Protective housing

Abstract

A protective housing suitable for receiving and protecting a utility line passing through an aperture. The protective housing comprises a body 102 configured to be inserted into the aperture in a first direction. The body 102 comprises an outer (figure 3, 104) and an inner (figure 3, 106) surface defining bore (figure 3, 108). The outer surface of the body 102 comprises one or more recesses 110. One or more latches 112 are at least partially located in the one or more recesses 110 of the body 102 and prevent removal of the body 102 from the aperture. The one or more latches 112 are translatable between a first position (figure 4A) for allowing insertion of the body 102 into the aperture in the first direction and, a second position (figure 4B) for preventing removal of the body from the aperture. One or more compressible bias members (figure 5A, 114) are located in the one or more recesses 110 for biasing the one or more latches 112 to the second position.

Description

The present disclosure relates to a protective housing. In particular the disclosure is concerned with a protective housing assembly for receiving and protecting a utility line passing through an aperture. Background Utility lines may contain cables for exporting electricity from offshore wind turbines, and control wires or fibre optic communication cores for control of the turbines. Protection of subsea utility lines from damage is thus a key consideration for offshore wind farms. Figure 1 shows a wind turbine structure 10 located on a structure 12, such as a monopile which extends into a seabed 14. A utility line 16 extends from a generator 18 in a turbine housing 20. The cable 16 extends down the length of the monopile 12 and out through an aperture 22 in the wall of the monopile 12, extending along the seabed 14 to shore. The utility line 16 has a tendency to bend under its own weight and as a result of the force induced upon it by the movement of water in which it is submerged. Housings are often provided along a length of the utility line 16 from the monopile 12 to the seabed 14 to protect the utility line from damage. The housings comprise hard articulated arrangements so they may flex along their length. Particular care must be taken of the region of the utility line 16 passing through the aperture 22 as without protection the utility line 16 may impact or push against the edge of the aperture 22, thereby damaging the utility line 16. The utility line 16 would typically be installed under water and so may be subject to movement from water due to tidal movement. It is therefore desirable to reduce the stresses on utility lines 16 in the vicinity of monopiles. As will be appreciated, fixing, or replacing subsea utility lines is difficult and expensive. Whilst housing including latches are known, there are inherent difficulties associated with the existing teachings of these. Hence components for a housing, and the housing they form, which inherently provide protection for the utility line compared to examples of the related art, are highly desirable. In addition, utility lines are also subject to stresses induced from the movement of surrounding water. High stresses induced on the utility lines can lead to poor performance. As such, providing a protective housing assembly that mitigates for some induced stresses would be beneficial. Summary According to the present disclosure there is provided apparatus and method as set forth in the appended claims. Other features of the invention will be apparent from the dependent claims, and the description which follows. In one example, there is provided a protective housing for receiving and protecting a utility line passing through an aperture, the protective housing comprising: a body configured to be inserted into the aperture in a first direction, the body comprising an outer surface and an inner surface defining bore for receiving said utility line and allowing the utility line to pass through, wherein the outer surface of the body comprises one or more recesses; one or more latches for engaging an edge of the aperture to prevent removal of the body from the aperture in a second direction, opposite to the first direction, wherein the one or more latches is at least partially located in the one or more recesses of the body, wherein the one or more latches are translatable between a first position for allowing insertion of the body into the aperture in the first direction and a second position for preventing removal of the body from the aperture in the second position, one or more compressible bias members located in the one or more recesses for biasing the one or more latches to the second position. That is to say, the one or more latches are not hinged and instead translate between the first position and the second position (and from the second position to the first position). Avoiding the use of hinges means that there are fewer moving mechanisms that are subject to wear and / or damage and so the working life of the protective housing is extended. In addition, the design of the protective housing may be streamlined and made more cost effective. In one example, the one or more compressible bias members is formed of an elastomer. Providing an elastomer means is robust and unlikely to be damaged when subject to underwater conditions. As such, it would have a longer usable life compared with metal or plastic alternatives such as springs. In one example, the one or more compressible bias members is formed of polyurethane. Polyurethane is suitable material for returning to its original shape when subject to a force (below a threshold). As such, it is suited to bias the one or more latches to the second position, in use. In one example, the one or more recesses are positioned at a single predetermined location along a longitudinal axis of the body. That is to say that the one or more recesses are arranged in a ring around the body. Arranging the one or more recesses (and hence the one or more latches) in a ring around the body means that the protective housing may hold the protective housing at a consistent position relative to the aperture. This consistency provides certainty of the position. In one example, the one or more recesses comprises an entrance having a lip; and a cavity, wherein the lip has a smaller width and / or length relative to the respective width and / or length of cavity. The lip provides a mechanism for retaining the one or more latches within the recess. In one example, one or more oversized plates are configured to be