Bending limiter for marine equipment
By designing a combination of vertical mounting slots for joints and connecting keys, as well as a limiting shaft, in the bending limiter, the problem of controllable bending of cables in two vertical directions is solved, improving the reliability of bending limitation and avoiding cable rotational damage.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Patents(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- SHENZHEN OUTE MARINE TECH CO LTD
- Filing Date
- 2026-01-09
- Publication Date
- 2026-07-31
AI Technical Summary
Existing unidirectional bend limiters cannot meet the controllable bending requirements of cables in two perpendicular directions, while omnidirectional bend limiters pose a risk of cable rotation around its own axis, resulting in low reliability of bend limiting effect.
A bending limiter is designed, comprising a joint, a connecting key, and a limiting shaft. The joint has mounting slots in two vertical directions. The pivoting connection of the joint is achieved through the connecting key and the limiting shaft, which restricts the bending of the cable in two vertical directions and prevents the cable from rotating around its own axis.
It improves the reliability of cable bending restriction in two vertical directions, reduces the risk of internal structural damage to the cable due to excessive twisting or unexpected bending, and enhances the reliability of bending restriction effect.
Smart Images
Figure CN121484763B_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] Embodiments of this disclosure relate to the field of marine engineering equipment technology, and more specifically to bend limiters for marine equipment. Background Technology
[0002] Bending limiters are critical protective components in marine engineering equipment, primarily used to enclose underwater pipelines, cables, or fiber optic cables. They mechanically limit the bending curvature to prevent fatigue damage, seal failure, or signal interruption caused by excessive bending. Currently, common bending limiters are mostly unidirectional bending limiters and omnidirectional bending limiters. Unidirectional bending limiters typically employ a hinged joint series structure, which is simple in structure and low in cost, allowing cables to bend in a single plane and limiting cable bending. Omnidirectional bending limiters typically use a mating pair of annular bosses and annular grooves to achieve multi-directional bending and bending limitation of cables.
[0003] However, in practice, it has been found that during the storage and hoisting of equipment such as repeater sealed compartments and underwater digital compartments, cables often need to have controllable bending capabilities in two mutually perpendicular directions. Unidirectional bending limiters can only limit the bending of cables in a single plane and cannot meet the requirements for controllable bending in two directions. Omnidirectional bending limiters can achieve multi-directional bending of cables, but there is a risk that the cables will rotate around their own axis. There is a possibility that the internal structure of the cables may be damaged due to excessive twisting or unexpected bending, which presents a technical problem of low reliability in limiting the bending effect of cables.
[0004] The information disclosed in this background section is only intended to enhance the understanding of the background of the inventive concept, and therefore may contain information that does not constitute prior art known to those skilled in the art. Summary of the Invention
[0005] The summary portion of this disclosure is intended to provide a brief overview of the concepts, which will be described in detail in the detailed description portion. This summary portion is not intended to identify key or essential features of the claimed technical solutions, nor is it intended to limit the scope of the claimed technical solutions.
[0006] Some embodiments of this disclosure provide a bend limiter for marine equipment to address one or more of the technical problems mentioned in the background section above.
[0007] Some embodiments of this disclosure provide a bend limiter for marine equipment, comprising: a joint member, a connecting key, and a limiting shaft; the joint member has mounting grooves in a first direction and a second direction, the first direction and the second direction being perpendicular to each other, the length direction of the mounting groove in the first direction being perpendicular to the first direction, and the length direction of the mounting groove in the second direction being perpendicular to the second direction; a first fixing hole is provided on the side of the mounting groove, and a second fixing hole is provided at both ends of the connecting key, the two ends of the connecting key being respectively embedded in the mounting grooves in the same direction of two adjacent joint members; the limiting shaft can be embedded into the aligned first fixing hole and the second fixing hole, and the joint member and the connecting key are pivotally connected through the limiting shaft; one end face of the joint member has a first inclined surface on both sides in the first direction, and the other end face of the joint member has a second inclined surface on both sides in the second direction; multiple joint members are connected in series to form a bend limiter body, and the bend limiter body is nested on the outside of a cable.
[0008] Optionally, the aforementioned bending limiter for marine equipment further includes a limiting screw; the aforementioned limiting shaft is provided with a limiting groove, and the two ends of the aforementioned connecting key are also provided with limiting holes; one end of the aforementioned limiting screw is embedded in the aforementioned limiting hole, and the other end is embedded in the aforementioned limiting groove.
[0009] Optionally, the number of mounting slots of the joint member in the first direction or the second direction is at least two.
[0010] Optionally, the side of the connecting key is an arc-shaped surface.
[0011] Optionally, when the relative rotation of two adjacent joint members around the limiting axis reaches the maximum bending angle, the inclined surfaces can fit together.
[0012] Optionally, the side of the connecting key is clearance-fitted with the inner wall of the mounting groove, and the connecting key can rotate around the limiting shaft.
[0013] Optionally, the inclination angles of the first inclined surface and the second inclined surface are in the range of 0° to 60°.
