Reinforcement Bush for Seabed Electrical Conductor Joints
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for joining electrical conductors often result in an increased diameter at the joint, compromising mechanical strength and electrical conductivity, particularly in large-diameter conductors used for seabed installations, which are prone to breakage and difficult to repair due to their location and the need to withstand longitudinal and torsional forces.
Innovation Solution
A procedure involving the pre-shaping of a conductive reinforcement bush using mechanical deformation to create an open cylindrical configuration with an alpha angle, allowing for the insertion and welding of conductors without closing the edges, followed by clamping and soldering to maintain the original conductor diameter, and ensuring even coverage with grooves for subsequent protection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If welding is used to join conductor ends, then electrical conductivity and mechanical strength are improved, but the diameter of the joint area increases
Solution Approach 1:
The reinforcement bush is inserted inside the protective cover, and the welded conductors are nested within the reinforcement bush. This nested structure allows the joint assembly to fit within the original conductor diameter envelope, solving the diameter increase problem while maintaining welding-induced conductivity and strength improvements
Solution Approach 2:
The reinforcement bush acts as a thin-walled cylindrical shell that conforms to the conductor bundle. Its flexible design allows it to accommodate the welded joint while maintaining a compact outer diameter that fits within the protective cover, preventing diameter increase
2Strength
If a reinforcement bush with varying thickness is used, then mechanical strength at the joint is improved, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The reinforcement bush transitions from varying thickness to uniform thickness. This parameter change simplifies manufacturing while maintaining adequate strength through the uniform wall design that fits within the protective cover diameter constraints
3Strength
If conductors are joined with increased diameter, then joint strength is improved, but the ability to slide through protective covers is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The reinforcement bush containing the welded conductors is nested within the protective cover, with the outer diameter of the bush being less than the inner diameter of the cover. This nesting arrangement allows the joint assembly to slide through the cover while maintaining welding-induced joint strength
Solution Approach 2:
The thin-walled reinforcement bush provides structural support for the joint while maintaining a compact outer diameter that enables sliding through the protective cover, reconciling joint strength requirements with sliding capability
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 achieves a joint with the same mechanical and electrical properties as the original conductors, preventing diameter increase and ensuring reliable conductivity, while allowing for seamless integration with protective sheaths without compromising strength or conductivity.
Implementation Method 1
clamps, with a cooling circuit, which comes into action when welding the edges of the pre-formed bush longitudinally
Implementation Method 2
welding the ends of the electrical conductors to be joined, so defining a welding area
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4~4a
Figure 5a~5b
AI summary
The joining of very long electrical conductors should be more sturdy than what is provided by a simple bush, which joins same when said conductors are to be located on the sea bed in a very irregular manner and with stress on the bush or elevated joining means, a consequence, in addition to the irregularity of the aforementioned, of the great weight of the conductors. For this reason the method that is the aim of the invention consists of welding the conductors, perforating the reinforcement bush, placing same in the welding area of the conductors and welding the bush, and the subsequent deformation of the bush until the diameter of the bush is equal to that of the conductors.