A CONNECTOR

Abstract

The invention is directed to a connector comprising a male part, a female part and a latching device. The latching device comprises a latching member as part of the male part which latching member is radially movable from a radially inward position to a radially outward position allowing the latching member to radially move in and out of a recess in the female part. The male part comprises of an axially moveable sleeve having a first axial position wherein the latching member is in its radially inward position and a second position wherein the latching member is in its radially outward position. The male part is connectable to a first hydraulic control line which brings the axially moveable sleeve to its first axial position and connectable to a second hydraulic control line which brings the axially moveable sleeve to its second axial position. [Fig. 3b]

Description

The invention is directed to for fluidly connecting a first flow zone with a second flow zone. The connector comprises a male part, a female part and a latching device to releasably latch the male part and the female part togetherwhen the two are engaged. In the field of placing monopiles off shore for wind turbines technologies are developing where water is ejected at the lower end of the monopile. The injected water fluidises the soil and enables an easier penetration ofthe monopile. W02019 / 206690 describes a monopile which is provided with nozzles directed under an angle of between 90 and 180 degrees with the insertion direction of the monopile. W02021 / 228510 is another example of a monopile provided with nozzles at its lower end. W02023 / 217721 describes a monopile where along the lower and inner circumferential of the tubular monopile a row of jets are present which eject water under and angle. In order to feed water to these nozzles pumps are provided which are typically located on working barges at the monopile as shown in Figure 2 ofW02023 / 217721. Water is fed to the nozzles via conduits running within the monopile. In this field there is a need for which can easily disconnect from the jets while the monopile is installed. In this way the conduits, for example flexible hoses, can be retrieved and used in a next installation of a monopile. The invention is directed to the following connector. for fluidly connecting a first flow zone with a second flow zone, the connector comprising a male part, a female part and a latching device to releasably latch the male part and the female part togetherwhen the two are engaged, wherein the latching device comprises a latching member as part of the male part which latching member is radially movable from a radially inward position to a radially outward position allowing the latching member to radially move in and out of a recess in the female part, Wherein the male part comprises of an axially moveable sleeve having a first axial position wherein the latching member is in its radially inward position and a second position wherein the latching member is in its radially outward position, and wherein the male part is connectable to a first hydraulic control line which when applying a hydraulic pressure brings the axially moveable sleeve to its first axial position and connectable to a second hydraulic control line which when applying a hydraulic pressure brings the axially moveable sleeve to its second axial position. Applicants found that the connector can be easily disconnected by remotely moving the axially moveable sleeve of the male part is to its first axial position by applying a hydraulic pressure in the first hydraulic control line. Sucha hydraulic pressure can be applied via dedicated hydraulic pressure conduits. In thisway the latching member is radially moved from a radially outward position to a radially inward position allowing the latching member to radially move out ofthe recess in the female part. When the latching member is radially positioned inward the male part can be disengaged from the female part. The male part suitably comprises a tubular body provided at one end to be connected to for example the above referred to hose and at the other end with the latching member. The tubular body is further provided with one or more outflow openings to allow a fluid connection ofthe first flow zone via the female part to the second flow zone. The female male part is suitably provided with a receiving part which can engage with the latching member. The receiving part and the tubular body of the male part are coaxially positioned. One or more openings are present in a remaining annular space between said receiving part and an inner tubular wall of the female member which openings fluidly connect the outflow openings of the male part with the second flow zone. The male part is preferably provided with spring means that force the axially moveable member to its second position wherein the latching member is in its radially outward position. This results in that the connector remains connected in a situation wherein the hydraulic pressure in the second hydraulic control line falls away and its ensures that the connector remains connected when transported or stored. The invention is also directed to a configuration comprising according to this invention, a first flow zone and a second flow zone fluidly connected by said connector, and a first and a second hydraulic control line connected to the male part of the connector. The first flow zone may comprise a pump or a compressor for feeding a liquid or gas respectively to the connector. The second flow zone may be an enclosed space. The enclosed space may for example be buoyancy means where the addition of a liquid or gas influences the buoyancy. The second flow zone may also be one or more ejectors to which a liquid or gas is fed from the pump or compressor via the connector. In a preferred embodiment these ejectors are positioned at the lower end of a monopile for a wind turbine. The more than one ejectors may be fluidly connected to a single manifold as for example shown in W02023 / 217721. The female part of the connector is then suitably fluidly connected to such a manifold. The invention is also directed to a process to connect the male part and the female part of the connector according to this invention, wherein (i) the male part engages with the female part while the axially moveable sleeve of the male part is in its first axial position because of a hydraulic pressure in the first hydraulic control line such that the latching member of the male part is in its radially inward position, (ii) moving the axially moveable sleeve ofthe male part is to its second axial position