Subsea electrical penetrator

An electrical penetrator comprising:

• a generally cylindrical body having a first, external face and a second, internal face, a central, axial bore extending through the body from the first face to the second face, and an annular recess open to the first face and generally coaxial with the central bore, the annular recess having an inner wall and an opposing outer wall;
• a connector pin mounted in the central axial bore with a dielectric material, the pin having a first, external end and a second, internal end;
• a first boot seal having a first segment in sealing engagement with the connector pin and a second segment connected to the first segment and in sealing engagement with the inner wall of the annular recess;
• and,
• a second boot seal having a first segment in sealing engagement with the connector pin and an adjacent second segment in sealing engagement with the first segment of the first boot seal.

An electrical penetrator comprising:

• a generally cylindrical body having a first, external face and a second, internal face, a generally cylindrical projection extending from the first face and coaxial with the body, and a central, axial bore extending through the body and the cylindrical projection;
• a connector pin mounted in the central axial bore with a dielectric material, the pin having a first, external end and a second, internal end;
• a boot seal having a first segment in sealing engagement with the jacket of an electrical cable connected to the first end of the connector pin, a second segment connected to the first segment and in sealing engagement with at least a portion of the connector pin and a third segment connected to the second segment and in sealing engagement with the outer surface of the cylindrical projection;
• and,
• a generally annular volume between the side surface of the connector pin and the wall of the central axial bore, said generally annular volume being substantially filled with a dielectric oil.

A method for assembling an electrical penetrator adapted for subsea use comprising:

• providing a generally cylindrical body having a first, external face and a second, internal face, a generally cylindrical projection extending from the first face and coaxial with the body, and a central, axial bore extending through the body and the cylindrical projection;
• mounting a connector pin in the central axial bore with a dielectric material, the pin having a first, external end that extends beyond the first face of the penetrator body and a second, internal end such that a generally annular space is provided between a portion of the connector pin and the interior wall of the central axial bore;
• submersing the generally cylindrical body with the connector pin mounted therein in a dielectric oil;
• installing a first boot seal having a first segment in sealing engagement with the connector pin and a second segment connected to the first segment and in sealing engagement with the outer wall of the cylindrical projection such that the generally annular space between the connector pin and the interior wall of the central axial bore is filled with oil;
• removing the generally cylindrical body from the oil;
• installing a second boot seal having a first segment and an adjacent second segment such that substantially watertight seals are provided between the first segment and the connector pin and between the second segment of the second boot seal and the first segment of the first boot seal.