ROV-Mateable Subsea Coupler With Self-Latching Lever Arm
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing subsea power connector couplings require complex ROV operations, often necessitating specialized tooling and are challenging due to the weight and stiffness of electrical connections, especially in three-phase systems, which are difficult to handle and connect using standard ROVs.
Innovation Solution
A subsea coupler with a lever arm mechanism and resilient member, allowing ROV-based alignment, mating, and locking of wet mate connector parts, featuring a housing with a pivot arm and secondary pivot arm for secure connection and demating, utilizing metal and plastic guide members for alignment and a spring-loaded latch for reliable engagement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a lever arm with resilient member is used to automatically latch the connector, then the ease of operation is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The lever arm with resilient member is designed to automatically latch onto the guide piece of the second connector part when the connectors are brought together. The resilient member biases the lever arm toward a closed position where the latch protrudes through an aperture in the housing, securing the connection without requiring manual intervention or additional tools. This self-latching mechanism improves ease of operation while the integrated design minimizes added complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The resilient member is pre-loaded to bias the lever arm toward the closed latched position before the connectors are mated. This preliminary positioning ensures that as soon as the connectors come into contact, the lever arm is already prepared to engage the guide piece and secure the connection, eliminating the need for separate latching actions
2Adaptability or versatility
If manual alignment by ROV is used for heavy connectors, then the adaptability is improved, but the productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The coupler housing with guide piece acts as an intermediary alignment mechanism between the two connector parts. The guide piece provides a defined path and surface for the latch to engage, automatically guiding the connectors into proper alignment as they are brought together by the ROV. This eliminates the need for complex manual alignment operations while maintaining the ability to handle heavy connectors, thus improving productivity without sacrificing adaptability
3Reliability
If specialized tooling is used for coupling heavy connectors, then the reliability is improved, but the ease of operation worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The latching function is extracted from the connector parts themselves and implemented as a separate lever arm mechanism with resilient member. This separate mechanism provides reliable latching through the biased lever arm that automatically engages the guide piece, while being operable by the ROV without requiring specialized external tooling. The resilient member ensures consistent latching force for reliable connections
Solution Approach 2:
The lever arm mechanism serves multiple functions: it provides alignment guidance through the guide piece, secures the connection through the latch engagement, and maintains connection integrity through the biased closed position. This multi-functional design achieves reliable coupling while simplifying operation, as the same mechanism handles both alignment and latching without requiring separate specialized tools
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables reliable, efficient, and cost-effective ROV-assisted connection and disconnection of subsea power connectors with reduced risk of damage, allowing for single-phase handling and alignment without additional tools, ensuring robust and reliable electrical contact.
Implementation Method 1
the lever arm comprises a resilient member on a mount, the mount comprising a mount axis adapted to be arranged substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the housing when the lever arm is in its open position, the resilient member being remote from the latch and from the second end of the housing; wherein the resilient member biases the lever arm towards a closed position
Data Source
AI summary
An ROV mateable subsea coupler (30) comprises a housing (31) having a first end and a second end and defining a hollow core. The first end of the housing is adapted to be mounted to a first wet mate connector part (21). The second end (32) of the housing is adapted to receive a second wet mate connector part. The coupler further comprises a lever arm (35) pivotally mounted to the housing, the lever arm comprising a latch (46) adapted to cooperate with a surface of a guide piece (40, 41) of the second connector part (20). The lever arm comprises a resilient member (37, 78), remote from the latch and from the second end (32) of the housing, which biases the lever arm towards a closed position, coaxial with a longitudinal axis (72) of the housing, in which position the latch protrudes through an aperture (66) in the housing.