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# Bl NO. 576 D
COOPER DATE PAGE 1 OF 8
16 SEPTEMBER 1981 lFEB83
Cooper OilTool

API AND CAMERON -RING JOINT DESIGN

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API Type “R” Ring Joint Gasket

The type "R" ring joint gasket is not energised by internal

pressure. Sealing takes place along small bands of contact
between the grooves and the gasket, on both the OD and ID of. the
gasket. The gasket may be either octagonal or oval in cross
section. The type "R" design does not allow face-to-face contact
between the hubs or flanges, so external loads are transmitted
through the sealing surfaces of the ring. Vibration and external
loads may cause the small bands of contact between the ring and
the ring grooves to deform plastically, so that the joint may
develop a leak unless the flange bolting is periodically
tightened. Standard procedure with type I'R" joints in the BOP
stacks is to tighten the flange bolting weekly.

Figure 1
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COOPER -1 lF;;,3 / %E z7;Fu8
Comer OilTool

API .Type “RX” Pressure-Energized Ring Joint Gasket

The 'QXqV pressure-energised ring joint gasket was developed by

Cooper Oil Tool (formerly Cameron.Iron Works) and adopted by API.
Sealing takes place along small bands of c'ontact between the
grooves and the OD of the gasket. The gasket is made slightly
larger in diameter than the grooves', and is compressed slightly
to achieve initial sealing as the .joint is tightened. The V?X"
design does not allow face-to-face contact between the hubs or,
,'flanges. However, the gasket has large load-bearing surfaces ion
its inside diameter to transmit ~external loadswithout plastic
deformation of the sealing surfaces of the gasket. Cooper Oil
Tool recommends that a new gasket.be used each time the joint is
made up.

Figure 2
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i Bl NO. 576 D
COOPER DATE PAGE 3 OF 8
CooperOilTool 16 SEPTEMBER 1981 lFEB83
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API Type “BX” Pressure-Energized ‘Ring Joint Gasket

The "BX" pressure-energised ring joint gasket was designed for

face-to-face contact of the hubs or flanges. Sealing takes place
along small bands of contact between the grooves and the OD of
the gasket. The gasket.is made slightly larger in diameter than
the grooves, and is compressed slightly to achieve initial
sealing as the joint is -tightened. Although the intent of the
ItBXVVdesign was face-to-face contact between the hubs or flanges,
the groove and gasket tolerances, which are adopted, are such
that, if the ring dimension, is on the high side of the tolerance
range and the groove dimension is on the low side of the
.tolerance range, face-to-face contact may be very difficult'to
achieve. Without face-tohface contact, vibration and external
loads can cause plastic deformation of the ring, eventually
resulting in leaks. Both flanged and clamp hub 'BX" joints are
equally prone to this difficulty. The "BX" gasket is frequently
manufactured with axial holes to ensure pressure balance, since
both the ID and the OD of the gasket may contact the grooves.

Figure 3
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Bl NO. 576 D
I DATE PAGE.4 OF 8
OOPER
16 SEPTEMBER 1981 lFEB83
Cooper OilTool

API Face-to-Face Type “RX” .Pressure-Energized Ririg Joint Gasket

The face-to-face "RX" pressure-energized ring joint gasket was

adopted by API asthe standard joint for clamp hubs. Sealing
takes place along small bands of contact between the grooves and
the OD oft the gasket. The,gasket is made slightly larger in
diameter than the grooves, and is compressed slightly to achieve
initial sealing as ~the joint is tightened. ?ace-to-fac~e contact
between the hubs is ensured by~an increased groove width, but
this leaves.the gasket unsupported on,its ID. Wi~thout support
from the ID of the grooves~, the gasket may not remain perfectly
round as the joint is tightened. If the gasket buckles or
develops flats, the joint may leak.

