Cable Breakaway Assembly With Cutting Blades for Emergency Release
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing power cable connectors on offshore floating structures cannot be safely and efficiently disconnected from the structure during emergency situations, such as storms or collisions, due to the mechanical and electrical locking mechanisms that prevent release, leading to potential damage and costly repairs.
Innovation Solution
A power cable breakaway system with pivotally mounted cutting blades coated with a low shore hardness polymeric material, allowing for safe and flexible disconnection of power cables from various connector types, including those with lugs of different sizes, by cutting the electrical stress sleeve and rubber body to reduce mechanical load and facilitate manual or remote release.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the electrical connector uses a loaded spring or expanding ring to provide electrical connection, then the electrical connection reliability is improved, but the mechanical coupling strength increases preventing cable release during emergencies
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the connector into two independent systems: an electrical connection system (spring/ring) and a mechanical retention system (latch/clip). The mechanical retention components are designed to fail at lower loads than the electrical connection components, allowing the cable to be released mechanically while the electrical connection integrity is maintained until deliberately disconnected.
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanical retention components (latch, clip, or clamp) are pre-configured with fail points that will engage first under excessive load conditions. This preliminary mechanical engagement ensures that when emergency release is needed, the mechanical system fails before the electrical connection system, enabling safe cable separation.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the electrical connector is made sufficiently strong to maintain connection under load, then the connection stability is improved, but the cable cannot be separated from the structure during emergencies
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the mechanical retention function from the electrical connection function. The latch, clip, or clamp components are separate from the electrical contact elements, allowing the mechanical retention to fail safely while leaving the electrical connection intact until deliberate disconnection. This separation enables emergency cable release without compromising electrical connection stability during normal operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanical retention components are designed with dynamic fail characteristics - they engage strongly during normal operation to maintain connection stability, but are configured to fail at predetermined load thresholds during emergencies. This dynamic behavior allows the system to adapt between stable operation and safe release modes.
3Power
If the expanding ring or loaded spring is used under high current load, then the electrical connection performance is improved, but the mechanical coupling strength increases preventing release mechanism from working
Solution Approach 1:
The invention segments the connector system into electrical power transmission components (expanding ring, loaded spring) and mechanical release components (latch, clip, clamp). The mechanical components are designed with lower strength thresholds that will fail before the electrical components under excessive load, ensuring the release mechanism can always disengage the cable from the hang-off assembly regardless of electrical load conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanical retention components are pre-designed with fail points that will engage first under any excessive load condition. This preliminary mechanical engagement ensures that when emergency release is needed, the mechanical system fails before the electrical connection system, enabling safe cable separation even when high current is flowing through the expanding ring or loaded spring.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables safe and efficient disconnection of power cables in both energized and non-energized states, reducing the risk of damage to the floating structure and simplifying the release process, allowing for cascading release of power cores without entanglement, thus mitigating potential damage and reducing repair costs.
Implementation Method 1
A power cable breakaway system with pivotally mounted cutting blades... by cutting the electrical stress sleeve and rubber body to reduce mechanical load
Implementation Method 2
A power cable breakaway system with pivotally mounted cutting blades coated with a low shore hardness polymeric material
Implementation Method 3
Under a high current load expands such that the loaded spring, or expanding ring, locks the connector and cable together
Data Source
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AI summary
A cable breakaway device for use with a power cable connector and a power cable, the power cable connector comprising a sheath and a bearing surface. The cable breakaway device comprising a body with an elongate channel passing therethrough, one or more sharp protrusions radially extending from the body to cut the sheath as the cable is pulled through the channel, allowing the bearing surface to engage the breakaway device without impeding the movement of the connecting device.