An underwater wet connector

Abstract

An underwater wet connector relates to a wet plug-in connector that can be used for cables of equipment such as underwater observation networks and underwater production systems. It includes a male and a female part. The female sealing head and the male sealing head play a sealing role when not connected. During the connection process, the male extension end is pushed so that the second jumper conductor of the male head is connected to the first jumper conductor of the male head and the jumper conductor of the female head. The connecting rod, support and handle ensure that the connection position is pressed tightly and in good contact. During the unplugging operation, the extended end boss is pulled back, and the push plate is clamped and pushed at the same time by the spring, so that the male and female sealing heads are reset and the seal is maintained when the male and female heads are disconnected. The male and female heads are filled with hydraulic oil, and pressure balance is achieved through the film during the plug-in and unplugging process.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an underwater wet connector, in particular to a control or power cable connector that can be used for underwater equipment such as underwater production systems. Background Art

[0002] With the development of marine engineering, underwater equipment such as underwater observation networks and underwater production systems has gradually become a key development direction. However, many key underwater equipment are still lacking in China. Underwater wet-type connectors are electrical connection devices used for cables used in underwater control, communication, and power. These devices enable underwater plugging and unplugging of submarine cables, facilitating operations such as underwater equipment maintenance.

[0003] China has mastered the design and manufacture of underwater dry connectors. However, compared to underwater wet connectors, these require the connector and part of the cable to be dragged to the surface when disconnecting the circuit. This operation is difficult and costly, and cannot be used in deep-sea underwater projects. Domestic research on underwater wet connectors has also made some progress, but the interplay between sealing performance and plugging and unplugging operations remains unresolved. Therefore, increased research on underwater wet connectors is crucial. Summary of the Invention

[0004] In order to solve the problem of underwater plugging and unplugging of connectors, while ensuring sealing, reducing the difficulty of plugging and unplugging operations, and increasing the number of plugging and unplugging and life, the present invention proposes an underwater wet connector, which can achieve reliable plugging and unplugging underwater.

[0005] The present invention addresses the technical problems presented by the present invention as follows: the present invention is designed as a two-part male and female connector, with a sealing head designed for both male and female connectors, which can seal the internal conductors when not connected. The male connector is designed with an extended end. During the connection process, the extended end is pushed into the female connector, allowing the male connector's second jumper conductor, embedded in the extended end, to connect the male connector's first jumper conductor and the female connector's jumper conductor. In this position, the male and female connectors are electrically connected. A cam structure designed into the male connector ensures a tight fit between the male connector's second jumper conductor and the female connector's jumper conductor after connection, while providing sufficient tightening force to prevent loosening during current disturbances. When the female connector is removed, a spring pushes the sealing head back. To ensure effective pushback, the spring is compressed when not connected. Considering the long life of the connector, the spring may not fully reset the sealing head after long-term operation. Therefore, a push plate is designed into the female connector to clamp and push the push plate during removal, assisting the spring in resetting the sealing head.

[0006] The present invention has the following advantages: it has excellent sealing properties, can isolate external seawater during connection, disconnection, and plugging and unplugging operations, is simple to operate, and has a secure connection that will not loosen or cause sealing problems under current disturbances. The present invention has a high plugging and unplugging frequency, allowing for a long service life. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] Figure 1 This is the appearance diagram of the present invention.

[0008] Figure 2 This is a cross-sectional view of the present invention in the main viewing direction in an unconnected state.

[0009] Figure 3 It is a cross-sectional view of the present invention in the top direction in the unconnected state.

[0010] Figure 4 This is a cross-sectional view of the main viewing direction of the connection state of the present invention.

[0011] Figure 5 It is a cross-sectional view of the present invention in the top view of the connected state.

[0012] Among them, 110, female conductor, 120, female conductor insulation layer, 130, female cable filling, 140, female film, 150, female jumper conductor, 160, female shell, 161, female oil chamber flow channel, 162, oil chamber, 163, air chamber, 164, power plate fixed shaft, 165, shell power plate slide groove, 170, spring, 180, female sealing head, 190, push plate, 191, push plate oil channel, 192, power plate slide groove, 193, push plate oil guide groove, 194, push plate oil chamber, 101, power plate, 2 10. Male connector extension end, 211. Connecting rod, 212. Support, 213. Handle, 214. Male connector sealing head, 215. Male connector auxiliary oil chamber flow channel, 216. Extended end shoulder, 220. Male connector second jumper conductor, 230. Male connector first jumper conductor, 240. Male connector inner shell, 241. Male connector main oil chamber flow channel, 242. Male connector auxiliary oil chamber, 250. Male connector film, 260. Male connector outer shell, 261. Male connector outer shell flow channel, 270. Male connector wire, 280. Male connector wire insulation layer, 290. Male connector cable filling. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0013] Depend on Figure 2 、 3 As shown, the female head housing 160 is the front end component of the female head, which includes a female head oil chamber flow channel 161, an oil chamber 162, an air chamber 163, a power assist plate fixing shaft 164 and a housing power assist plate slide groove 165.