coupled with the one or more latches, wherein the oversized plate is located within the cavity of the recess and is retained within the recess by the lip to prevent the one or more latches from being removed from the recesses. The oversized plates operate in conjunction with the lip to retain the latch within the recess. In one example, the latch comprises a first latch face and an opposition second latch face, wherein the first latch face is angled between 30 degrees to 60 degrees relative to the opposing latch face to create a wedge shape latch. The wedge shape latch is suitable to enable the latch to be depressed and translated at the latch moves relative to the aperture. In one example, first latch face is angled at approximately 45 degrees relative to the opposing latch face. In one example, the protective housing includes one or more guides configured to guide the one or more latches between the first position and the second position. The guides may aid with preventing rotation of the one or more latches. The guides may also assist with retaining the latch within the recess. In one example, the guide comprises one or more guide slots. In one example, the one or more latches comprises three latches. The three latches may be positioned equidistantly around the perimeter of the housing. In one example, there is provided a method of installing protective housing into an aperture, the method comprising: inserting the protective housing of any one of the preceding claims in a first direction to engage an edge of the aperture, wherein the one or more latches translates between: a first position for allowing insertion of the body into the aperture in the first direction; and a second position for preventing removal of the body from the aperture in the second direction. The method provides an efficient way for installing a protective housing around a utility line that passes through an aperture. Various combinations of the above referenced features are envisaged. Brief Description of the Drawings Examples of the present disclosure will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows an offshore wind turbine structure, as previously described; Figure 2 shows a view of a utility line which is surrounded by protective housing members; Figure 3 shows schematic cross-sectional view of an example of a protective housing; Figure 4A shows a schematic example of a protective housing with the one or more latches in a first position; Figure 4B shows a schematic example of a protective housing with the one or more latches in a second position; Figure 5A shows a cross-section of a latch in a first position; Figure 5B shows a cross-section of a latch in a second position; Figure 5C shows an example of the latch; Figures 6A to 6E show further examples of latches in various views; Figures 7A and 7B show examples of a protective housing inserted into an aperture; Figure 8A shows a detail of the latch as the protective housing is being inserted into the aperture; Figure 8B shows a detail of the latch in the first position; Figure 8C shows a detail of the latch in the second position; and Figure 9 shows a flow chart of a method of installing a protective housing into an aperture. Detailed Description Figure 2 shows a region of a monopile 12, as shown in Figure 1, in which the aperture 22 is located. The utility line 16 is shown with a protective housing assembly system. Shown in Figure 2 is the protective housing 100 which protects the utility line 16 passing through the aperture 22. The system may comprise a plurality of substantially similar modular protective housing members 24 coupled together, which may include spacing 25 between them. These are not discussed in further detail in this specification. In one example, there is provided a protective housing that protects a utility line 16. The protective housing is configured to be placed within an aperture and prevents damage to the utility line from the edge of the aperture. The protective housing includes a number of latches that are configured to be depressed in a translational manner between a first (exposed) position and a second (depressed) position. The latches are able to allow the protective housing to be inserted into the aperture in a first direction and prevent removal of the protective housing in a second, opposite, direction. Figure 3 shows a cross-sectional view of the protective housing 100. The protective housing 100 is for receiving and protecting a utility line 16 passing through an aperture 22. The protective housing 100 includes a body 102 a body configured to be inserted into the aperture 22 in a first direction. The body 102 may be formed of plastic material or the like. The body 102 includes an outer surface 104 and an inner surface 106. The outer surface 104 may be substantially circular in cross-section. The inner surface 106 may also be substantially circular in cross-section. In some examples, the inner surface 106 and the outer surface 104 are co-axial. That is, the body 102 may have a tube shape. The inner surface 106 of the body 102 defines a bore 108 for receiving said utility line (not shown in figure 3). The utility line passes through the bore 108 of the protective housing 100, in use. The bore 108 may pass through the centre of the protective housing 100, in use. The outer surface 104 of the protective housing 100 includes one or more recesses 110. The recesses 110 may be known as openings in the outer surface of the body 102. As shown in the example in figure 3, the openings may not extend all the way through to the inner surface 106 of the body 102, but rather a part of the way. That is, the one or more recesses 110 may be grooves in the outer surface 104 of the body. The recesses 110 are shown in more detail in Figures 5A and 5B. The protective housing 100 also includes one or more latches 112 for engaging an edge of an aperture. In the example in figure 3, each latch 112 is located in a respective recess 110. That is to say that there is one latch 112 per recess 110. The latches 112 are discussed in more detail below in relation to Figures 5A to 5C and 6A to 6F. The one or more latches are configured to engage an edge of the aperture to prevent removal of the body from the aperture in a second direction, opposite to the first direction. That is, the latches 112 are arranged in a manner to allow insertion of the body 102 into the aperture in a first direction, but prevent the body from falling out of the aperture in a second, opposite direction. The latches 112 may have a “locking surface” that is configured