An undersea cable bending limiter

Abstract

The present invention relates to the technical field of submarine cable laying, and specifically provides a submarine cable bending limiter, which includes two splicing bodies arranged in mirror symmetry. Each splicing body includes a buffer mechanism, and there are two limiting mechanisms, which are arranged in mirror symmetry on both sides of the buffer mechanism, and a fastening mechanism is installed in each limiting mechanism; the buffer mechanism includes a semi-circular ring block, the inner diameter of the semi-circular ring block is larger than the outer diameter of the submarine cable, both ends of the semi-circular ring block are fixed with semi-circular sleeves, and the end of the semi-circular sleeve is fixed with an anti-detachment ring. The limiting mechanism includes a pressing cylinder, both ends of the pressing cylinder protrude to form end heads, and a clamping ring is fixed on the outer edge of the end heads. The end heads are slidably installed in the semi-circular sleeves. The end heads are slidably installed in the semi-circular sleeves, and the outer diameter of the end heads is smaller than the inner diameter of the semi-circular sleeves, so that the end heads can be tilted at a certain angle in the semi-circular sleeves, thereby achieving the effect of limiting the bending radian of the submarine cable.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of submarine cable laying, and particularly to a submarine cable bending limiter. Background Art

[0002] When establishing an offshore wind farm, a booster station needs to be built. The electric energy generated by the wind turbines in the offshore wind farm is collected and boosted by the offshore booster station, and then transmitted to the landing point near the onshore centralized control center through a submarine cable and connected to the power grid nearby. During the laying process of the submarine cable and at the terminal connection, there is a high possibility of excessive bending of the cable, resulting in cable damage. The role of the bending limiter is to prevent excessive bending of the cable and protect the normal operation of the cable.

[0003] The submarine cable bending limiter with the patent document publication number CN218633273U includes a first limiter and a second limiter. The first limiter is composed of two semi-tubes. The second limiter is placed on the right end surface of the first limiter. An installation groove is opened on the right end surface of the first limiter. Multiple groups of sliding grooves are opened on the outer wall of the installation groove. Multiple groups of spring pins are fixed on the inner wall of the right end of the first limiter. Multiple groups of positioning holes are opened on the right end surface of the first limiter, and the positioning holes and the sliding grooves are designed in a staggered manner. Through the provided installation groove, sliding grooves, spring pins, positioning holes, sliders and positioning columns, this patent can facilitate the staff to easily install the second limiter on the first limiter, so as to achieve the purpose of lengthening the protection length of the first limiter and make the first limiter applicable to submarine cables of different lengths. However, this patent still has some deficiencies: when the submarine cable is disturbed by water flow, it is easy to generate rapid twisting. The existing bending limiter can only limit the bending arc of the submarine cable, but it is difficult to limit the bending speed of the submarine cable when it is stressed. Therefore, the bending part of the submarine cable is easily subjected to a large impact, resulting in damage to the submarine cable and the bending limiter. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is: in order to solve the problem that the existing submarine cable bending limiter is difficult to limit the bending speed of the cable, the present invention provides a submarine cable bending limiter to solve the above problem.

[0005] The technical solution adopted by the present invention to solve its technical problems is as follows: A submarine cable bending limiter includes two splicing bodies arranged in mirror symmetry. After the two splicing bodies are spliced, they can be wrapped around the outer wall of the submarine cable. The two splicing bodies are fixedly connected by bolts. Each splicing body includes a buffer mechanism, a limiting mechanism, and a fastening mechanism. There are two limiting mechanisms, and the two limiting mechanisms are arranged in mirror symmetry on both sides of the buffer mechanism. The limiting mechanism is slidably connected to the buffer mechanism. A fastening mechanism is installed in each limiting mechanism, and the fastening mechanism can be sleeved on the submarine cable. The buffer mechanism includes a semi-circular ring block. The inner diameter of the semi-circular ring block is larger than the outer diameter of the submarine cable. Both ends of the semi-circular ring block are fixed with semi-circular sleeves, and the ends of the semi-circular sleeves are fixed with anti-detachment rings. The limiting mechanism includes a pressing cylinder. Both ends of the pressing cylinder protrude to form end heads. A clamping ring is fixed on the outer edge of the end head. The end head is slidably installed in the semi-circular sleeve. The outer diameter of the end head is smaller than the inner diameter of the semi-circular sleeve. The outer diameter of the clamping ring is larger than the inner diameter of the anti-detachment ring.

[0006] Preferably, a plurality of spring holes are formed in the inner wall of the semi-circular ring block along the circumferential direction. The axis of the spring hole is perpendicular to the axis of the semi-circular ring block. A buffer column is slidably installed in each spring hole. A spring is connected between the bottom of the buffer column and the spring hole. The top of the buffer column is fixed with an arc-shaped plate, and the arc-shaped plate is used to press against the submarine cable.

[0007] Preferably, a plurality of piston holes are formed at both ends of the semi-circular ring block. The axis of the piston hole is parallel to the axis of the semi-circular ring block. A piston head is slidably installed in the piston hole. An overflow hole penetrating the piston head is formed in the piston head. A piston rod is fixed at the center of the piston head. The other end of the piston rod is connected to the ball head seat through a universal ball head, and the ball head seat is fixed on the end face of the end head.

[0008] Preferably, the fastening mechanism includes two semi-circular tile sleeves. A limiting protrusion is arranged on the outer wall of the semi-circular tile sleeve. A ring groove is formed in the inner ring of the pressing cylinder, and the limiting protrusion is rotationally engaged in the ring groove.

[0009] Preferably, a strip-shaped groove is formed on the outer wall of the limiting protrusion. A pressing strip is slidably installed in the strip-shaped groove. The pressing strip is connected to the inner bottom of the strip-shaped groove through an elastic sheet.

[0010] Preferably, an anti-slip pad is fixed on the inner side of the semi-circular tile sleeve.

[0011] Preferably, a plurality of reinforcing ribs are fixed between the end head and the outer wall of the pressing cylinder.

[0012] Preferably, both ends of the plurality of splicing bodies can be connected to each other through the semi-circular sleeve and the end head.

[0013] The beneficial effects of the present invention are as follows. First, a buffer mechanism and a limiting mechanism are provided. The buffer mechanism includes a semi-circular ring block and a semi-circular sleeve, and the limiting mechanism includes an end head. The end head is slidably installed in the semi-circular sleeve, and the outer diameter of the end head is smaller than the inner diameter of the semi-circular sleeve, so that the end head can be inclined at a certain angle in the semi-circular sleeve, thereby achieving the effect of restricting the bending radius of the submarine cable. The outer diameter of the snap ring is larger than the inner diameter of the anti-slip ring to prevent the end head from slipping out of the semi-circular sleeve.

[0014] Second, when the cable is bent under force, it will drive the end head to tilt at a certain angle. Therefore, when the bending speed of the cable is too fast, the end head will quickly tilt and drive the piston head to move. When the piston head moves quickly, the seawater on the side close to the piston head cannot flow to the other side of the piston head through the overflow hole in time. Therefore, the seawater retained on one side of the piston hole will provide resistance to the piston head, generating a damping effect, slowing down the moving speed of the piston head, and then slowing down the tilting speed of the end head, so as to slow down the bending speed of the submarine cable and prevent the submarine cable from being damaged by rapid bending. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] In order to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the present invention or the technical solutions in the prior art, the following will briefly introduce the drawings required for the description of the embodiments or the prior art. Obviously, the drawings in the following description are only exemplary, and for those of ordinary skill in the art, without creative efforts, other implementation drawings can be obtained based on the provided drawings.

[0016] Figure 1 is a schematic structural diagram of the optimal embodiment of a submarine cable bending limiter of the present invention;

[0017] Figure 2 is a schematic internal structural diagram of a submarine cable bending limiter of the present invention;

[0018] Figure 3 is a schematic structural diagram of the compression cylinder of a submarine cable bending limiter of the present invention;

[0019] Figure 4 is a schematic structural diagram of the semi-circular ring block of a submarine cable bending limiter of the present invention;

[0020] Figure 5 is a schematic structural diagram of the piston head of a submarine cable bending limiter of the present invention;

[0021] Figure 6 is a schematic structural diagram of the semi-circular tile sleeve of a submarine cable bending limiter of the present invention.