[0014] Optionally, the aforementioned bend limiter for marine equipment further includes a first adapter and a second adapter; the first adapter and the second adapter are respectively connected to both ends of the bend limiter body via the connecting key and the limiting shaft; one end of the first adapter is provided with a mounting groove adapted to the joint, a first fixing hole, and an inclined surface identical to the adjacent joint, and the other end of the first adapter is provided with a connection structure adapted to the cable outlet end of the cabin, wherein the cabin includes at least one of the following: a repeater sealed cabin and an underwater digital cabin; one end of the second adapter is provided with a mounting groove adapted to the joint, a first fixing hole, and an inclined surface identical to the adjacent joint, and the other end of the second adapter is provided with a flexible conical transition structure; the first adapter is fixed to the cable outlet end of the cabin via the connection structure; the cable extends from the cable outlet end of the cabin, passes through the first adapter and the bend limiter body, and passes through the flexible conical transition structure of the second adapter.
[0015] The various embodiments disclosed above have the following beneficial effects: the bend limiter for marine equipment according to some embodiments of the present disclosure can improve the reliability of cable bend restriction. Specifically, the reason for the low reliability of cable bend restriction is that: a unidirectional bend limiter can only restrict the bend of the cable in a single plane, and cannot meet the controllable bend requirements in two directions. An omnidirectional bend limiter can achieve multi-directional bend of the cable, but it will cause the cable to rotate around its own axis. There is a possibility that the internal structure of the cable may be damaged due to excessive twisting or unexpected bending, resulting in low reliability of the cable bend restriction effect. Some embodiments of this disclosure provide a bend limiter for marine equipment, comprising: a joint member, a connecting key, and a limiting shaft; the joint member has mounting grooves in a first direction and a second direction, the first direction and the second direction being perpendicular to each other, the length direction of the mounting groove in the first direction being perpendicular to the first direction, and the length direction of the mounting groove in the second direction being perpendicular to the second direction; a first fixing hole is provided on the side of the mounting groove, and a second fixing hole is provided at both ends of the connecting key, the two ends of the connecting key being respectively embedded in the mounting grooves in the same direction of two adjacent joint members; the limiting shaft can be embedded into the aligned first fixing hole and the second fixing hole, and the joint member and the connecting key are pivotally connected through the limiting shaft; one end face of the joint member has a first inclined surface on both sides in the first direction, and the other end face of the joint member has a second inclined surface on both sides in the second direction; multiple joint members are connected in series to form a bend limiter body, and the bend limiter body is nested on the outside of a cable. By setting mounting grooves in both the first and second mutually perpendicular directions on the joint component, and cooperating with the connecting key and the limiting shaft, bending restriction in the two perpendicular directions is achieved. At the same time, by restricting the bending of the cable only in the two mutually perpendicular directions, the risk of the cable rotating around its own axis can be effectively reduced, so that the cable has controllable bending ability in the two mutually perpendicular directions, thereby improving the reliability of the bending limiter's bending restriction effect on the cable. Attached Figure Description
[0016] The above and other features, advantages, and aspects of the embodiments of this disclosure will become more apparent from the accompanying drawings and the following detailed description. Throughout the drawings, the same or similar reference numerals denote the same or similar elements. It should be understood that the drawings are schematic, and elements are not necessarily drawn to scale.
[0017] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a bend limiter for marine equipment according to some embodiments of this disclosure; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the joint component of a bend limiter for marine equipment according to some embodiments of this disclosure. Detailed Implementation
[0018] Embodiments of this disclosure will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. While some embodiments of this disclosure are shown in the drawings, it should be understood that this disclosure can be implemented in various forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided to provide a more thorough and complete understanding of this disclosure. It should be understood that the accompanying drawings and embodiments of this disclosure are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of this disclosure.
[0019] It should also be noted that, for ease of description, only the parts relevant to the invention are shown in the accompanying drawings. Unless otherwise specified, the embodiments and features described in this disclosure can be combined with each other.
[0020] It should be noted that the concepts of "first" and "second" mentioned in this disclosure are used only to distinguish different devices, modules or units, and are not used to limit the order of functions performed by these devices, modules or units or their interdependencies.
[0021] It should be noted that the terms "a" and "a plurality of" used in this disclosure are illustrative rather than restrictive, and those skilled in the art should understand that, unless otherwise expressly indicated in the context, they should be understood as "one or more".
[0022] This disclosure will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments.
[0023] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a bend limiter for marine equipment according to some embodiments of this disclosure. Figure 1 It includes joint 1, connecting key 2, limit shaft 3, limit screw 4, first adapter 5, and second adapter 6.
[0024] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the joint component of a bend limiter for marine equipment according to some embodiments of this disclosure. Figure 2 It includes a mounting groove 101, a first fixing hole 102, a first inclined surface 103, and a second inclined surface 104.
[0025] In some embodiments, the bending limiter for marine equipment includes: a joint 1, a connecting key 2, and a limiting shaft 3. The joint 1 can be a hollow cylindrical structure, its inner wall adaptable to the outer surface of the cable to ensure effective wrapping and protection of the cable. The connecting key 2 can be a plate-like structure. The joint 1 has mounting grooves 101 in both a first direction and a second direction. The first direction can be perpendicular to the second direction; for example, the first direction can be horizontal, and the second direction can be vertical. The intersection of the first and second directions can be located at the center of the joint 1. The mounting groove 101 can be a rectangular groove that matches the plate-like structure of the connecting key 2, facilitating the insertion of the connecting key 2 into the mounting groove 101. The connecting key 2 can be inserted into the mounting groove 101 along the length of its plate-like structure. The length of the rectangular groove opening can be greater than the width of the connecting key 2, and the width of the rectangular groove opening can be equal to the thickness of the connecting key 2, allowing the connecting key 2 to move within a plane after being embedded in the mounting groove 101. The length direction of the mounting groove 101 in the first direction can be perpendicular to the first direction, allowing the connecting key 2 to move within a plane in the second direction after being embedded in the mounting groove 101. The length direction of the mounting groove 101 in the second direction can be perpendicular to the second direction, allowing the connecting key 2 to move within a plane in the first direction after being embedded in the mounting groove 101.
[0026] In some embodiments, the limiting shaft 3 can be a cylindrical rod. The side of the mounting groove 101 can be provided with a first fixing hole 102, and both ends of the connecting key 2 can be provided with second fixing holes. Both the first fixing hole 102 and the second fixing hole can be holes adapted to the diameter of the limiting shaft 3. The two ends of the connecting key 2 can be respectively embedded in the mounting groove 101 in the same direction of two adjacent joint members 1, aligning the axes of the two adjacent joint members 1 to facilitate cable passage through the joint members 1. The limiting shaft 3 can be embedded into the aligned first fixing hole 102 and second fixing hole, realizing a pivotal connection between the joint member 1 and the connecting key 2, allowing the joint member 1 to rotate around the limiting shaft 3. The number of mounting grooves 101 in both the first and second directions can be two, and both are located on both sides of the hollow structure, increasing the connection strength between the two adjacent joint members 1.
[0027] In some embodiments, one end face of the joint member 1 may be provided with a first inclined surface 103 on both sides of the first direction. The other end face of the joint member 1 may be provided with a second inclined surface 104 on both sides of the second direction. Both the first inclined surface 103 and the second inclined surface 104 can be oblique surfaces, and their inclination angles can be set according to actual needs to adapt to different cable bending situations, without specific limitations. For example, during the storage of equipment such as repeater sealed compartments or underwater digital compartments, it is necessary to prevent excessive bending of cables and to allow cables to have a large bending angle in order to save deck space on the ship to the greatest extent. During the use of cables, it is necessary to prevent fatigue damage to cables due to repeated or excessive bending under dynamic loads such as waves and ocean currents, requiring the cables to have a small bending angle. Specifically, one end of the connecting key 2 can be embedded into the mounting groove 101, and the first fixing hole 102 and the second fixing hole can be aligned. Then, the limiting shaft 3 can be embedded into the first fixing hole 102 and the second fixing hole. Next, the other end of the connecting key 2 can be embedded into the mounting groove 101 in the same direction of another joint member 1, and the limiting shaft 3 can be embedded into the first fixing hole 102 and the second fixing hole. At this time, both adjacent joint members 1 can rotate around their respective limiting shafts 3. When the inclined surfaces of the two adjacent joint members 1 contact each other, a bending restriction function can be achieved. For example, both adjacent joint members 1 are connected to the mounting groove 101 in the first direction. It should be noted that there can be two mounting slots 101 in the same direction. First, the two connecting keys 2 can be embedded into the two mounting slots 101 in the same direction of one joint piece 1, and the connecting keys 2 and the joint piece 1 can be pivotally connected by the limiting shaft 3. Then, the other ends of the two connecting keys 2 can be embedded into the two mounting slots 101 in the same direction of another joint piece 1, and the connecting keys 2 and the joint piece 1 can be pivotally connected by the limiting shaft 3. Finally, the two joint pieces 1 can be connected in series. In this way, multiple joint pieces 1 can be connected in series to form the bending limiter body. The bending limiter body is tubular in shape and can be nested on the outside of the cable to limit and protect the cable from bending. The length of the bending limiter body can be set according to actual needs to meet the needs of cables of different lengths. When the cable is subjected to external force and tends to bend, the joint 1 will rotate around the limiting shaft 3 at a certain angle in the first or second direction. Due to the limitation of the angle between the inclined surfaces of two adjacent joints 1, the cable will not bend excessively. At the same time, since the joint 1 is allowed to rotate only in two mutually perpendicular directions, the risk of the cable rotating around its own axis is greatly reduced, thus improving the reliability of the bending limiter.
[0028] Optionally, the aforementioned bending limiter for marine equipment may further include a limiting screw 4. The limiting shaft 3 may have a limiting groove, which may be an annular groove on the side wall of the limiting shaft 3. The width of the limiting groove may be the same as the diameter of the limiting screw 4, and the limiting screw 4 may be embedded in the limiting groove. The connecting key 2 may also have limiting holes at both ends. These limiting holes may be threaded holes capable of engaging with the limiting screw 4. The limiting holes may be perpendicular to the extending direction of the second fixing hole. When the limiting shaft 3 is embedded in the first fixing hole 102 and the second fixing hole, the limiting groove corresponds to the limiting hole, allowing the limiting screw 4 to enter from the limiting hole. Ultimately, one end of the limiting screw 4 is embedded in the limiting hole, and the other end is embedded in the limiting groove, preventing the limiting shaft 3 from slipping and falling off.
[0029] Optionally, the number of mounting grooves 101 of the joint member 1 in the first direction or the second direction is at least two, which can increase the connection strength between two adjacent joints.
