Cable communications channel

Abstract

FIELD: cable production.SUBSTANCE: design of combined cables intended for use in sea water and for the transmission of low-voltage signals and alternating current electrical energy. For this purpose, the cable communication channel includes a unit placed on a service vessel, a first unit of underwater equipment of a deep-sea diving device connected to a unit placed on a service vessel, a load-bearing reinforced cable-rope consisting of a set of optical and electrical communication lines, a second unit of underwater equipment connected to the first unit of underwater equipment by a neutral buoyancy cable.EFFECT: ensuring communication between the surface and underwater unit during the immersion and ascent of the underwater unit(s), as well as during the winding / reeling of communication cables onto underwater cable drums that are under the influence of significant and changing hydrostatic pressure.1 cl, 2 dwg

Description

[0001] The invention relates to designs of combined cables intended for use in sea water and for transmitting low-voltage signals and alternating current electrical energy.

[0002] The closest technical solution is the architecture for communication with water bodies (patent CN 219592405U), which provides a communication architecture with a water body and comprises a buoy module, an underwater buoy module, and a distribution box module. A first optical fiber and a first cable are located between the buoy module and the underwater buoy module, and data transmission is performed. The disadvantages of this device include:

[0003] - definition of technical solutions for communication between a unit permanently located on the surface and a unit(s) located underwater under the influence of significant and changing hydrostatic pressure,

[0004] - do not involve optimization of the design of underwater units containing electrical and optical elements and subject to significant and changing hydrostatic pressure,

[0005] - do not imply communication via cable lines that are in a state of winding / reeling on cable drums and are subject to significant and changing hydrostatic pressure.

[0006] The problem that the claimed invention is aimed at solving is the development of a cable communication path that can be used to ensure the operation of underwater technical equipment at distances of 2500 meters or more from a service vessel with minimal energy and information losses.

[0007] The technical result is the ability to transmit an optical signal without loss of quality and electrical power of up to 240 kW to the second unit of the underwater block, which is moving away from or closer to the first underwater block, through a cable that is wound / reeled onto a rotating drum of a winch located on the first unit of the underwater block, without restrictions on changing the immersion depth of the first unit of the underwater block.

[0008] This technical result is achieved in that the cable communication path includes a unit placed on a service vessel, a first unit of underwater equipment of a deep-sea diving device connected to a unit placed on the service vessel, a load-bearing armored cable-rope consisting of a set of optical and electrical communication lines, a second unit of underwater equipment connected to the first unit of underwater equipment by a neutral buoyancy cable, wherein the unit placed on the service vessel contains an external junction box, a rotating combined device, a built-in junction box, connected to each other by means of connecting feeders consisting of a set of electrical and optical cables located inside a flexible hose, the first unit of underwater equipment placed on the deep-sea diving device contains an external junction box, optical-electrical connecting feeders,an underwater rotating combined device, a built-in junction box, wherein the external junction box, the optical-electric connecting feeders, the underwater rotating combined device, are filled with oil and connected to an oil compensator, the second unit of the underwater equipment contains a junction box filled with oil and connected to the oil compensator.

[0009] The cable communication path ensures communication between the surface and subsea units during the subsea unit(s) submersion and ascent, as well as during the reeling and winding of communication cables onto subsea cable reels, which are subject to significant and fluctuating hydrostatic pressure. The combined cable communication path can be used to support the operation of subsea technical equipment at distances of 2,500 meters or more from the service vessel with minimal power and data losses.

[0010] The essence of the invention is explained by drawings, which depict:

[0011] - Fig. 1 shows the general diagram of the device,

[0012] - Fig. 2 shows the diagram of the device use,

[0013] where 1 is an external junction box, 2 is a connecting feeder, 3 is a rotating combination device, 4 is a connecting feeder, 5 is a junction box, 6 is a cable-rope, 7 is an external junction box, 8 is a connecting feeder, 9 is a rotating combination device, 10 is a connecting feeder, 11 is a built-in junction box, 12 is a neutral buoyancy cable, 13 is a junction box, 14 is a service vessel, 15 is a control center, 16 is a ship's deck winch, 17 is a cable winch, 18 is a pressure compensator, 19 is a deep-sea diving device, 20 is a remotely operated unmanned underwater vehicle, 21 is a pressure compensator.

[0014] Deep-sea diving device (DSD) - an underwater device designed to accommodate a winch with a cable of a remotely operated unmanned underwater vehicle (ROUV) for capturing and ensuring the descent and ascent of the REAR, as well as to eliminate the impact of the load-bearing cable-rope on the REAR in the water column.

[0015] The cable communication path includes a unit located on the service vessel, the first unit of the underwater equipment of the deep-sea diving device 19, connected to the unit located on the service vessel, a load-bearing armored cable-rope 6, a second unit of the underwater equipment (remotely operated unmanned underwater vehicle 20), connected to the first unit of the underwater equipment by a neutral buoyancy cable 12. The cable communication path of the underwater equipment is intended for operation at a depth of up to 2,250 meters. The total length of the path ensures the operation of the underwater technical equipment at distances of 2,500 meters or more from the service vessel with minimal energy and information losses.

[0016] The unit, located on the service vessel 14, comprises an external junction box 1, a connecting feeder 2, a rotating combination device 3, a connecting feeder 4, and a built-in junction box 5. The above-mentioned elements are mounted in the ship's deck winch 16 of the launching and recovery device. To connect the units, a load-bearing reinforced cable-rope 6 is wound onto the ship's deck winch.

[0017] External Junction Box 1 is designed to connect the feeder of Junction Path 2 to the power and control cables coming from Control Center 15. External Junction Box 1 consists of a steel enclosure, a door with a lock, and a mounting panel for components. It is made of stainless steel and has an IP66 dust and moisture protection rating.