[0022] Reference numerals: 1, buffer mechanism; 2, limiting mechanism; 3, fastening mechanism; 4, semi-circular block; 5, semi-circular sleeve; 6, anti-detachment ring; 7, pressing cylinder; 8, end; 9, snap ring; 10, spring hole; 11, buffer column; 12, arc plate; 13, piston hole; 14, piston head; 15, overflow hole; 16, piston rod; 17, universal ball head; 18, ball head seat; 19, semi-circular tile sleeve; 20, limiting projection; 21, annular groove; 22, pressing strip; 23, anti-slip pad; 24, reinforcing rib. Detailed implementation manners

[0023] Next, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present invention, rather than all the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative efforts shall fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

[0024] First, the concepts involved in the present application will be described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It should be noted here that the following descriptions of each concept are only for making the content of the present application easier to understand, and do not represent a limitation on the protection scope of the present application; at the same time, without conflict, the embodiments in the present application and the features in the embodiments can be combined with each other. The present application will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings and in conjunction with the embodiments.

[0025] As Figures 1 to 6 shown, the present invention provides an embodiment of a submarine cable bending limiter, which includes two splicing bodies arranged in mirror symmetry. After the two splicing bodies are spliced, they can wrap around the outer wall of the submarine cable. The two splicing bodies are fixedly connected by bolts to prevent the splicing bodies from falling off the submarine cable.

[0026] Each splicing body includes a buffer mechanism 1, a limiting mechanism 2, and a fastening mechanism 3. There are two limiting mechanisms 2, and the two limiting mechanisms 2 are arranged in mirror symmetry on both sides of the buffer mechanism 1. The limiting mechanism 2 is slidably connected to the buffer mechanism 1. A fastening mechanism 3 is installed in each limiting mechanism 2. The fastening mechanism 3 can be sleeved on the submarine cable. When the fastening mechanism 3 is fixed to the submarine cable, the buffer mechanism 1 between the two fastening mechanisms 3 can also be sleeved outside the cable. That is, the buffer mechanism 1 and the limiting mechanism 2 can be fixed on the submarine cable through the fastening mechanism 3 to prevent the buffer mechanism 1 and the limiting mechanism 2 from falling off.

[0027] The fastening mechanism 3 includes two semi-circular tile sleeves 19. The outer wall of the semi-circular tile sleeve 19 is provided with a limiting protrusion 20. A ring groove 21 is formed in the inner ring of the pressing cylinder 7. The limiting protrusion 20 is rotationally engaged in the ring groove 21. Through the cooperation of the limiting protrusion 20 and the ring groove 21, the semi-circular tile sleeve 19 can be restricted within the pressing cylinder 7. When the two splicing bodies are spliced together, the semi-circular tile sleeve 19 pressed against the submarine cable can rotate. Therefore, when the submarine cable is slightly twisted along the axis, the semi-circular tile sleeve 19 can rotate by a certain angle along with the submarine cable without slipping. When the semi-circular tile sleeve 19 and the submarine cable are twisted, the pressing cylinder 7 will not twist along with the submarine cable, thereby avoiding the force generated by the cable twist from being transmitted to the pressing cylinder 7 and preventing the pressing cylinder 7 from being damaged by the torsion of the submarine cable.

[0028] A strip-shaped groove is formed in the outer wall of the limiting protrusion 20. A pressing strip 22 is slidably installed in the strip-shaped groove. The pressing strip 22 is connected to the inner bottom of the strip-shaped groove through an elastic sheet. When the two splicing bodies are spliced together by bolts, at this time the submarine cable is fixed between the two semi-circular tile sleeves 19. After the semi-circular tile sleeve 19 abuts against the submarine cable, the pressing strip 22 will be pressed into the strip-shaped groove, thereby applying a greater pressure to the semi-circular tile sleeve 19 through the pressing strip 22 to prevent the semi-circular tile sleeve 19 from slipping.

[0029] An anti-slip pad 23 is fixed to the inner side of the semi-circular tile sleeve 19 to increase the friction between the semi-circular tile sleeve 19 and the submarine cable and prevent the semi-circular tile sleeve 19 from slipping on the submarine cable.

[0030] The buffer mechanism 1 includes a semi-circular ring block 4. The inner diameter of the semi-circular ring block 4 is larger than the outer diameter of the submarine cable. Both ends of the semi-circular ring block 4 are fixed with semi-circular sleeves 5. An anti-slip ring 6 is fixed to the end of the semi-circular sleeve 5. The limiting mechanism 2 includes a pressing cylinder 7. Both ends of the pressing cylinder 7 protrude to form end heads 8. A plurality of reinforcing ribs 24 are fixed between the end heads 8 and the outer wall of the pressing cylinder 7 to improve the connection strength at the end heads 8.

