Underwater Lighting Rigid Connector Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing underwater lighting systems in marine vessels require complex procedures for inserting and removing lighting units from cofferdams, involving coiling of electrical cables and ensuring rotational alignment, which complicates maintenance and installation.
Innovation Solution
The underwater lighting apparatus features rigidly mounted electrical connectors at both the lighting unit and cofferdam, allowing for a 'plug and play' connection without coiling, with suitable 'wet-mate' connectors for submerged use and a compact design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of repair
If a flexible electrical cable is used to connect the lighting unit to the cofferdam, then the lighting unit can be removed and replaced, but the cable must be coiled within the cofferdam which increases device complexity and installation difficulty
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the flexible cable from the cofferdam interior by routing it through a cable gland at the cofferdam wall. This removes the need to coil the cable within the cofferdam volume, simplifying the internal arrangement while still allowing the lighting unit to be disconnected for replacement. The cable exits the cofferdam structure rather than being contained within it.
Solution Approach 2:
The cable gland acts as an intermediary component that facilitates the cable's passage through the cofferdam wall. It provides a sealed connection point that allows the flexible cable to transition from the external environment into the cofferdam interior without requiring the cable to be coiled or bent sharply within the cofferdam space.
2Ease of operation
If a long flexible cable is provided to allow lighting unit removal, then the lighting unit can be disconnected underwater, but rotational alignment becomes difficult to control during installation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by providing guide features (such as guide pins or alignment keys) on both the cofferdam and lighting unit connectors. These guide features pre-establish the correct rotational alignment before the electrical connectors engage, eliminating the need to control rotation during the connection process. The alignment is achieved automatically as the lighting unit is inserted into the cofferdam.
3Ease of operation
If the electrical cable is coiled within the cofferdam, then the lighting unit can be connected, but the cofferdam requires larger volume to accommodate the coiled cable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the cable from the cofferdam interior by routing it through a cable gland at the cofferdam wall. This removes the need to accommodate coiled cable within the cofferdam volume, significantly reducing the required cofferdam size while still allowing lighting unit connection and disconnection.
4Device complexity
If a rigid connector is used at the cofferdam and lighting unit, then rotational alignment is automatic and installation is simplified, but the connector must be suitable for submerged use
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs connectors specifically designed for single-use underwater applications. These connectors are engineered to be simple, robust, and reliable for one-time mating and unmating operations in submerged conditions. The design prioritizes reliability for the specific underwater installation/removal operation rather than repeated use, allowing for simplified geometry that facilitates automatic rotational alignment.
Data Source
AI summary
An underwater lighting apparatus includes a cofferdam having a cofferdam electrical connector rigidly mounted within the cofferdam at an inner end; a lighting unit sized and shaped to be mounted within the cofferdam and having a lighting unit electrical connector rigidly mounted at an inner end; wherein the lighting unit electrical connector is sized and shaped to directly connect with the cofferdam electrical connector to form a rigid connection between the cofferdam and the lighting unit. The lighting apparatus is beneficial in that both the cofferdam electrical connector and the lighting unit electrical connector are rigidly mounted.