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US5558532A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Electrical connection

Assignee: OneSubsea IP UK Ltd
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Filing: 1994-05-12
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Granted: 1996-09-24
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Expires: 2014-05-12
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Abstract

Abstract An electrical connection across a peripheral surface through a sealed enclosure (34A) in a radial plane between a tubing hanger (5) and a surrounding support member (3). The connection involves a coupling element (17) in the tubing hanger and an electrical contact supporting shuttle (20) which can reciprocate from a position wholly within the support member, across the interface and into electrical connection with the coupling element, without producing any movement of a cable (9,10,11,15) leading into a sealed enclosure within the support. In certain embodiments (FIGS. 3-7), the shuttle (20) is driven by threaded engagement with a rotatable drive sleeve (30) and includes a sleeve (21) that is reciprocated over a stationary power core (22, 22'). The shuttle is also filled with a dielectric gel (26) contained within a flexible bladder (25). A sensor contact (35) can be used to indicate full retraction of the shuttle (FIG. 5).

Inventors

  • 👤 Hans P. Hopper

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-06 15:34
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B33/00; E21B33/02; E21B33/03; E21B33/035; E21B33/0353; E21B33/04; E21B33/0407; E21B33/047; H; H01; H01R; H01R13/00; H01R13/46; H01R13/52; H01R13/523; E21B34/00; E21B34/02

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim 109 words
An assembly providing an electrical connection across an interface between a radially inner member and a surrounding radially outer member, the assembly comprising a sealed enclosure defined between the inner and outer members; a cable which leads to the enclosure, and which has at least one conducting core; an electrical coupling element within the inner member; and a shuttle filled with a dielectric gel contained within a flexible bladder exposed to surrounding pressure, said shuttle being reciprocatable radially inwardly from a disconnected position wholly within the outer member to a connected position in which the shuttle makes an electrical connection between the conducting core and the electrical coupling element.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 109 words
An assembly providing an electrical connection across an interface between a radially inner member and a surrounding radially outer member, the assembly comprising a sealed enclosure defined between the inner and outer members; a cable which leads to the enclosure, and which has at least one conducting core; an electrical coupling element within the inner member; and a shuttle filled with a dielectric gel contained within a flexible bladder exposed to surrounding pressure, said shuttle being reciprocatable radially inwardly from a disconnected position wholly within the outer member to a connected position in which the shuttle makes an electrical connection between the conducting core and the electrical coupling element.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 27 words
An assembly according to claim 1, wherein the shuttle is slidable on a fixed power core which provides a coupling element electrically connected to the conducting core.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 37 words
An assembly according to claim 2, wherein the shuttle is provided at either or both ends with a pin which mates, in use, with a corresponding socket of the respective coupling element to make the electrical connection.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 40 words
An assembly according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the shuttle is provided at either or both ends with a socket which mates, in use, with a corresponding pin of the respective coupling element to make the electrical connection.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 52 words
An assembly according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of gland type diaphragms are provided at each end of the shuttle which seal with a conducting element in the coupling element, or, in the absence of said core, close up to seal themselves in order to retain the gel within the shuttle.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 25 words
An assembly according to claim 1, wherein a connecting cable connected to the cable is coiled within the enclosure and is fixed to the shuttle.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 22 words
An assembly according to claim 1, wherein the shuttle is reciprocated by rotation of a screw threaded element coupled to the shuttle.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 18 words
An assembly according to claim 1 wherein the electrical connection provides a connection for a plurality of cables.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 121 words
An assembly providing an electrical connection across an interface between a radially inner member and a surrounding radially outer member, the assembly comprising: a. a sealed enclosure defined between the inner and outer members; b. a cable which leads to the enclosure, and which has at least one conducting core within the outer member; c. an electrical coupling element within the inner member; d. a shuttle, said shuttle being reciprocatable radially inwardly from a disconnected position wholly within the outer member to a connected position in which the shuttle makes an electrical connection between the conducting core and the electrical coupling element; and e. a sensor contact arrangement which provides a signal indicative that the shuttle is in said disconnected position.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 121 words
An assembly providing an electrical connection across an interface between a radially inner member and a surrounding radially outer member, the assembly comprising: a. a sealed enclosure defined between the inner and outer members; b. a cable which leads to the enclosure, and which has at least one conducting core within the outer member; c. an electrical coupling element within the inner member; d. a shuttle, said shuttle being reciprocatable radially inwardly from a disconnected position wholly within the outer member to a connected position in which the shuttle makes an electrical connection between the conducting core and the electrical coupling element; and e. a sensor contact arrangement which provides a signal indicative that the shuttle is in said disconnected position.

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1999-09-24 2000-03-25 2000-09-24 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2003-09-24 2004-03-25 2004-09-24 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2007-09-24 2008-03-25 2008-09-24 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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