Preloadable Cable Clamping Device for Subsea Thermal Expansion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing clamping devices for subsea cables fail to securely and reliably handle cables under environmental changes such as thermal expansion and pressure, leading to reduced clamping force and potential damage to the cable and adjacent equipment.
Innovation Solution
A clamping device with an adjustable receptacle cross-section, utilizing preloadable elements like springs or elastic rings, which apply a homogenous load to compensate for geometrical changes in the cable, ensuring constant clamping force and preventing misalignment or damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a passive clamp is used to secure the cable, then the cable is restrained in position, but the clamping force reduces significantly due to environmental changes like temperature and pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The clamp transitions from a static, fixed-position design to a dynamic system with movable clamp components that can automatically adjust their position in response to cable geometry changes. This allows the clamp to maintain optimal contact pressure despite thermal expansion, contraction, or other environmental variations, preventing clamping force reduction while preserving cable restraint reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces adjustable parameters into the clamp design, allowing the clamping geometry and contact pressure to vary in response to environmental conditions. This enables the system to adapt to temperature-induced cable expansion or contraction by modifying the clamp's physical parameters (position, angle, or pressure) rather than relying on a fixed configuration, thereby maintaining consistent clamping force across varying operating conditions.
2Force
If the clamp is tightened to full force at room temperature, then initial cable restraint is strong, but thermal expansion causes significant pressure on the cable leading to deformation and loss of effectiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The clamp design incorporates pre-configured geometric features or compliant elements that anticipate thermal expansion effects. These features create a cushioning effect by allowing controlled movement or deformation in response to thermal changes, preventing the transmission of excessive expansion forces to the cable while maintaining adequate clamping pressure, thus protecting the cable from thermal damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention utilizes thermal expansion principles by designing the clamp structure with materials or geometries that expand or contract in response to temperature changes. This allows the clamp to accommodate cable thermal expansion naturally, reducing the harmful pressure that would otherwise be exerted on the cable while maintaining effective restraint through the thermal-matched dimensional changes of the clamp components.
3Device complexity
If a fixed position clamp is used, then the structure is simple, but it cannot accommodate changes in cable geometry after assembly
Solution Approach 1:
The clamp incorporates movable components that can dynamically adjust their position relative to the cable after assembly. This dynamic capability allows the clamp to accommodate cable geometry changes (such as thermal expansion or installation variations) without requiring complex active control systems, achieving adaptability through mechanically simple movable joints or spring-loaded elements that automatically respond to dimensional changes.
Solution Approach 2:
The clamp structure is divided into multiple segments or modular components that can move independently relative to each other. This segmentation allows each component to adjust to local geometry variations in the cable while maintaining overall clamping function, providing adaptability to cable shape changes without requiring the entire clamp structure to be complex or actively controlled.
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 solution provides a dynamic, wear-free clamping mechanism that maintains secure cable restraint across varying conditions, reducing axial movement and extrusion gaps, while accommodating thermal expansion and contraction, thus preventing cable damage and maintaining effective frictional contact.
Implementation Method 1
the at least one adjustment element is embodied as a preloadable element
Implementation Method 2
the at least one adjustment element is embodied as a spring
Implementation Method 3
the cable undergoes expansion due to temperature rise
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a clamping device (10, 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d) of a clamping unit (12) for at least one cable (14), comprising a clamping member (16, 16a, 16b, 16c, 16d) with at least one receptacle (18) for the at least one cable (14), wherein a cross section (20) of the at least one receptacle (18) is adjustable, and further comprising at least one adjustment element (22) that is embodied in such a way so that it takes effect on the clamping member (16, 16a, 16b, 16c, 16d) so that the cross section (20) of the at least one receptacle (18) is adjusted, characterised in that the at least one adjustment element (22) is embodied as a preloadable element (22). Further, the invention relates to a clamping unit (12) with at least one inventive clamping device (10, 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d) and a housing (74) surrounding the clamping device (10, 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d).