Connector for underwater cables
AssigneeLaitram, L.L.C.
InventorsOneil J. Williams, Jr., Andre W. Olivier
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A connector for attaching equipment to an underwater cable includes a cylindrical race having a plurality of sections pivotably connected by a hinge. The sections can pivot about the hinge to enable the race to be opened and detached from the cable. The hinge includes a plurality of sockets and a hinge pin rotatably received in the sockets. The hinge pin can preferably be retracted from the sockets to unlock the hinge and inserted into the sockets to lock the hinge. A retaining member prevents the hinge pin from falling out of the sockets when the hinge pin is retracted.
Claims64
A connector for connecting equipment to an underwater cable comprising:
- a cylindrical inner race having a bore for receiving an underwater cable;
- and
- an outer race rotatably mounted around the inner race and comprising first and second sections, a first hinge pivotably connecting the first and second sections, and a second hinge pivotably connecting the first and second sections and spaced from the first hinge in a circumferential direction of the outer race.
A connector for connecting equipment to an underwater cable comprising:
- a cylindrical inner race having a bore for receiving an underwater cable;
- and
- an outer race rotatably mounted around the inner race and comprising first and second sections and a first hinge pivotably connecting the first and second sections, the first hinge comprising first and second sockets and a releasable hinge pin including a detent mechanism for releasably engaging the hinge pin with one of the sockets.
A device for connection to an underwater cable comprising:
- equipment for use in underwater exploration;
- and
- a first collar secured to the equipment for connecting the equipment to an underwater cable, the first collar comprising first and second sections, a hinge pivotably connecting the first and second sections, and a latch mechanism operable to allow and prevent pivoting of the first and second sections about the hinge, the latch mechanism including a pin movable in an axial direction of the collar between a latched and an unlatched position.
A connector for connecting equipment to an underwater cable comprising:
- a cylindrical inner race;
- and
- an outer race rotatably mounted about the inner race and comprising a first section, a second section, a first hinge pivotably connecting the first and second sections, and a latch mechanism operable to allow and prevent pivoting of the first and second sections about the first hinge, the latch mechanism including a latching portion movable in an axial direction of the outer race to latch and unlatch the latch mechanism.
A connector for connecting equipment to an underwater cable comprising:
- an inner race having an outer periphery;
- and
- an outer race rotatable about the outer periphery of the inner race and comprising first and second sections, a connecting member connecting the sections, the connecting member movable in an axial direction of the outer rail between a latched position in which the sections are secured to one another and an unlatched position in which the sections can move with respect to one another to enable the outer race to be detached from the inner race, and a retaining member preventing the connecting member from being detached from one of the sections when the connecting member is in its unlatched position.
A connector for connecting equipment to an underwater cable comprising:
- an inner race having a bore for receiving an underwater cable;
- and
- an outer race rotatably mounted around the inner race and comprising first and second semicylindrical sections and first and second hinges each pivotably connecting the first and second sections and spaced from each other in a circumferential direction of the outer race, each hinge comprising a first socket connected to the first section, a second socket connected to the second section, and a hinge pin axially movable between a locked position in which the hinge pin engages the first and second sockets and a retracted position in which the hinge pin is withdrawn from the second socket, the hinge pin including a detent mechanism operable to engage and disengage from the second socket to prevent and allow axial movement of the hinge pin.
A connector for connecting equipment to an underwater cable comprising:
- a cylindrical inner race having a bore for receiving an underwater cable;
- and
- an outer race rotatably mounted around the inner race and comprising first and second sections and a pin detachably connecting the first and second sections and slidably supported by the outer race for movement in an axial direction of the pin between a latched position preventing relative movement of the first and second sections and an unlatched position allowing relative movement of the first and second sections to permit the outer race to be removed from the inner race.
A connector for connecting equipment to an underwater cable comprising:
- a cylindrical inner race;
- and
- a cylindrical outer race rotatably mounted about the inner race and comprising a first section, a second section, and first and second removable pins detachably connecting the first and second sections together, each pin being movable in an axial direction of the outer race between a first position in which it engages both the first and second sections and a second position in which it engages only one of the sections.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.