at by the first dial pointer, which direction is correlated with the current position of the first indicator rod; and(d) inserting a first sealing assembly configured to seal an inside of the first end cap from an environment in which the BOP operates, between the first detectable portion and the first end cap. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification