Subsea Umbilical Termination Alignment Guide Pins
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current subsea connection systems for umbilicals lack a simple and reliable method to align and secure coupling members of subsea umbilicals and umbilical termination assemblies, leading to complex and potentially unreliable connections at the seabed.
Innovation Solution
A connection system featuring a termination box with umbilical coupling parts, a connection unit with guide pins and a pivotable installation yoke, and a landing unit, allowing for axial displacement and proper alignment of coupling members, secured by locking members and alignment pins, facilitating easy and secure connection of subsea umbilicals to umbilical termination assemblies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a subsea connection system uses traditional connection methods without guide members and alignment mechanisms, then the connection process becomes complex and unreliable, but adding guide members and alignment mechanisms increases device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The guide members (guide pins and guide grooves) are pre-installed on the connection unit and landing unit respectively, enabling automatic alignment guidance before the actual coupling connection occurs. This preliminary alignment action ensures that the coupling members are properly positioned prior to engagement, significantly improving connection reliability without requiring complex real-time adjustment mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
The alignment pins act as intermediary elements between the connection unit and landing unit. These alignment pins engage with corresponding features on both units to establish precise relative positioning, serving as a mediator that translates the rough positioning into accurate alignment, thereby ensuring reliable coupling connection
2Reliability
If the connection system requires precise manual alignment of coupling members, then connection reliability improves, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to difficulty in achieving proper alignment at the seabed
Solution Approach 1:
The connection system employs self-aligning features where the guide pins automatically engage with the guide grooves, and the alignment pins automatically position the coupling members relative to each other. This self-service alignment mechanism eliminates the need for complex manual alignment operations, allowing the system to achieve precise coupling alignment automatically through its own structural features, thereby greatly improving ease of operation while maintaining high alignment precision
Solution Approach 2:
The guide members and alignment pins are pre-configured in fixed positions on the connection unit and landing unit, establishing a predetermined alignment path. When the units are brought together, this preliminary configuration automatically guides the coupling members into proper alignment without requiring manual intervention, making the operation simple while ensuring reliable alignment
3Stability of the object's composition
If the termination box is fixed rigidly to the connection unit, then structural stability improves, but the ability to accommodate axial displacement and achieve proper alignment deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The termination box is mounted on the connection unit in a manner that allows controlled axial movement. This dynamic mounting arrangement enables the termination box to move axially relative to the connection unit during the connection process, accommodating variations in positioning and ensuring proper alignment of coupling members. The structural stability is maintained through guided movement constraints that prevent lateral displacement while allowing necessary axial adjustment
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4~5a
Figure 5b~5c
AI summary
A connection system for subsea connection of a subsea umbilical (1) to a subsea appliance, the system comprising: - a termination box (20) fixed to the umbilical; - a first coupling part (30) mounted to the termination box (20), - a second coupling part (70); - a connection unit (40), to which the termination box (20) is slidably mounted; and - a landing unit (60), which has a fixed position in relation to the second coupling part. Guide members (45, 65) are provided on the connection unit and the landing unit for guiding the connection unit into a correct position in relation to the landing unit when the connection unit is lowered downwards into contact with the landing unit. The termination box is displaceable axially forwards in relation to the connection unit by means of an actuating unit so as to bring the first coupling part into contact with the second coupling part.