by applying a hydraulic pressure in the second hydraulic control line such that the latching member is radially moved from a radially inward position to a radially outward position allowing the latching member to radially move in the recess in the female part, and (iii) maintaining the hydraulic pressure in the second hydraulic control line. The invention is also directed to a process to disconnect the male part and the female part of the connector according to this invention, wherein (i) moving the axially moveable sleeve of the male part is to its first axial position by applying a hydraulic pressure in the first hydraulic control line such that the latching member is radially moved from a radially outward position to a radially inward position allowing the latching member to radially move out of the recess in the female part, and (ii) disengaging the male part from the female part while the axially moveable sleeve of the male part is maintained its first axial position because of a hydraulic pressure in the first hydraulic control line such that the latching member ofthe male part remains in its radially inward position. The connector is suited to be used in locations where it is difficult to manually connect the male and female parts. Such locations may be below water level and especially below sea level. In such a situation it is preferred that the connecting and disconnecting can be remotely controlled. This is now possible by the hydraulic control lines. A preferred process is where the connector fluidly connects a pump with one or more jets as present at the lower end of a monopile for a wind turbine as for example shown in W02023 / 217721. The invention will be illustrated by the following nonlimiting figures. Figures 1A shows a side view of a male part (100) of for fluidly connecting a first flow zone with a second flow zone according to this invention. The male part (100) has a tubular body (102) provided at one end (103) to be connected to a hose. The tubular body (102) is further provided with one or more outflow openings (105) to allow a fluid connection of the first flow zone via the female part to the second flow zone. Further a cylindrical housing (106), wedges (107) as the latching member and a axially moveable sleeve (108) is shown. Sleeve (108) can move axially along tubular body (102) and is provided with an oval opening (109) at the outflow openings (105). The oval shape is designed such that oval openings (109) does not obstruct outflow openings (105) when it axially moves relative to the tubular body (102). The sleeve (108) extends al the way to the end (110) of the male part (100). In Figure lb the crosssectional view BB of Figure la is shown. The internal of the cylindrical housing (106) is shown having a port (111) for a first hydraulic control line which when applying a hydraulic pressure brings the axially moveable sleeve (108) to its first axial position as shown in Figure lb wherein wedges (107) are in their radially inward position. In the figure this hydraulic pressure results in a downward force on the upper end (112) of sleeve (108). Also a port (113) for a second hydraulic control line is shown. When applying a hydraulic pressure to this port (113) the axially moveable sleeve (108) is moved to its second axial position. The hydraulic oil is thereby routed to an opposite end surface (114) of sleeve (107) via oil passage (115). The hydraulic pressure from port (113) will then result in an upwards force exercised on sleeve (108) resulting in that wedges (107) move to their outward position. This upwards force is enhanced by springs (116) which also exercise an upward force on opposite surface (114). Figure lb further shows a tapered lower end (117) of tubular body (102). When the sleeve (108) move axially onto said tapered end (117) it forces the wedges (107) to their radially outward position. The sleeve (108) is also provided with a tapered end (118) to allow an easy entrance into the female part. Figure lc shows the male part (100) of Figure la in a three dimensional view from above. The ports (111, 113) are now more clearly shown. Figure 2a shows a female member (120) of ofthis invention for fluidly connecting a first flow zone with a second flow zone according to this invention. An entrance opening (121) is shown as an upper end of a tubular part (122) for entrance ofthe male part (100). The tubular part (122) is connected to a short tube part (123) via a frusto conical part (124). The short tube part (123) has openings (125) to fluidly connect to for example a manifold provided with jets. Figures 2b and 2c show the female part (120) of Figure 2a from different sides. The female part (120) may be welded to the inner wall of the lower tubular part (4) as shown in Figure 2c. Figure 2d shows the cross-sectional view BB of Figure 2b. A receiving part (126) is shown having a central opening (127) for the tapered end (118) ofthe male part (100). The opening is formed by a frusto conical wall (128) which runs from the inner side ofthe tubular part (122) to central opening (127). The opening (127) allows the male part to pass up to where the wedges (107) can extend to their radially outward position and into a recess (129) in the female part (120). This wall (128) is further provided with openings (129) for allowing a flow from openings (105) and (109) into an annular space (130) between said receiving part (126) and an inner tubular wall (131) of the female member (120) and towards the short tube part (123). Figure 3a and 3b shows the male part (100) and the female part (120) combined as connector (101) connecting a first flow zone (135), shown as a tube, with a second flow zone (136) shown as a tube. A first hydraulic control line (133) is connected to port (111) and a second hydraulic control line (134) is connected to port (113). In Figure 3a the wedges (107) are in their radially outward position. The sleeve (108) is in its most right position thereby forcing the wedges (107) radially outward over the tapered ends tapered lower end (117) of tubular body (102). This forcing to the right in the figure is enhanced by springs (116) and hydraulic oil pressure via inlet port (113). In this position a fluid is normally transported via the connector as illustrated by arrow (132). Figure 3b shows a position of the connector where the wedges are in their radially inward position. The sleeve is moved relative to the tubular body (102) to the left. The outer radius ofthe male member (100) now allows to pass opening (127) ofthe receiving part (126) such that the male part (100) can be released and disconnected from the female part (120).

