Subsea Actuator Visual Position Indicator
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Subsea actuators in the oil and gas industry face challenges in monitoring and indicating their position, especially in deep-sea environments where visual inspection is difficult and power failures can occur.
Innovation Solution
A subsea actuator design that includes a housing with a window for a position indicator, allowing visual inspection of the actuator member's position through the window, even in the absence of power, using a passive, unpowered visual indicator.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If a powered position indicator system is used in subsea actuators, then position monitoring capability is improved, but energy consumption increases and system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The actuator member itself serves as the position indicator by being made transparent or semi-transparent. The actuator member visually indicates its own position through the housing window without requiring separate powered indicator components, eliminating energy consumption while maintaining position monitoring capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent removes the need for powered indicator components by extracting the indication function from the actuator member itself. The actuator member's physical position is directly visible through the housing window, eliminating the need for separate indicator mechanisms that would consume energy
2Loss of information
If a powered position indicator system is used in subsea actuators, then position monitoring capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the actuator member and position indicator into a single integrated component. The actuator member itself becomes the indicator by being transparent or semi-transparent, eliminating the need for separate indicator mechanisms and reducing overall system complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent removes complex powered indicator components by extracting the indication function directly from the actuator member. The actuator member's position is directly visible through the housing window, eliminating the need for separate indicator mechanisms that would increase complexity
3Reliability
If the actuator housing is made completely opaque for protection, then protection from sea water ingress is improved, but position monitoring capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by making only the actuator member transparent or semi-transparent while keeping the housing opaque. This localized transparency allows position monitoring without compromising the overall protection against sea water ingress, as the housing remains sealed and protective
Data Source
AI summary
This invention relates to a subsea actuator with visual position indicators and associated methods for subsea energy infrastructure, such as in the oil and gas industry. The actuator may include a housing with a window, an actuation member, and a drive mechanism that moves the actuation member between at least two positions. The invention also relates to a method of that involves providing a housing with a window, connecting the actuation member to a drive mechanism, and indicating the position of the actuation member through the window. This visual inspection can be performed directly or via a camera, even in the event of a power failure, using a passive, unpowered indicator. The indication can be displayed on an ROV panel, ensuring reliable remote monitoring and operation of the subsea actuator.