Patent Grant
11489303
The present invention generally relates to the connection of underwater cables intended, for example, to transport the electricity produced by hydrokinetic turbines.
It more particularly relates to an electrical connector and an electrical connection assembly.
Underwater connectors are known, which are connectable under water, such feature being sometimes called “wet-mate”.
In the known devices, the coupling of two complementary connectors requires a precise alignment of one connector with respect to the other along a horizontal axis and the application of opposite horizontal forces for the connection of the two connectors.
Such a design involves the use of alignment mechanisms with 5 degrees of freedom in the case of coaxial connectors and with 6 degrees of freedom in the case of pin connectors. Other mechanisms must moreover be provided for the application of the horizontal connection forces.
That way, the known connectors are complex and the establishment of a connection by the coupling of two connectors is a tricky procedure.
Such solutions can hence not suit when the time available to perform the connection is limited, as is the case for example for the connection of underwater cables intended to transport the electricity produced by hydrokinetic turbines. Indeed, such installations are located in places where the sea current is strong and where the favourable period for a connection (generally during the slack) is hence of short duration.
In this context, the present invention proposes an electrical connector comprising an electrically conductive contact element and a support, characterized in that the contact element is carried by an intermediate element made of an elastically deformable material and connected to said support.
A deformation of the intermediate element can hence compensate for a potential mispositioning of the electrical connector on a complementary connector, and it is hence ensured that the contact element is positioned, with a slight compression of the intermediate element, pressed against a conductive track of this complementary connector.
Other optional (and hence non-limitative) features of the electrical connector according to the invention are the following:
The invention also proposes an electrical connection assembly comprising a female connector in accordance with the electrical connector proposed hereinabove and a male connector including an electrically conductive track in contact with said contact element.
The male connector can comprise, for example, a convex support carrying said conductive track.
It can be moreover provided that the intermediate element extends about the male connector.
In practice, the intermediate element can be deformed so as to apply the contact element against the electrically conductive track.
The following description in relation with the appended drawings, given by way of non-limitative examples, will allow a good understanding of what the invention consists of and of how it can be implemented.
In the appended drawings:
The main steps of a sequence of connection of a movable connector part 4 to a stationary connector part 2 will be first described. The detailed description of a conceivable example for implementing these stationary and movable connector parts will then be given.
At the initial step shown in
The stationary part 2 and the support 8 are fixed to a seabed, as schematically shown in
The movable part 4 is for example connected to an electric power generator (here a hydrokinetic turbine); the stationary part 2 can, in this case, be connected to an electric power transmission system. (A reverse configuration is however conceivable).
Connecting the movable part 4 to the stationary part 2, as described herein, hence allows connecting the electric power generator to the electric power transmission system that is to be power supplied by this generator.
The connection method starts by a step of gripping the cap 6 using a lifting tool 10 (described in detail hereinafter with reference to
In the example described herein, hooks 12 provided on the lifting tool 10 cooperate with a gripping surface 14 provided on the cap 6. In practice, the gripping surface 14 is for example horizontal and turned downward, the hooks 12 being movable and placed under the gripping surface 14 during this gripping step.
The lifting tool 10 hence carries the cap 6 (here thanks to the positioning of the hooks 12 under the gripping surface 14 and to the gravity) and can hence displace this cap 6 towards the movable part 4 (and the support 8 on which this movable part 4 is placed). The lifting tool 10 here has for that purpose its own displacement means, as explained hereinafter with reference to
The connection method then continues with depositing the cap 6 onto the movable part 4 using the lifting tool 10, as shown in
Precisely, the lifting tool 10 moves up to place a lower external surface of the cap 6 onto an upper external surface of the movable part 4 (this upper external surface of the movable part 4 being at least partially complementary of the lower external surface of the cap 6, as described in details hereinafter). The hooks 12 are then displaced (here spaced apart) so as to release the cap 6.
