U.S. patent application number 14/880316 was filed with the patent office on 2016-04-14 for shear ram blowout preventer with engagement feature.
This patent application is currently assigned to Cameron International Corporation. The applicant listed for this patent is Cameron International Corporation. Invention is credited to Raul Araujo, Jeff Lambert.
Application Number | 20160102518 14/880316 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 55654573 |
Filed Date | 2016-04-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160102518 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Araujo; Raul ; et
al. |
April 14, 2016 |
Shear Ram Blowout Preventer with Engagement Feature
Abstract
A blowout preventer ("BOP") includes a housing comprising a
vertical bore extending through the housing, and a pair of opposing
shear rams configured to move into the vertical bore. The shear
rams comprise an engagement feature configured to engage with a
corresponding engagement feature and urge the shear rams into
axially towards each other with respect to an axis of the vertical
bore when the shear rams are located in the vertical bore.
Inventors: |
Araujo; Raul; (Cypress,
TX) ; Lambert; Jeff; (Tomball, TX) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Cameron International Corporation |
Houston |
TX |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Cameron International
Corporation
Houston
TX
|
Family ID: |
55654573 |
Appl. No.: |
14/880316 |
Filed: |
October 12, 2015 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
62063082 |
Oct 13, 2014 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
251/1.3 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 47/32 20130101;
B65D 51/24 20130101; B65D 2231/022 20130101; E21B 33/063 20130101;
A47G 19/2222 20130101; B65D 47/06 20130101; A47G 19/2266
20130101 |
International
Class: |
E21B 33/06 20060101
E21B033/06 |
Claims
1. A blowout preventer ("BOP"), comprising: a housing comprising a
vertical bore extending through the housing; and a pair of opposing
shear rams configured to move into the vertical bore, the shear
rams comprising an engagement feature configured to engage with a
corresponding engagement feature and urge the shear rams into
axially towards each other with respect to an axis of the vertical
bore when the shear rams are located in the vertical bore.
2. The BOP of claim 1, further comprising a seal positioned between
the opposing rams and configured to prevent fluid flow
therebetween.
3. The BOP of claim 2, wherein the axial movement of the shear rams
towards each other increases the sealing capability of the
seal.
4. The BOP of claim 2, wherein the seal comprises a lateral seal
positioned between blades of the shear rams.
5. The BOP of claim 1, wherein: the pair of opposing shear rams are
movable between an open position and a closed position; and the
engagement features are configured to urge the shear rams axially
towards each other when the shear rams are in the closed
position.
6. The BOP of claim 1, wherein: one of the shear rams comprises a
male engagement feature; and the other of the shear rams comprises
a female engagement feature.
7. The BOP of claim 6, wherein: the male engagement feature
comprises a conical shaped male engagement feature protruding from
a surface of the shear ram; and the female engagement feature
comprises a corresponding conical shaped female engagement feature
protruding into a surface of the shear ram.
8. The BOP of claim 7, wherein an apex of the conical shaped male
engagement feature is offset from an apex of the conical shaped
female engagement feature.
9. The BOP of claim 8, wherein the engagement features each
comprise a tapered engagement feature.
10. The BOP of claim 1, wherein the engagement features are formed
on opposing inner faces of the shear rams.
11. The BOP of claim 1, wherein each shear ram comprises a
plurality of engagement features.
12. The BOP of claim 11, wherein: the shear rams comprise opposing
upper faces and opposing lower faces; one of the upper faces
comprises an upper engagement feature and the other of the upper
faces comprises a corresponding upper engagement feature; and one
of the lower faces comprises a lower engagement feature and the
other of the lower faces comprises a corresponding lower engagement
feature.
13. The BOP of claim 1, wherein the engagement features each
comprise a hardened material compared to the shear rams.
14. A shear ram positionable in a blowout preventer ("BOP") body to
move into a vertical bore of the BOP body, the shear ram
comprising: a ram body including a shear blade configured to shear
an object; and an engagement feature configured to urge the ram
body axially with respect to an axis of the vertical bore when
positioned within the vertical bore of the BOP body.
15. The shear ram of claim 14, wherein the engagement feature is
further configured to urge the shear ram axially towards an
opposing shear ram.