Figure 4
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0 Bl NO. 576 D
DATE PAGE 5 OF 8
c OOPER
d 16 SEPTEMBER 1981 lFEB83

a CooperOilTool

Cameron Face-to-Face Type “RX” Pressure-Energized Ring Joint Groove

Cooper Oil Tool (formerly Cameron Iron Works) modified the API
face-to-face type "RX'~ pressure-energised ring joint grooves to
prevent any possible leaking caused by the buckling of the gasket
in the API groove. The same API face-to-face type "FGP pressure-
energised ring joint gaskets are used with these modified
grooves. Sealing takes place along small bands of contact
between the grooves and the OD of the gasket. The gasket is made
slightly larger in diameter than the grooves, and is compressed
slightly to achieve initial sealing as the joint is tightened.
The gasket ID will also contact the grooves when it is made up.
This constraint of the gasket prevents any possible leaking.
caused by the.buckling of the gasket. Hub face-to-face contact
is maintained within certain tolerances. The maximum theoretical
standoff from the stackup of the tolerances of the gasket and the
groove is 0.022 inches. Ref: X-23325-l

Figure 5

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Bl NO. 576 D
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COOPER PAGE 6 OF 8
16 SEPTEMBER 1981 lFEB83
Cooper OilTool

Cameron Type~“AX” Pressure-Energized Ring Joint Gasket

The "AX" pressure-energised ring joint gasket was developed by

Cooper Oil Tool (formerly Cameron Iron Works). Sealing takes
place along small bands of contact between the grooves and the OD
of the gasket. The gasket is made slightly larger in diameter
than the grooves and is compressed slightly to achieve initial
sealing as the joint is tightened. The ID of' the gasket is
smooth and is almost flush with the hub bore. Sealing occurs at
a diameter which is only slightly greater than the diameter of
the hub bore, so the axial pressure load on the collet'connector
is held to an absolute minimum. The belt at the center of the
gasket keeps it from buckling or cocking as the joint is being
made up. The OD of the gasket is grooved. This allows the use
of retractable pins or dogs to positively retain the'gasket in
the,base of the collet connector when the hubs are separated.
The gasket design allows face-to-face contact between the hubs to
be~achieved with minimal clamping force. External loads are
transmitted entirely through the hub faces and cannot damage the
gasket.

e*

,' I

Figure 6
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Cameron Type “Cx” Preshe-Energized Ring Joint Gasket

The llCX*l pressure-energised ring joint gasket was developed by

Cooper Oil Tool (formerly Cameron Iron Works). Sealing takes
place along small bands of contact between the grooves and the OD
of the gasket. The gasket is made slightly larger in diameter
than the grooves, and is compressed slightly to achieve initial
sealing as the joint ins tightened. The gasket is patterned after
the "AX" gasket, but is recessed, rather than being flush'with
the hub bore for protection against keyseating. The gasket seals
on approximately the same diameter as do the %X1' and 81BX88
gaskets. The belt at the center of the gasket keeps it from
buckling or cocking as the joint is being made up; Since the
"CX1' gasket is protected from keyseating, it is suitable for use
throughout the BOP and riser system, except at the base of the
collet connector. The gasket design allows face-to-face contact
between the clamp hubs or flanges to be achieved with minimal
clampins force. External loads are transmitted entirely - through
the hub-faces and cannot damage the gasket-~

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Figure 7

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Bl NO. 576 D
I DATE PAGE 8 OF 8
COOPER
16 SEPTEMBER 1981 lFEB83
CooperOilTool

Application of Cameron Type “AX” and “CX”

Pressure-Energized Ring Joint Gaskets

Both the 8*AX1' and "CXS1 pressure-energised ring gaskets allow

face-to-face contact between the hubs 'to be achieved with minimal
clamping force.
The,"AX" gasket is used at the base of the collet connector,
since the lower gasket must be positively retained in the
connector whenthe hubs ar,e separated.
The "AX" design ensures that axial pressure loading on the collet
connector'is held to an absolute minimum. The VIAXV1gasket also
is suitable .for side outlets on the:BOP stack since these outlets
are not subject to keyseating:
The **CX1' gasket is recessed for protection against keyseating.
The 11CX3V
.gasket is suitable ,for use throughout the BCP and riser
system; except at the base of the collet connector.