Subsea electric connector system and procedure for use

Abstract

Abstract METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONNECTING AND DISCONNECTING REPLACEABLE ELECTRICALLY OPERATED EQUIPMENT TO AND FROM RESPECTIVELY, A SOURCE OF ELECTRICAL POWER, PARTIENLARLY AT REMOTE UNDERWATER LOCATIONS. THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTION APPARATUS INCLUDES AT LEAST TWO CONNECTOR UNITS. EACH CONNECTOR UNIT COMPRISES TWO HALVES CAPABLE OF BEING REPEATEDLY MADE UP TO AND SEPARATED FROM EACH OTHER. ONE-HALF INCLUDES A PRONG HAVING METAL SPIKES FORMED ON ONE END AND THE OTHER HALF INCLUDES A PRONG HAVING A CUP FORMED ON ONE END CONTAINING A MALLEABLE METAL. ONE-HALF OF THE CONNECTOR UNIT IS ISSTALLED PERMANENTLY SUBSEA AND IS CONNECTED TO SWITCH MEANS WHICH IS CAPABBLE OF CONTROLLING FLOW OF ELECTRICAL POWER FROM THE ELECTRICAL ENERGY SOURCE TO THAT HALF. THE OTHER HALF OF THE CONNECTOR IS MOVABLE AND CONNECTED TO ELECTRICALLY OPERATED, REPLACEABLE EQUIPMENT. AN ELECTRICAL CONNECTION IS MADE WHEN THE PRONGS ARE LOCKED TOGETHER SO THAT THE SPINKES PENETRATE AND ARE EMBEDDED IN THE MALLEABLE METAL. THE MOVABLE HALVES OF THE CONNECTOR UNITS ARE COVERED WITH A NON-CONDUCTIVE LIQUID, SUCH AS OIL, PRIOR TO MAKING UP THE CONNECTION. AS THE CONNECTION IS MADE UP THE OIL FORCES WATER FROM ABOUT THE PERMANENTLY INSTALLED CONNECTOR HALVES AND WHEN MADE UP THE CONNECTION IS SURROUNDED WITH OIL. MEANS ACTUATE THE SWITCH MEANS TO CUT OFF ELECTRIC POWER TO THE CONNECTION UNITS BEFORE THE CONNECTOR HALVES CAN BE DISCONNECTED.

Inventors

• 👤 J Burkhardt
• 👤 R Koerner
• 👤 T Childers
• 👤 D Tidwell

Bibliographic Details