16. The shear ram of claim 15, further comprising a seal positioned
between the opposing rams to prevent fluid flow therebetween such
that the axial movements of the shear rams towards each other
increases the sealing capability of the seal.
17. The shear ram of claim 15, wherein the opposing shear ram
comprises a corresponding engagement feature such that the
engagement features are configured to engage with each other and
urge the shear rams axially towards each other.
18. The shear ram of claim 17, wherein: one of the shear rams
comprises a male engagement feature; and the other of the shear
rams comprises a female engagement feature.
19. The shear ram of claim 17, wherein the engagement features of
the shear rams are offset from each other.
20. The shear ram of claim 17, wherein the engagement features are
formed on opposing inner faces of the shear rams.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] This section is intended to provide background information
to facilitate a better understanding of the various aspects of the
described embodiments. Accordingly, it should be understood that
these statements are to be read in this light and not as admissions
of prior art.
[0002] Blowout preventers are used extensively throughout the oil
and gas industry. Typical blowout preventers are used as a large
specialized valve or similar mechanical device that seal, control,
and monitor oil and gas wells. The two categories of blowout
preventers that are most prevalent are ram blowout preventers and
annular blowout preventers. Blowout preventer stacks frequently
utilize both types, typically with at least one annular blowout
preventer stacked above several ram blowout preventers. The ram
units in ram blowout preventers allow for both the shearing of the
drill pipe and the sealing of the blowout preventer. Typically, a
blowout preventer stack may be secured to a wellhead and may
provide a safe means for sealing the well in the event of a system
failure.
[0003] A typical blowout preventer includes a main body with a
vertical bore. Ram bonnet assemblies may be bolted to opposing
sides of the main body using a number of high tensile bolts or
studs. These bolts are required to hold the bonnet in position to
enable the sealing arrangements to work effectively. Typically an
elastomeric sealing element is used between the ram bonnet and the
main body. There are several configurations, but essentially they
are all directed to preventing a leakage bypass between the mating
faces of the ram bonnet and the main body. Each bonnet assembly
includes a piston which is laterally movable within a ram cavity of
the bonnet assembly by pressurized hydraulic fluid acting on one
side of the piston. The opposite side of each piston has a
connecting rod attached thereto which in turn has a shear ram and
corresponding blades mounted thereon.
[0004] These rams are designed to move laterally toward the
vertical bore of the blowout preventer to shear or cut any object
located therein. For instance, the rams can close in on and shear a
tubular within the vertical bore of the blowout preventer, such as
a section of drill pipe used during drilling operations. The
opposing rams typically experience some axial separation after
shearing, such as when shearing a larger object (e.g., a tool
joint) or wireline. The axial separation results from shear forces
encountered when shearing the object, leaving a vertical gap
between the opposing shear blades. This vertical gap between the
shear rams or blades may then make it difficult to seal or
subsequently shear objects with the blowout preventer. Accordingly,
a mechanism for enabling shear rams to more efficiently seal or
shear in a blowout preventer bore may be desirable.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0005] For a detailed description of the embodiments of the
invention, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings
in which:
[0006] FIGS. 1A-1C depict multiple cross-sectional views of a
blowout preventer for shearing a tubular, according to one or more
embodiments;
[0007] FIG. 2 depicts a side perspective view of shear rams,
according to one or more embodiments;
[0008] FIG. 3 depicts a top down view of the shear rams, according
to one or more embodiments;
[0009] FIG. 4 depicts a cross-sectional view of the shear rams
taken along line 4-4 in FIG. 2, according to one or more
embodiments;
[0010] FIG. 5 depicts a detailed view of the engagement of the
shear rams in FIG. 4, according to one or more embodiments;
[0011] FIG. 6 depicts a cross-sectional view of the shear rams
taken along line 6-6 in FIG. 2, according to one or more
embodiments; and
[0012] FIG. 7 depicts a detailed view of the engagement of the
shear rams in FIG. 5, according to one or more embodiments.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0013] Referring now to FIGS. 1A-1C, multiple views of a blowout
preventer ("BOP") 10 for shearing a tubular D in accordance with
one or more embodiments of the present disclosure are shown. The
BOP 10, which may be referred to as a ram BOP or shear ram BOP,
includes a body 12 with a vertical bore 14 formed and/or extending
through the body 12. As shown, the body 12 includes a lower flange
16 and/or an upper flange 18 to facilitate connecting the BOP 10 to
other BOPs or other components, such as a wellhead connector on the
flower flange 16 or to a lower marine riser package on the upper
flange 18. Ram cavities 20 and 22 are formed within the body 12 of
the BOP 10, with the cavities 20 and 22 intersecting and extending
outwardly from the bore 14 on opposite sides of the BOP bore
14.