[0031] A snap ring 9 is fixed to the outer edge of the end head 8. The end head 8 is slidably installed in the semi-circular sleeve 5. The outer diameter of the end head 8 is smaller than the inner diameter of the semi-circular sleeve 5 so that the end head 8 can tilt at a certain angle within the semi-circular sleeve 5. The outer diameter of the snap ring 9 is larger than the inner diameter of the anti-slip ring 6 to prevent the end head 8 from sliding out of the semi-circular sleeve 5.

[0032] When protecting the bending position of a submarine cable, two splicing bodies need to be joined together by bolts to form a complete bending limiter. Then, multiple bending limiters are connected to each other to wrap the bending section of the submarine cable. When multiple complete bending limiters are connected, the semi-circular sleeve 5 at one end of one bending limiter can be slidably connected to the end 8 of another bending limiter. When the submarine cable bends, the end 8 of each bending limiter can only tilt at a small angle. By connecting multiple bending limiters, the effect of restricting the bending radian of the submarine cable is achieved.

[0033] A plurality of spring holes 10 are formed in the inner wall of the semi-circular ring block 4 along the circumferential direction. The axis of the spring hole 10 is perpendicular to the axis of the semi-circular ring block 4. A buffer column 11 is slidably installed in each spring hole 10. A spring is connected between the bottom of the buffer column 11 and the spring hole 10. An arc-shaped plate 12 is fixed to the top of the buffer column 11. The arc-shaped plate 12 is used to tightly press against the submarine cable.

[0034] After the two splicing bodies are wrapped around the submarine cable, the submarine cable on both sides of the semi-circular ring block 4 is connected to the two fastening mechanisms 3. When the pressing cylinder 7 presses the submarine cable tightly, it is difficult for the submarine cable located inside the pressing cylinder 7 to bend. Since the inner diameter of the semi-circular ring block 4 is larger than the outer diameter of the submarine cable, a bending space is left for the submarine cable. Therefore, the submarine cable can only bend at a certain angle at the position of the semi-circular ring block 4. When the submarine cable bends, the periphery of the bending part of the submarine cable is tightly pressed against the arc-shaped plate 12. The arc-shaped plate 12 supports the bending position of the submarine cable to ensure that the bending part of the submarine cable is a smoothly transitioned arc-shaped bend, preventing the submarine cable from being damaged.

[0035] A plurality of piston holes 13 are formed at both ends of the semi-circular ring block 4. The axis of the piston hole 13 is parallel to the axis of the semi-circular ring block 4. The piston hole 13 is a blind hole, that is, the piston holes 13 at both ends of the semi-circular ring block 4 are not connected to each other. A piston head 14 is slidably installed in the piston hole 13. An overflow hole 15 penetrating the piston head 14 is formed in the piston head 14. A piston rod 16 is fixed at the center of the piston head 14. The other end of the piston rod 16 is connected to a ball head seat 18 through a universal ball head 17. The ball head seat 18 is fixed on the end face of the end 8.

[0036] When the cable is bent under force, it will drive the end 8 to tilt at a certain angle. Therefore, when the bending speed of the cable is too fast, the end 8 will tilt rapidly. When the end 8 tilts, the position of the end 8 close to the inner circle of the submarine cable bend will gradually approach the semi-circular block 4, and the position of the end 8 close to the outer circle of the submarine cable bend will gradually move away from the semi-circular block 4. Therefore, when the end 8 tilts, the part of the end 8 close to the semi-circular block 4 will push the piston rod 16 and the piston head 14 to move rapidly into the piston hole 13, and the part of the end 8 away from the semi-circular block 4 will pull the piston rod 16 and the piston head 14 to move rapidly outside the piston hole 13. When the piston head 14 moves rapidly, the seawater on the side close to the piston head 14 cannot flow to the other side of the piston head 14 through the overflow hole 15 in time. Therefore, the seawater retained on one side of the piston hole 13 will provide resistance to the piston head 14, producing a damping effect, slowing down the moving speed of the piston head 14, and further slowing down the tilting speed of the end 8, so as to slow down the bending speed of the submarine cable and prevent the submarine cable from being damaged by rapid bending.

