Electrical connectors – Having retainer or passageway for fluent material – Liquid retainer
Patent
1991-09-13
1993-05-11
Schwartz, Larry I.
Electrical connectors
Having retainer or passageway for fluent material
Liquid retainer
439668, 439191, 166 651, H01R 460
Patent
active
052096734
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a subsea electrical conductive insert coupler (CIC) for coupling a subsea module to an umbilical termination head or lower module from an installation located on the sea bed. The module may be a pumping station or some other equipment requiring a high power supply and optionally hydraulic and signals connections.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide an undersea coupling system for a subsea module and an umbilical which is reliable and which will ensure a long operating life.
It is a further object of the invention to provide such a system which provides for speed and ease of installation and retrieval.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a coupling designed to conduct 1 MW or more of power which is also capable of eliminating the ingress of water during installation and operation.
It is a still further object of the invention to provide such a coupling system in which the components left undersea are passive, all active components being retrievable.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to one aspect of the invention there is provided an apparatus for coupling a subsea module to an umbilical termination head from a subsea installation, comprising: a receiver mounted on the module; a receiver mounted on the umbilical; and an insert stab mandrel (ISM); the receivers each having electrical terminal sets; the ISM having a pair of spaced electrical terminal sets in which respective terminals in each set are electrically connected; the receivers being arranged to receive the ISM so that when it is in position in the receivers, each of the ISM terminal sets contacts one of the receiver terminal sets, thereby forming an electrical connection between the two receiver terminal sets.
The invention also extends to a method of performing such a coupling operation which entails inserting such an ISM into such a pair of receivers.
Preferably, the umbilical receiver includes a hydraulic fluid outlet, the module receiver includes a hydraulic fluid inlet and the ISM includes a supply hydraulic fluid inlet and the ISM includes a supply hydraulic fluid pathway interconnecting the said outlet and inlet. Preferably, the umbilical receiver includes a signals outlet, the module receiver includes a signals inlet and the ISM includes a signals pathway interconnecting the said outlet and inlet.
Preferably, the two receivers are located one above the other in use and ISM is arranged to extend through the upper receiver and into the lower receiver. Preferably, the upper receiver is the module receiver. Optionally, the receivers are spaced apart vertically and each is mounted to allow limited pivotal movement. More preferably, the upper receiver is received within the lower receiver, the upper receiver being non-rigidly mounted.
Preferably, the electrical terminals are a pair of contact areas on the ISM, each comprising electrical contact bands located in grooves, and a corresponding contact area within each receiver. Preferably, the contact areas bands in each receiver are covered by a respective sliding sleeve before connection which is displaced upon insertion of the ISM. Conveniently, the sliding sleeves are urged by spring means to the positions in which the contact bands are covered and the contact bands on the ISM are covered by a pair of sliding sleeves before connection which are displaced upon insertion of the ISM.
Preferably the ISM includes a self contained oil flushing system arranged to supply oil to the contact areas upon insertion and withdrawal of the ISM. Thus, during normal operation, the coupling conductive contact bands may be continuously flushed with oil, by an integral stand-alone circulation system for preventing water ingress and to provide cooling of the conductive bands.
The apparatus may be run subsea using a cable or drill pipe and may use guide lines and guide posts for primary alignment. The coupling operation may be effected by direct hydraulic surface control.
Such a coupling system is cap
REFERENCES:
patent: 3946805 (1976-03-01), Peterman
patent: 4080025 (1978-03-01), Garnier et al.
patent: 4188084 (1980-02-01), Buresi et al.
patent: 4304452 (1981-12-01), Kiefer
patent: 4544036 (1985-10-01), Saliger
patent: 4625805 (1986-12-01), Ladecky
patent: 4767349 (1988-08-01), Pottier et al.
patent: 4781607 (1988-11-01), Rumbaugh
patent: 4806114 (1989-02-01), Hopper
patent: 4899822 (1990-02-01), Daeschler et al.
Bjornsen Bjorn G.
Mohn Frank
Framo Developments (UK) Limited
Nguyen Khiem
Schwartz Larry I.
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