[0014] The BOP 10 includes one or more rams or ram assemblies, such
as a first ram 24 and a second ram 26. The first ram 24 may be
positioned and movable within the first cavity 20 and a second ram
26 positioned and movable within the second cavity 22. The first
ram 24 and the second ram 26 are positioned to oppose each other
(e.g., on opposite sides of the bore 14) and are movable towards
and away from the tubular D. Actuators 28 are provided to move the
first ram 24 and the second ram 26 into the BOP bore 14 to shear
the portion of the tubular D extending through the BOP bore 14.
[0015] In this embodiment, a hydraulic actuator is shown, though
any type of actuator (e.g., pneumatic, electrical, mechanical) may
be used in accordance with the present disclosure. The actuators 28
shown in this embodiment include a piston 30 positioned within a
cylinder 32 and a rod 34 connecting the piston 30 to each
respective ram 24 and 26. Further, pressurized fluid is introduced
and fluidly communicated on opposite sides of the piston 30 through
ports 35, thereby enabling the actuator 28 to move the rams 24 and
26 in response to fluid pressure.
[0016] A first (e.g., upper) blade 36 is included with or connected
to the first ram 24, and a second (e.g., lower) blade 38 is
included with or connected to the second ram 26. The first and
second blades 36 and 38 are formed and positioned such that a
cutting edge of the second blade 38 passes below a cutting edge of
the first blade 36 in shearing of a section of a tubular D. The
shearing action of first and second blades 36 and 38 shear the
tubular D. The lower portion of the tubular D may then drop into
the well bore (not shown) below BOP 10, or the lower portion of
tubular D may hung off a lower set of rams (not shown).
[0017] Accordingly, disclosed herein are a BOP apparatus and/or a
ram for a BOP apparatus for shearing an object located therein. The
object may be positioned within the bore extending through the BOP,
in which the BOP is actuated to move one or more rams to engage and
shear the object. A ram of a BOP in accordance with the present
disclosure may be used for shearing one or more different types of
objects that may have different shapes, sizes, thicknesses, and
other dimensions and properties.
[0018] For example, an object may include a drill pipe joint, a
casing joint, a tool joint, or a wireline, in which a BOP in
accordance with the present disclosure may be used to shear each of
these different types of objects. These objects may be sheared with
or without replacement of any ram of the BOP, i.e., a single ram,
or a pair of opposing rams, may be used to shear multiple objects
in succession. To aid the ram in shearing multiple objects in
succession, the present disclosure provides for an engagement
feature to help urge the ram body (e.g., axially) to improve axial
engagement with an opposing ram.
[0019] Referring now to FIGS. 2-7, multiple views of opposing shear
rams 202 and 204 for a shear ram BOP in accordance with one or more
embodiments of the present disclosure are shown. In particular,
FIG. 2 provides a side perspective view of the shear rams 202 and
204, and FIG. 3 provides a top down view of the shear rams 202 and
204. Further, FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional view of the shear rams
202 and 204 taken along line 4-4 in FIG. 2, FIG. 5 shows a detailed
view of the engagement of the shear rams 202 and 204 in FIG. 4,
FIG. 6 shows a cross-sectional view of the shear rams 202 and 204
taken along line 6-6 in FIG. 2, and FIG. 7 shows a detailed view of
the engagement of the shear rams 202 and 204 in FIG. 5. The shear
rams 202 and 204 may be similar to the rams 24 and 26 illustrated
in FIGS. 1A-1C, in which the shear ram 202 may be the upper ram and
the shear ram 204 may be the lower ram.
