Back to results
US 2024/0402233 A1Published application
Cable monitoring apparatus and method
AssigneeC-Kore Systems Limited
InventorsTimothy Mark OVERFIELD, Gregory James SMITH
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Loading patent…
Loading patent…
AssigneeC-Kore Systems Limited
InventorsTimothy Mark OVERFIELD, Gregory James SMITH
Estimating the term…
A measurement apparatus is disclosed for connection to an end of a cable (1) having at least one of: at least one electrically conductive core (11) for carrying electrical current and/or electrical signals along the cable; at least one electromagnetic waveguide (12) for carrying electromagnetic signals along the cable; and at least one bore (13) for conveying a fluid along the cable. The measurement apparatus comprises: connection means (4) for connecting to the end in an above-water or out-of-water environment to make at least one of: at least one respective electrical connection (41) to at least one core, at least one respective waveguide connection (42) to at least one waveguide for sending an electromagnetic signal along the waveguide, and at least one respective fluid or hydraulic connection (43) to at least one bore; and measuring means (5) connected to the connection means and operable to perform at least one measurement, via the connection means, on a connected cable. The measurement apparatus is deployable, when connected to an end of the cable, with the cable end to an underwater location for a period of time, and recoverable with the connected cable end after the period of time to an above-water or out-of-water location. The measuring means is operable to perform the measurement(s) while the measurement apparatus is connected to the cable end and at least while submerged with the connected cable end and/or after recovery with the connected cable end from the underwater location to the above-water or out-of-water location.
Measurement apparatus for connection to an end of a cable (1) having at least one of:
Measurement apparatus in accordance with any preceding claim, wherein the connection means comprises at least one waveguide connector for connection to a corresponding waveguide connector terminating a said waveguide.
Measurement apparatus in accordance with any preceding claim, wherein the connection means comprises at least one fluid or hydraulic connector for connection to a corresponding fluid or hydraulic connector terminating a said bore (i.e. at the end of the cable).
Measurement apparatus in accordance with any preceding claim, further comprising attachment means (3) for mechanically attaching the measurement apparatus to the cable end.
Measurement apparatus in accordance with any preceding claim, further comprising sealing means arranged to form a seal between the measurement apparatus and said cable to inhibit ingress of water to at least one of:
Measurement apparatus in accordance with any preceding claim, wherein the connection means is adapted to provide a plurality of electrical connections to a respective plurality of electrically conductive cores of a connected said cable.
Measurement apparatus in accordance with any preceding claim, comprising a terminal (e.g. electrode) arranged to make electric connection to a fluid in which the measurement apparatus is immersed.
Measurement apparatus in accordance with any preceding claim, wherein said at least one measurement comprises measuring a continuity of at least one core, waveguide, or bore of a connected cable.
Measurement apparatus in accordance with any preceding claim, wherein said at least one measurement comprises a Time Domain Reflectometry (TDR) measurement on at least one core, waveguide, or bore of a connected cable.
Measurement apparatus in accordance with any preceding claim, wherein said at least one measurement comprises measuring temperature at least one position along a connected cable by means of a sending an electromagnetic signal along a said waveguide to interact with a respective temperature sensor (e.g. Bragg grating) at each said position.
Measurement apparatus in accordance with any preceding claim, wherein said at least one measurement comprises measuring strain at least one location along a connected cable by means of a sending an electromagnetic signal along a said waveguide to interact with a respective strain sensor (e.g. Bragg grating) at each said location.
Measurement apparatus in accordance with any preceding claim, wherein said at least one measurement comprises applying a pressure via a said fluid or hydraulic connection to a bore of a connected cable and measuring pressure of fluid within said bore.
Measurement apparatus in accordance with any preceding claim, wherein the measuring means is operable to perform said at least one measurement on a connected said cable while said cable is being pulled.
Measurement apparatus in accordance with any preceding claim, further comprising a memory, and the measurement apparatus is further arranged to store results of at least one said measurement, and optionally results of each said measurement, in the memory.
Measurement apparatus in accordance with any preceding claim, wherein the measuring means is arranged to monitor results of at least one said measurement, and optionally results of each said measurement, and generate an alert signal according to said results.
Measurement apparatus in accordance with any preceding claim, further comprising data transmission means for transmitting results of at least one said measurement, and optionally results of each said measurement, to a remote location.
Measurement apparatus in accordance with any preceding claim, further comprising coupling means for coupling to a means for providing a pulling force to enable a pulling force to be applied, via the measurement apparatus, to a said cable connected to the measurement apparatus, the measurement apparatus further comprising at least one strain sensor arranged to sense at least one of a strain resulting from a pulling force applied to the coupling means and a strain resulting from a bending of the measurement apparatus or at least one component thereof, and wherein the measuring means is connected to the at least one strain sensor and is operable to perform at least one strain measurement of at least one of said strains.
Measurement apparatus in accordance with any preceding claim, further comprising a housing, the measuring means being housed inside said housing.
Measurement apparatus in accordance with any preceding claim, further comprising sealing means arranged to form a seal to a connected said cable to prevent or inhibit ingress of water into at least one component of a connected cable when submerged (for example at a depth of 10 m, 100 m, 1000 m or more).
Measurement apparatus in accordance with any preceding claim, further comprising energy storage means arranged to power the measuring means.
Measurement apparatus in accordance with any preceding claim, wherein the measuring means comprising a programmable processor, the processor being operable to control said measurements.
An assembly comprising measurement apparatus, in accordance with any preceding claim, attached to a said cable.
A method of handling a cable (1) having at least one of:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.