Underwater separation housing, underwater separation assembly, and underwater separation connector assembly

Abstract

This invention relates to the field of connector technology, specifically to an underwater separation housing, an underwater separation assembly, and an underwater separation connector assembly. The underwater separation housing includes a connecting cavity for a connector mating structure. The connecting cavity has an adapter port for inserting a separation connector to mate with the connector mating structure. The inner wall of the connecting cavity has a structure for sealing with the separation connector. The underwater separation housing has a shear pin mounting hole for mounting shear pins. The shear pin mounting hole penetrates both the inner and outer walls of the underwater separation housing to allow the shear pins to extend into the shear pin mating hole of the separation connector, forming a limit and enabling separation of the underwater separation housing from the separation connector after the shear pins are cut. Separation can be achieved by directly pulling the connector, facilitating connector separation using the force generated by the separation device itself, simplifying the separation mechanism and action, eliminating the need for additional control, and improving reliability in deep-water environments.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of connector technology, and more specifically to underwater detachable housings, underwater detachable components, and underwater detachable connector assemblies. Background Technology

[0002] An underwater detachable connector is a connector capable of sealing and separating in a certain water depth environment. One application is for connecting underwater base stations and underwater vehicles. The base station and the vehicle are pre-connected before being deployed underwater. The base station is fixed on the seabed in a deep water environment, such as 5 kilometers underwater. The vehicle can be launched from the base station at an appropriate time. The launch is a one-time event. Before launch, the vehicle is fixed to the underwater base station, which supplies power and monitors the vehicle. When not launching, the base station and the vehicle maintain a power connection, which is achieved using an underwater detachable connector. The cable end connector of the base station connects to the connector on the outer wall of the vehicle's hull. When launch is required, the power is cut off before launch, and the drag force during launch forcibly separates the corresponding connector from the adapter connector. Since the base station and the vehicle will be in deep water for extended periods, the underwater detachable connector assembly must be able to withstand high water pressure to ensure a sealed connection, and the resistance during launch should not be excessive due to water pressure.

[0003] Currently, some conventional underwater separation connectors use a strong pull separation structure, which requires external force provided by the user equipment to overcome water pressure and achieve separation. The external force required is relatively large and is closely related to the sealing size of the connector and the water depth. They are usually used in separation environments with a water depth of no more than 100 meters.

[0004] Some employ a pressure relief separation structure, which relies on a pressure relief structure or device to connect the inside and outside of the sealed cavity of the connector mating interface before or during the separation process, thereby achieving pressure balance inside and outside the connector to eliminate water pressure. This requires the design of a dedicated pressure relief structure or device, which is relatively complex, and the pressure relief process requires a certain amount of time. It is usually used in separation environments where the water depth is no more than 1000 meters.

[0005] Another type of connector for underwater mating uses an oil bladder inside the connector to balance pressure. A relevant example is an underwater mating connector and connector assembly disclosed in Chinese invention patent application CN119029606A. Its sealing bladder is located inside the connector housing and filled with insulating oil. The sealing bladder adapts to deformation during mating and maintains a seal with the pins. The sealing bladder, together with the two end seats, forms an oil-filled cavity. The flexible, deformable portion of the sealing bladder transmits internal and external pressure. External water pressure can be transferred to the sealing bladder through a drain port on the connector housing. The internal volume of the oil-filled cavity can change, and the flexible, deformable portion of the oil-filled cavity adapts to these volume changes, ensuring consistent internal and external pressure. The cavity containing the mating interface is sealed by a circumferential sealing ring, making it suitable for separation environments with shallow water depths. However, it is difficult to adapt to connectors with a large number of contacts.

[0006] Some connectors allow water to directly enter the mating surface after the headstock is unlocked to achieve internal and external pressure balance and reduce separation resistance. For example, Chinese invention patent application CN101051716A discloses an underwater separation electrical connector where the plug housing and plug pins are sealed and fixed by glass sintering, and the socket housing and socket pins are also sealed and fixed by glass sintering. After the plug and socket are mated, they are locked by a steel ball locking structure, and the mating interface is sealed by a circumferential sealing ring. A release mechanism causes the unlocking sleeve to retract, disengaging it from the sealing ring. The locking steel ball is pressed into contact by the unlocking sleeve, unlocking the headstock. Seawater quickly enters the connector mating surface through the inlet channel, thus balancing the internal and external water pressure. This design is suitable for separation environments at depths of up to 300 meters.

[0007] The aforementioned underwater separation connector uses a steel ball locking mechanism to lock the axial relative position of the plug connector and the socket connector after they are inserted. Although it can achieve a relatively stable and reliable locking effect, it requires a separate release mechanism that pulls the unlocking sleeve back during unlocking and separation. The structure is relatively complex, difficult to control, and increases the risk of failure. It is not suitable for the application scenario where the vehicle relies on the transmission power to directly pull the connector out and forcibly separate it from the base station. Summary of the Invention

[0008] The purpose of this invention is to provide an underwater separation housing to solve the problem of the complex separation mechanism of current underwater separation connectors; the purpose of this invention is also to provide an underwater separation assembly using such an underwater separation housing and an underwater separation connector assembly to solve the above-mentioned problems.

[0009] The technical solution of the underwater separation shell of the present invention is as follows: An underwater separation shell includes a connecting cavity for providing a connector plug-in structure. The connecting cavity has an adapter port for a separation connector to be inserted and mated with the connector plug-in structure. The inner wall of the connecting cavity is provided with a structure for sealing and mating with the separation connector. The underwater separation shell is provided with a shear pin mounting hole for installing shear pins. The shear pin mounting hole penetrates the inner wall and outer wall of the underwater separation shell to allow the shear pins to extend into the shear pin mating hole of the separation connector to form a limit and to realize the separation of the underwater separation shell from the separation connector after the shear pins are cut off.

[0010] Furthermore, the underwater separation shell includes a main shell and a pressure transmitting plate. The main shell is provided with a pressure transmitting installation port, and the pressure transmitting plate is sealed and installed at the pressure transmitting installation port. The pressure transmitting plate seals the pressure transmitting installation port and cooperates with the main shell to form the connecting inner cavity. The connecting inner cavity is used to form an oil-filled cavity so that after the insulating oil is filled into the oil-filled cavity, the mating interface between the connector plug-in structure and the separation connector is in the insulating oil. The pressure transmitting plate is a deformable structure for pressure transmission inside and outside the oil-filled cavity.

[0011] Furthermore, an inner protective cover is fixed to the outside of the pressure transmitting plate, and a pressure transmitting hole is provided on the inner protective cover. The cross-sectional area of ​​the pressure transmitting hole is smaller than the area of ​​the pressure transmitting installation port.

[0012] Furthermore, an outer cover is fixed to the outside of the inner cover. The outer cover is provided with a water inlet hole, which is connected to the pressure transmission hole. The water inlet hole of the outer cover and the pressure transmission hole of the inner cover are offset from each other. A gap is provided between the outer cover and the inner cover to allow the water inlet hole and the pressure transmission hole to connect.

[0013] Furthermore, the pressure transmission hole of the inner cover is located at the center of the inner cover and corresponds to the center of the pressure transmission plate, and there are two or more water inlet holes on the cover around its center line.

[0014] Furthermore, the pressure transmitting plate is an oil bladder cap, which has an outwardly bulging portion, and the portion of the outwardly bulging portion of the pressure transmitting plate corresponding to the pressure transmitting hole is recessed.

[0015] Furthermore, the main housing is a rigid housing, the pressure transmission plate is elastic and flexible, the edge of the pressure transmission plate is provided with an annular protrusion, and the main housing is provided with a sealing groove for the annular protrusion to extend into so that the pressure transmission plate is pressed and then sealed with the main housing through the annular protrusion.

[0016] Furthermore, the main housing has multiple sidewalls, two of which have a first mounting hole and a second mounting hole respectively, and at least one of the remaining sidewalls has the pressure-transmitting mounting port. The first mounting hole forms the adapter connection port. The first mounting hole is for the first connector forming the split connector to be inserted, and the second mounting hole is for the second connector forming the connector insertion structure to be inserted. The main housing is provided with structures for sealing and engaging with the first connector and the second connector respectively, and the main housing is provided with structures for fixing with the second connector.

[0017] Furthermore, the adapter connection port is for the first connector to be inserted to form the split connector, the underwater split housing is provided with a second mounting port for the second connector to be inserted to form the connector insertion structure, the underwater split housing has a part for sealing with the first connector and the second connector respectively, and the underwater split housing is provided with a fixing connection structure for fixing the second connector.

[0018] Furthermore, the underwater separation shell has parts on both sides of the shear pin mounting hole along the separation direction for sealing with the separation connector, and the shear pin mounting hole is designed to not seal with the shear pin after installation.

[0019] Beneficial Effects: This invention innovatively provides a connector separation structure that utilizes shear pins for locking and disengagement. The underwater separation housing is connected to the separation connector via shear pins. The shear pins ensure the position of the underwater separation housing relative to the separation connector along the separation direction, which is opposite to the connector's mating direction. When separation is not required, the shear pins can keep the connector in the mating state. During separation, under the drag force of the equipment, the underwater separation housing is subjected to a force that separates it from the separation connector. This force forms a shearing force on the shear pins, which is sufficient to cut the shear pins, thereby achieving the underwater separation operation of the connector. This allows for direct pull-out of the connector to achieve separation, facilitating the separation operation using the force of the separation equipment itself. It simplifies the separation mechanism and separation action, requires no additional control, and is beneficial for reliable long-term use in deep-water environments.

[0020] The underwater separation shell, together with the first connector and the second connector, forms an oil-filled cavity that can achieve internal and external pressure balance. The pressure at the mating interface is balanced with the external water pressure, which is suitable for separation operations in deep water environments. This ensures that the shear pins can perform their normal shearing function, prevents the shell from deforming due to water pressure, and prevents the sealing ring from deforming due to water pressure, which would cause a sudden increase in separation resistance.

[0021] By utilizing instant shear pins and delayed shear pins, the connectors are disconnected sequentially during separation. This ensures that the separation force does not increase while providing dual positioning protection. In complex deep-water environments, even if the instant shear pins fail, the delayed shear pins will still maintain the connector's mating state, providing redundancy and backup to ensure that the locking reliability meets the potential requirements of complex deep-water environments.

[0022] The technical solution of the underwater separation component of the present invention is as follows: An underwater separation assembly includes an underwater separation housing and a separation connector and connector mating structure connected to the underwater separation housing. The underwater separation housing includes a connecting cavity for providing the connector mating structure. The connecting cavity has an adapter port for the separation connector to be inserted and mated with the connector mating structure. The inner wall of the connecting cavity is provided with a structure for sealing and mating with the separation connector. The underwater separation housing is provided with a shear pin mounting hole for installing shear pins. The shear pin mounting hole penetrates the inner wall and outer wall of the underwater separation housing to allow the shear pins to extend into the shear pin mating hole of the separation connector to form a limit and to realize the separation of the underwater separation housing from the separation connector after the shear pins are cut.

[0023] Furthermore, the underwater separation shell includes a main shell and a pressure transmitting plate. The main shell is provided with a pressure transmitting installation port, and the pressure transmitting plate is sealed and installed at the pressure transmitting installation port. The pressure transmitting plate seals the pressure transmitting installation port and cooperates with the main shell to form the connecting inner cavity. The connecting inner cavity is used to form an oil-filled cavity so that after the insulating oil is filled into the oil-filled cavity, the mating interface between the connector plug-in structure and the separation connector is in the insulating oil. The pressure transmitting plate is a deformable structure for pressure transmission inside and outside the oil-filled cavity.

[0024] Furthermore, an inner protective cover is fixed to the outside of the pressure transmitting plate, and a pressure transmitting hole is provided on the inner protective cover. The cross-sectional area of ​​the pressure transmitting hole is smaller than the area of ​​the pressure transmitting installation port.

[0025] Furthermore, an outer cover is fixed to the outside of the inner cover. The outer cover is provided with a water inlet hole, which is connected to the pressure transmission hole. The water inlet hole of the outer cover and the pressure transmission hole of the inner cover are offset from each other. A gap is provided between the outer cover and the inner cover to allow the water inlet hole and the pressure transmission hole to connect.

[0026] Furthermore, the pressure transmission hole of the inner cover is located at the center of the inner cover and corresponds to the center of the pressure transmission plate, and there are two or more water inlet holes on the cover around its center line.

[0027] Furthermore, the pressure transmitting plate is an oil bladder cap, which has an outwardly bulging portion, and the portion of the outwardly bulging portion of the pressure transmitting plate corresponding to the pressure transmitting hole is recessed.

[0028] Furthermore, the main housing is a rigid housing, the pressure transmission plate is elastic and flexible, the edge of the pressure transmission plate is provided with an annular protrusion, and the main housing is provided with a sealing groove for the annular protrusion to extend into so that the pressure transmission plate is pressed and then sealed with the main housing through the annular protrusion.

[0029] Furthermore, the main housing has multiple sidewalls, two of which have a first mounting hole and a second mounting hole respectively, and at least one of the remaining sidewalls has the pressure-transmitting mounting port. The first mounting hole forms the adapter connection port. The first mounting hole is for the first connector forming the split connector to be inserted, and the second mounting hole is for the second connector forming the connector insertion structure to be inserted. The main housing is provided with structures for sealing and engaging with the first connector and the second connector respectively, and the main housing is provided with structures for fixing with the second connector.

[0030] Furthermore, the adapter connection port is for the first connector to be inserted to form the split connector, the underwater split housing is provided with a second mounting port for the second connector to be inserted to form the connector insertion structure, the underwater split housing has a part for sealing with the first connector and the second connector respectively, and the underwater split housing is provided with a fixing connection structure for fixing the second connector.

[0031] Furthermore, the underwater separation shell has parts on both sides of the shear pin mounting hole along the separation direction for sealing with the separation connector, and the shear pin mounting hole is designed to not seal with the shear pin after installation.

[0032] Furthermore, the scissors connecting the underwater separation shell and the separation connector include instant scissors and delayed scissors. The instant scissors and delayed scissors are spaced apart along the separation direction of the underwater separation shell relative to the separation connector. The matching relationship between the instant scissors and their corresponding scissor mounting holes and scissor mating holes is such that, compared with the matching relationship between the delayed scissors and their corresponding scissor mounting holes and scissor mating holes, the instant scissors break first and the delayed scissors break later under the separation force between the underwater separation shell and the separation connector. Before the delayed scissors break, the separation connector and the connector insertion structure are in the insertion state.

[0033] Furthermore, the shear pins are tightly fitted with the shear pin mounting holes of the underwater separation shell, and the diameter of the shear pin mating hole on the housing of the separation connector that mates with the delayed shear pins is larger than the diameter of the shear pin mating hole that mates with the immediate shear pins. The immediate shear pins are adapted to the corresponding shear pin mating holes to position the underwater separation shell and the separation connector, and the hole walls of the delayed shear pins and the corresponding shear pin mating holes have a set gap in the separation direction.

[0034] Furthermore, at least two sets of delayed shear pins and instant shear pins are distributed circumferentially on the underwater separation shell, with the delayed shear pins in the same set located inside the instant shear pins.

[0035] Furthermore, the shear pin has a threaded section and a smooth section. The threaded section is threaded into the shear pin mounting hole, and the smooth section extends into the shear pin mating hole. The diameter of the threaded section is larger than the diameter of the smooth section.

[0036] Furthermore, the separation connector is a first connector, the connector insertion structure is a second connector, the housing of the second connector is fixedly connected to the underwater separation housing by a screw, and the axial direction of the screw is consistent with the insertion direction of the connector, so as to satisfy that the second connector and the underwater separation housing separate together relative to the first connector.

[0037] Beneficial Effects: This invention innovatively provides a connector separation structure that utilizes shear pins for locking and disengagement. The underwater separation housing is connected to the separation connector via shear pins. The shear pins ensure the position of the underwater separation housing relative to the separation connector along the separation direction, which is opposite to the connector's mating direction. When separation is not required, the shear pins can keep the connector in the mating state. During separation, under the drag force of the equipment, the underwater separation housing is subjected to a force that separates it from the separation connector. This force forms a shearing force on the shear pins, which is sufficient to cut the shear pins, thereby achieving the underwater separation operation of the connector. This allows for direct pull-out of the connector to achieve separation, facilitating the separation operation using the force of the separation equipment itself. It simplifies the separation mechanism and separation action, requires no additional control, and is beneficial for reliable long-term use in deep-water environments.

