US3602873A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Underwater electrical connection station
Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Co
•
Filing: 1969-02-13
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Granted: 1971-08-31
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Expires: 1989-02-13
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus and method for protectively making, breaking and housing ''''live'''' electrical connections underwater. An underwater container in communication with environmental water encloses a hydrophobic dielectric fluid of lower specific gravity than environmental water above an opening permitting access to the dielectric fluid for manipulating electrical connectors admitted into said container. Holders may be provided within the container to retain the electrical connectors in the fluid. The opening may be closed by a nonsealing cap. A method of making an underwater connection includes securing a first electrical connector in an underwater container above an opening in a lower portion of the container before or after establishing a body of hydrophobic dielectric fluid of lower specific gravity than water in said container sufficient for immersion of the first electrical connector. A second electrical connector connectable with the first electrical connector is then introduced into the container and elevated into the dielectric fluid. The connectable electrical connectors are than connected while immersed in the dielectric. To break the connection, the container is entered by the opening and the connected electrical connectors are disconnected while immersed in the dielectric fluid.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas W Childers
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 05:45
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R13/00; H01R13/46; H01R13/52; H01R13/523
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
92 words
A method of making an underwater electrical connection comprising the steps of: a. securing first electrical connection means within an underwater container above an accessway in the container; b. displacing water in the container with a hydrophobic insulating fluid having a specific gravity lower than water sufficiently to immerse said first electrical connection means in said insulating fluid; c. introducing into said container and positioning in said fluid second electrical connector means engageable with said first electrical connector means; and d. connecting said first and second electrical conductor means in said fluid.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
92 words
A method of making an underwater electrical connection comprising the steps of: a. securing first electrical connection means within an underwater container above an accessway in the container; b. displacing water in the container with a hydrophobic insulating fluid having a specific gravity lower than water sufficiently to immerse said first electrical connection means in said insulating fluid; c. introducing into said container and positioning in said fluid second electrical connector means engageable with said first electrical connector means; and d. connecting said first and second electrical conductor means in said fluid.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
101 words
A method of making an underwater electrical connection comprising the steps of: a. securing first electrical connection means within a body of hydrophobic insulating fluid having a specific gravity lower than water and enclosed within an underwater container above an accessway in the container, said container being in communication with environmental water whereby an interface is established in said container between said body of fluid and said water; b. introducing said container and positioning above said interface second electrical connector means engageable with said first electrical connection means; and c. connecting said first and second electrical conductor means above said interface.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
101 words
A method of making an underwater electrical connection comprising the steps of: a. securing first electrical connection means within a body of hydrophobic insulating fluid having a specific gravity lower than water and enclosed within an underwater container above an accessway in the container, said container being in communication with environmental water whereby an interface is established in said container between said body of fluid and said water; b. introducing said container and positioning above said interface second electrical connector means engageable with said first electrical connection means; and c. connecting said first and second electrical conductor means above said interface.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 2 further comprised of the step of first displacing water in said underwater container with a hydrophobic insulating fluid having a specific gravity lower than water, before said step (a), to establish said body of fluid.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
54 words
A method of breaking underwater an electrical connection of electrical connectors where said connectors are housed in a nonconductive fluid above an opening in an underwater container, said container being in communication with environmental water, comprising: entering the container through said opening with manipulative means and, disconnecting the electrical connectors in the nonconductive fluid.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
54 words
A method of breaking underwater an electrical connection of electrical connectors where said connectors are housed in a nonconductive fluid above an opening in an underwater container, said container being in communication with environmental water, comprising: entering the container through said opening with manipulative means and, disconnecting the electrical connectors in the nonconductive fluid.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 4 in which the disconnected electrical connectors are retained in the nonconductive fluid by holders within said container.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
115 words
An underwater apparatus for protectively connecting, disconnecting and housing live, current-carrying electrical leads, comprising: enclosure means underwater defining a chamber in fluid communication with environmental water for enclosing above said water a body of hydrophobic insulating fluid having a lower specific gravity than said water, said insulating fluid and water defining an interface, a body of said insulating fluid in said chamber, electrical connector means in said insulating fluid for connecting and disconnecting leads of insulated electrically conductIve lines, and inlet means to said chamber below said interface providing access to said electrical connector means, whereby electrical connections can be safely made or broken underwater while a current is supplied to one of said leads.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
115 words
An underwater apparatus for protectively connecting, disconnecting and housing live, current-carrying electrical leads, comprising: enclosure means underwater defining a chamber in fluid communication with environmental water for enclosing above said water a body of hydrophobic insulating fluid having a lower specific gravity than said water, said insulating fluid and water defining an interface, a body of said insulating fluid in said chamber, electrical connector means in said insulating fluid for connecting and disconnecting leads of insulated electrically conductIve lines, and inlet means to said chamber below said interface providing access to said electrical connector means, whereby electrical connections can be safely made or broken underwater while a current is supplied to one of said leads.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 6 further comprised of means for nonsealingly closing said inlet means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 6 further comprised of means apart from said inlet means for admitting at least one of said electrical connector means into said enclosure means below said interface.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 6 further comprised of means within said enclosure means for holding at least one of said electrical connector means above said interface.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 6 further comprised of means for sealingly admitting at least one of said electrical connector means into said apparatus above said interface.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 6 in which said insulator fluid is a clear oil.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
46 words
The apparatus of claim 6 in which said enclosure means includes a fluid impermeable transparent window above said inlet means sufficiently large to permit observation of manipulations conducted upon said electrical connector means to make and break electrical connections between leads of insulated electrically conductive lines.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-08-30 | 1975-03-01 | 1975-08-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-08-30 | 1979-03-01 | 1979-08-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-08-30 | 1983-03-01 | 1983-08-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |