Flexible Pipe End Fitting Venting With Enclosed Neck Chamber
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional end fittings for flexible pipes face challenges in providing effective venting paths, are prone to damage, and complicate the integration of sensory elements and power pathways, especially in deep-sea environments with extreme conditions.
Innovation Solution
An end fitting design with an enclosed chamber region in the neck, allowing for a pipe-in-pipe arrangement, which serves as a vent passage and can house auxiliary equipment, and includes a fluid communication passageway that extends across the neck region, facilitating alignment and connection of adjacent flexible pipes for continuous venting and power/signal pathways.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional end fittings are used for flexible pipes, then the basic structural function is maintained, but venting efficiency is insufficient and the integration of sensory elements and power pathways is complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The end fitting employs a nested structure where an inner cylindrical component is positioned within an outer cylindrical component, creating concentric chambers. The inner component defines an inner chamber while the outer component defines an outer chamber, with fluid communication passages formed between them. This nesting arrangement provides multiple functional pathways (venting, sensory element routing, power pathways) within a compact structure, improving venting efficiency while avoiding excessive complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The end fitting is designed as a multi-functional component that simultaneously serves as a structural connector, a venting system, a sensory element housing, and a power pathway conduit. The concentric chambers and fluid communication passages enable fluid venting, while the enclosed spaces can house sensory elements and guide power pathways, all within a single integrated component rather than requiring separate systems.
2Ease of manufacture
If the end fitting structure is simplified, then manufacturing is easier, but the ability to provide enclosed chamber regions for auxiliary equipment is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The concentric cylindrical components are designed to be manufactured separately and then assembled through simple insertion and securing operations. The inner cylindrical component can be manufactured as a separate piece and inserted into the outer cylindrical component, with minimal alignment requirements. This nested design creates enclosed chamber regions suitable for housing auxiliary equipment while maintaining manufacturing simplicity through modular construction.
3Productivity
If adjacent flexible pipes are connected for continuous operation, then productivity increases, but the alignment and connection of vent passages and power pathways becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The end fitting employs asymmetric positioning of the inner cylindrical component relative to the outer cylindrical component, with the inner component offset from the exact center. This asymmetric design creates specific alignment features and reference surfaces that facilitate precise alignment when connecting adjacent flexible pipes. The asymmetric structure provides natural alignment cues that reduce the precision requirements for connection while enabling continuous operation through multiple pipe segments.
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatus and methods for terminating an end of flexible pipe body are disclosed, the apparatus comprising an elongate end fitting body, associated with a central longitudinal axis, comprising a connector flange region securable in a back-to-back relationship to a further end fitting body and disposed at a first end of the elongate end fitting body, an open mouth at a remaining end of the end fitting body, a central flange region disposed between the first end and the remaining end and a neck region between the central flange and the connector flange, wherein the neck region comprises a radially inner end fitting neck region portion and a radially outer end fitting neck region portion that is spaced apart from and is radially outside the radially inner end fitting neck region portion to provide an enclosed chamber region therebetween.