[0038] The underwater separation shell, together with the first connector and the second connector, forms an oil-filled cavity that can achieve internal and external pressure balance. The pressure at the mating interface is balanced with the external water pressure, which is suitable for separation operations in deep water environments. This ensures that the shear pins can perform their normal shearing function, prevents the shell from deforming due to water pressure, and prevents the sealing ring from deforming due to water pressure, which would cause a sudden increase in separation resistance.

[0039] By utilizing instant shear pins and delayed shear pins, the connectors are disconnected sequentially during separation. This ensures that the separation force does not increase while providing dual positioning protection. In complex deep-water environments, even if the instant shear pins fail, the delayed shear pins will still maintain the connector's mating state, providing redundancy and backup to ensure that the locking reliability meets the potential requirements of complex deep-water environments.

[0040] The technical solution of the underwater separation connector assembly of the present invention is as follows: An underwater detachable connector assembly includes an underwater detachable component and a cable or adapter connector connected to the underwater detachable component. The underwater detachable component includes an underwater detachable housing and a detachable connector and connector mating structure connected to the underwater detachable housing. The underwater detachable housing includes a connecting cavity for providing the connector mating structure. The connecting cavity has an adapter connection port for the detachable connector to be inserted and mated with the connector mating structure. The inner wall surface of the connecting cavity is provided with a structure for sealing and mating with the detachable connector. The underwater detachable housing is provided with a shear pin mounting hole for installing shear pins. The shear pin mounting hole penetrates the inner wall surface and the outer wall surface of the underwater detachable housing to allow the shear pins to extend into the shear pin mating hole of the detachable connector to form a limit and to realize the separation of the underwater detachable housing and the detachable connector after the shear pins are cut.

[0041] Furthermore, the underwater separation shell includes a main shell and a pressure transmitting plate. The main shell is provided with a pressure transmitting installation port, and the pressure transmitting plate is sealed and installed at the pressure transmitting installation port. The pressure transmitting plate seals the pressure transmitting installation port and cooperates with the main shell to form the connecting inner cavity. The connecting inner cavity is used to form an oil-filled cavity so that after the insulating oil is filled into the oil-filled cavity, the mating interface between the connector plug-in structure and the separation connector is in the insulating oil. The pressure transmitting plate is a deformable structure for pressure transmission inside and outside the oil-filled cavity.

[0042] Furthermore, an inner protective cover is fixed to the outside of the pressure transmitting plate, and a pressure transmitting hole is provided on the inner protective cover. The cross-sectional area of ​​the pressure transmitting hole is smaller than the area of ​​the pressure transmitting installation port.

[0043] Furthermore, an outer cover is fixed to the outside of the inner cover. The outer cover is provided with a water inlet hole, which is connected to the pressure transmission hole. The water inlet hole of the outer cover and the pressure transmission hole of the inner cover are offset from each other. A gap is provided between the outer cover and the inner cover to allow the water inlet hole and the pressure transmission hole to connect.

[0044] Furthermore, the pressure transmission hole of the inner cover is located at the center of the inner cover and corresponds to the center of the pressure transmission plate, and there are two or more water inlet holes on the cover around its center line.

[0045] Furthermore, the pressure transmitting plate is an oil bladder cap, which has an outwardly bulging portion, and the portion of the outwardly bulging portion of the pressure transmitting plate corresponding to the pressure transmitting hole is recessed.

[0046] Furthermore, the main housing is a rigid housing, the pressure transmission plate is elastic and flexible, the edge of the pressure transmission plate is provided with an annular protrusion, and the main housing is provided with a sealing groove for the annular protrusion to extend into so that the pressure transmission plate is pressed and then sealed with the main housing through the annular protrusion.

[0047] Furthermore, the main housing has multiple sidewalls, two of which have a first mounting hole and a second mounting hole respectively, and at least one of the remaining sidewalls has the pressure-transmitting mounting port. The first mounting hole forms the adapter connection port. The first mounting hole is for the first connector forming the split connector to be inserted, and the second mounting hole is for the second connector forming the connector insertion structure to be inserted. The main housing is provided with structures for sealing and engaging with the first connector and the second connector respectively, and the main housing is provided with structures for fixing with the second connector.

[0048] Furthermore, the adapter connection port is for the first connector to be inserted to form the split connector, the underwater split housing is provided with a second mounting port for the second connector to be inserted to form the connector insertion structure, the underwater split housing has a part for sealing with the first connector and the second connector respectively, and the underwater split housing is provided with a fixing connection structure for fixing the second connector.

[0049] Furthermore, the underwater separation shell has parts on both sides of the shear pin mounting hole along the separation direction for sealing with the separation connector, and the shear pin mounting hole is designed to not seal with the shear pin after installation.

[0050] Furthermore, the scissors connecting the underwater separation shell and the separation connector include instant scissors and delayed scissors. The instant scissors and delayed scissors are spaced apart along the separation direction of the underwater separation shell relative to the separation connector. The matching relationship between the instant scissors and their corresponding scissor mounting holes and scissor mating holes is such that, compared with the matching relationship between the delayed scissors and their corresponding scissor mounting holes and scissor mating holes, the instant scissors break first and the delayed scissors break later under the separation force between the underwater separation shell and the separation connector. Before the delayed scissors break, the separation connector and the connector insertion structure are in the insertion state.

[0051] Furthermore, the shear pins are tightly fitted with the shear pin mounting holes of the underwater separation shell, and the diameter of the shear pin mating hole on the housing of the separation connector that mates with the delayed shear pins is larger than the diameter of the shear pin mating hole that mates with the immediate shear pins. The immediate shear pins are adapted to the corresponding shear pin mating holes to position the underwater separation shell and the separation connector, and the hole walls of the delayed shear pins and the corresponding shear pin mating holes have a set gap in the separation direction.

[0052] Furthermore, at least two sets of delayed shear pins and instant shear pins are distributed circumferentially on the underwater separation shell, with the delayed shear pins in the same set located inside the instant shear pins.

[0053] Furthermore, the shear pin has a threaded section and a smooth section. The threaded section is threaded into the shear pin mounting hole, and the smooth section extends into the shear pin mating hole. The diameter of the threaded section is larger than the diameter of the smooth section.

[0054] Furthermore, the separation connector is a first connector, the connector insertion structure is a second connector, the housing of the second connector is fixedly connected to the underwater separation housing by a screw, and the axial direction of the screw is consistent with the insertion direction of the connector, so as to satisfy that the second connector and the underwater separation housing separate together relative to the first connector.

[0055] Beneficial Effects: This invention innovatively provides a connector separation structure that utilizes shear pins for locking and disengagement. The underwater separation housing is connected to the separation connector via shear pins. The shear pins ensure the position of the underwater separation housing relative to the separation connector along the separation direction, which is opposite to the connector's mating direction. When separation is not required, the shear pins can keep the connector in the mating state. During separation, under the drag force of the equipment, the underwater separation housing is subjected to a force that separates it from the separation connector. This force forms a shearing force on the shear pins, which is sufficient to cut the shear pins, thereby achieving the underwater separation operation of the connector. This allows for direct pull-out of the connector to achieve separation, facilitating the separation operation using the force of the separation equipment itself. It simplifies the separation mechanism and separation action, requires no additional control, and is beneficial for reliable long-term use in deep-water environments.

[0056] The underwater separation shell, together with the first connector and the second connector, forms an oil-filled cavity that can achieve internal and external pressure balance. The pressure at the mating interface is balanced with the external water pressure, which is suitable for separation operations in deep water environments. This ensures that the shear pins can perform their normal shearing function, prevents the shell from deforming due to water pressure, and prevents the sealing ring from deforming due to water pressure, which would cause a sudden increase in separation resistance.

[0057] By utilizing instant shear pins and delayed shear pins, the connectors are disconnected sequentially during separation. This ensures that the separation force does not increase while providing dual positioning protection. In complex deep-water environments, even if the instant shear pins fail, the delayed shear pins will still maintain the connector's mating state, providing redundancy and backup to ensure that the locking reliability meets the potential requirements of complex deep-water environments. Attached Figure Description

[0058] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an embodiment of the underwater separation component of the present invention; Figure 2 for Figure 1 A cross-sectional view of the underwater separation component; Figure 3 for Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the disassembled state of the oil bladder component of the underwater separation assembly; Figure 4 for Figure 3 A schematic diagram of the main housing of the oil bladder in the middle; Figure 5 for Figure 3 A schematic diagram of the oil bladder cap; Figure 6 for Figure 3 A schematic diagram of the inner protective cover; Figure 7 for Figure 3 A schematic diagram of the outer protective cover; Figure 8 for Figure 2 A schematic diagram of the first connector in the diagram; Figure 9 for Figure 2 A schematic diagram of the adapter module in the diagram; Figure 10 for Figure 2 A schematic diagram of the second connector in the diagram.