[0020] The shear rams 202 and 204 each include a ram body 206 and
208 that are defined by a ram back 210 and 212 and a ram front 214
and 216, respectively. The ram backs 210 and 212 are generally
configured to receive a connector rod (not shown), such as the rod
34 shown in FIGS. 1A-1C, to move the shear rams 202 and 204 into
and out of a BOP bore. The ram fronts 214 and 216 each include a
cutting face or blade 218 and 220, respectively, configured to
shear an object located in a BOP bore. The blade 218 of the upper
shear ram 202 is best shown in FIG. 3, and the blades 218 and 220
of the shear rams 202 and 204 are also shown in FIG. 6.
[0021] The shear rams 202 and 204 may further include one or more
seals to facilitate sealing the BOP bore. For example, the rams 202
and 204 may each include a top seal 222 and 224 and side seals 226
and 228, respectively. The seals 222-228 may be positioned within
cavities or channels formed within the ram bodies 206 and 208 to
maintain the seals 222-228 in position as the rams 202 and 204 move
within the BOP body.
[0022] Further, a seal 250 (e.g., lateral seal), as best shown in
FIGS. 4,6, and 7, may be positioned between the blades 218 and 220
of the shear rams 202 and 204. A recess 252 may be formed within
one of the shear rams 202 and 204, with the seal 250 positioned
within the recess 252.
[0023] One or both of the shear rams 202 and 204 may further
include an engagement feature 230 and 232, such as located on an
outer surface of the ram bodies 206 and 208, to urge one or both of
the shear rams 202 and 204 axially when positioned within the bore
of a BOP. In one or more embodiments, the engagement feature may
refer to or include a tapered or angled portion that is used to
engage with another component, surface, or corresponding engagement
feature. The engagement of the tapered or angled portions upon
closing of the shear rams 202 and 204 urges the shear rams axially
(e.g., with respect to an axis of a bore of a BOP housing), such as
towards and into engagement with each other. Engagement of the
engagement features 230 and 232 also restricts separation of the
shear rams 202 and 204 to facilitate sealing and/or shearing within
the shear ram BOP.
[0024] As shown in FIGS. 2-7, both shear rams 202 and 204 may
include engagement features 230 and 232. As the shear rams 202 and
204 move from an open position to a closed position, the engagement
features 230 and 232 engage with each other. The engagement of the
engagement features 230 and 232 with each other urges the shear
rams 202 and 204 axially towards each other and into axial
engagement with each other when the shear rams 202 and 204 are
located in the BOP bore. The engagement features 230 and 232 may
also not engage each other until after an object within the BOP
bore has been sheared by the shear rams 202 and 204.
[0025] Accordingly, an engagement feature in accordance with the
present disclosure may facilitate or increase the sealing
capability within a shear ram BOP. As mentioned above, the seal 250
may be used to prevent fluid flow or debris from flow between the
shear rams 202 and 204, particularly when the shear rams 202 and
204 are in the closed position after having sheared an object
within the shear ram BOP. The engagement features 230 and 232
engage each other after the blades 218 and 220 of the shear rams
202 and 204 pass each other and the seal 250 when moving into the
closed position. This engagement of the engagement features 230 and
232 urges the shear rams 202 and 204 into axial engagement with
each other, which in turn then activates or further pressurizes the
seal 250 with the shear rams 202 and 204. This axial engagement of
the shear rams 202 and 204 may increase the sealing capability of
the seal 250. Further, this delayed engagement of the engagement
features 230 and 232 may help prevent damage to the seal 250, such
as from the blades 218 and 220 potentially clipping or cutting the
seal 250 when passing across each other and the seal 250.
[0026] In one or more embodiments in which the shear rams 202 and
204 include corresponding engagement features 230 and 232, one of
the shear rams 202 and 204 may include a female engagement feature,
and the other of the shear rams 202 and 204 may include a male
engagement feature. For example, as shown best in FIGS. 4 and 5,
the shear ram 202 includes the female engagement feature 230 and
the shear ram 204 includes the male engagement feature 232. The
engagement feature shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 includes a cone-shape
(e.g., conical or frusto-conical shape) that forms a portion or
surface of the engagement feature. Accordingly, in this embodiment,
the female engagement feature 230 of the shear ram 202 is a conical
shaped engagement feature that protrudes into a surface of the
shear ram 202, and the male engagement feature 232 of the shear ram
204 is a conical shaped engagement feature that protrudes from a
surface of the shear ram 204. The conical shaped engagement
features then engage each other when the shear rams 202 and 204 are
moving into the closed position to urge the shear rams 202 and 204
axially towards each other.
