Cable Hang-Off Sealing Without Resin Curing Delays
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cable hang-off devices for wind turbines rely on resin to form seals, which require curing time, making them inconvenient for maintenance, are difficult to access, and prone to deterioration, and pose safety hazards due to fumes and resin expiration.
Innovation Solution
A cable hang-off device with a main body, temporary clamps, a clamping plate, and solid sealing elements that form a seal without resin, allowing onshore assembly and easy maintenance, and using tensioners to adjust clamping forces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If resin is used to form a seal around cable conductors, then sealing properties are improved, but curing time is required and maintenance access becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the resin component from the sealing system entirely. Instead of using resin that requires curing time, the invention employs a mechanical sealing mechanism where a sealing element is compressed between a clamping plate and the cable conductors, eliminating the need for chemical curing processes while maintaining effective sealing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the chemical sealing mechanism (resin curing) with a mechanical sealing system. The sealing element is held in compression through a clamping plate that is mechanically fastened to the transition piece, providing immediate sealing action without requiring chemical reactions or curing time.
2Reliability
If resin is used to form a seal, then sealing is achieved, but the resin becomes tightly attached making maintenance access difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the sealing system into distinct, separable components: a removable clamping plate, a sealing element, and the main hang-off device body. This segmentation allows the sealing components to be accessed and replaced independently without affecting the entire installation, greatly facilitating maintenance while preserving sealing effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent designs the sealing element and clamping plate as replaceable components that can be discarded after use and recovered for replacement. The modular design allows old sealing elements to be removed and new ones installed, enabling maintenance and replacement without permanent attachment that would complicate future access.
3Reliability
If resin is used for sealing, then seal formation is achieved, but dangerous fumes are generated during installation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful chemical process of resin application (which generates dangerous fumes) into a beneficial mechanical process. By using mechanical compression of a sealing element instead of chemical resin application, the system eliminates harmful emissions while achieving the same sealing function, making the installation process safer for workers.
4Reliability
If resin is used to seal the cable conductors, then sealing is achieved, but the resin may expire causing sealing properties to deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a disposable sealing element that can be replaced periodically rather than relying on a permanent chemical seal that degrades over time. The mechanical sealing component has no expiration date and maintains its sealing capability throughout its service life, eliminating the deterioration issues associated with aging resin.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A
AI summary
Cable hang-off device for holding a cable for a wind turbine, comprising: a main body, which comprises a first flange, an opposed second flange and a through passage to allow insertion of a cable, at least one temporary clamp, which is located in the through passage and which is configured to temporarily hold the cable in place within the main body, a clamping plate, which is configured to clamp armour wires of the cable against the second flange to hold the cable in place within the main body, a sealing sleeve, which comprises a cylindrical wall that defines a sealing passage for one or more conductors of the cable, and at least one solid sealing element, which is configured to be installed within the sealing passage in order to at least partially surround the one or more cable conductors to seal the sealing passage.