The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 22, 1998
Filed:
Jul. 03, 1997
Stephen P Simons, Kingwood, TX (US);
Hydril Company, Houston, TX (US);
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. The rib is thinner than the edges so that the web element exhibits a substantially dumbbell shaped cross section, somewhat similar to an I-beam construction, for efficient reinforcement of the elastomeric body. The shape of the web element increases the volume of the elastomeric body and decreases the volume of the metallic inserts in the packing element to reduce the loads applied to the bond line between the insert and elastomeric body.