Leadscrew and sub-sea connector

Abstract

A leadscrew has first and second housing portions—which slide telescopically together. A shaft having an externally threaded portion screws into a complimentary internal threaded portion in the first housing portion, the shaft extending out of the second housing portion at a point where a fluid tight seal is provided_between the shaft and the other of the housings and allows rotation during a screwing action. The second housing includes a flanged end to which a ROV drive bucket is bolted. The shaft has a squared end so that it can be rotated relative to the bucket by the ROV. O-rings provide fluid tight seals between the two housing portions, between the flanged end and bucket, and between the shaft and bucket. A deep sea version incorporating oil bath the pressure of which is equalised to that of the surrounding sea so that O-rings do not have to withstand large pressure differences.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.