Importance

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Abstract

A method and apparatus to control delivery of pressurized hydraulic fluid at a controlled pressure to open and close blowout preventers. A source of pressurized hydraulic fluid is connected through a pair of supply lines and through a control shifter valve for charging a closed system to a set-point pressure. A velocity fuse in each supply line diverts flow to one line if the other line breaks. Fluid from the source of pressurized hydraulic fluid is also delivered through a regulator valve to a regulated pressure line which is connected to one or more control valves. Each of the control valves is adapted to direct pressurized fluid selectively to either end of a blowout preventer actuator chamber. The regulator valve is adapted to block flow of pressurized fluid to the regulated pressure line when pressure in the regulated pressure line is equal to the set point pressure, to deliver pressurized fluid to the regulated pressure line when the pressure therein is less than the set point pressure, and to remove pressurized fluid from the regulated pressure line when pressure therein exceeds the set point pressure.

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First Claim