Subsea Coupler Mounting Ring Layout for Rear-Side Installation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sub-sea connector designs for stabplates require time-consuming and frustrating installation processes, especially when multiple couplers and conduits crowd the space behind the plate, making it difficult to access and install rearward retention members.
Innovation Solution
A sub-sea connector design featuring a coupler body with a radially inwardly extending groove and an abutment that allows for rear-side insertion, enabling the coupler to be secured without cap screws or nuts, with a mounting ring and retaining ring configuration that facilitates easy installation and minimizes access to the back of the plate.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If couplers are loaded from the front side of the plate, then the couplers can be easily positioned, but the conduits with multiple bends become difficult to feed through the plate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the traditional loading direction by providing means for loading couplers from the rear side of the plate instead of the front side. This allows conduits to be fed through the plate more easily while the coupler positioning means ensure proper alignment during rear-side loading.
2Reliability
If rear-loaded coupler designs require over-insertion to expose the groove, then the retention member can be inserted, but the process becomes time-consuming and frustrating
Solution Approach 1:
The patent positions the groove and retention member features during the coupler design phase so that when the coupler is loaded from the rear, the groove is automatically positioned to receive the retention member without requiring over-insertion or subsequent repositioning actions.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple couplers and conduits crowd the space behind the plate, then all connections can be made, but access to install rearward retention members becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the access dimension by providing retention member installation access from the rear side of the plate rather than requiring access from the front or sides. This dimensional change allows installers to reach retention members even when multiple couplers crowd the space behind the plate.
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
A coupler assembly (60) for a sub-sea connector including a coupler (18) having an abutment (76) radially outwardly from the coupler body (64), and a radially inwardly extending groove (78) in the coupler body that is longitudinally spaced apart from the abutment. The abutment (76) is configured to engage the rear side of the plate when the coupler is inserted through a rearward opening in the plate. The groove (78) may be longitudinally spaced apart from the abutment such that, when the abutment is engaged with the rear of the plate, the groove is positioned forwardly of the front side of the plate sufficiently to allow a portion of a mounting ring (82) to be inserted into the groove with a portion of the mounting ring protruding radially outwardly from the body to engage an abutment surface at the front side of the plate, thereby restricting axial movement of the body relative to the plate.