to abut a distal side of the structure including the aperture 22 to prevent the body 102 from moving back through the aperture 22. As will be discussed below, the latches 112 may have a sloped surface that is configured to engage with an edge of the aperture 22 as the body 102 is moved through the aperture 22 in the first direction. The latches 112 are translatable between a first position and a second position. In both configurations each latch 112 is at least partially located in a respective recess 110. The first position may be considered to be a recessed configuration in which at least the majority of the latch is located within the recess 110. In the second position, a substantial part of the latch is exposed from the recess 110 such that it can engage with the edge of the aperture 22. In the first position, the latches 112 allow insertion of the body 102 into the aperture 22. That is to say that they may be in a recessed position. The protective housing 100 also includes one or more compressible bias members located in the one or more recesses for biasing the one or more latches 112 to the second position. That is, without an external force acting on the latches 112, they would be urged to the second position, and they would only move to the first position due to the application of an external force against the biasing force. Figure 4A shows an example of the protective housing 100 in which the one or more latches 112 are in the first position. This is merely a schematic example and the external force which is pushing the latches 112 against the biasing force is not shown. In practice, the one or more latches 112 would be translated to the first position (from the second position) due to the presence of the aperture 22, which would urge the one or more latches 112 against the biasing force into the first position. Figure 4B shows an example of the protective housing 100 in which the one or more latches 112 are in the second position. In this example, the one or more compressible bias members located in the one or more recesses 110 bias the one or more latches to the second position. Figures 4A and 4B are good examples to show that the one or more recesses 110 are positioned at a single location along a longitudinal axis of the body 102. The longitudinal axis is represented by La in Figure 4A. Given the latches 112 are all located in the recesses 110, the latches 112 are also positioned at a single location along the longitudinal axis of the body 102. In other words, the recesses 110 are located in a ring around a circumference of the body 102. The latches 112 are also located in a ring around a circumference of the body 102. In one example, the protective housing 100 includes three latches 112 spaced in a ring around the perimeter of the body 102. Figure 5A shows a schematic cross-sectional view of the latch 112 in the first position. Figure 5A shows the compressible biasing member 114 that is configured to bias the latch 112 to the first position. In Figure 5A, an external force (represented by arrow A) is pushing the latch 112 against the bias of the compressible biasing member 114 to push the latch 112 to the first position. Figure 5B shows a schematic cross-sectional view of the latch 112 in the second position. As can be seen in Figure 5B, at least a part of the latch 112 projects beyond the surface of the structure 12 in which the aperture 22 is located. That is, in the second position, the latch 112 has a sufficient exposed surface to prevent the body 102 from moving back through the aperture 22 in a direction opposite to the direction in which it has been inserted. Figures 5A and 5B both show that the protective housing 100 may include an oversized plate 116. The oversized plate 116 may be configured to be attached to the latch 112 to prevent the latch 112 from being removed from the recess 110. As shown in Figure 5B, in the second configuration the oversized plate 116 is configured to abut a lip 118 of the recess 110. That is to say that the recess 110 may be formed of a cavity 120 and a lip 118 and the lip has a smaller profile when compared with the cavity 120. In other words, the lip 118 has a smaller width and / or length relative to the respective width and / or length of cavity 120. The oversized plate 116 is located within a cavity 118 of the recess 110 and is configured to abut the lip 118 when the latch 112 is in the second position. The oversized plate 116 may move trough the cavity 120 as it has a smaller profile when compared with the cavity 120. However, the oversized plate 116 is larger when compared with the lip 118 (hence the term oversized). As such, the presence of the plate 116 is one method for ensuring that the latch 112 does not leave the recess 110. In the example, the oversized plate 116 is coupled with the side of the latch 112 that is always located within the recess 110. The compressible biasing member 114 may be located against an inner surface of the recess 110. For example, the compressible biasing member 114 is located against a bottom of the recess 110. The opposite side of the compressible biasing member 114 may contact the oversized plate 116, if present, or the latch 112, if not. In one example, the compressible member 114 is coupled with the oversized plate 116, if present, or the latch 112, if not. The one or more compressible bias members 114 may be formed of an elastomer, such as polyurethane. Polyurethane is suited for use as a compressible bias member 114 as it has strong resilient factors and will be unlikely to degrade underwater. Figure 5C shows an example of the latch 112 from figures 5A and 5B in isolation. The latch 112 may be wedge shaped. That is, the latch 112 may be in the form of a triangle, for example a right-angle triangle (or close to a right-angled triangle). In figure 5C, the latch 112 includes a sloped surface 122 and a locking surface 124. The sloped surface 122 is configured to contact the edge of the aperture 22 as the body 102 is inserted into the aperture in the first direction. The provision of the sloped surface means that the contact force from the edge of the aperture will urge the latch 112 against the compressible bias member 114. This would cause the latch 112 to translate away from an original position and move towards the first position as the body 102 is moved through the aperture 122. In one example, the angle of the sloped surface is between 10-35 degrees, more preferably between 20 to 25 degrees relative to the longitudinal axis of the body. The latch 112 also includes a locking surface 124. The