[0027] In one or more of the above embodiments, the engagement
features are shown as conical shaped engagement features. However,
the present disclosure is not so limited, as other shapes, sizes,
and arrangements may be used for an engagement feature in one or
more embodiments. For example, in another embodiment, the
engagement feature may only include a tapered or angled surface, in
which the tapered or angled surface engages with another surface
(e.g., tapered or not-tapered) to urge the shear ram axially within
the shear ram BOP.
[0028] Further, in one or more embodiments, to facilitate the
engagement and urging of the shear rams 202 and 204 axially towards
each other, the engagement features 230 and 232 may be offset from
each other. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, an apex 234 of the
conical shaped female engagement feature 230 is offset from an apex
236 of the conical shaped male engagement feature 232. The apex 234
of the conical shaped female engagement feature 230 may be offset
by about 0.02 in (about 0.51 mm) from the apex 236 of the conical
shaped male engagement feature 232. Accordingly, as the engagement
features 230 and 232 are offset from each other, the offset
facilitates engagement between the engagement features 230 and 232
as the shear rams 202 and 204 move axially towards and in proximity
of each other, thereby urging the shear rams 202 and 204 axially
towards each other.
[0029] The engagement features 230 and 232 may be formed on or
coupled to the shear rams 202 and 204. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5,
the engagement features 230 and 232 are formed on the bodies 206
and 208 of the shear rams 202 and 204. However, in another
embodiment, the engagement features 230 and 232 may be formed as
separate components that are connected, attached, or otherwise
coupled to the bodies 206 and 208 of the shear rams 202 and 204.
This may facilitate replacing the engagement features 230 and 232,
such as if the engagement features 230 and 232 become excessively
worn or damaged. Further, the engagement features 230 and 232 may
include or be formed from a hardened material. In one embodiment,
the engagement features 230 and 232 may be heat-treated to harden
and otherwise treat the material of the engagement features 230 and
232.
[0030] The shear rams 202 and 204 may each include more than one
engagement feature. Further, as mentioned above, the engagement
features 230 and 232 are located on an outer surface of the ram
bodies 206 and 208 of the shear rams 202 and 204. Accordingly, in
one or more embodiments, the engagement features 230 and 232 are
formed or located on opposing (e.g., inner) faces of the shear rams
202 and 204. The shear rams 202 and 204 may each include an upper
face 240 and 242 and a lower face 244 and 246, respectively, in
which the upper faces 240 and 242 may oppose each other and the
lower faces 244 and 246 may oppose each other. The upper faces 240
and 242 of the shear rams 202 and 204 then each include
corresponding upper engagement features 230 and 232 that engage
with each other, and the lower faces 244 and 246 include
corresponding lower engagement features 230 and 232 that engage
with each other.
[0031] The shear rams 202 and 204 may also include multiple
engagement features on opposite lateral sides (e.g., left and ride
sides) of the ram bodies 206 and 208. For example, the shear ram
202 may include engagement features 230 positioned on each side of
the blade 218 such that the engagement features 230 are positioned
adjacent each lateral side of the shear ram 202. Similarly, the
shear ram 204 may include engagement features 232 positioned on
each side of the blade 220 such that the engagement features 232
are positioned adjacent each lateral side of the shear ram 204. The
engagement features 230 of the shear ram 202 may then engage with
the engagement features 232 of the shear ram 204.
[0032] As mentioned above, the shear rams 202 and 204 are movable
between an open position and a closed position, in which the shear
rams 202 and 204 may then shear an object positioned between them
or within a BOP bore when moving from the open positioned to the
closed position. Accordingly, the engagement features 230 and 232
of the shear rams 202 and 204 may be used to urge the shear rams
202 and 204 into axial engagement with each other when in the
closed position. For example, when in the open position, the
engagement features 230 and 232 will not engage each other, and
thus not urge the shear rams 202 and 204 into axial engagement with
each other. However, when in the closed position, or closely
approaching the closed position, the engagement features 230 and
232 engage each other to urge the shear rams 202 and 204 into axial
engagement with each other. This urges the shear rams 202 and 204
into axial engagement with each other, particularly after shearing
an object, and increases the sealing capability of the seal 250
between the shear rams 202 and 204.
