Split Connector Nut Assembly for Corroded Marine Cable Repair
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Solution Overview
Problem
Corrosion, particularly galvanic corrosion, causes coupling nuts on marine cables and connectors to deteriorate, making it difficult to disassemble and repair corroded cable connectors, leading to premature cable failure and high repair costs.
Innovation Solution
A split nut assembly comprising two semi-circular half-bodies with threaded concave inner surfaces, alignment pins, and retaining shoulders, allowing for rapid assembly and replacement of corroded coupling nuts without the need for splicing new connectors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional coupling nut is used on marine cables, then the connector can be assembled and function normally, but the coupling nut deteriorates due to galvanic corrosion making disassembly and repair difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling nut is divided into two separate half-bodies that can be independently installed and removed. Each half-body contains threaded bores that engage with the connector body, allowing the nut to be segmented for easier installation and removal while maintaining full functional reliability during service
Solution Approach 2:
The split coupling nut acts as an intermediary component between the cable connector and the mating connector. By being removable and replaceable, it mediates the connection while protecting the more critical connector components from corrosion damage, enabling repair without replacing the entire cable assembly
2Ease of repair
If the coupling nut is replaced with a split nut assembly, then repair ease is improved, but device complexity increases due to multiple components
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling nut is segmented into two half-bodies that can be independently handled and installed. This segmentation allows the nut to be installed by splitting it around the connector body and secured with fasteners, making replacement easier while the modular design actually reduces overall system complexity by enabling partial replacement rather than complete assembly replacement
3Reliability
If cable splicing is performed to replace damaged connectors, then connection reliability is restored, but loss of time and productivity decrease due to complex splicing procedures
Solution Approach 1:
The damaged coupling nut is extracted and replaced by installing new half-bodies around the existing connector body. This extraction approach allows replacement of only the corroded component rather than requiring time-consuming splicing of the entire cable assembly, significantly reducing repair time while restoring full connection reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The half-bodies are designed with pre-formed threaded bores and fastening mechanisms that allow for rapid installation. The preliminary design of these features enables the repair personnel to quickly secure the new coupling nut halves to the connector body without requiring complex splicing procedures, thereby reducing repair time while ensuring reliable connection restoration
Data Source
AI summary
A split connector nut is provided for coupling a cable connector. The connector nut includes a pair of semi-arcuate half-bodies with each half-body having a pair of mating surfaces and a concave inner surface having screw threads between the mating surfaces. A fastener protrudes from one mating surface and an alignment pin protrudes from another mating surface. There is an alignment aperture in the one mating surface adjacent to the fastener, located to correspond with the alignment pin of an adjacent half-body. There is a receiving aperture in the other mating surface adjacent to the alignment pin, located to correspond with the fastener of an adjacent half-body. Each half-body includes an inwardly disposed retaining shoulder around a back of the half-body, which is adapted to engage a retaining groove on the cable connector.