locking surface 124 is configured to engage with a back surface of the structure 12 in which the aperture is located. That is, in use after the body 102 has been inserted into the aperture 22 and the latch 112 has returned to the second position (due to the force from the compressible bias member 114, then the locking surface will abut against the back surface adjacent to the edge of the aperture 22 to prevent the body 102 from being pulled back through the aperture 22 in a second direction, opposite to the first direction in which the body 102 was inserted. The latch 112 includes an underside 126, that is configured to contact with the compressible bias member 114. As the latches 112 do not rotate in use, the system is simpler and there is less opportunity for failure. For example, there is no need for hinges which may fail after a certain number of usages. Figures 6A to 6E show further examples of latches 112. The latch 112 in figures 6A to 6E comprises the sloped surface 122, the latching surface 124 and the underside 126. However, in these examples, the latching surface 124 is not at an acute angle relative to the sloping surface, but rather at an obtuse angle. This aids with the latching apparatus 100 being inserted into the aperture at an oblique angle relative to the aperture 22 and then retaining the latching apparatus 100 at the oblique angle. In one example the latching surface 124 is at an angle of between 40 to 50 degrees relative to the underside surface 126. That is to say that the latching surface 124 is at an angle of between 40 to 50 degrees relative to the longitudinal axis of the body 102. The latch 112 may also include one or more projecting legs 128 (or lugs) that are configured to slot into guides (not shown) to aid with the translation of the latch 112 between the first position and second position and vice versa. The projecting legs 128 may extend out from side faces of the latch 112. In the examples shown in Figure 6A and 6B, the projecting legs are located on side faces of the latch adjacent to the underside surface 126. Figure 6A shows a perspective view of the example of the latch 112 and Figure 6B shows a side view of the latch 112. Figure 6C shows a view from the underside of the latch 112. In this example, a latch cavity 130 can be seen. Note that in some examples the latch 112 does not include a latch cavity 130. The latch cavity 130 is for housing at least part of the compressible bias member 114 in use. As the compressible bias member 114 deforms, then the latch cavity 130 provides some additional space for the compressible bias member 114 to deform into. The latch cavity 130 may also help locate the compressible bias member 114 relative to the latch 112. The latch cavity 130 is formed in the underside 126 of the latch 112. In one example, the latch cavity 130 has a substantially curved surface. Figures 6D, 6E and 6F are identical to the views of 6A, 6B and 6C respectively, but with dotted lines representing hidden lines (that is, the latch 112 in figures 6D, 6E and 6F are effectively see-through when compared with figured 6A, 6B and 6C). Figure 7A shows an example of a side view of the protective housing 100 inserted through the aperture of the structure 12. Figure 7B shows a cross sectional view of the protective housing 100 shown in Figure 7A. In this example, the protective housing 100 has been inserted into the aperture 22 of the structure 12. A latching surface 124 of the latch 112 is engaged with a rear side 28 of the structure 12 to prevent the protective housing from being pulled back through the aperture. In this example, the structure 26 has a front side 26 and the rear side 28. The protective housing 100 is inserted from the front side. Figures 8Ato 8C show schematic examples of details of the latch movement during the insertion process. In Figure 8A, the latch 112 has engaged with an edge of the aperture 22 of the structure 12. Due to contact between the edge of the aperture 22 and the sloped surface 122 of the latch 112, the latch 112 is pushed against the compressible bias member 114 to cause the compressible bias member 114 to deform. Figure 8B shows the latch 112 in the first position in which the protective housing 100 may be inserted into the aperture 22. In other words, in Figure 8B, the latch is in a depressed position. Once the protective housing 100 has been pushed through sufficiently, the latch 112 would be biased back to the second position due to the force of the compressible bias member 114. That is to say that when the latch is no longer pressed in due to the presence of the edge of the aperture, then it will return to the second position. Figure 8C shows the latch 112 in the second position. The latching surface is engaged with the rear side of the structure 12. Figure 8A to 8C all show the presence of a guide 132 to guide the latch between the first position and the second position and vice versa. In examples, projecting legs 128 of the latch 122 is received in guide slots of the guide 132 to guide the latch 112 between the first position and the second position and vice versa. In one example, the guide slots are not perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the body to reduce the amount of friction between the projecting legs 128 and the guide slots. Figure 9 shows an example of a flow chart of a method of installing a protective housing 100 into an aperture 22. At step 202 the protective housing 100 is inserted in a first direction to engage an edge of the aperture. In step 204, the one or more latches 112 translates between: a first position for allowing insertion of the body into the aperture in the first direction and a second position for preventing removal of the body from the aperture in the second direction. The protective housing 100 may be inserted into the aperture 22 by means of a pulling member that couples to the protecting housing 100 to pull it into the aperture 22. Attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification in connection with this application and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference. All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and / or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and / or steps are mutually exclusive. Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings) may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent, or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features. The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment(s). The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.

