Diverter flow line seal

Details Diverter flow line seal Diverter flow line seal

1999-02-09

2001-09-18

Knight, Anthony (Department: 3626)

Seal for a joint or juncture

Seal for well apparatus

For overpressure control device

C277S331000, C277S342000, C277S624000, C277S644000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06290231

ABSTRACT:

TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates in general to diverters and in particular to a diverter flowline seal.
BACKGROUND ART
Diverters are mounted to offshore drilling rigs below the rig floor for use in early stages of drilling. A support housing mounts below the rig floor and has a lateral flowline outlet for directing mud flow when the diverter is closed. The housing is a tubular member with an axial bore. A diverter body is secured to the upper end of a riser, is lowered through the rotary table and lands in the housing. The diverter body has lateral flow openings that are axially aligned with the lateral flowline outlet. A pair of seals are located above and below the lateral flowline outlet.
The seals seal the diverter body to the diverter housing. One type of prior art seal comprises a bulk seal having cylindrical inner and outer diameter walls. The bulk seal is bonded to upper and lower metal rings. After the diverter body lands, hydraulic pressure is applied to the inner diameter of each of the seals to deform the elastomer into sealing engagement with the diverter housing. While workable, improvements are desired.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
A diverter body having an upper portion, a central portion and a lower portion is secured to the upper end of a riser, lowered through the rotary table and landed in a diverter housing. The central portion has lateral flow openings that axially align with a lateral flowline outlet in the housing. A pair of identical gallery seals locate above and below the lateral flowline outlet.
The upper gallery seal is located between the upper portion, the central portion and the housing. The upper gallery seal has upper and lower metal rings and a central elastomer sandwiched therebetween. An inner diameter of the elastomer seals against the central body, and an outer diameter of the elastomer seals against the housing bore. The metal rings are symmetrical and are bonded to the elastomer along interfaces which are S-shaped in cross-section to form shoulders. The shoulders face generally radially inward. The outer diameter portions of the rings have greater axial dimensions than their corresponding inner diameter portions.
An annular cavity and a pair of flexible annular lips are formed along the inner diameter portion of the elastomer. A hydraulic passage extends through the upper portion and the central portion, and communicates with the cavity. After installation, the lips deform and seal against the central portion. After the diverter body lands in the housing, hydraulic fluid is pumped through the passages to pressurize the cavities and energize the elastomers, forcing the outer diameter portions of the elastomers outward to seal against the housing bore. The seals prevent flowing mud from escaping between the diverter and the housing.


REFERENCES:
patent: 2548412 (1951-04-01), Walker
patent: 2843349 (1958-07-01), Meyer
patent: 3923133 (1975-12-01), Chivari
patent: 4174112 (1979-11-01), Carrens
patent: 4358085 (1982-11-01), Regan et al.
patent: 4718495 (1988-01-01), Lubitz et al.
patent: 4720113 (1988-01-01), Hertz, Jr.
patent: 5094492 (1992-03-01), Levivier

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