# US 12,113,312 B2 · Subsea connector

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- Number: US 12,113,312 B2
- Document ID: US12113312B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/636,867
- Filed: 2020-08-27
- Published: 2022-10-20
- Granted: 2024-10-08
- Earliest claimed: 2019-08-30
- Assignees: Siemens Energy Global GmbH & Co. KG
- Applicants: Siemens Energy Global GmbH & Co. KG
- Inventors: Christopher Burrow; Scott Spencer; Daniel Walton
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12113312B2

## CPC

- H01R 13/523: for use under water
- E21B 17/0285: {characterised by electrically insulating elements}
- G02B 6/3816: {for use under water, high pressure connectors (provisionally see G02B6/4428)}
- H01R 13/005: {Electrical coupling combined with fluidic coupling}
- H01R 13/6585: Shielding material individually surrounding or interposed between mutually spaced contacts
- H01R 33/94: Holders formed as intermediate parts for linking a counter-part to a coupling part
- H02G 15/14: specially adapted for submarine cables
- H02G 1/10: in or under water
- H01R: ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
- E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- H02G: INSTALLATION OF ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES, OR OF COMBINED OPTICAL AND ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES

## Abstract

A configurable subsea wet-mateable connector includes a receptacle connector body and a plug connector body. The subsea receptacle connector unit includes at least two receptacle inserts chosen from at least one of a power connector unit, a data connector unit, an optical fibre connector unit, a pneumatic connector unit or a fluid connector unit. The subsea plug connector unit includes at least two plug inserts having the same two of a power connector unit, a data connector unit, an optical fibre connector unit, a pneumatic connector unit or a fluid connector unit.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A subsea wet-mateable connector, comprising:
a receptacle connector body, and a plug connector body;
a first receptacle insert including a first connector unit selected from a power connector unit, a data connector unit, an optical fibre connector unit, a pneumatic connector unit, and a fluid connector unit, the first receptacle insert removably and interchangeably coupled to the receptacle connector body to allow removal and replacement of the first connector unit with a different type of connector unit without damage to the receptacle connector body;
a second receptacle insert including a second connector unit selected from the power connector unit, the data connector unit, the optical fibre connector unit, the pneumatic connector unit, and the fluid connector unit, the second receptacle insert removably and interchangeably coupled to the receptacle connector body to allow removal and replacement of the second connector unit with a different type of connector unit without damage to the receptacle connector body, the second connector unit being a different type of unit then the first connector unit;
a first plug insert including a third connector unit selected from the power connector unit, the data connector unit, the optical fibre connector unit, the pneumatic connector unit, and the fluid connector unit such that the first plug insert and the first receptacle insert correspond with and engage with one another to complete a connection, the first plug insert removably and interchangeably coupled to the plug connector body to allow removal and replacement without damage to the plug connector body; and
a second plug insert including a fourth connector unit selected from the power connector unit, the data connector unit, the optical fibre connector unit, the pneumatic connector unit, and the fluid connector unit such that the second plug insert and the second receptacle insert correspond with and engage with one another to complete a connection, the second plug insert removably and interchangeably coupled to the plug connector body to allow removal and replacement without damage to the plug connector body.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The connector according to claim 1, further comprising: an adaptor for removably mounting the plug connector body or the receptacle connector body to an installation device.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The connector according to claim 1, wherein the power connector unit comprises a copper, or a copper alloy, conductor.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The connector according to claim 1, wherein the data connector unit comprises one of Ethernet, optical fibre, copper wire, wireless, or an inductive connector.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The connector according to claim 1, wherein the optical fibre connector unit comprises an expanded beam fibre connector.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The connector according to claim 1, wherein the connector units of the inserts comprise integrally formed sections of the inserts.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The connector according to claim 1, wherein the receptacle connector body, or the plug connector body, comprises a single machined body having an opening machined therein for each insert and one or more seals to seal the inserts to the body.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The connector according to claim 1, wherein the first connector unit and the third connector unit are power connector units and the second connector unit and the fourth connector unit are data connector units, wherein the second connector unit and the fourth connector unit further comprise electrical shielding.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The connector according to claim 8, wherein the electrical shielding comprises a metal screen.