Claims

1. A protective housing for receiving and protecting a utility line passing through an aperture, the protective housing comprising:a body configured to be inserted into the aperture in a first direction, the body comprising an outer surface and an inner surface defining bore for receiving said utility line and allowing the utility line to pass through, wherein the outer surface of the body comprises one or more recesses positioned;one or more latches for engaging an edge of the aperture to prevent removal of the body from the aperture in a second direction, opposite to the first direction, wherein the one or more latches is at least partially located in the one or more recesses of the body, wherein the one or more latches are translatable between a first position for allowing insertion of the body into the aperture in the first direction and a second position for preventing removal of the body from the aperture in the second position,one or more compressible bias members located in the one or more recesses for biasing the one or more latches to the second position.

2. The protective housing according to claim 1, wherein the one or more compressible bias members is formed of an elastomer.

3. The protective housing according to claim 2, wherein the one or more compressible bias members is formed of polyurethane.

4. The protective housing according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the one or more recesses are positioned at a single predetermined location along a longitudinal axis of the body5. The protective housing according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the one or more recesses comprises:a lip; anda cavity,wherein the lip has a smaller width and / or length relative to the respective width and / or length of cavity.

6. The protective housing according to claim 5, comprising one or more oversized plates configured to be coupled with the one or more latches, wherein the oversized plate is located within the cavity of the recess and is retained within the recess by the lip to prevent the one or more latches from being removed from the recesses.

7. The protective housing according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the latch comprises a sloped face and a latching surface.

8. The protective housing according to claim 7, wherein the sloped face is at an angle of approximately 10 degrees to 35 degrees relative to a longitudinal axis of the body 102.

9. The protective housing according to claim 8, wherein the latching surface is angled at approximately 45 degrees relative to the longitudinal axis of the body.

10. The protective housing according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising one or more guides configured to guide the one or more latches between the first position and the second position.

11. The protective housing according to claim 10, wherein the guide comprises one or more guide slots.

12. The protective housing according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the one or more latches comprises three latches.

13. A method of installing protective housing into an aperture, the method comprising: inserting the protective housing of any one of the preceding claims in a first direction to engage an edge of the aperture, wherein the one or more latches translates between:a first position for allowing insertion of the body into the aperture in the first direction; and a second position for preventing removal of the body from the aperture in the second direction.

Images