[0059] In the diagram: 100, oil bladder device; 200, first connector; 300, second connector; 11. Main housing; 111. First mounting hole; 112. Pressure transmission mounting port; 113. Internal flow channel; 12. Oil bladder cap; 13. Oil filling chamber; 14. Inner protective cover; 141. Pressure transmission port; 15. Outer protective cover; 151. Water inlet; 16. Instant shear pin; 17. Delayed shear pin; 21. First housing; 211. Small shear pin hole; 212. Large shear pin hole; 22. First pin contact; 31. Second housing; 311. Flow channel; 32. Second pin contact; 41. Adapter insulation assembly; 42. Adapter socket contact; 51. Limiting sleeve. Detailed Implementation

[0060] The basic concept of the underwater separation assembly of this invention is to use shear pins to lock and separate the connector. Separation can be achieved by directly pulling the connector, facilitating the separation operation using the force generated by the separation device itself. This simplifies the separation mechanism and action, eliminates the need for additional control, and promotes reliable long-term use in deep-water environments. Furthermore, by using both instant and delayed shear pins, which disconnect sequentially during separation, a dual positioning guarantee is formed while ensuring that the separation force does not increase.

[0061] The following detailed description is provided in conjunction with specific embodiments. Embodiments of the underwater separation component of the present invention: like Figure 1 , Figure 2As shown, the underwater separation assembly includes an oil bladder 100, a first connector 200, and a second connector 300. The first connector 200 and the second connector 300 are fitted together to enable power supply between the separation device and the base station. The separation device can be a vehicle to be launched, while the base station serves as a fixed foundation. During launch, the vehicle drives the second connector 300, generating a drag force that forcibly separates the mating ends of the second connector 300 and the first connector 200 from their mating state. The second connector 300 detaches with the device, while the first connector 200 remains at the base station. When separation is required, the circuit between the base station and the device is de-energized. Power is cut off before separation, and the exposed conductors after the connector mating ends separate will not short-circuit. The underwater separation assembly is assembled before being deployed underwater and is not intended for repeated underwater insertion and removal. Launch is a one-time event. During extended periods, the underwater separation assembly remains in deep water. During this time, the first connector 200 and the second connector 300 remain in the mating state, and the base station can supply power and monitor the device. The oil bladder 100 covers the mating end of the connector. The inside of the oil bladder 100 is filled with insulating oil, such as silicone oil, to balance the internal and external pressure difference. Therefore, during separation, there will not be a large separation resistance due to the high pressure in deep water, thus meeting the separation requirements of deep-water equipment.

[0062] Combination Figure 3 , Figure 4 , Figure 5 , Figure 6 , Figure 7 The oil bladder 100 of the underwater separation assembly includes a main housing 11. The main housing 11 has a first mounting hole 111 for sealing and mounting a first connector 200 and a second mounting hole for sealing and mounting a second connector 300, so that the first connector 200 and the second connector 300 are inserted into the inner cavity of the main housing 11. The main housing 11 has a pressure-transmitting mounting port 112, and a pressure-transmitting plate, which is the oil bladder cap 12, is sealed and mounted at the pressure-transmitting mounting port 112. The pressure-transmitting plate seals the pressure-transmitting mounting port 112 and, together with the main housing 11, forms an oil-filling cavity 13. After the oil-filling cavity 13 is filled with insulating oil, the insertion interface of the first connector 200 and the second connector 300 is in the insulating oil. The pressure-transmitting plate has a deformable structure for pressure transmission inside and outside the oil-filling cavity 13.

[0063] The main housing 11 of the oil bladder 100 is its rigid housing, ensuring the connector is securely installed and can withstand pressure. The pressure transmitting plate is a flexible body that can adapt to deformation, transmitting water pressure to the internal insulating oil, contacting water externally and oil internally. The connector housing and the oil bladder 100 housing are sealed at the mounting hole. The seal between the connector mating end and the outside world is achieved through the seal between the oil bladder 100 and the connector mounting mating point. The insulating oil in the oil-filled cavity 13 will fill the mating interface of the first connector 200 and the second connector 300. When the underwater separation assembly is in a deep water environment, the mating end of the connector used for separation is sealed in the insulating oil. The mating end does not need to be sealed separately. The internal and external pressures are balanced, the seal is reliable, and the housing of the separation part does not deform. The external water pressure can be transmitted to the insulating oil in the oil-filled cavity 13 through the pressure transmitting plate to balance the pressure at the mating interface with the external water pressure. When the underwater separation assembly is pulled apart by the drag force, the separation process of the mating ends of the first connector 200 and the second connector 300 will not have great resistance due to water pressure. Its separation performance and pressure-bearing structural components are not easily affected by the high water pressure in deep water, making it suitable for use in deep water environments.

[0064] The oil bladder cap 12 is made of silicone rubber, possessing both good elasticity and flexibility. Its overall shape is a circular sheet with a certain thickness. The oil bladder cap 12 includes an edge portion near its circumferential edge and a center portion near its centerline. The center portion bulges outward relative to the edge portion, creating a concave cavity. At the center of the center, there is also an inward concave portion, making the center of the cavity convex. The outwardly bulging outer surface of the oil bladder cap 12 has a depression, giving the overall cross-sectional shape of the oil bladder cap 12 an arc shape. During connector separation, one connector gradually withdraws from the oil-filled cavity 13, increasing the volume of the cavity. External water pressure causes the oil bladder cap 12 to deform inward, compensating for the internal pressure. This outwardly bulging oil bladder cap 12 structure facilitates sufficient inward deformation. In other embodiments, if the pressure-transmitting sheet has sufficient elasticity, it can also be a flat sheet.

[0065] The edge of the oil bladder cap 12 has an inwardly facing annular protrusion, which can be considered as an integral sealing ring. The corresponding pressure-transmitting mounting port 112 on the main housing 11 has a sealing groove, and the annular protrusion extends into the sealing groove. After the oil bladder cap 12 is pressed tightly, it seals against the main housing 11 through its annular protrusion. The portion of the oil bladder cap 12 corresponding to the pressure-transmitting mounting port 112 is used to withstand the internal oil pressure.

[0066] An inner protective cover 14 is fixed to the outside of the oil bladder cap 12. The inner protective cover 14 has a pressure transmission hole 141. The cross-sectional area of ​​the pressure transmission hole 141 is smaller than the area of ​​the pressure transmission mounting port 112. The inner protective cover can provide a layer of protection for the oil bladder cap 12. An outer protective cover 15 is fixed to the outside of the inner protective cover. The outer protective cover has a water inlet hole 151, which communicates with the pressure transmission hole 141. The outer protective cover 15 can provide a layer of protection for the oil bladder.

[0067] The water inlet 151 of the outer cover 15 and the pressure transmission hole 141 of the inner cover 14 are offset from each other. A gap is provided between the outer cover 15 and the inner cover 14 to connect the water inlet 151 and the pressure transmission hole 141. External water can enter the gap through the water inlet 151 and then enter the pressure transmission hole 141, thereby applying water pressure to the oil bladder cap 12. The outer cover 15 has a portion that blocks the pressure transmission hole 141 from directly impacting the oil bladder cap 12.

[0068] The pressure transmission hole 141 of the inner protective cover 14 is located at the center of the inner protective cover 14 and corresponds to the center of the oil bladder cap 12. The water inlet hole 151 on the outer protective cover 15 is provided with two or more around its center line. In this embodiment, there are four water inlet holes 151 on the outer protective cover 15, which are evenly distributed around the circumference. In other embodiments, the number of water inlet holes can also be set as needed.

[0069] The inner cover 14 is circular in shape, with lugs on its edge and screw holes on the lugs. The corresponding side of the main housing 11 has threaded holes. The inner cover 14 is fixed to the main housing 11 by screws. After fixing, the edge of the inner cover 14 is pressed against the edge of the oil bladder cap 12, and the edge of the oil bladder cap 12 is pressed against the edge of the pressure transmission installation port 112 to achieve a seal.

