IP Library Granted Patent US 7,721,401
Granted Patent B2
US 7,721,401 · App. 11/528,873 · Granted May 25, 2010

Reinforcement of irregular pressure vessels

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,721,401
App. No.
11/528,873
Granted
May 25, 2010
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method of manufacturing a ram blowout preventer including analyzing a first model of a ram blowout preventer, identifying regions of high stress concentrations in the first model at a selected loading condition, constructing the ram blowout preventer, and selectively reinforcing the regions of high stress concentration corresponding to the manufactured ram blowout preventer. Other embodiments include a method to reinforce an irregular pressure vessel, including analyzing the irregular pressure vessel, identifying regions of high stress concentration in the irregular pressure vessel, and selectively reinforcing the regions of high stress concentration. Other embodiments include a ram blowout preventer having a body, a vertical bore through the body, a horizontal through the body intersecting the vertical bore, two ram assemblies disposed in the horizontal bore on opposite sides of the body, wherein the ram assemblies are adapted for controlled lateral movement to and from the vertical bore, and wherein a portion of the body is selectively reinforced.

Claims (26)

1. A method to reinforce an irregular pressure vessel, the method comprising:

analyzing the irregular pressure vessel;

identifying regions of high stress concentration in the irregular pressure vessel; and

selectively reinforcing the regions of high stress concentration,

wherein the identification of regions of high stress concentration comprises generating a stress plot of the irregular pressure vessel in response to a loading condition on the irregular pressure vessel.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the irregular pressure vessel is a ram-type blowout preventer.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the loading condition of the irregular pressure vessel comprises at least one of internal pressure, external pressure, axial tension, axial compression, longitudinal tension, longitudinal compression, axial bending moment, or longitudinal bending moment.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the selective reinforcement comprises a clad overlay.

5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising selecting a thickness of the clad overlay based upon a result of the analysis of the irregular pressure vessel.

6. The method of claim 4 , wherein the clad overlay is formed by at least one of electric arc weld cladding, hot isostatic press cladding, and auto frettage cladding.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the selective reinforcement comprises a clad inlay.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the inlay is shrink-fit or press-fit into a recess cut in the irregular pressure vessel and welded in place.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the clad inlay is shaped based upon a result of a finite element analysis of the irregular pressure vessel.

10. A method to reinforce an irregular pressure vessel, the method comprising:

analyzing the irregular pressure vessel;

identifying regions of high stress concentration in the irregular pressure vessel; and

selectively reinforcing the regions of high stress concentration,

wherein a loading condition of the irregular pressure vessel comprises at least one of internal pressure, external pressure, axial tension, axial compression, longitudinal tension, longitudinal compression, axial bending moment, or longitudinal bending moment.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the irregular pressure vessel is a ram-type blowout preventer.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the identification of regions of high stress concentration comprises generating a stress plot of the irregular pressure vessel in response to the loading condition on the irregular pressure vessel.

13. The method of claim 10 , wherein the selective reinforcement comprises a clad overlay.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising selecting a thickness of the clad overlay based upon a result of the analysis of the irregular pressure vessel.

15. The method of claim 13 , wherein the clad overlay is formed by at least one of electric arc weld cladding, hot isostatic press cladding, and auto frettage cladding.

16. The method of claim 10 , wherein the selective reinforcement comprises a clad inlay.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the inlay is shrink-fit or press-fit into a recess cut in the irregular pressure vessel and welded in place.

18. The method of claim 16 , wherein the clad inlay is shaped based upon a result of a finite element analysis of the irregular pressure vessel.

Assignments (4)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 1, 2009
From: HUFF, PHILIP A.; KHANDOKER, SHAFIQ
To: HYDRIL USA MANUFACTURING LLC
Reel/Frame 022905/0143 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 5, 2008
From: HYDRIL LLC
To: HYDRIL USA MANUFACTURING LLC
Reel/Frame 021050/0491 →
MERGER Recorded Mar 28, 2008
From: HYDRIL COMPANY LP
To: HYDRIL GENERAL LLC
Reel/Frame 020718/0733 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Mar 28, 2008
From: HYDRIL GENERAL LLC
To: HYDRIL LLC
Reel/Frame 020718/0758 →