[0037] In this article, specific examples are used to elaborate on the principles and implementation methods of this application. The descriptions of the above embodiments are only used to help understand the method and its core idea of this application. The above are only the preferred implementation methods of this application. It should be noted that due to the limited nature of written expression and the objectively infinite specific structures, for those of ordinary skill in the art in this technical field, without departing from the principles of this application, several improvements, refinements or changes can be made, or the above technical features can be combined in an appropriate manner; these improvements, refinements, changes or combinations, or directly applying the concept and technical solution of the invention to other occasions without improvement, should all be regarded as the protection scope of this application.

Claims

1. A submarine cable bending limiter, characterized in that: The invention comprises two splicing bodies arranged in mirror image symmetry, wherein the two splicing bodies can be wrapped around the outer wall of a submarine cable after being spliced ​​together, and the two splicing bodies are fixedly connected by bolts, and each of the splicing bodies comprises a buffer mechanism (1), a limit mechanism (2) and a fastening mechanism (3), wherein two limit mechanisms (2) are provided, and the two limit mechanisms (2) are arranged in mirror image symmetry on both sides of the buffer mechanism (1), and the limit mechanisms (2) are slidably connected to the buffer mechanism (1), and the fastening mechanism (3) is installed in each of the limit mechanisms (2), and the fastening mechanism (3) can be sleeved on the submarine cable; The buffer mechanism (1) comprises a semicircular ring block (4), the inner diameter of the semicircular ring block (4) is larger than the outer diameter of the submarine cable, semicircular sleeves (5) are fixed at both ends of the semicircular ring block (4), and anti-slip rings (6) are fixed at the ends of the semicircular sleeve (5), and the limiting mechanism (2) comprises a clamping cylinder (7), the two ends of the clamping cylinder (7) are raised to form an end head (8), the outer edge of the end head (8) is fixed with a clamping ring (9), the end head (8) is slidably mounted in the semicircular sleeve (5), the outer diameter of the end head (8) is smaller than the inner diameter of the semicircular sleeve (5), and the outer diameter of the clamping ring (9) is larger than the inner diameter of the anti-slip ring (6); A plurality of piston holes (13) are provided at both ends of the semicircular ring block (4), the axes of the piston holes (13) are parallel to the axes of the semicircular ring block (4), a piston head (14) is slidably mounted in the piston hole (13), an overflow hole (15) penetrating the piston head (14) is provided on the piston head (14), a piston rod (16) is fixed at the center of the piston head (14), the other end of the piston rod (16) is connected to a ball head seat (18) via a universal ball head (17), and the ball head seat (18) is fixed to the end surface of the end head (8).

2. A submarine cable bending limiter according to claim 1, characterized in that: A plurality of spring holes (10) are provided on the inner wall of the semicircular ring block (4) in a circumferential direction, the axes of the spring holes (10) being perpendicular to the axes of the semicircular ring block (4), a buffer column (11) being slidably mounted in each of the spring holes (10), the bottom of the buffer column (11) being connected to the spring hole (10) via a spring, an arc plate (12) being fixed to the top of the buffer column (11), the arc plate (12) being used to press against the submarine cable.

3. A submarine cable bending limiter according to claim 1, characterized in that: The fastening mechanism (3) comprises two semicircular bushings (19), the outer walls of the semicircular bushings (19) are provided with limiting protrusions (20), the inner ring of the pressing cylinder (7) is provided with an annular groove (21), and the limiting protrusions (20) are rotatably engaged in the annular groove (21).

4. A submarine cable bending limiter as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that: The outer wall of the limiting protrusion (20) is provided with a strip groove, a pressure strip (22) is slidably installed in the strip groove, and the pressure strip (22) is connected to the inner bottom of the strip groove via a spring sheet.

5. A submarine cable bending limiter as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that: An anti-slip pad (23) is fixed on the inner side of the semicircular tile sleeve (19).

6. A submarine cable bending limiter as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that: A plurality of reinforcing ribs (24) are fixed between the end head (8) and the outer wall of the pressing cylinder (7).

7. A submarine cable bending limiter according to claim 1, characterized in that: The two ends of the plurality of spliced ​​bodies can be connected to each other via the semicircular sleeve (5) and the end head (8).

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