[0070] The outer protective cover 15 has a square structure with screw holes at its four corners. The corresponding sides of the main housing 11 have threaded holes. The outer protective cover 15 is fixed to the main housing 11 with screws. The outer protective cover 15 and the inner protective cover 14 are fixed on the same plane, with the outer protective cover 15 located outside the inner protective cover 14. Here, "inside and outside" refers to the inward and outward directions relative to the oil filling cavity 13. The inner wall of the outer protective cover 15 has a groove to accommodate the inner protective cover 14, allowing the outer protective cover 15 to be pressed tightly against the side of the main housing 11. The outer protective cover 15 can also press the inner protective cover 14 tightly.

[0071] Both the inner and outer protective covers 14 and 15 are made of metal and are rigid, capable of withstanding high pressure. The pressure transmission hole 141 on the inner protective cover 14 is a round hole, while the water inlet hole 151 on the outer protective cover 15 is a square hole. Because the oil bladder cap 12 bulges outward in the middle, both the inner and outer protective covers 14 and 15 are also bulging outward in the middle to accommodate this shape, with the pressure transmission hole 141 and water inlet hole 151 located on their respective bulging portions. The portion of the inner wall of the inner protective cover 14 located around its pressure transmission hole 141 constitutes a support for the oil bladder cap 12 on the outside, limiting the outward deformation of the oil bladder cap 12. A gap is left between the bulging portions of the inner and outer protective covers 14 and 15, forming a flow channel so that water enters from the water inlet hole 151, passes through the gap channel, and then enters the pressure transmission hole 141, thus acting on the central part of the oil bladder cap 12. The concave part in the center of the oil bladder cap 12 corresponds to the pressure transmission hole 141 of the inner protective cover 14, so that there is a large space at the pressure transmission hole 141 to ensure pressure transmission and also to facilitate the adaptation to internal pressure.

[0072] The main housing 11 has multiple sidewalls. A first mounting hole 111 and a second mounting hole are respectively located on two opposite sidewalls. At least one of the remaining sidewalls has a pressure-transmitting mounting port 112. In this embodiment, the main housing 11 is generally square, with one side having an outwardly extending cylindrical protrusion to form a sufficiently long first mounting hole 111. The remaining sides are planar, with a second mounting hole located on the sidewall opposite to the sidewall containing the first mounting hole 111. The second mounting hole extends in the same direction as the first mounting hole 111 and passes through the oil filling cavity 13. The other four sides each have a pressure-transmitting mounting port 112, formed by a through-hole. In other embodiments, the oil bladder cap may be provided only on one side of the main housing or only on opposite sides.

[0073] The inner wall of the main housing 11 is provided with an internal flow channel 113 for filling insulating oil into the space surrounding the mating ends of the first connector 200 and the second connector 300. The internal flow channel 113 is a groove provided on the inner wall surface of the four side walls of the main housing 11 where the pressure transmission mounting port 112 is provided, which ensures the communication space of each part in the oil filling cavity 13, and at the same time ensures the structural strength of the main housing 11.

[0074] In this embodiment, a gap is provided between the inner shield 14 and the outer shield 15 to connect the water inlet hole 151 and the pressure transmission hole 141 so that external water can pass through the outer shield 15 and the inner shield 14 and act on the deformable part of the oil filling cavity. The gap between the inner shield 14 and the outer shield 15 is small, smaller than the width of the water inlet hole 151, which can prevent external impurities from entering.

[0075] After the outer cover 15 is fixed, it can cover the fixing screws on the inner cover 14, covering part or all of the screw heads. The outer cover 15 can press on the screws, which is beneficial for stable installation. The screws fixing the inner cover 14 are located between two adjacent screws fixing the outer cover 15, and they do not need to be arranged in a straight line.

[0076] Combination Figure 2 , Figure 8 , Figure 9 , Figure 10 The first connector 200 is inserted into the first mounting hole 111, and the second connector 300 is inserted into the second mounting hole. This insertion is an installation operation, and the mating ends of the first connector 200 and the second connector 300 are located within the oil-filled cavity 13. Both the first connector 200 and the second connector 300 have sealed pin contacts within their housings. The first connector 200 has an adapter assembly within its housing, which includes an insulator and an adapter socket contact 42 disposed within the insulator. Both ends of the adapter socket contact 42 have socket structures, and the pin contacts of the first connector 200 and the second connector 300 respectively engage with the socket structures at both ends of the adapter socket contact 42.

[0077] The housing of the first connector 200 is a first housing 21, and the pin contact of the first connector 200 is a first pin contact 22. The first pin contact 22 is fixed and sealed within the first housing 21 by glass sintering. The housing of the second connector 300 is a second housing 31, and the pin contact of the second connector 300 is a second pin contact 32. The second pin contact 32 is fixed and sealed within the first housing 21 by glass sintering.

[0078] The first housing 21 has a mounting cavity at its insertion end. An adapter assembly is installed in the mounting cavity. The insulator of the adapter assembly is an adapter insulating assembly 41. The adapter socket contact 42 is a double-ended socket. The adapter insulating assembly 41 includes two separate insulating parts, each with a mounting hole. The adapter socket contact 42 is installed in the mounting holes of the two insulating parts. The openings at opposite ends of the mounting holes of the two insulating parts are narrowed. The adapter socket contact 42 is fixed inside by the mating of the two insulating parts. There are multiple pin contacts and socket contacts, and they correspond one-to-one.

[0079] The adapter assembly is installed inside the first housing 21, and the first pin contact 22 is inserted into one end of the adapter socket contact 42. The outer end face of the adapter insulation assembly 41 is flush with the end face of the first housing 21. The inner wall of the mounting cavity of the first housing 21 is provided with internal threads, and the outer peripheral surface of the adapter insulation assembly 41 is provided with steps. The limiting sleeve 51 is threaded into the mounting cavity of the first housing 21 and presses against the steps on the outer peripheral surface of the insulation assembly. The limiting sleeve 51 cooperates with the annular platform inside the first housing 21 to axially limit the adapter assembly.

[0080] The second housing 31 has a mating cavity at its mating end. The mating end of the first housing 21 is inserted into the mating cavity of the second housing 31, and the second pin contact 32 is inserted into one end of the adapter socket contact 42 of the adapter assembly. There is a gap between the bottom of the mating cavity of the second housing 31 and the end face of the first housing 21. The outer circumferential surface of the mating end of the first housing 21 and the inner circumferential surface of the mating cavity of the second housing 31 form opposing circumferential surfaces. The end face of the mating end of the first housing 21 and the outer end face of the adapter insulating assembly 41 form the end face of the first connector 200 opposite to the bottom of the mating cavity of the second connector 300. The bottom of the mating cavity of the second connector 300 forms the end face opposite to the first connector 200. The end faces of the connectors are axially opposite and radially opposite, with a very small gap between the circumferential surfaces. The inner circumferential surface of the mating cavity of the second housing 31 is provided with a flow channel groove 311. The flow channel groove 311 extends from the bottom of the mating cavity to the outer end face of the second housing 31, which can connect the end face gap of the first connector 200 and the second connector 300 with the oil filling cavity 13 around the connector, so that the insulating oil can flow to the opposite end face and ensure that the pressure is transmitted to the mating interface.

[0081] The mating interface of the first connector 200 includes the outer peripheral surface of the mating end of the first housing 21, the end face of the mating end of the first housing 21, and the outer end face of the transition insulation component 41. The mating interface of the second connector 300 includes the inner peripheral surface of the mating cavity of the second housing 31 and the bottom surface of the mating cavity. The mating points of the first connector 200 and the second connector 300 are not sealed, and the transition component is not sealed to the first housing 21. The first connector 200 and the second connector 300 are sealed to the housing through glass sintering of the pin contacts. The area between the glass-sintered and sealed portions of the two connectors can be filled with insulating oil.

[0082] The main housing 11 is provided with a fixed connection structure and a limiting connection structure. The fixed connection structure is used to fix one of the first connector 200 and the second connector 300, and the other is connected to the main housing 11 through the limiting connection structure. In this embodiment, the first connector 200 is connected to the main housing 11 through the limiting connection structure, and the second connector 300 is connected to the main housing 11 through the fixed connection structure.