[0014] Depend on Figure 3 As shown, the push plate 190 assists in pushing out the female sealing head 180 , and includes a push plate oil passage 191 , a power plate slide groove 192 , a push plate oil guide groove 193 and a push plate oil chamber 194 .

[0015] Depend on Figure 2 、 3As shown, the male extension end 210 is inserted into the female end and allows the conductor to connect and conduct, which includes a connecting rod 211, a support 212, a handle 213, a male sealing head 214, a male auxiliary oil chamber flow channel 215 and an extension end boss 216.

[0016] Depend on Figure 1 、 2 As shown, the male connector housing 260 is a male connector main body structure, which plays a role in connecting the cable body and the connector part. It includes a male connector housing flow channel 261.

[0017] Depend on Figure 2 、 3 As shown, in the unconnected state, one end of the female jumper conductor 150 is connected and conductive to the female lead 110, while the other end contacts the female sealing head 180. The female jumper conductor 150 is embedded in the female housing 160. The female diaphragm 140 is filled with hydraulic oil, which flows through the female oil chamber flow channel 161 to fill the oil chamber 162. The hydraulic oil also flows through the push plate oil passage 191 to fill the push plate oil chamber 194, and then through the push plate oil guide groove 194 to fill the interior of the female housing 160. The spring 170 is immersed in the hydraulic oil. The male second jumper conductor 220 is embedded in the male sealing head 214. The male secondary oil chamber flow channel 215 connects the male secondary oil chamber 242 to the rear space of the male sealing head 214. The male main oil chamber flow channel 241 connects the rear space of the male sealing head 214 to the interior of the male diaphragm 250. Hydraulic oil is filled in both the male diaphragm 250 and the male secondary oil chamber 242. The male first jumper conductor 230 is connected to the male lead 270 and is in contact with the male sealing head 214 .

[0018] Depend on Figure 1 、 2 As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the female conductor 110 and the male conductor 270 are cable conductors. The female conductor insulation layer 120 and the male conductor insulation layer 280 provide insulation protection. The female cable filler 130 and the male cable filler 290 are basic cable fillers to prevent excessive bending and damage to the conductors. The male outer shell 260 is integrally connected to the outer layer of the cable. The male outer shell flow channel 261 guides seawater to achieve pressure balance when the male membrane 250 expands or searches.

[0019] Depend on Figure 1 、 2As shown in Figures 4 and 5, during connection, the front end of the female connector housing 160 is brought together with the front end of the male connector inner housing 240, and seawater is squeezed between them, pushing the extended end shoulder 216. This pushes the male connector extended end 210 forward, and the male connector sealing head 214 pushes the female connector sealing head 180 and inserts it into the female connector housing 160. The male connector extended end 210 is pushed out to the position of the female connector membrane 140. At this time, one end of the male connector second jumper conductor 220 contacts the male connector first jumper conductor 230, and the other end contacts the female connector jumper conductor 150. This position realizes electrical conduction between the male and female connectors. During the connection operation, after the male extension end 210 is pushed to the specified position, the handle 213 is pressed. The handle 213, the support 212 and the connecting rod 211 form a cam mechanism. When the handle 213 is pressed, the connecting rod 211 presses the front end of the male extension end 210, squeezing the female jumper conductor 150 and the male second jumper conductor 220 to fit tightly together. At the same time, sufficient connection and tightening force is ensured between the male and female heads to avoid disconnection during current disturbances. The "S"-shaped design of the air cavity 163, the oil cavity 162 and the female jumper conductor 150 helps the front end of the female jumper conductor 150 to fit together with the male second jumper conductor 220 when pressure is applied. When the front end of the female housing 160 is squeezed, the volume of the oil cavity 162 changes, and the hydraulic oil achieves pressure balance through the female oil cavity flow channel 161.

