Subsea electrical conductive insert coupling
AssigneeFramo Developments (UK) Limited
InventorsFrank Mohn, Bjorn G. Bjornsen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Apparatus for coupling a subsea module to an umbilical termination head from a subsea installation which comprises a receiver (14) mounted on the module, a receiver (15) mounted on the umbilical, and a conductive insert coupling (CIC) (13). The receivers (13, 14) each have electrical terminal sets (24, 25). The CIC (13) has a pair of spaced electrical terminal sets (22, 23) in which respective terminals in each set are electrically connected by concentric conductive tubes. The receivers (14, 15) are arranged to receive the CIC (13) so that when it is in position in the receivers (14, 15), each of the CIC terminal sets (22, 23) contacts one of the receiver terminal sets (24, 25) thereby forming an electrical connection between the two receiver terminal sets (24, 25).
Claims24
An apparatus for electrically coupling together a subsea installation and a subsea module landed on said subsea installation, said apparatus comprising:
- a first receiver mounted on said module;
- a first electrical terminal set in said first receiver;
- a second receiver mounted on said installation;
- a second electrical terminal set on said second receiver;
- an insert stab mandrel;
- a spaced pair of electrical terminal sets on said insert stab mandrel;
- means carried by said insert stab mandrel electrically connecting together respective terminals of said spaced pair of electrical terminal sets, said first and second receivers each being adapted to receive said insert stab mandrel therein with each of said spaced pair of electrical terminal sets located in electrical contact with a respective one of said first and second terminal sets, thereby providing electrical connection between said first and second electrical terminal sets, and
- means for moving said insert stab mandrel into and out of said receivers independently of movement of said subsea installation and said subsea module.
An apparatus for effecting electrical connection between first and second subsea units, said apparatus comprising:
- means for establishing a predetermined relationship between said first and second subsea units,
- a first receiver and a second receiver, said first receiver having axially opposed open ends,
- first and second mounting means mounting said first and said second receivers in substantial alignment on said first and second subsea units respectively in said predetermined relationship of said first and second subsea units,
- a mandrel movable through said first receiver into said second receiver to have first and second spaced portions of said mandrel received in said first and second receivers respectively,
- first and second electrical contact means at said first and second receivers, and
- electrical conductor means extending between said first and second portions of said mandrel, said electrical conductor means cooperating with said first and second electrical contact means when said mandrel first and second portions are received within said first and second receivers respectively to thereby establish said electrical connection.
A method of electrically connecting together a first subsea unit and a second subsea unit, said method comprising the steps of:
- providing on said first and second units means locating said first and second units in a predetermined relative position;
- providing on said first and second units respective first and second receivers, each receiver having a respective electrical terminal set;
- providing an insert stab mandrel having a pair of spaced electrical terminal sets and means electrically connecting together respective terminals in each of said terminal sets, said insert stab mandrel being receivable in said first and second receivers in said predetermined relative position of said first and second units, and said terminal sets being so located that when said insert stab mandrel is received in said receivers each of said terminal sets of said insert stab mandrel electrically contacts a respective one of said terminal sets of said receivers;
- locating said first and second units in said predetermined relative location with said insert stab mandrel absent from said receivers, and
- moving said inset stab mandrel, with said first and second units in said predetermined relative location, so as to be received in said receivers, to thereby electrically connect together said first and second units.
An apparatus for electrically coupling together first and second subsea units, said apparatus comprising:
- a first receiver mounted on said first unit;
- a first electrical terminal set on said second receiver,
- an insert stab mandrel, said stab mandrel comprising first and second body portions and an intermediate body portion between said first and second body portions, a first set of electrical contact bands located between said first and said intermediate body portions, a second set of electrical contact bands located between said intermediate and said second body portions, and a series of concentric conductors electrically connecting respective bands in said first and second sets, said first and second receivers each being adapted to receive said insert stab mandrel therein with each of said first and second sets of electrical contact bands in electrical contact with a respective one of said first and second electrical terminal sets, thereby providing electrical connection between said first and second subsea units.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.