[0030] Optionally, the side of the connecting key 2 can be an arc-shaped surface. When the connecting key 2 is shaken, it can better fit the inner wall of the mounting groove 101, which can effectively reduce the friction and wear between the connecting key 2 and the joint 1, extend the service life of the component, and at the same time ensure the smoothness of the bending action and improve the working stability and reliability of the bending limiter.
[0031] Optionally, when the relative rotation of two adjacent joint members 1 around the limiting shaft 3 reaches the maximum bending angle, the inclined surfaces can fit together, which can effectively limit the degree of bending of the cable and prevent damage to the internal structure of the cable due to excessive bending. For example, two adjacent joint members 1 are connected by a connecting key 2 in the first direction. When the relative rotation of these two joint members 1 reaches the maximum bending angle, the first inclined surfaces 103 of the two joint members 1 abut against each other to prevent further bending, thereby protecting the cable.
[0032] Optionally, the side of the connecting key 2 can be clearance-fitted with the inner wall of the mounting groove 101, allowing the connecting key 2 to rotate around the limiting shaft 3. This avoids uneven rotation or excessive friction caused by overly tight fit, which could affect the normal operation of the bending limiter. At the same time, the clearance fit design also provides some convenience for installation and maintenance, allowing the connecting key 2 to be more easily inserted into and removed from the mounting groove 101.
[0033] Optionally, the tilt angle range of the first tilting surface 103 and the second tilting surface 104 can be 0° to 60°, which can be set according to the actual use scenario and the bending requirements of the cable. When the tilt angle exceeds 60°, the bending radius of the cable will be too small, which will cause excessive compression and damage to the cable.
[0034] Optionally, the aforementioned bend limiter for marine equipment may further include a first adapter 5 and a second adapter 6. The first adapter 5 may be a hollow cylindrical structure with the same outer diameter as the joint 1, allowing the cable to pass through its hollow structure. One end of the first adapter 5 may have a mounting groove 101 adapted to the joint 1, a first fixing hole 102, and an inclined surface identical to the adjacent joint 1. The first adapter 5 can be connected to the joint 1 via a connecting key 2 and a limiting shaft 3, allowing two adjacent inclined surfaces to fit together for bend restriction. The other end of the first adapter 5 may have a connection structure adapted to the cable outlet end of the hull, wherein the hull includes, but is not limited to, a repeater sealing chamber and an underwater digital chamber. The connection structure may be externally threaded, and the cable outlet end of the hull may have a threaded hole, allowing the first adapter 5 to be fixed through thread engagement, preventing the bend limiter from moving along the cable. The second adapter 6 can be a hollow cylindrical structure with the same outer diameter as the joint 1. One end of the second adapter 6 can be provided with a mounting groove 101 adapted to the joint 1, a first fixing hole 102, and an inclined surface identical to the adjacent joint 1. The second adapter 6 and the joint 1 can be connected by a connecting key 2 and a limiting shaft 3, and the two adjacent inclined surfaces can fit together to achieve bending restriction. The other end of the second adapter 6 can be provided with a flexible conical transition structure. The flexible conical transition structure can be a rubber conical transition structure, which can smoothly guide the cable from the bending limiter body to the outside, reducing cable wear and stress concentration at the outlet. The first adapter 5 can be fixed to the cable outlet end of the cabin through the above-mentioned connecting structure. It can withstand the force generated when the bending limiter is under tension or bending, and can also fix the position of the bending limiter to prevent the bending limiter from moving along the cable. The aforementioned cable can extend from the cable outlet end of the cabin, pass through the first adapter 5 and the bending limiter body, and then pass through the flexible conical transition structure of the second adapter 6. The second adapter 6 can achieve a flexible transition of the cable through the flexible conical transition structure, effectively reducing cable wear and extending the cable's service life.
[0035] In addressing the aforementioned technical problems through the adoption of technical solutions, the application scenario of this technical solution—floating offshore wind power—often presents the following challenges: In floating offshore wind power environments, cables operate in complex and variable environments. They not only bear their own weight and the drag force of ocean currents but are also affected by dynamic loads from the swaying of the floating platform. This often leads to excessive bending and twisting of the cables under complex stress conditions. When using bend limiters to restrict cable bending, the cable's swaying under these conditions causes friction between the rigid inner wall of the bend limiter and the cable, potentially damaging the cable's outer shell, compromising the protection of the internal conductors, and reducing the cable's lifespan. Furthermore, frequent swaying of the bend limiter increases the risk of breakage. Considering the following requirements for this application scenario—lightweight design, resistance to friction, and adaptability to frequent swaying—we have decided to adopt the following solution: Optionally, the aforementioned bending limiter can be made of polymer materials. These polymer materials include, but are not limited to, polyurethane, polyethylene, and polytetrafluoroethylene. These polymer materials are characterized by low density and light weight, effectively reducing the overall weight of the bending limiter and meeting the lightweight requirements of floating offshore wind power applications. Simultaneously, they are resistant to seawater corrosion, enabling long-term stable use in complex marine environments and reducing the risk of performance degradation and damage due to corrosion. The first inclined surface 103 and the second inclined surface 104 of the aforementioned joint component 1 can both be provided with a grid-like rib structure. This grid-like rib structure can be composed of multiple orthogonal ribs, with weight-reducing holes provided between each rib. These weight-reducing holes can be circular or square, effectively reducing weight while ensuring the structural strength of the joint component 1, facilitating installation and transportation, and reducing material costs. The inner surface of the aforementioned joint component 1 can be provided with an annular receiving groove. This annular receiving groove can be an annular groove structure arranged around the inner wall of the joint component 1, with a trapezoidal cross-section and the width of the groove opening being smaller than the width of the groove bottom. An annular flexible pad can be installed on the inner side of the aforementioned joint component 1. This annular flexible pad can be made of flexible materials such as rubber or silicone. The inner side of the annular flexible pad fits against the outer surface of the cable, reducing wear on the cable's outer surface. Simultaneously, the annular flexible pad also provides a certain cushioning effect; when the cable shakes, the annular flexible pad can absorb some energy, reducing the impact force between the cable and the joint component 1, further protecting the cable from damage. The outer side of the aforementioned annular flexible pad can be provided with an annular protrusion that matches the aforementioned annular receiving groove. The annular flexible pad can be installed on the inner side of the aforementioned joint component 1 by embedding itself into the annular receiving groove through the annular protrusion. By setting a trapezoidal annular receiving groove and a matching trapezoidal annular protrusion, the connection between the annular flexible pad and the aforementioned joint component 1 can be made more stable, reducing the risk of the annular flexible pad falling off during the use of the bending limiter. The aforementioned annular protrusion can be interference-fitted with the aforementioned annular receiving groove, which can further enhance the connection stability between the aforementioned annular flexible gasket and the aforementioned joint 1. Even under the dynamic load of complex marine environments, it can ensure that the annular flexible gasket is firmly installed on the inner side of the joint 1, and continuously play the role of reducing cable wear and buffering impact. The outer surface of the aforementioned connecting key 2 can be fitted with a reinforcing skeleton. The reinforcing skeleton can be a thin sheet or mesh structure made of high-strength, corrosion-resistant metal material, which can enhance the structural strength of the connecting key 2, prevent it from deforming or breaking under stress, and ensure the overall stability and reliability of the bending limiter.Meanwhile, the head of the aforementioned limit screw 4 may be provided with an anti-loosening structure. The anti-loosening structure may include, but is not limited to, spring washers, double nuts, and anti-loosening adhesive, which can prevent the limit screw 4 from loosening under vibration or dynamic load, ensuring that the connection between the limit shaft 3 and the connecting key 2 is firm and reliable, and preventing the bending limiter from failing due to the limit screw 4 falling off.
[0036] The above-mentioned technical solution, as an inventive point of the embodiment of this disclosure, solves the technical problem: "In the floating offshore wind power scenario, the environment in which the cable is located is complex and changeable. It not only has to bear its own weight and the drag force of the ocean current, but also is affected by the dynamic load caused by the swaying of the floating platform. The cable is often prone to excessive bending and twisting under complex stress environment. When the bending limiter is used to limit the bending degree of the cable, the cable swings under complex stress environment. There is friction between the rigid inner wall of the bending limiter and the cable, which will cause damage to the outer shell of the cable, lose the protection of the internal conductor, and thus reduce the service life of the cable. At the same time, the frequent swinging of the bending limiter will increase the risk of the bending limiter breaking." Factors leading to reduced cable lifespan and a higher risk of bend limiter breakage often include: In floating offshore wind power scenarios, cables operate in complex and variable environments, bearing not only their own weight and current drag, but also dynamic loads from the swaying of the floating platform. This often results in excessive bending and twisting of the cables under these complex stress conditions. When bend limiters are used to restrict cable bending, the cable swings under these conditions, causing friction between the rigid inner wall of the bend limiter and the cable. This friction can damage the cable's outer shell, compromising the protection of the internal conductor and reducing cable lifespan. Furthermore, frequent swinging of the bend limiter increases the risk of breakage. Addressing these factors would increase cable lifespan and reduce the risk of bend limiter breakage. To achieve this, the bend limiter for marine equipment disclosed herein is made of a polymer material. Its low density and light weight effectively reduce overall weight, meeting the lightweight requirements of floating offshore wind power scenarios. Simultaneously, the polymer material's resistance to seawater corrosion ensures long-term stable operation of the bend limiter in complex marine environments. By installing a ring-shaped flexible washer on the joint to achieve flexible contact with the cable, the dynamic load on the cable can be buffered to a certain extent, reducing stress concentration caused by rigid connections, reducing cable wear, and extending cable service life. Simultaneously, by attaching a reinforcing skeleton to the outer surface of the connecting key and setting an anti-loosening structure on the head of the limiting screw, the structural strength and connection reliability of the connecting key and limiting screw are enhanced. Even under the dynamic loads of complex marine environments, the overall stability and reliability of the bending limiter can be ensured, effectively reducing the risk of bending limiter breakage.
[0037] In addressing the aforementioned technical problems through the adoption of technical solutions, the application scenario of this technical solution—a multi-mission oceanographic research vessel—often presents the following technical challenges: In this scenario, various types of cables need to be deployed and retrieved. Equipping each cable with different specifications of bend limiters would consume significant deck space and incur substantial inventory costs. Furthermore, replacing bend limiters with different specifications increases operational complexity and time costs. Considering the following requirements for this application scenario—adaptability to multiple cable specifications, space saving, and cost reduction—we have decided to adopt the following solution: Optionally, the inner surface of the aforementioned joint 1 may be provided with an adaptive clamping structure. This adaptive clamping structure can be capable of clamping cables of different diameters. The adaptive clamping structure may include a helical propeller and at least two arc-shaped clamping blocks. The arc-shaped clamping blocks may be fan-shaped ring structures, and the diameter of the inner surface of the arc-shaped clamping blocks may be the same as the diameter of the inner surface of the aforementioned joint 1. The inner surface of the aforementioned joint 1 may be provided with a receiving groove, which may be a groove with a certain curvature formed along the inner surface of the aforementioned joint 1. The shape of the arc-shaped clamping blocks may be adapted to the shape of the receiving groove, and the arc-shaped clamping blocks can be embedded in the receiving groove. When the arc-shaped clamping blocks are embedded in the receiving groove, a complete inner surface of the aforementioned joint 1 can be formed. One end of the aforementioned arc-shaped clamping block may be provided with a third fixing hole, which may be a hole penetrating the end face of the arc-shaped clamping block. The receiving groove may be provided with a fourth fixing hole at the position corresponding to the third fixing hole, and both the third and fourth fixing holes can be embedded by the aforementioned limiting shaft 3. The aforementioned arc-shaped clamping block can be pivotally connected to the receiving groove via the aforementioned limiting shaft 3, which is embedded in the aforementioned third and fourth fixing holes. This allows the arc-shaped clamping block to rotate at a certain angle within the receiving groove around the aforementioned limiting shaft 3, causing the other end of the arc-shaped clamping block to extend or retract from the receiving groove, thereby clamping or releasing the cable. The aforementioned screw propeller may include a drive screw and a nut that matches the drive screw. One end of the drive screw is rotatably embedded in the other end of the arc-shaped clamping block, and the other end of the drive screw can pass through the bottom of the receiving groove and engage with the nut. The nut is rotatably embedded in the outer surface of the aforementioned joint 1. The outer surface of the nut may be symmetrically provided with a pair of lugs. By rotating the nut through the lugs, the drive screw can be moved along its axial direction, thereby pushing the arc-shaped clamping block to rotate around the aforementioned limiting shaft 3. This causes the inner surface of the arc-shaped clamping block to gradually approach or move away from the cable, thereby clamping or releasing the cable.
[0038] The above-described technical solution, as an inventive point of this disclosure, solves the technical problem of "in multi-mission oceanographic research vessel scenarios, it is necessary to deploy and retrieve various types of cables. Equipping each type of cable with different specifications of bend limiters will occupy a large amount of deck space and inventory costs. At the same time, replacing bend limiters of different specifications will increase operational complexity and time costs." The factors leading to high operational complexity and time costs are often as follows: in multi-mission oceanographic research vessel scenarios, it is necessary to deploy and retrieve various types of cables. Equipping each type of cable with different specifications of bend limiters will occupy a large amount of deck space and inventory costs. At the same time, replacing bend limiters of different specifications will increase operational complexity and time costs. Solving these factors can reduce operational complexity and time costs. To achieve this effect, the bending limiter for marine equipment disclosed herein uses an adaptive clamping structure on the inner side of the joint component and a helical propeller to drive the arc-shaped clamping block to rotate around the limiting axis. This allows the inner side of the arc-shaped clamping block to automatically adjust the clamping position according to the cable diameter, thus achieving adaptive clamping for cables of different diameters. This saves deck space and inventory costs, simplifies the operation process, and significantly reduces operational complexity and time costs.
[0039] In addressing the aforementioned technical problems through the adoption of technical solutions, the application scenario of this technical solution—multi-mission oceanographic research vessels—often presents the following technical challenges: In this scenario, cable deployment and retrieval operations are frequent. Under frequent operation, the connections between the various components of the bend limiter are prone to loosening, especially the connection between the joint components and the adaptive clamping structure. Loosening not only affects the clamping effect of the adaptive clamping structure on the cable, causing the cable to sway within the bend limiter and increasing the risk of wear, but may also reduce the structural stability of the entire bend limiter, leading to a significant risk of damage under the dynamic loads of the complex marine environment. Considering the following requirements for this application scenario—ensuring structural stability and reliability under frequent operation—we have decided to adopt the following solution: Optionally, a buffer plane is provided at one movable end of the inner surface of the aforementioned arc-shaped clamping block. The buffer plane can be a planar structure. A flexible friction pad can be attached to the buffer plane; the flexible friction pad can be a pad made of flexible materials such as rubber or silicone. The flexible friction pad can have an arcuate surface