[0018] Connecting feeder 2 consists of a set of electrical and optical cables located inside a flexible hose and is designed to connect an external junction box 1 with a rotating combination device 3.

[0019] The rotating combination device 3 is designed for the uninterrupted transmission of optical and electrical signals, both in the static and dynamic positions of the winch drum (during its rotation). The rotating combination device includes at least six optical communication channels, at least two power lines with a maximum operating voltage of 5.5 kV DC, and at least ten low-current lines.

[0020] Connecting feeder 4 consists of a set of electrical and optical cables located inside a flexible hose and is designed to connect a rotating combination device 3 with a built-in junction box 5.

[0021] Flush-mounted junction box 5 is designed to connect the optical and electrical lines of the armored load-bearing cable 6 to the optical and electrical lines of the connecting feeder 4. Flush-mounted junction box 5 consists of a steel enclosure, a door with a lock, and a mounting panel for components. It is installed inside the drum of a ship's deck winch. It is made of stainless steel and has an IP66 dust and moisture protection rating. Flush-mounted junction box 5 houses optical signal amplifiers with voltage converters for powering them.

[0022] The load-bearing armored cable-rope 6 consists of a set of optical and electrical communication lines and is designed to transmit optical and electrical signals from the deck of a service vessel to underwater equipment.

[0023] The first underwater equipment unit, located on the deep-sea diving device, comprises an external junction box 7, an optical-electrical connecting feeder 8, an underwater rotating combination device 9, an optical-electrical connecting feeder 10, and a built-in junction box 11. The above-mentioned elements are mounted in the cable winch 17 of the deep-sea diving device. To connect the units of the deep-sea diving device with the remotely operated unmanned underwater vehicle, a neutral buoyancy cable 12 is wound onto the cable winch of the deep-sea diving device. Elements 7, 8, 9, 10 are filled with oil to prevent damage due to pressure differences and are connected to an oil compensator 18 to further improve their performance and suitability. The oil-filled medium inside these elements helps equalize the pressure between the internal components and the external water pressure.In the event of an oil leak, the compensator effectively prevents water ingress by maintaining a slight overpressure of 0.6 atm within the system, while ensuring a balanced pressure, thereby preventing excessive expansion or contraction of the oil. Furthermore, the oil compensator 18 can be equipped with an alarm function that alerts the user if the oil level drops below the required value and warns of a possible leak in the system.

[0024] External Junction Box 7 is designed to connect and distribute optical and electrical signals for powering and controlling the components of the deep-sea rig and the remotely operated underwater vehicle 20. External Junction Box 7 provides a sealed entry for the load-bearing armored cable 6, the optical-electrical connecting feeder 8, and additional cables and connectors for powering and controlling the components of the deep-sea rig. External Junction Box 7 is made of anodized aluminum and has a polycarbonate (plexiglass) cover, which provides easy visibility of the internal components, facilitating maintenance, troubleshooting, and repair work.

[0025] The optical-electrical connecting feeder 8 consists of a set of electrical and optical cables located inside a flexible hose and is designed to connect and transmit optical and electrical signals from the load-bearing armored cable-rope 6 to the underwater rotating combined device 9.

[0026] The underwater rotating combination device 9 is designed for the uninterrupted transmission of optical and electrical signals, both in the static and dynamic positions of the winch drum (during its rotation). The underwater rotating combination device includes at least four optical communication channels and at least two power lines with a maximum operating voltage of 4.6 kV DC.

[0027] Optical-electrical connecting feeder 10 consists of a set of electrical and optical cables located inside a flexible hose and is designed to connect an underwater rotating combination device 9 with a built-in junction box 11.

[0028] The built-in junction box 11 is designed for connecting the optical and electrical lines of the neutral buoyancy cable 12 with the optical and electrical lines of the optical-electrical connecting feeder 10. The built-in junction box 11 provides a sealed entry of the neutral buoyancy cable 12, the optical-electrical connecting feeder 10. The built-in junction box 11 is made of anodized aluminum and has a polycarbonate (plexiglass) cover, which provides easy visibility of the internal components, facilitating maintenance, troubleshooting and repair work.

[0029] The second subsea equipment unit (ROV 20) contains junction box 13. To prevent damage due to pressure differential, junction box 13 is filled with oil and connected to oil compensator 21 to further enhance its performance and suitability. The oil-filled medium inside the junction box helps equalize the pressure between the internal components and the external water pressure. In the event of an oil leak, compensator 21 effectively prevents water ingress by maintaining a slight overpressure of 0.6 atm inside the system, while ensuring a balanced pressure, thereby preventing excessive expansion or contraction of the oil. In addition, oil compensator 21 can be equipped with an alarm function that alerts the user when the oil level drops below the required value and notifies of a possible leak in the system.Junction box 13 is designed to connect and distribute optical and electrical signals for power supply and control of elements located on the remotely operated unmanned underwater vehicle 20. Junction box 13 provides a hermetically sealed entry of neutral buoyancy cable 12, as well as additional cables and connectors for power supply and control of elements located on the remotely operated unmanned underwater vehicle 20. Junction box 13 is made of anodized aluminum and has a polycarbonate (plexiglass) cover, which provides easy visibility of internal components, facilitating maintenance, troubleshooting, and repair work.

[0030] The cable communication path allows for a coordinated approach to the design of the power supply line and information exchange of remote remotely controlled objects, thereby minimizing losses on dissimilar connectors, which are usually an integral part of such lines, and also ensuring the development and testing of the entire communication line under factory conditions.

Images