Subsea Hydraulic Coupler Bidirectional Insertion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing subsea hydraulic couplers are limited in that they can only be inserted in one direction, and when pressurized, the high separation forces are borne by the retainer, which can be a point of failure under high hydraulic pressure.
Innovation Solution
A subsea hydraulic coupler design featuring a cylindrical body with a circumferential groove and a flange assembly comprising separable segments, allowing bidirectional insertion and distributing separation forces across a shoulder that abuts the mounting plate, thereby alleviating the load on the retainer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the coupler uses a retainer to secure the body to the mounting plate, then the coupler can be firmly fixed in place, but the retainer bears the full separation force under high hydraulic pressure, creating a point of failure
Solution Approach 1:
The flange assembly is divided into multiple separable segments that can be assembled around the coupler body. This segmentation allows the flange to distribute separation forces across multiple contact points with the mounting plate, rather than concentrating all force on the retainer, thereby reducing the retainer's load while maintaining secure fixation.
Solution Approach 2:
The flange assembly extends the fixation mechanism from a single-point retainer connection to a distributed multi-point contact system across the mounting plate surface. This dimensional expansion distributes the hydraulic separation forces across a larger area, reducing stress on any single component including the retainer.
2Device complexity
If the coupler is designed for unidirectional insertion only, then the structure can be simpler, but the coupler cannot be inserted from either direction, limiting installation flexibility
Solution Approach 1:
The coupler body and flange assembly are designed with symmetric features that allow the same component to function identically regardless of insertion direction. The circumferential groove and flange segment arrangement remain effective whether the coupler is inserted from the front or rear of the mounting plate, providing universal bidirectional insertion capability without requiring different component configurations.
Solution Approach 2:
The design employs strategic asymmetric features in specific locations (such as the positioning of the circumferential groove relative to the body) that actually enable symmetric functionality. By placing key features at appropriate asymmetric positions, the coupler achieves bidirectional insertion capability while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
Data Source
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AI summary
A subsea stab plate assembly comprises a stab plate (12) which includes a multiplicity of apertures (14) each extending in an axial direction through the plate from a front face (13) of the plate to a rear face (15) of the plate, and a subsea hydraulic coupler for insertion through at least one of the apertures. The coupler has a body (1) with an internal longitudinal passageway including a valve (18) operable to open the passageway on the mating of the coupler with a complementary coupler. The coupler is shaped for insertion through the said one aperture in either of two directions, the body (1) having a circumferential groove (4) and a flange assembly (8,8) comprising an axially extending hub (10) which fits into the groove and a shoulder (9) for abutment against the front face (14) of the plate. The flange assembly comprises a plurality of separable segments (8) each of which constitutes part of the hub and part of the shoulder. The hub fits between the groove and the inside of the aperture.