Subsea Instrument Display Panel Resin Encapsulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Instruments and lighting apparatus used in deep-sea environments, such as those for tracking pipeline pigs, face frequent lens breakage issues due to high pressure, leading to increased maintenance and operational costs, as existing solutions like glass lenses are prone to damage during deployment and retrieval.
Innovation Solution
A display panel made from a clear, pressure-resistant material, such as a resin, encapsulates the visual display and light sources, providing a robust and waterproof solution that can withstand pressures of at least 300 bar without allowing water ingress, eliminating the need for a glass lens and enhancing durability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a glass lens is used to protect the visual display, then the display is protected from pressure, but the lens is susceptible to breakage during deployment and retrieval
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter from glass to clear resin, which has different mechanical properties - specifically, the resin is more flexible and resistant to impact and pressure changes, eliminating the breakage issue while maintaining optical clarity and display protection
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a composite structure where a clear resin material encapsulates the visual display, combining the optical transparency needed for viewing with the mechanical durability required to withstand deep-sea pressure and handling stresses without breaking like glass
2Productivity
If the instrument is deployed at deep locations multiple times, then operational efficiency is improved, but the lens requires replacement after each deployment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the opposite approach - using an expensive but long-lasting resin-encapsulated display that eliminates the need for repeated replacements, thereby improving productivity by allowing multiple deployments without repair interruptions and reducing long-term costs despite the higher initial material cost
3Stress or pressure
If a thick glass lens is used to resist pressure, then pressure resistance is improved, but the lens is still susceptible to breakage under dynamic pressure changes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material from glass to clear resin, which has superior toughness and elasticity - the resin can deform elastically under pressure changes and return to its original shape, whereas glass is brittle and prone to cracking under the same dynamic stress conditions
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
The solution significantly reduces the likelihood of display panel damage and maintenance, allowing instruments to be deployed multiple times without repair, while maintaining readability and operational reliability in high-pressure sub-sea conditions.
Implementation Method 1
a display panel formed from a clear material encapsulating a visual display
Implementation Method 2
said apparatus is capable of operating in water at a pressure of at least 300 bar without ingress of water into the enclosure
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4
AI summary
The invention comprises an apparatus comprising a water-proof housing assembly comprising a housing and a display panel, and incorporating an enclosure containing electrical apparatus, characterised in that said display panel is formed from a clear material encapsulating a visual display and/or a light-source and said apparatus is capable of operating in water at a pressure of at least 300 bar without ingress of water into the enclosure. The apparatus may be used as an instrument or a lighting unit in sub-sea environments.