The lifting tool 10 then picks up the cap 6-movable part 4 unit to transport this unit towards the stationary part 2. In the described example, the hooks 12 are displaced so as to cooperate with a gripping surface 16 (here horizontal and turned downward) so that the lifting tool 10 carries the movable part 4, which itself carries the cap 6.
The connection method can then continue with a step in which the lifting tool 10 transports the cap 6-movable part 4 unit to the stationary part 2.
For that purpose, the lifting tool 10 moves up to place a lower external surface of the movable part 4 onto an upper external surface of the stationary part 2 (this upper external surface of the stationary part 2 being at least partially complementary of the lower external surface of the movable part 4, as described in more detail hereinafter). The hooks 12 are then displaced (here spaced apart) in order to release the cap 6.
As will be understood from the description of the stationary part 2 and the movable part 4 hereinafter, this deposition of the movable part 4 (that moreover carries the cap 6) onto the stationary part 2 allows the connection of the stationary part 2 and the movable part 4.
The situation is shown in
The lifting tool 10 can then take up the cap 6 (here by displacing the hooks 12 under the gripping surface 14 of the cap 6) and move towards the support 8 (visible in
The lifting tool 10 then displaces the hooks 12 so as to release the cap 6, which then remains on the support 8, as shown in
An exemplary embodiment of the lifting tool 10 will now be described with reference to
The lifting tool 10 comprises a main body 20, here forming a cage of flared shape (with a diameter that increases towards the bottom), made for example from metal tubes.
A first ring 22 is mounted on the main body 20 (here in the lower portion of the first ring 22) with a possibility of rotation about an axis Y (this axis Y being substantially horizontal when the lifting tool 10 is in its working position shown in
A second ring 24 is mounted on the first ring 22 (by being here surrounded by the first ring 22) with a possibility of rotation about an axis X perpendicular to the axis Y (the axis X being also substantially horizontal when the lifting tool 10 is in its working position shown in
The second ring 24 carries the already-mentioned hooks 12 (here three in number). As already indicated, each hook 12 can be displaced (here by means of cylinders) in order to be placed under an object to be transported (movable part 4 and/or cap 6) or, on the contrary, to release this object.
The mounting of the second ring 24 on the main body 20 through the first ring 22, and hence with two rotational degrees of freedom, allows any direction of the second ring 24, and thus of the transported object (movable part 4 and/or cap 6) with respect to the main body 20.
The lifting tool 10 also comprises centring fingers 26 (herein three centring fingers 26 equidistributed over the circumference of the lifting tool 10), mounted for example on the main body 20. Each centring finger 26 is extensible and hence makes it possible, when its free end comes against the transported object (movable part 4 and/or cap 6), to vary the direction of the transported object (also thanks to the possibilities of rotation about the axes X and Y as already indicated).
This makes it possible, in particular, to align the movable part 4 with the stationary part 2 during the connection step described hereinabove with reference to
The lifting tool 10 also comprises a float 30 and a propelling unit 32 (here comprising four propellers), which form the above-mentioned own displacement means.
The lifting tool 10 comprises an upper hydraulic system 34 for injecting oil into the movable part 4 by means of an injection needle 40, as explained hereinafter.
The lifting tool 10 comprises a lower hydraulic system 36 for suppling the above-mentioned cylinders (used to displace the hooks 12) with oil.
The upper hydraulic system 34 and the lower hydraulic system 36 are connected to oil tanks 38.
An exemplary embodiment of the stationary part 2, the movable part 4 and the cap 6 will now be described with reference to
The stationary part 2 has a general shape that is rotationally symmetrical about an axis Z (here corresponding to the vertical at the place of implantation of this stationary part 2 on the seabed) and tapering towards an apex 48 (i.e. upward). In other words, the stationary part 2 has a surface in horizontal cross-section that continuously decreases along the axis Z and towards the top.