Claims

1. Connector for fluidly connecting a first flow zone immediately second flow zone, where the connector has a male part, a female part part, and comprises a locking device, the latter being intended for the detachable locking of the male and female parts when these two work together, where the locking device comprises a locking element as part of the male part, where the locking element is radially movable from a radial lake position situated on the inside towards a radial lake at the external position, allowing the locking element to to move radially in and out of a notch in the female part, where the male part consists of an axially movable sheath with a first axial position in which the locking element is more radially the position located on the inside, and a second position in which it locking element in a position located radially further outwards is located, and where the male part can be connected to a first hydraulic control line which, when hydraulic pressure is applied to it, the axial transfers the movable sleeve to its first axial position, and where it is called male part is also connectable to a second hydraulic control line which, when hydraulic pressure is applied to it, the axial transfers the movable sleeve to its second axial position.

2. Connector according to claim 1, where the male part is tubular body comprises that is provided at one end thereof to be connected with a hose, and at the other end of it is provided to with the locking element to be connected, where the tubular body is also provided with one or more outflow openings through which a fluid connection via the female part to a position can be established between the first flow zone and the second flow zone, and where the female part is provided with a receiving part that can cooperating with the locking element, whereby the receiving part and the tubular body of the male part be positioned coaxially, and where one or more openings are present in a remaining annular space between the aforementioned receiving part and an inner tube of the female element, whereby these openings establish a fluid connection bring between the outflow openings of the male part and the second flow zone 3. Connector according to one of claims 1 to 2, where the male part is equipped with spring mechanisms that move the axially movable element to the force its second position when the locking element is in the radial its more external position.

4. Connector according to one of claims 1 to 3, where the male part includes a tubular end piece intended to establish a connection insert a flexible tube between the male part.

5. Configuration comprising a connector pursuant to one of claims 1 to 4, as well as a first flow zone and a second flow zone, where these flow zones are connected by the aforementioned connector, as well as a first and a second control line comprising those connected to the male part of the connector.

6. Configuration according to conclusion 5, where the first flow zone consists of a pump or a compressor, and where the second flow zone is an enclosed space is.

7. Configuration according to conclusion 5, where the first flow zone consists of a pump or a compressor, and where the second flow zone consists of one or more ejectors to which a liquid or a gas is discharged via the connector is supplied that originates from the pump or from the compressor.

8. Method for establishing a connection between the male part and the female part of a connector according to one of claims 1 to and with 4, where (i) the male part works together with the female part while the axial movable sheath of the male part in its first axial position is located due to a hydraulic pressure prevailing in the first hydraulic control line, in such a way that the locking element of the male part is located in the position situated more radially on the inside thereof, (ii) the axially movable sheath of the male part is moved to the second axial position thereof by applying hydraulic pressure in the second hydraulic control line, in such a way that it locking element is moved from a radial more on the inside situated position towards a radially more externally situated position, whereby the locking element is given the opportunity to move radially into the notch in the female part, and (iii) the hydraulic pressure in the second hydraulic control line is maintained held 9. Procedure for separating the male and female parts of a connector pursuant to one of Claims 1 to 4, where (i) the axially movable sheath of the male part to the first axial its position is moved by applying hydraulic pressure in the first hydraulic control line, in such a way that the locking element is radially displaced from a position located radially further to the outside to a radially more inward position, whereby the locking element gets the chance to move radially out of the notch in the female part, and (ii) the |separation of the male part from the female part at Nile the axially movable sheath of the male part in the first axial position it is held due to a hydraulic pressure that is set in the first hydraulic control line, in such a way that the locking element of the male part in the position situated more radially on the inside remains of it.

10. Method in accordance with one of claims 8 to 9, whereby the method takes place below sea level.

11. Method according to claim 1, whereby the connector fluidly connects a pump with one or more jets located at the lower end of a monopile for a wind turbine.

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