Modular Flying Lead Termination Head for Adjustable Subsea Frames

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current subsea termination frames are inflexible and cannot be easily reconfigured to meet varying operational requirements, and their manufacturing processes are rigid and linear, leading to increased time and cost.

Innovation Solution

A versatile flying lead termination head system with an adjustable frame angle and standardized building blocks allows for a single design to accommodate different operations and enables parallel and remote manufacturing, using components like interface plates, adjusters, and standardized structural blocks to construct and assemble the termination frame and its internals separately.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If subsea termination frames are designed with fixed declination angles using traditional welding or bolting, then structural strength is improved, but adaptability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural strengthVSAvoidadaptability
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the dynamics principle by replacing fixed declination angles with adjustable and reconfigurable frame structures. The termination frame allows modification of declination angles and configuration of internal components, enabling the system to adapt to varying operational requirements while maintaining structural integrity through controlled adjustability rather than rigid fixation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies segmentation by dividing the termination frame into modular components that can be independently adjusted and reconfigured. This modular approach allows different sections of the frame to be modified without affecting the entire structure, enabling customization of declination angles and internal arrangements while preserving overall structural strength.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Manufacturing precision

If traditional linear manufacturing processes are used for subsea termination frames, then manufacturing precision is maintained, but productivity deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing precisionVSAvoidproductivity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-manufacturing frame components and internal elements separately before final assembly. This allows parallel production of multiple components simultaneously, reducing total manufacturing time while maintaining precision through dedicated manufacturing processes for each component type before integration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies segmentation to the manufacturing process by separating the production of frame structures from internal components. This enables different teams or facilities to manufacture various parts concurrently, then assemble them together, thereby increasing overall productivity without compromising the precision of individual components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Adaptability or versatility

If subsea termination frames are designed for specific client requirements, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveadaptabilityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies universality by designing a standardized termination frame platform that can serve multiple client requirements through configuration adjustments rather than custom designs. The frame incorporates universal features such as adjustable declination angles and reconfigurable internal arrangements, allowing a single design to fulfill diverse operational needs without increasing inherent structural complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3755870B1Versatile flying lead (VFL) termination head system
Publication Date: 2023.09.13 OCEANEERING INTERNATIONAL INC
  • EP3755870B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3755870B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3755870B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

A diagnostic system may utilize telemetry from a monitored system to infer information about the operation of various components systems within the monitored system. In embodiments, inferences may be drawn from a comparison of various component systems using a system of implication and exoneration. Exoneration is utilized to isolate faulty components from functioning components by comparing information between the systems, which may run in parallel. A dynamic grouping algorithm may eventually isolate faulty components and suggest the root cause as well as multiple distinct faults.