More precisely, the stationary part 2 comprises a casing 50 that includes from the bottom to the top (i.e. from the base of the stationary part 2 attached to the seabed to the apex of the stationary part 2):
As can be clearly seen in
The cylindrical portion 51, the first truncated portion 52, the second truncated portion 53 and the third truncated portion 54 partly form the upper external surface of the stationary part 2, in regions where (as already indicated with reference to
The fourth truncated portion 55 carries a first connection assembly 60. This first connection assembly 60 comprises a plurality of annular conductive tracks (here three annular conductive tracks) and hence extends over the whole periphery of the stationary part 2, by surrounding the fourth truncated portion 55.
The fifth truncated portion 56 carries a second connection assembly 62. This second connection assembly 62 comprises a plurality of annular conductive tracks (here four annular conductive tracks) and hence extends over the whole periphery of the stationary part, by surrounding the firth truncated portion 56.
The construction of the first connection assembly 60 and of the second connection assembly 62 is exposed hereinafter with reference to
The movable part 4 has a general shape that is rotationally symmetrical about the axis Z, forming a lid adapted to cover the stationary part 2 as shown in
The movable part 4 comprises in particular for that purpose a lower casing 70 that defines a cavity (or concavity) 77 turned downwards (in the common position of the movable part 4 as shown in the Figures) and designed to receive the stationary part 2.
Precisely, the lower casing 70 comprises, from the horizontal and annular gripping surface 16 (here formed in this lower casing 70) to the bottom of the above-mentioned cavity 77:
As can be clearly seen in
The partial complementarity (already mentioned) of the upper external surface of the stationary part 2 and of the lower external surface of the movable part 4 is hence obtained, which allows an automatic alignment of the movable part 4 when the latter is deposited onto the stationary part 2, as described hereinabove with reference to
The fourth truncated portion 75 accommodates (here in its lower portion) a first connection assembly 80 and (here in its upper portion) a second connection assembly 82.
The first connection assembly 80 of the movable part 4 comprises a plurality of annular conductive tracks intended to cooperate with the respective annular conductive tracks of the first connection assembly 60 of the stationary part 2, as can be clearly seen in
Likewise, the second connection assembly 82 of the movable part 4 comprises a plurality of annular conductive tracks intended to cooperate with the respective annular conductive tracks of the second connection assembly 62 of the stationary part 2.
The movable part 4 also comprises an upper casing 90 that includes (from the bottom to the top of
The cylindrical portion 91, the first truncated portion 92, the second truncated portion 93 and the third truncated portion 94 of the upper casing 90 partly form the upper external surface of the movable part 4, in regions where (as already indicated with reference to
The cap 6 has a general shape that is rotationally symmetrical about the axis Z and comprise in particular a lower casing 100 that defines a cavity (or concavity) 107 turned downward (in the common position of the cap 6 as shown in the Figures) so as to receive (and hence cover) either the stationary part 2 (as in the case of the
Precisely, the lower casing 100 comprises, from the horizontal and annular gripping surface 14 (here formed in this lower casing 100) to the bottom of the above-mentioned cavity 107:
As can be clearly seen in
It can be noticed that this also allows the cylindrical portion 101, the first truncated portion 102, the second truncated portion 103 and the third truncated portion 104 of the cap 6 to cooperate (by shape complementarity) with, respectively, the cylindrical portion 51, the first truncated portion 52, the second truncated portion 53 and the third truncated portion 54 of the casing 50 of the stationary part 2.
Hence, using truncated portions that form a same angle with the horizontal on the casing 50 of the stationary part 2, on the lower casing 70 of the movable part 4, on the upper casing 90 of the movable part 4 and on the lower casing 100 of the cap 6 (see, for example, the truncated portions 52, 72, 92, 102), allows a cooperation by shape complementarity between the cap 6 and the stationary part 2, or between the cap 6 and the movable part 4, or also between the stationary part 2 and the movable part 4.
As can be clearly seen in the Figures, it moreover results from these arrangements that certain truncated portions 72, 73, 74 of the lower casing 70 of the movable part 4 are, at any point, parallel to a corresponding truncated portion 92, 93, 94 of the upper casing 90 of the movable part 4.