with the curvature of the inner surface of the aforementioned arc-shaped clamping block. The flexible friction pad can be embedded in the receiving groove together with the aforementioned arc-shaped clamping block, forming the complete inner surface of the aforementioned joint 1. The arcuate surface of the aforementioned flexible friction pad can have an anti-slip texture, which can increase the friction between the pad and the cable, ensuring the stability of the clamping and preventing the cable from slipping or falling off during the use of the bending limiter. The aforementioned screw propeller can also include a spring assembly, which can be sleeved on the aforementioned drive screw and located between the arc-shaped clamping block and the bottom of the receiving groove. One end of the spring assembly can be connected to the aforementioned arc-shaped clamping block, and the other end can be connected to the bottom of the receiving groove. The bottom of the aforementioned receiving groove may be provided with a recess for the spring assembly to be embedded in. When the arc-shaped clamping block is embedded in the receiving groove, it will not cause excessive compression to the spring assembly, thus affecting its elastic performance. The spring assembly can play a certain buffering role when the spiral propeller drives the arc-shaped clamping block to clamp the cable, avoiding damage to the cable due to excessive clamping force. At the same time, when the bending limiter is affected by dynamic load, the spring assembly can absorb some energy, further reducing the impact force on the cable and protecting the cable from damage. A fixing block and a slide rail that cooperate with each other may be provided between the arc-shaped clamping block and the side wall of the receiving groove. The fixing block may be a protrusion fixed to the side wall of the receiving groove. The slide rail may be a groove that matches the fixing block. The slide rail may be located on the side of the arc-shaped clamping block, and the extension direction of the slide rail may be consistent with the rotation direction of the arc-shaped clamping block. The aforementioned fixing block can be embedded in the aforementioned slide rail. When the aforementioned arc-shaped clamping block rotates, the aforementioned fixing block can provide stable guidance for the rotation of the aforementioned arc-shaped clamping block, ensuring that the position of the arc-shaped clamping block is accurate during the rotation around the limiting shaft 3, without any offset or jamming. This ensures that the adaptive clamping structure can stably and reliably clamp cables of different diameters. The end of the aforementioned drive screw connected to the aforementioned arc-shaped clamping block can be provided with a spherical head. The aforementioned arc-shaped clamping block can be provided with a spherical groove that matches the aforementioned spherical head. The aforementioned spherical head can be embedded in the aforementioned spherical groove. When the aforementioned drive screw is driven to rotate by the aforementioned nut, the spherical head can rotate at a certain angle within the spherical groove. This makes the connection between the aforementioned drive screw and the aforementioned arc-shaped clamping block more flexible, allowing the aforementioned drive screw to adapt to the positional changes of the aforementioned arc-shaped clamping block during the rotation around the limiting shaft 3. This ensures that the screw propeller can stably and smoothly drive the arc-shaped clamping block to perform the operation of clamping or releasing cables.
[0040] The above-mentioned technical solution, as an inventive point of the embodiments of this disclosure, solves the technical problem of: "In the scenario of multi-mission oceanographic research vessels, the deployment and retrieval of cables are relatively frequent. Under frequent operation, the connection between the various components of the bending limiter is prone to loosening, especially the connection between the joint and the adaptive clamping structure. Once loosened, it will not only affect the clamping effect of the adaptive clamping structure on the cable, causing the cable to sway within the bending limiter and increasing the risk of wear, but may also reduce the structural stability of the entire bending limiter. Under the dynamic load of complex marine environment, the bending limiter is at greater risk of damage." Factors that significantly increase the risk of bending limiter damage include: In multi-mission oceanographic research vessel scenarios, cable deployment and retrieval operations are frequent. Under frequent operation, the connections between the various components of the bending limiter are prone to loosening, especially the connection between the joint components and the adaptive clamping structure. Once loosened, it not only affects the clamping effect of the adaptive clamping structure on the cable, causing the cable to wobble within the bending limiter and increasing the risk of wear, but may also reduce the structural stability of the entire bending limiter. Under the dynamic loads of complex marine environments, this significantly increases the risk of bending limiter damage. Addressing these factors can reduce the risk of bending limiter damage. To achieve this, the bending limiter for marine equipment disclosed herein uses a buffer plane on the inner side of the arc-shaped clamping block, with a flexible friction pad attached. The anti-slip texture of the flexible friction pad increases friction with the cable, ensuring clamping stability and preventing cable slippage or detachment. By adding a spring assembly to the propeller, the elastic buffering effect of the spring assembly is used to avoid excessive clamping force damaging the cable and to absorb energy under dynamic loads, reducing the impact force on the cable. The fixed block and the slide rail work together to provide stable guidance for the rotation of the arc-shaped clamping block, ensuring accurate positioning and preventing deviation or jamming. The use of a spherical head and spherical groove connection makes the connection between the drive screw and the arc-shaped clamping block more flexible, adapting to changes in the position of the arc-shaped clamping block. This ensures that the screw propeller drives the arc-shaped clamping block stably and smoothly for clamping or releasing operations, significantly reducing the risk of damage to the bending limiter under frequent operation and improving its structural stability and reliability.
