Underwater Connector With Self-Latching Wiper Seal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing underwater connectors face challenges in maintaining a compact and reliable electrical connection while ensuring protection from seawater and other contaminants, particularly in deep-sea oil well applications where space is limited and exposure to harsh environments is prevalent.
Innovation Solution
A wet-mateable connector design featuring a male and female component with a self-latching wiper seal assembly and a fluid chamber containing dielectric fluid, equipped with a water ingress treatment module using a molecular sieve to remove water from the dielectric fluid, ensuring effective sealing and protection during mechanical and electrical engagement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional wiper seals and shuttle pins are used to protect electrical contacts, then protection from seawater is improved, but device complexity and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the shuttle pin component traditionally used to bridge the gap between disconnected connectors. Instead, it uses a self-latching wiper seal assembly that performs both the sealing and bridging functions, simplifying the overall structure while maintaining protection from seawater ingress.
Solution Approach 2:
The wiper seal assembly is integrated with the latching mechanism, combining the sealing function and the latching function into a single unified component. This eliminates the need for separate shuttle pins and reduces the number of parts required.
2Stress or pressure
If pressure balancing chambers with expandable bladders are used, then pressure balance is improved, but volume and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates the expandable bladder component from the pressure balancing system. Instead, it uses a self-latching wiper seal assembly that maintains pressure balance without requiring the additional volume of a bladder mechanism.
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
The connector provides improved protection and reliability by maintaining a sealed environment, ensuring consistent electrical performance and compactness, even in harsh underwater conditions, without the need for additional biasing means like springs.
Implementation Method 1
a water ingress treatment module using a molecular sieve to remove water from the dielectric fluid
Implementation Method 2
a male wiper seal assembly which moves between a decoupled and a coupled position during coupling of the male component and female component so as to wipe at least a portion of the male pin
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3a
AI summary
A wet-mateable connector for making a connection underwater comprises a male component (10) having a male pin (14) and a female component (20) having a female socket (24) for receiving the male pin. The male component has a male wiper seal assembly (16) which moves between a decoupled and a coupled position during coupling of the male component (10) and female component (20) so as to wipe at least a portion of the male pin (14). A latch (42a,48) is provided which is arranged to latch the male wiper seal assembly (16) to the female component (20) during coupling such that when the male and female components are decoupled, the male wiper seal assembly (16) is returned to the decoupled position.