[0083] In this embodiment, the fixed connection structure is a fixing screw to fix the housing of the second connector 300 to the main housing 11 of the oil bladder 100; the limiting connection structure is a shear screw, which is also a shear pin, or shear pin, to position the housing of the first connector 200 to the main housing 11 of the oil bladder 100. That is, after the second connector 300 is installed into the oil bladder 100, the shear pin is installed to maintain the relative position of the two, which can ensure the circumferential position and axial position. The axial direction is the separation direction. The shear pin has a locking function under the condition of not exceeding the shearing force, which satisfies the static locking function in the deep water environment. At the same time, when separating, it satisfies the condition that the equipment drives the second connector 300 and the oil bladder 100 as a whole to separate relative to the first connector 200 due to the shear pin breaking. At the same time, the first connector 200 and the second connector 300 separate and disconnect the insertion. The axial direction of the fixing screws used to fix the housing of the second connector 300 and the main housing 11 of the oil bladder 100 is consistent with the connector mating direction, and the second connector 300 and the underwater separation housing are separated relative to the first connector 200 together, that is, the shearing force of the shearing screw is less than the breaking force of the fixing screw.

[0084] The oil bladder 100 constitutes an underwater separation shell, and its inner cavity forms the connecting inner cavity of the underwater separation shell, i.e., the oil filling chamber 13. The first connector 200 constitutes a separation connector, and the second connector 300 constitutes a connector insertion structure for installation within the underwater separation shell. The first mounting hole 111 constitutes an adapter port within the connecting inner cavity for the separation connector to be inserted and fitted into the connector insertion structure. The second mounting hole constitutes a second mounting port within the connecting inner cavity for the second connector 300 to be inserted. The sealing groove on the main housing 11 for mounting a sealing ring constitutes a structure or part for sealing and mating with the connector. The threaded hole on the side of the main housing 11 that fits and fixes the second connector 300 constitutes a structure for fixing the second connector 300. The oil filling chamber 13 of the oil bladder 100 is sealed by the connector disposed therein. The main housing 11 and oil bladder cap 12 of the oil bladder 100, along with the connector housing and the connector contacts, form a sealed inner cavity within the main housing 11, thereby forming the oil filling chamber 13. The underwater separation shell is provided with shear pin mounting holes for installing shear pins. The shear pin mounting holes penetrate the inner and outer walls of the underwater separation shell so that the shear pins can be inserted into the shear pin mating holes of the separation connector to form a limit and maintain the relative position of the separation connector and the underwater separation shell. After the shear pins are cut off, the underwater separation shell and the separation connector can be separated.

[0085] In this embodiment, the underwater separation shell is an oil bladder 100 independent of the first connector 200 and the second connector 300. In other embodiments, the underwater separation shell can also be the shell of the second connector. The shear pins are used to lock the relative positions of the two connectors. In this case, the connecting cavity is the mating cavity of the second connector for the first connector to insert into, and the connector mating structure is the contact element of the second connector. In this embodiment, the internal and external pressure balance is achieved through the oil filling chamber of the oil bladder. In other embodiments, if used in a shallow water environment, the oil filling chamber may not be provided.

[0086] The underwater separation shell and the separation connector are connected by two types of scissors: instant scissors 16 and delayed scissors 17. Instant scissors 16 and delayed scissors 17 are spaced apart along the separation direction of the underwater separation shell relative to the separation connector. They are also spaced apart along the extension direction of the first mounting hole 111, which is the mating direction of the two connectors and the relative movement direction when the oil bladder 100 separates from the first connector 200. The main shell 11 has scissor mounting holes, and the first connector 200 has scissor mating holes. The mating relationship between the instant scissors 16 and their corresponding scissor mounting holes and mating holes is such that, compared to the mating relationship between the delayed scissors 17 and their corresponding scissor mounting holes and mating holes, the instant scissors 16 breaks first and the delayed scissors 17 breaks later under the separation force between the underwater separation shell and the separation connector. Before the delayed scissors 17 break, the first connector 200 and the second connector 300 remain in the mated state.

[0087] The main housing 11 has outwardly extending cylindrical protrusions for forming the first mounting hole 111, which are provided with shear pin mounting holes. The shear pin mounting holes penetrate the wall thickness of the cylindrical protrusions. Each shear pin mounting hole corresponds to a shear pin. The shear pin mounting holes are of the same size, and the shear pins of the same specification can be used. The shear pins fit tightly with the shear pin mounting holes of the underwater separation hull.

[0088] The diameter of the shear pin mating hole on the housing of the split connector that mates with the delayed shear pin 17 is larger than the diameter of the shear pin mating hole that mates with the immediate shear pin 16. The housing of the split connector is the first housing 21, and the first housing 21 has two types of shear pin mating holes: a small shear pin hole 211 and a large shear pin hole 212. The small shear pin hole 211 is used to mate with the immediate shear pin 16, and the large shear pin hole 212 is used to mate with the delayed shear pin 17. Both the large shear pin hole 212 and the small shear pin hole 211 are round holes and blind holes. The diameter of the large shear pin hole 212 is larger than that of the small shear pin hole 211. The immediate shear pin 16 is adapted to the corresponding small shear pin hole 211 to position the underwater separation shell and the separation connector. After the main shell 11 is subjected to tension, the immediate shear pin 16 is immediately subjected to shearing force. The delayed shear pin 17 and the hole wall of the corresponding large shear pin hole 212 have a set gap in the separation direction. At least during separation, the delayed shear pin 17 is a certain distance from the hole wall of the large shear pin hole 212 in the direction in which it moves relative to the first shell 21. In other embodiments, the small shear pin hole can also be a round hole, while the large shear pin hole can be an elongated hole, allowing the delayed shear pin to have a certain relative displacement within the large shear pin hole. In other embodiments, the scissor mounting hole on the main housing for installing the delay scissor pin may have a larger diameter, while the scissor mating hole for installing the delay scissor pin may have a smaller diameter. In this case, the delay scissor pin is positioned on the housing of the disconnect connector, allowing the main housing to be displaced a certain distance relative to the delay scissor pin before cutting it off.

[0089] After the immediate shearing pin 16 cuts and before the delayed shearing pin 17 cuts, the displacement of the main housing 11 relative to the first housing 21 is such that the first connector 200 and the second connector 300 will not disengage from the plug-in conductive state.

[0090] The shear stud has a threaded section and a smooth section. The threaded section is threaded into the shear stud mounting hole, and the smooth section extends into the shear stud mating hole. The diameter of the threaded section is larger than the diameter of the smooth section to ensure a reliable fastening connection without increasing the shearing force and to control the shearing position. The shear stud mounting hole is a stepped hole, with the screw head of the shear stud facing outward and recessed into the mounting hole. The threaded section of the shear stud is threaded into the threaded section of the mounting hole, and the smooth section of the shear stud passes through the mounting hole and extends into the shear stud mating hole of the first housing 21. In other embodiments, the threaded section and the smooth section of the shear stud may also have the same diameter.

[0091] The diameter of the small shear pin hole 211 is adapted to the diameter of the smooth section of the instant shear pin 16. The diameter of the smooth section of the instant shear pin 16 matches the diameter of the small shear pin hole 211 for proper positioning. The small shear pin hole 211 forms a positioning fitting hole, and axial positioning is achieved by inserting the instant shear pin 16 into the positioning fitting hole. The diameter of the large shear pin hole 212 is larger than the diameter of the smooth section of the delayed shear pin 17. The smooth section of the delayed shear pin 17 extends into the large shear pin hole 212 and is spaced apart from the hole wall. Since the oil bladder 100 is fixedly connected to the second connector 300, when the device is separated, dragging the second connector 300 causes the oil bladder 100 to tend to shift relative to the first connector 200. Because the set pulling force meets the separation requirements, the shear pins will be subjected to sufficient shearing force and cut. During this process, the immediate shear pin 16 will be immediately subjected to shearing force and cut first. After separating a short distance, the delayed shear pin 17 will be subjected to shearing force and cut later. The force required for both cuts is the same, only the timing of the cuts is different, thus avoiding excessive separation resistance. Simultaneously, the two shear pins provide double protection. If the immediate shear pin 16 is accidentally deformed and loses its original positioning effect, i.e., it can no longer maintain the state where the original set shearing force is required to cut, the delayed shear pin 17 can still be relied upon to ensure the separation effect of the original set shearing force required to cut.

