Back to results
US 2010/0054677 A1Published application
Power umbilical
AssigneeAker Subsea AS
InventorsArild Figenschou, Finn Peter Gjerull
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Loading patent…
Loading patent…
AssigneeAker Subsea AS
InventorsArild Figenschou, Finn Peter Gjerull
Estimating the term…
A power umbilical is shown that comprises a number of power cables (4) to transfer large amounts of electric power, optionally electric wires and/or optical conductors (5), filler material (2, 3) in the form of rigid elongated plastic elements that are located at least partially around and between the power cables (4) and the optional wires/conductors (5), and they are collectively gathered in a twisted bundle by means of a laying operation. A protective jacket (1) encompasses the power cables (4), the optional wires/conductors (5), the filler material (2, 3), and at least one load carrying element (6) predetermined located in the cross section of the power umbilical. The power cables (4), the optional wires/conductors (5), the filler material (2, 3) and the at least one load carrying element (6), are alternately laid, i.e. by continuously alternating direction, in the entire or part of the longitudinal extension of the power umbilical. This is combined with that the laid bundle is retained or maintained substantially rotationally rigid by the protective jacket (1), possibly by the addition of a strength band, or tape, which is helically wound around the bundle adjacent to the protective jacket (1).
A power cable, or power umbilical, comprising a number of electric cables for transfer of vast amounts of electric power/energy, possibly electric wires and/or optical conductors, filler material in the form of stiff elongate plastic elements located at least partially around and between the electric cables and the possible wires/conductors, which together are gathered in a twisted bundle by means of a laying operation, a protective sheath that encompasses the electric cables, the possible wires/conductors and the filler material, and at least one load carrying element predetermined located in the cross section of the power cable/umbilical, characterized in that the electric cables, the possible wires/conductors, the filler material and the at least one load carrying element, are alternately laid, i.e. by continuously alternating direction, in the entire or part of the longitudinal extension of the power cable/umbilical, combined with that the laid bundle is kept fixed substantially torsion stiff by the protective sheath, possibly with the addition of a strength band, or tape, which is helically wound about the bundle just internal of the protective sheath.
A method of manufacturing and laying a number of elongate elements into a power cable, or power umbilical, which includes a number of electric cables for transfer of vast amounts of electric power/energy, possibly electric wires and/or optical conductors, filler material in the form of stiff elongate plastic elements located at least partially around and between the electric cables and the possible wires/conductors, which are collectively gathered into a twisted bundle, a protective sheath that encompasses the electric wires, the possible wires/conductors and the filler material, and at least one load carrying element predetermined located in the cross section of the umbilical in order to take care of axial loads in the cable/umbilical, characterized in that the electric cables, the possible electric wires and/or optical conductors, the filler material and the load carrying elements are alternating laid, i.e. by constantly shifting direction, in the entire or part of the longitudinal extension of the power cable/umbilical, and that the or each load carrying element either is centrally or peripheral located during the manufacture, and that the laid bundle is retained substantially torsional stiff by applying the outer protective sheath, possibly by the addition of a strength band, or a tape, that is helically wound about the bundle after said laying operation is completed and before the protective sheath is applied.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.