Skip to main content
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Blowout preventer having a variable ram seal

Patent ·
OSTI ID:6468968

A blowout preventer is disclosed as including a ram-type seal element which can be compressed and deformed to seal around a variety of pipe sizes. The seal element is molded from a resilient rubber material and includes a generally semicircular section to sealingly engage pipes. A plurality of metallic support elements are embedded in the seal to support the rubber material for deformation essentially only in a radial inward direction to conform to the drill string pipe size, when force is applied to the seal by the ram hydraulic system.

Assignee:
N L Industries Inc
Patent Number(s):
US 4332367
OSTI ID:
6468968
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English