Visual ram position indicator apparatuses and methods

• US 9,863,549 B2
• Filed: 11/16/2015
• Issued: 01/09/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hydril USA Distribution LLC (GE Aerospace)
• Original Assignee: Hydril USA Distribution LLC (GE Aerospace)
• Inventors: Gustafson, Ryan Cheaney
• Primary Examiner(s): CHAUDRY, ATIF H
• Application Number:
  US14/942,732
• Publication Number:
  US 20160069472A1
• Time in Patent Office: 785 Days
• Field of Search: 116285, 116277, 116284, 137553, 137556, 1375563, 1375566
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 33/062 with sliding rams
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 33/063 for shearing drill pipes cutting of wireline E21B29/04
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 33/064 specially adapted for underwater well heads
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 37/0008 Mechanical means F16K37/0075 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 37/0016 having a graduated scale
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 37/0058 Optical means, e.g. light transmission, observation ports F16K37/0075 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/8158 With indicator, register, recorder, alarm or inspection means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/8225 Position or extent of motion indicator
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/8275 Indicator element rigidly carried by the movable element whose position is indicated
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/8292 Movable indicator element is a pointer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/8309 Pointer integral with handle
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

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.

Claims

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.

2. The ram position indicator apparatus of claim 1, wherein the indicator dial is marked to quantify, as a percentage, a direction pointed at by the dial pointer, which direction is correlated with the current position of the indicator rod, the first position corresponding to 0% and the second position corresponding to 100%.

3. The ram position indicator apparatus of claim 1, wherein the indicator dial is marked to quantify, as a percentage, a direction pointed at by the dial pointer, which direction is correlated with the current position of the indicator rod, the first position being the closed position and corresponding to about 0%, with additional indicator marks in the positive and negative directions for visual indication showing over or under stroke positions.

4. The ram position indicator apparatus of claim 3, wherein the second position is the open position and corresponds to 100%.

5. The ram position indicator apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sealing assembly comprises:

a seal housing configured to fit inside a hole of the end cap, and to surround the indicator rod;

at least one seal configured to seal an interface between the seal housing and the end cap; and

one or more seals configured to seal an interface between the indicating rod and the seal housing, while allowing the indicator rod to rotate.

6. The ram position indicator apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a pin retainer configured to be attached to the tail rod by one or more screws and to hold the one or more pins configured to slide around the one or more helical slots of the indicator rod.

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.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the first sealing assembly comprises:

a first seal housing configured to fit inside the hole of the first end cap, to connect with the first detectable portion, and to surround the first indicator rod;

at least one seal configured to seal an interface between the first seal housing and the first end cap; and

one or more seals configured to seal an interface between the first indicating rod and the first seal housing, while allowing the first indicator rod to slide relative to the first seal housing.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the one or more seals is configured to seal an interface between the first indicating rod and the first seal housing.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the first indicator dial is marked to quantify, as a percentage, a direction pointed at by the first dial pointer, which direction is correlated with the current position of the first indicator rod, the first position corresponding to 0% and the second position corresponding to 100%.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the first indicator dial is marked to quantify, as a percentage, a direction pointed at by the first dial pointer, which direction is correlated with the current position of the first indicator rod, the first position corresponding to about 0%, with additional indicator marks in the positive and negative directions for visual indication showing over or under stroke positions.

12. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

making a hole in the second end cap of the horizontal chamber;

attaching a second indicator rod to the second tail rod which points to the second end cap, the second indicator rod having an end extending outside the second end cap, and rotating between a first position when the first and second rams blocks are in the closed position, and a second position when the first and second ram blocks are in the open position, the second indicator rod having one or more helical slots configured to engage with one or more pins attached to the second tail rod;

attaching a second detectable portion outside the second end cap, the second detectable portion configured to provide a visual indication related to a current position of the second indicator rod; and

inserting a second sealing assembly configured to seal an inside of the second end cap from the environment in which the BOP operates, between the second detectable portion and the second end cap.

13. The method of claim 12, the second detectable portion comprising:

a second dial pointer attached to the end of the second indicator rod that extends outside the second end cap, and configured to point towards different directions; and

a second indicator dial attached to the second end cap and marked to quantify a direction pointed at by the second dial pointer, which direction is correlated with the current position of the second indicator rod.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the second sealing assembly comprises:

a second seal housing configured to fit inside the hole of the second end cap, to connect with the second detectable portion, and to surround the second indicator rod;

at least one seal configured to seal an interface between the second seal housing and the second end cap; and

one or more seals configured to seal an interface between the second indicating rod and the second seal housing, while allowing the second indicator rod to slide relative to the second seal housing.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the one or more seals is configured to seal an interface between the second indicator rod and the second seal housing.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the second indicator dial is marked to quantify, as a percentage, a direction pointed at by the second dial pointer, which direction is correlated with the current position of the second indicator rod, the first position corresponding to 0% and the second position corresponding to 100%.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein the second indicator dial is marked to quantify, as a percentage, a direction pointed at by the second dial pointer, which direction is correlated with the current position of the second indicator rod, the first position corresponding to about 0%, with additional indicator marks in the positive and negative directions for visual indication showing over or under stroke positions.