Coupler and Coupling Ring Assembly for Marine Seismic Cables

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Solution Overview

Problem

Seismic exploration in marine environments faces challenges such as cable snagging, binding, and tangling due to connectors and lanyards, which can lead to node entanglement and injury to personnel, especially in rough seas during deployment and retrieval operations.

Innovation Solution

A coupler and coupling ring assembly designed for load-bearing cables, featuring a body with integral ends and a gate with a key entry region, and a coupling ring with a perimetal body and arm sections, optimized for secure engagement and disengagement to prevent unintentional disconnection and minimize pinching risks.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional connectors with ring-like members and lanyards are used to attach nodes to cables, then node attachment is achieved, but cable snagging, binding, and tangling occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenode attachment securityVSAvoidcable snagging and tangling

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The traditional single-piece connector with protruding ring members is segmented into a coupler body and a separate coupling ring. The coupling ring is a closed-loop component that eliminates protruding elements, allowing it to pass smoothly through cable handlers without snagging or tangling the cable, while still providing secure node attachment functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The harmful protruding ring-like members are extracted from the connector design. The coupling ring replaces these protruding elements with a smooth, closed-loop structure that maintains the attachment function while eliminating the snagging and binding problems caused by protruding geometry.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Ease of operation

If connectors with protruding ring members are used, then node coupling is enabled, but risk of injury to personnel and entanglement increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenode coupling capabilityVSAvoidpersonnel injury risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The connector is segmented into a coupler body that remains on the cable and a removable coupling ring that attaches to the coupler. The coupling ring's closed-loop design eliminates protruding members that could injure personnel, while the coupling mechanism between the ring and coupler body maintains ease of node coupling and decoupling operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of having protruding members that extend outward from the cable, the coupling ring is designed as a closed loop that encloses the coupler body. This inversion of the geometric relationship eliminates the hazard of protruding elements while preserving the coupling function through the interface between the ring's inner surface and the coupler's outer surface.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Length of stationary object

If traditional cable coupling devices are used to connect cable sections, then cable length extension is achieved, but device complexity and potential for disconnection increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecable lengthVSAvoidcoupling device structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Length of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The traditional separate cable coupling device is merged with the node attachment coupler into a single integrated component. The coupler body serves dual functions: it provides the coupling mechanism for connecting cable sections and provides the interface for attaching nodes via the coupling ring. This consolidation reduces the number of separate devices needed and simplifies the overall system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The coupler is designed as a universal component that performs multiple functions: it connects cable sections together and simultaneously provides attachment points for nodes. The coupling ring serves as a multi-functional element that enables both cable section connection and node attachment, eliminating the need for separate coupling devices and reducing overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS8966718B2Coupling ring, methods and applications

Publication Date: 2015.03.03 MAGSEIS FF LLC

AI summary

A coupler for a load-bearing, non-signal-transmitting cable includes a body portion having integral first and second ends and an integral gate having a key entry region, wherein the body portion has a free space at least partially enclosed by an inner surface of the body portion and the gate. A complimentary coupling ring includes an integral perimetal body having a head section, a foot section, and two arm sections therebetween, wherein at least one of the arm sections has a key region, further wherein the key region consists of a solid, integral portion of the at least one arm section. A coupler/coupling ring assembly includes a coupler and a coupling ring that is removeably engageable with the coupler. The coupler/coupling ring assembly is particularly suited for interconnecting lengths of load-bearing, non-signal-transmitting cable, particularly suited for, but not limited to, undersea applications such as attaching a seismic data recording device to the coupler via the coupling ring.