[0092] At least two sets of shear pins are distributed at different positions along the circumference of the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical protrusion of the main housing 11. One instant shear pin 16 and one delayed shear pin 17 constitute a set of shear pins, i.e., a shear pin group. The number of shear pin groups is set according to the required shearing force, and separation is achieved by shearing with the shear pins. The delayed shear pin 17 is located on the inner side of the instant shear pin 16 near the oil filling chamber 13, which can prevent impurities from entering the large shear pin hole 212, and help the main housing 11 withstand the impact force between the delayed shear pin 17 and the first housing 21, thereby improving reliability.

[0093] An O-ring is provided between the first housing 21 and the inner wall of the first mounting hole 111. The inner wall of the first mounting hole 111 is provided with a sealing groove, and the sealing ring is installed in the sealing groove. The outer circumferential surface of the first housing 21 has a part for tight sealing with the sealing ring. On the inner wall of the first mounting hole 111 of the main housing 11, sealing rings are provided on both sides of the shear pin assembly. That is, on the underwater separation housing, there are parts on both sides of the shear pin mounting hole along the separation direction for sealing with the separation connector. The inner side of the shear pin assembly near the oil filling chamber 13 is provided with two sealing rings, and the outer side away from the oil filling chamber 13 is provided with one sealing ring. The outer sealing ring mainly serves to prevent fouling.

[0094] The sealing ring located inside the shear pin assembly within the first mounting hole 111 is designated as the inner sealing ring, and the sealing ring located outside the shear pin assembly is designated as the outer sealing ring. There are two inner sealing rings, both forming a seal between the inner wall of the main housing 11 and the outer wall of the first housing 21. The shear pin mounting hole is designed not to seal with the shear pin after installation; external water can seep into the gap between the main housing 11 and the first housing 21 through the gap between the mounting hole and the shear pin, thus transferring pressure between the inner and outer sealing rings. The pressure on both sides of the outer sealing ring is balanced, preventing increased friction between it and the housing due to deformation. Furthermore, the outer sealing ring primarily serves to seal against contamination, preventing dirt from entering the shear pin area and affecting its function; it does not need to provide waterproofing, and any water seepage at this point does not affect its use.

[0095] For the two inner sealing rings, one side is filled with oil and the other with water. The oil and water pressures are balanced, and the amount of air between the two inner sealing rings is negligible. Therefore, the pressure on both sides of these two inner sealing rings can be considered balanced. Excessive pressure difference between the two sides of the sealing rings will not cause excessive deformation, thus preventing a sudden increase in frictional resistance at the interface between the sealing ring and the housing, ensuring smooth separation. In other embodiments, only one inner sealing ring can be provided, with balanced pressure on both sides. Sealing rings not located at the separation point will not affect the separation performance.

[0096] For the first mounting hole 111 of the main shell 11, the internal and external pressures are balanced. The main shell 11 will not undergo significant shrinkage deformation due to the high water pressure in the deep water environment, that is, it will not grip the first shell 21 tightly, ensuring smooth separation. Moreover, although the rear cavity of the first shell 21 is under atmospheric pressure, the first shell 21 itself can withstand high pressure, and even if there is deformation, it will be a slight shrinkage deformation. The shrinkage deformation will not cause the main shell 11 to grip the first shell 21 tightly, that is, it will not increase the separation resistance.

[0097] The second housing 31 of the second connector 300 is provided with a square flange, which is fixed to the corresponding side of the main housing 11 of the oil bladder 100 by screws. The fixing force of the screws at this location is greater than the drag force required for separation, meaning that separation will not occur at this location but at the shear screw location. An O-ring is provided between the outer peripheral surface of the second housing 31 and the inner wall of the second mounting hole, and a sealing ring is provided between the square flange of the second housing 31 and the corresponding side of the main housing 11. The sealing rings are installed in the sealing groove of the main housing 11.

[0098] The head ends of the first housing 21 and the second housing 31 form mating ends, and the tail ends extend outside the main housing 11. Both the tail ends of the first housing 21 and the second housing 31 have cavities. The first pin contact 22 and the second pin contact 32 are both double-ended pins, meaning both ends are pin structures. The tail ends of the first connector 200 and the second connector 300 can be adapted to connect to corresponding connectors. The first connector 200 can be adapted to connect to a third connector, and the second connector 300 can be adapted to connect to a fourth connector. The fourth connector can be a through-shell connector on the equipment, and the third connector can be a cable end connector. The cable end connector is connected to a cable for power connection to the base station. In this way, the base station can achieve power supply and communication to the separated equipment through the interconnection of the third connector, the first connector 200, the second connector 300, and the fourth connector. The third connector and the fourth connector constitute an adapter connector for mating connection with the underwater separation component. In other embodiments, the tail end of the pin contact may not be a pin structure, but a solder cup. The contact is directly connected to the cable, and the base station and equipment are directly connected by the cable, without going through the third connector and the fourth connector for conversion.

[0099] The third and fourth connectors have socket contacts. The third connector is inserted into the rear cavity of the first connector 200 housing to achieve mating, and the fourth connector is inserted into the rear cavity of the second connector 300 housing to achieve mating. The inner walls of the rear cavities of both the first connector 200 and the second connector 300 are provided with sealing rings to seal against the outer circumferential surface of the mating connector housing. The rear ends of both the first connector 200 and the second connector 300 are also provided with external threads for connecting the corresponding mating connector's threaded cap to achieve connector locking.

[0100] The main assembly process of this component is as follows: First connector 200 and second connector 300 are manufactured, and oil bladder 100 is assembled. Without installing shear pins, a fixture can be used to maintain the initial shape of the oil bladder cap 12. First connector 200 is inserted into oil bladder 100, secured in place by the shaft shoulder, with the sealing ring maintaining a circumferential seal. Shear pins are installed to achieve axial positioning. Oil bladder 100 and first connector 200 are placed as a whole on the fixture, vertically, with the second mounting hole facing upwards. At this point, the second mounting hole forms an oil inlet (the first mounting hole can also be used). Insulating oil is added to the oil filling chamber 13 until it is full. A vacuum is then drawn to ensure the insulating oil fully fills the gaps, and then it is filled again. Second connector 300 is inserted. Excess insulating oil overflows from the gap between the outer circumferential surface of the second connector 300 housing and the wall of the second mounting hole. To ensure smooth overflow, a larger radial clearance is allowed in the inner area, excluding the sealing ring mating area. The second connector 300 is installed in place and inserted into the first connector 200. The second connector 300 is fixed with the oil bladder 100 to form an underwater separation assembly. This assembly can be connected between the base station and the equipment. It can be connected to the base station by using a cable end connector and a cable, and to the equipment by using a through-shell connector.

[0101] During the underwater separation process, the equipment separates from the base station. The equipment drags the second connector 300 and the oil bladder 100, and the shear pins are cut. This pulling force will not break the cable. Immediate shear pin 16 cuts first, followed by delayed shear pin 17. The first connector 200 separates from the second connector 300, and the oil bladder 100 separates from the first connector 200, thus achieving the separation of the equipment from the base station. During this separation process, the pressure at the mating interface remains balanced with the external water pressure.

[0102] For adding insulating oil, a separate oil filling hole can be provided on the main housing. This hole, combined with a sealing structure, ensures sealing and pressure resistance. Alternatively, the oil bladder can be fixedly connected to the second connector, with the first mounting hole serving as the oil filling port. The installation relationships of the first and second connectors with the oil bladder are interchangeable; the second connector can be separated from the oil bladder, while the oil bladder remains fixed to the first connector.

[0103] This towable underwater separation assembly can be connected to user equipment via ordinary watertight connectors and watertight cables. In underwater application environments, seawater enters the balancing assembly through the inlet and flow channel and comes into contact with the flexible medium oil bladder cap. By squeezing the oil bladder cap and the silicone oil inside, the pressure of the external seawater is transferred to the silicone oil liquid inside the balancing assembly without loss, thereby achieving pressure balance between the inside and outside of the balancing assembly and protecting the pressure-resistant shell and the shear pin limiting separation mechanism from water pressure damage.

[0104] The oil bladder caps are installed around the outer perimeter of the metal housing, featuring a simple structure that facilitates assembly and rework. The installation position and number of oil bladder caps can be selected according to the size of the internal cavity of the balancing assembly, making it adaptable to different structural dimensions and oil filling spaces, thus offering high versatility.

