Patent ID: 7234530

Claim:
A ram-type blowout preventer, comprising: a body; a first ram block positioned within the body and having a first shearing element and a first sealing element; a second ram block positioned within the body and opposing the first ram block, the second ram block having a second shearing element and a second sealing element; and a load intensifying member coupled to the first ram block, wherein the first ram block and the second ram block are configured to close together upon actuation of the blowout preventer, and wherein the load intensifying member is positioned to engage with a member engagement surface of the second ram block when the first and second ram block close and force the first shearing element and the second shearing element together, wherein the member engagement surface is sloped so that a force between the first and second shearing elements is increased as the first and the second ram blocks move toward a closed position.