[0033] In one or more of the above embodiments, the engagement
features are shown as formed on each of the shear rams. However, in
one or more embodiments, only one of the shear rams may include an
engagement feature. For example, in such an embodiment, the BOP
housing may include a corresponding engagement feature, such as
formed internally within the BOP and adjacent the BOP bore. The
shear ram engagement feature may then engage with the BOP
engagement feature, such as when the shear ram moves towards the
closed position within the BOP housing. This engagement may then
urge the shear ram within the BOP housing, such as axially within
the BOP housing to facilitate sealing or shearing within the
BOP.
[0034] As discussed above, a ram and a BOP in accordance with the
present disclosure may be used to shear one or more objects,
including a casing joint, a drill pipe joint, a tool joint, and a
wireline, with each having various shapes, sizes, and/or other
dimensions. A casing joint may have one or more sizes, such as an
outer diameter of about 16 inches (about 40.6 centimeters), about
14 inches (about 35.6 centimeters), about 12 inches (about 30.5
centimeters), and/or about 10.625 inches (about 26.99 centimeters).
Further, a drill pipe joint may have one or more sizes, such as an
outer diameter of about 6.625 inches (about 16.83 centimeters),
about 5.5 inches (about 14.0 centimeters), and/or about 3.5 inches
(about 8.9 centimeters). Moreover, wireline may have one or more
sizes, such as an outer diameter of about 3/16 inches (about 0.47
centimeters), about 0.25 inches (about 0.64 centimeters), about 0.5
inches (about 1.28 centimeters), and so on. As such, rams and ram
blades of different sizes may be selected to shear on a particular
object. Inclusion of a biasing mechanism as discussed above may
enhance sealing efficiency in a shear ram BOP, particularly after
having sheared an object.
[0035] This discussion is directed to various embodiments of the
invention. The drawing figures are not necessarily to scale.
Certain features of the embodiments may be shown exaggerated in
scale or in somewhat schematic form and some details of
conventional elements may not be shown in the interest of clarity
and conciseness. Although one or more of these embodiments may be
preferred, the embodiments disclosed should not be interpreted, or
otherwise used, as limiting the scope of the disclosure, including
the claims. It is to be fully recognized that the different
teachings of the embodiments discussed may be employed separately
or in any suitable combination to produce desired results. In
addition, one skilled in the art will understand that the
description has broad application, and the discussion of any
embodiment is meant only to be exemplary of that embodiment, and
not intended to suggest that the scope of the disclosure, including
the claims, is limited to that embodiment.
[0036] Certain terms are used throughout the description and claims
to refer to particular features or components. As one skilled in
the art will appreciate, different persons may refer to the same
feature or component by different names. This document does not
intend to distinguish between components or features that differ in
name but not function, unless specifically stated. In the
discussion and in the claims, the terms "including" and
"comprising" are used in an open-ended fashion, and thus should be
interpreted to mean "including, but not limited to . . . ." Also,
the term "couple" or "couples" is intended to mean either an
indirect or direct connection. In addition, the terms "axial" and
"axially" generally mean along or parallel to a central axis (e.g.,
central axis of a body or a port), while the terms "radial" and
"radially" generally mean perpendicular to the central axis. The
use of "top," "bottom," "above," "below," and variations of these
terms is made for convenience, but does not require any particular
orientation of the components.
[0037] Reference throughout this specification to "one embodiment,"
"an embodiment," or similar language means that a particular
feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with
the embodiment may be included in at least one embodiment of the
present disclosure. Thus, appearances of the phrases "in one
embodiment," "in an embodiment," and similar language throughout
this specification may, but do not necessarily, all refer to the
same embodiment.
[0038] Although the present invention has been described with
respect to specific details, it is not intended that such details
should be regarded as limitations on the scope of the invention,
except to the extent that they are included in the accompanying
claims.
* * * * *