[0041] The various embodiments disclosed above have the following beneficial effects: the bend limiter for marine equipment according to some embodiments of the present disclosure can improve the reliability of cable bend restriction. Specifically, the reason for the low reliability of cable bend restriction is that: a unidirectional bend limiter can only restrict the bend of the cable in a single plane, and cannot meet the controllable bend requirements in two directions. An omnidirectional bend limiter can achieve multi-directional bend of the cable, but it will cause the cable to rotate around its own axis. There is a possibility that the internal structure of the cable may be damaged due to excessive twisting or unexpected bending, resulting in low reliability of the cable bend restriction effect. Some embodiments of this disclosure provide a bend limiter for marine equipment, comprising: a joint member, a connecting key, and a limiting shaft; the joint member has mounting grooves in a first direction and a second direction, the first direction and the second direction being perpendicular to each other, the length direction of the mounting groove in the first direction being perpendicular to the first direction, and the length direction of the mounting groove in the second direction being perpendicular to the second direction; a first fixing hole is provided on the side of the mounting groove, and a second fixing hole is provided at both ends of the connecting key, the two ends of the connecting key being respectively embedded in the mounting grooves in the same direction of two adjacent joint members; the limiting shaft can be embedded into the aligned first fixing hole and the second fixing hole, and the joint member and the connecting key are pivotally connected through the limiting shaft; one end face of the joint member has a first inclined surface on both sides in the first direction, and the other end face of the joint member has a second inclined surface on both sides in the second direction; multiple joint members are connected in series to form a bend limiter body, and the bend limiter body is nested on the outside of a cable. By setting mounting grooves in both the first and second directions on the joint component, and cooperating with the connecting key and the limiting shaft, bending restriction in two perpendicular directions is achieved. At the same time, by restricting the bending of the cable only in two mutually perpendicular directions, the risk of the cable rotating around its own axis can be effectively reduced, so that the cable has controllable bending ability in two mutually perpendicular directions, thereby improving the reliability of the bending limiter's bending restriction effect on the cable.
[0042] The above description is merely a selection of preferred embodiments of this disclosure and an explanation of the technical principles employed. Those skilled in the art should understand that the scope of the invention involved in the embodiments of this disclosure is not limited to technical solutions formed by specific combinations of the above-described technical features, but should also cover other technical solutions formed by arbitrary combinations of the above-described technical features or their equivalents without departing from the above-described inventive concept. For example, technical solutions formed by substituting the above-described features with (but not limited to) technical features with similar functions disclosed in the embodiments of this disclosure.
Claims
1. A bend limiter for marine equipment, characterized in that, include: Joint components, connecting keys, and limit shafts; The joint is provided with mounting grooves in both a first direction and a second direction. The first direction and the second direction are perpendicular to each other. The length direction of the mounting groove in the first direction is perpendicular to the first direction, and the length direction of the mounting groove in the second direction is perpendicular to the second direction. The mounting groove has a first fixing hole on its side, and the connecting key has a second fixing hole at both ends. The two ends of the connecting key are respectively embedded in the mounting grooves of two adjacent joints in the same direction. The limiting shaft can be embedded in the aligned first fixing hole and second fixing hole. The joint and the connecting key are pivotally connected through the limiting shaft. One end face of the joint is provided with a first inclined surface on both sides of the first direction, and the other end face of the joint is provided with a second inclined surface on both sides of the second direction. When the relative rotation of two adjacent joints around the limiting axis reaches the maximum bending angle, the inclined surfaces can fit together. Multiple of the aforementioned joint components are connected in series to form a bending limiter body, which is nested on the outside of the cable; The inner surface of the joint component is provided with an adaptive clamping structure, which includes a helical propeller and at least two arc-shaped clamping blocks. The inner surface of the joint component is provided with a receiving groove. The shape of the arc-shaped clamping blocks is adapted to the shape of the receiving groove. One end of the arc-shaped clamping block is provided with a third fixing hole. The receiving groove is provided with a fourth fixing hole at the position corresponding to the third fixing hole. The arc-shaped clamping block is pivotally connected to the receiving groove by being embedded in the third fixing hole and the fourth fixing hole through the limiting shaft. The helical propeller includes a drive screw and a nut that matches the drive screw. One end of the drive screw is rotatably embedded in the other end of the arc-shaped clamping block. The other end of the drive screw passes through the bottom of the receiving groove and engages with the nut.
2. A bend limiter for marine equipment according to claim 1, characterised in that, The bending limiter for marine equipment also includes a limit screw; The limiting shaft is provided with a limiting groove, and the two ends of the connecting key are also provided with limiting holes; One end of the limiting screw is embedded in the limiting hole, and the other end is embedded in the limiting groove.
3. A bend limiter for marine equipment according to claim 1, characterised in that, The number of mounting slots on the joint component in either the first direction or the second direction is at least two.
4. A bend limiter for marine equipment according to claim 1, characterised in that, The side of the connecting key is curved.
5. The bend limiter for marine equipment according to claim 4, characterized in that, The side of the connecting key is fitted with the inner wall of the mounting groove with a clearance, and the connecting key can rotate around the limiting shaft.
6. A bend limiter for marine equipment according to claim 1, characterised in that, The inclination angles of the first inclined surface and the second inclined surface range from 0° to 60°.
7. A bend limiter for marine equipment according to claim 1, characterised in that, The bending limiter for marine equipment also includes a first adapter and a second adapter. The first adapter and the second adapter are connected to both ends of the bending limiter body via the connecting key and the limiting shaft, respectively; One end of the first adapter is provided with a mounting groove, a first fixing hole and an inclined surface that is compatible with the joint component, and the other end of the first adapter is provided with a connection structure that is compatible with the cable outlet end of the cabin. The cabin includes at least one of the following: a repeater sealed cabin and an underwater digital cabin. One end of the second adapter is provided with a mounting groove adapted to the joint, a first fixing hole, and an inclined surface identical to that of the adjacent joint; the other end of the second adapter is provided with a flexible conical transition structure. The first adapter is fixed to the cable outlet end of the cabin via the connecting structure; The cable extends from the cable outlet end of the cabin, passes through the first adapter and the bending limiter body, and then passes through the flexible conical transition structure of the second adapter.