[0105] By designing the shearing section of the shearing screw, the shearing separation force is precisely controlled, enabling the installation, positioning, and drag-and-drop shearing separation of the underwater separation component. The design employs a unidirectional double-screw delayed separation structure, coupled with sealing O-rings and anti-fouling O-rings, ensuring both reliable sealing and locking of the balancing component with dual redundancy, while also guaranteeing the precise design of the balancing component's separation force parameters. This effectively solves the problem of locking mechanism damage caused by internal and external pressure deviations in practical engineering, providing pressure differential adjustment and redundancy backup functions, ensuring locking reliability meets application requirements.

[0106] By designing an inner and outer metal shield structure on the outer layer of the oil bladder cap, and designing the water inlet flow path and reserving the flow channel space, the harsh underwater environment outside is isolated from the clean environment inside the balance component, which effectively ensures the stable deformation space of the flexible medium and avoids damage to the flexible medium from the complex external environment.

[0107] Embodiments of the underwater separation shell of the present invention: The underwater separation shell in this embodiment has the same structure as the underwater separation shell described in the above-described underwater separation component embodiment, and will not be repeated here.

[0108] Embodiments of the underwater separation connector assembly of the present invention: The underwater separation connector assembly includes an underwater separation component and a cable or connector adapted to connect the underwater separation component. The underwater separation component in this embodiment is the same as the underwater separation component in the above embodiments, and will not be described again here.

[0109] Finally, it should be noted that the above descriptions are merely preferred embodiments of the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention. Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art can still make modifications to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments without creative effort, or make equivalent substitutions for some of the technical features. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. An underwater separation shell, characterized in that, The device includes a connecting cavity for setting up a connector mating structure. The connecting cavity has an adapter port for inserting a disconnect connector to be adapted to the connector mating structure. The inner wall of the connecting cavity is provided with a structure for sealing and mating with the disconnect connector. The underwater disconnect housing is provided with a shear pin mounting hole for installing shear pins. The shear pin mounting hole penetrates the inner wall and outer wall of the underwater disconnect housing to allow the shear pin to extend into the shear pin mating hole of the disconnect connector to form a limit and to realize the separation of the underwater disconnect housing from the disconnect connector after the shear pin is cut off.

2. The underwater separation shell according to claim 1, characterized in that, The underwater separation shell includes a main shell (11) and a pressure transmitting plate. The main shell (11) is provided with a pressure transmitting installation port (112). The pressure transmitting plate is sealed and installed at the pressure transmitting installation port (112). The pressure transmitting plate seals the pressure transmitting installation port (112) and cooperates with the main shell (11) to form the connecting inner cavity. The connecting inner cavity is used to form an oil-filled cavity (13) so that after the insulating oil is filled into the oil-filled cavity (13), the mating interface between the connector plug-in structure and the separation connector is in the insulating oil. The pressure transmitting plate is a deformable structure for pressure transmission inside and outside the oil-filled cavity (13).

3. The underwater separation shell according to claim 2, characterized in that, An inner cover (14) is fixed to the outside of the pressure transmitting plate. The inner cover (14) is provided with a pressure transmitting hole (141). The cross-sectional area of ​​the pressure transmitting hole (141) is smaller than the area of ​​the pressure transmitting installation port (112).

4. The underwater separation shell according to claim 3, characterized in that, An outer cover (15) is fixed to the outside of the inner cover (14). The outer cover (15) is provided with a water inlet (151) and the water inlet (151) is connected to the pressure transmission hole (141). The water inlet (151) of the outer cover (15) and the pressure transmission hole (141) of the inner cover (14) are misaligned. A gap is provided between the outer cover (15) and the inner cover (14) to allow the water inlet (151) and the pressure transmission hole (141) to be connected.

5. The underwater separation shell according to claim 4, characterized in that, The pressure transmission hole (141) of the inner cover (14) is located at the center of the inner cover (14) and corresponds to the center of the pressure transmission plate. There are two or more water inlet holes (151) on the cover around its center line.

6. The underwater separation shell according to claim 3, 4, or 5, characterized in that, The pressure transmitting plate is an oil bladder cap (12), which has an outwardly bulging portion. The portion of the outwardly bulging portion of the pressure transmitting plate that corresponds to the pressure transmitting hole (141) is recessed.

7. The underwater separation shell according to any one of claims 2-5, characterized in that, The main housing (11) is a rigid housing, and the pressure plate is elastic and flexible. The edge of the pressure plate is provided with an annular protrusion. The main housing (11) is provided with a sealing groove for the annular protrusion to extend into so that the pressure plate is pressed and then sealed with the main housing (11) through the annular protrusion.

8. The underwater separation shell according to any one of claims 2-5, characterized in that, The main housing (11) has multiple sidewalls, two of which are provided with a first mounting hole (111) and a second mounting hole respectively, and at least one of the remaining sidewalls is provided with the pressure transmission mounting port (112). The first mounting hole (111) forms the adapter connection port. The first mounting hole (111) is used to insert the first connector (200) that forms the separate connector. The second mounting hole is used to insert the second connector (300) that forms the connector plug-in structure. The main housing (11) is provided with a structure for sealing and engaging with the first connector (200) and the second connector (300). The main housing (11) is provided with a structure for fixing with the second connector (300).

9. The underwater separation shell according to any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that, The adapter connection port is for the first connector (200) forming the split connector to be inserted into. The underwater split housing is provided with a second mounting port for the second connector (300) forming the connector insertion structure to be inserted into. The underwater split housing has a portion for sealing with the first connector (200) and the second connector (300) respectively. The underwater split housing is provided with a fixed connection structure for fixing the second connector (300).

10. The underwater separation shell according to any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that, The underwater separation shell has parts on both sides of the shear pin mounting hole along the separation direction for sealing with the separation connector. The shear pin mounting hole is designed to not seal with the shear pin after installation.

11. An underwater separation assembly, characterized in that, It includes the underwater separation shell as described in any one of claims 1-10, as well as the separation connector and connector insertion structure connected to the underwater separation shell.

12. The underwater separation assembly according to claim 11, characterized in that, The scissors connecting the underwater separation shell and the separation connector include instant scissors (16) and delayed scissors (17). The instant scissors (16) and delayed scissors (17) are spaced apart along the separation direction of the underwater separation shell relative to the separation connector. The matching relationship between the instant scissors (16) and its corresponding scissor mounting hole and scissor mating hole is such that, compared with the matching relationship between the delayed scissors (17) and its corresponding scissor mounting hole and scissor mating hole, the instant scissors (16) breaks first and the delayed scissors (17) breaks later under the action of the separation force between the underwater separation shell and the separation connector. Before the delayed scissors (17) breaks, the separation connector and the connector plug-in structure are in the plugged-in state.

13. The underwater separation assembly according to claim 12, characterized in that, The shear pins fit tightly into the shear pin mounting holes of the underwater separation shell. The diameter of the shear pin mating hole on the housing of the separation connector that mates with the delayed shear pin (17) is larger than the diameter of the shear pin mating hole that mates with the instant shear pin (16). The instant shear pin (16) is adapted to the corresponding shear pin mating hole to position the underwater separation shell and the separation connector. The wall of the delayed shear pin (17) and the corresponding shear pin mating hole has a set gap in the separation direction.

14. The underwater separation assembly according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that, There are at least two sets of delayed shear pins (17) and instant shear pins (16) distributed in the circumferential direction of the underwater separation shell, with the delayed shear pins (17) in the same set located inside the instant shear pins (16).

15. The underwater separation assembly according to claim 11, 12, or 13, characterized in that, The shear pin has a threaded section and a smooth section. The threaded section is threaded into the shear pin mounting hole, and the smooth section extends into the shear pin mating hole. The diameter of the threaded section is larger than the diameter of the smooth section.

16. The underwater separation assembly according to claim 11, 12, or 13, characterized in that, The separation connector is a first connector (200), and the connector insertion structure is a second connector (300). The housing of the second connector (300) is fixedly connected to the underwater separation housing by a screw, and the axial direction of the screw is consistent with the insertion direction of the connector, so that the second connector (300) and the underwater separation housing can be separated relative to the first connector (200).

17. An underwater separation connector assembly, characterized in that, Includes the underwater separation assembly as described in any one of claims 11-16 and the cable or adapter connector connected to the underwater separation assembly.

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