[0020] Depend on Figure 3 、 5 As shown, during the connection process, the female sealing head 180 is pushed, causing the spring 170 to be compressed. During the connector removal operation of the present invention, the female sealing head 180 is primarily restored to its original position by the spring 170. When the male and female connectors are not connected, the spring 170 is in a compressed state, exerting a certain preload, but less than the friction between the female sealing head 180 and the female housing 160. Considering the longevity requirement of the present invention, the spring 170 may not be able to fully restore the female sealing head 180 when the connector is removed after prolonged operation. Therefore, a push plate 190 and a booster plate 101 are designed. The booster plates 101 are hinged to each other, and the hinged position is located in the housing's booster plate slot 165 and booster plate slot 192, where they can slide. One end of the booster plate 101 is hinged to the female housing 160 via the booster plate fixed shaft 164, and the other end is hinged to the female sealing head 180. When the spring 170 is compressed, the assist plate 101 folds and pushes the push plate 190 outward. During the male connector removal process, if the female connector sealing head 180 does not return to its original position, the push plate 190 can be clamped and pushed from both sides. During this process, the assist plate 101 will push the female connector sealing head 180 back to its original position. While the push plate 190 is being pushed outward or clamped, hydraulic oil flows through the push plate oil passage 191 and the push plate oil guide groove 193 within the female connector housing 160, between the push plate oil chamber 194 and the interior of the female connector diaphragm 140. During the insertion and removal process, hydraulic oil flows through the male connector secondary oil chamber flow channel 215 and the male connector main oil chamber flow channel 241, before flowing to the front and rear of the male connector secondary oil chamber 242 and the interior of the male connector diaphragm 250.

Claims

1. An underwater wet connector, characterized in that It includes a female head film (140), a female head jumper conductor (150), a female head shell (160), a female head sealing head (180), a push plate (190), a power assist plate (101), a male head extension end (210), a male head second jumper conductor (220), a male head first jumper conductor (230), a male head inner shell (240), a male head film (250), and a male head outer shell (260); In the unconnected state, one end of the female jumper conductor (150) is connected to the female lead wire (110) and is conductive, and the other end is in contact with the female sealing head (180); the female jumper conductor (150) is embedded in the female housing (160); the female film (140) is filled with hydraulic oil, and the hydraulic oil fills the oil cavity (162) through the female oil cavity flow channel (161); the hydraulic oil simultaneously fills the push plate oil cavity (194) through the push plate oil channel (191), and fills the internal space of the female housing (160) through the push plate oil guide groove (194), and the spring (170) is immersed In the hydraulic oil; the male second jumper conductor (220) is embedded in the male sealing head (214); the male auxiliary oil chamber flow channel (215) connects the male auxiliary oil chamber (242) and the rear space of the male sealing head (214); the male main oil chamber flow channel (241) connects the rear space of the male sealing head (214) and the internal space of the male film (250); the male film (250) and the male auxiliary oil chamber (242) are filled with hydraulic oil; the male first jumper conductor (230) is connected to the male lead (270) and is in contact with the male sealing head (214); During connection, the front end of the female shell (160) and the front end of the male inner shell (240) are brought together and the seawater therebetween is squeezed to push the extended end boss (216), and the male extended end (210) is pushed forward. The male sealing head (214) pushes the female sealing head (180) and is inserted into the female shell (160); the male extended end (210) is pushed out to the position of the female membrane (140), at which time one end of the male second jumper conductor (220) contacts the male first jumper conductor (230), and one end contacts the female jumper conductor (150), and this position realizes electrical conduction between the male and female heads.

2. An underwater wet connector according to claim 1, characterized in that The female housing (160) comprises a female oil chamber flow channel (161), an oil chamber (162), an air chamber (163), a power-assisting plate fixing shaft (164), and a housing power-assisting plate slide groove (165); the air chamber (163) is a closed, inflatable space inside the female housing (160).

3. An underwater wet connector according to claim 1, characterized in that The push plate (190) comprises a push plate oil passage (191), a power-assisting plate slide groove (192), a push plate oil guide groove (193), and a push plate oil guide groove (194).

4. An underwater wet connector according to claim 1, characterized in that The male extension end (210) comprises a connecting rod (211), a support (212), a handle (213), a male sealing head (214), a male auxiliary oil chamber flow channel (215), and an extension end boss (216).

5. An underwater wet connector according to claim 1, characterized in that The male outer shell (260) comprises a male outer shell flow channel (261).

Images