Submarine Cable Pulling Eye Design for Installation Integrity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Submarine cables face damage and moisture permeation issues during installation due to their weight and underwater environment, leading to conductor breakage and installation challenges.
Innovation Solution
A pulling eye design for submarine cables that includes a sheathing wire fixing part, body part, and head part to securely fasten sheathing wires, combined with a watertight processor to prevent moisture ingress, allowing for firm pulling and reduced installation costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a submarine cable is pulled by a pulling eye during installation, then the cable can be installed across the sea floor, but the heavy weight of the submarine cable causes conductor breakage or skin damage due to self-load
Solution Approach 1:
The pulling eye is divided into multiple functional parts: a body part that contacts the cable, a head part that distributes pulling force, and a pressing part that secures sheathing wires. This segmentation allows each part to perform its specific function optimally - the head part distributes force to prevent conductor breakage while the pressing part secures the cable structure during installation
Solution Approach 2:
The sheathing wires are bent and pressed against the cable body before the actual pulling operation begins. The pressing part is positioned to pre-secure the sheathing wires, creating a reinforced structure that can withstand the self-load and pulling forces during installation without causing conductor damage
2Productivity
If a pulling eye is installed at the end of a submarine cable, then the cable can be pulled for installation, but moisture may permeate the end of the cable in the underwater environment
Solution Approach 1:
The pressing part is designed to press the sheathing wires against the cable body in advance, creating a sealed structure before the cable is exposed to the underwater environment. This preliminary action prevents moisture from penetrating into the cable end during installation and subsequent service
Solution Approach 2:
The sheathing wires act as a flexible sealing element that is pressed against the cable body by the pressing part. This creates a flexible barrier that prevents moisture permeation while allowing the structure to accommodate minor movements and deformations during installation and service
3Ease of operation
If the serving layer is removed to install a pulling eye, then the pulling eye can be fastened to sheathing wires, but the cable end becomes vulnerable to moisture and damage
Solution Approach 1:
The pressing part serves dual functions: it secures the sheathing wires to provide attachment points for the pulling eye, and simultaneously creates a sealed structure that protects the cable end from moisture. By merging these two functions into a single component, the design achieves both ease of operation and reliability without requiring separate protective measures
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a pulling eye for a submarine cable, a method of installing the pulling eye for a submarine cable, and a submarine cable including the pulling eye.