The truncated portions of the stationary part 2, the movable part 4 and the cap 6 further having a rotationally cylindrical shape, they allow the automatic positioning of the stationary part 2 and/or the movable part 4 and/or the cap 6 with respect to each other (by simply depositing one of these elements onto the other).
The cap 6 moreover comprises an upper casing 110 of generally truncated shape. The upper casing 110 here comprises, from the gripping surface 14 to the apex of the cap 6, a cylindrical portion 111, a first truncated portion 112 (forming an eighth angle with the horizontal) and a second truncated portion 113 (forming a ninth angle with the horizontal, this ninth angle being here lower than the eighth angle mentioned hereinabove).
Each of the above-described elements (in particular the cap 6 and the movable part 4) has hence a generally truncated shape particularly adapted for the positioning of these objects in a seabed, in particular in regions in which the currents are strong. Indeed, this shape makes it possible in particular to limit the mechanical efforts created within these elements when they undergo the movements of water in which they are plunged.
The connection assemblies 60, 62, 80, 82 will now be described in more details with reference to
The second connection assembly 82 of the movable part 4 comprises an intermediate element 120 carried by the lower casing 70, by being here in contact with this lower casing 70 (precisely with the fourth truncated portion 75). Thus, this intermediate element 120 is here received within the cavity 77 formed by the lower casing 70. The lower casing 70 hence forms a support to which the intermediate element 120 is mechanically connected.
As can be seen in
The intermediate element 120 extends over the whole periphery of the movable part 4 (i.e. over the whole periphery of the lower casing 70).
The intermediate element 120 is made of an elastically deformable (and electrically insulating) material, such as a flexible polymer. The intermediate element 120 can be, in practice, made of an insulating resin, for example a dielectric epoxy resin (such as a resin Axson® R22891-(98) hardened by a hardener Axson® RE 2030).
The intermediate element 120 carries a plurality of contact elements 122 (precisely three contact elements 122 for the first connection assembly 80 and four contact elements for the second connection assembly 82).
Each contact element 122 has a generally circular shape and surrounds the axis Z (axis of rotational symmetry of the movable part 4). Each contact element 122 here extends over the whole circumference of the intermediate element 120. As explained hereinafter, each contact element 122 is here embedded in the intermediate element 120 and flushes with a surface of the intermediate element 120 turned towards the axis Z (i.e. towards the centre of the cavity 77).
Each contact element 122 comprises a crown 124 and a set of claws 126 distributed over the whole circumference of the crown 124. The crown 124 has a generally toroidal shape and is made of an electrically conductive material, here cupper. The claws 126 are carried by a circular support 128 (as can be clearly seen in
The contact elements 122 are here each embedded in a link element 132, made for example of a resin (preferably, a dielectric resin). This link element 132 extends over the whole circumference of the contact element 122. The link element 132 extends about the contact element 122 and has a C-shape in cross-section (as can be seen in
The link element 132 is itself fixed in contact with the intermediate element 120.
To make the just-described assembly, it can be provided for example to mould each link element 132 (from resin) in contact with the corresponding crown 124, to pre-position (typically in a mould) the different link elements 132 with respect to the lower casing 70, then to cast the intermediate element 120 (made of flexible polymer) in contact with the lower casing 70 on the one hand and with the link elements 132 on the other hand.
As can be seen in
The different conductive rods 134 (each in contact with a crown 124) are for example distributed over the circumference of the lower casing 70.
The connection assembly 136 associated with each conductive rod 134 is electrically connected to a conductive wire of a cable connected to the movable part 4.
The second connection assembly 62 of the stationary part 2 comprises a plurality of crowns 140 (here four crowns 140) embedded in an insulating block 142 and having a cylindrical face forming an annular conductive track 144, this annular conductive track 144 flushing with the surface of the insulating block 142.
The crowns 140 (and hence the annular conductive tracks 144) extend over the whole circumference of the casing 50 of the stationary part 2.
The insulating block 142 is formed of a rigid material and located in contact with the casing 50 of the stationary part 2, outside the casing 50 (the insulating block 142 hence forming a convex support carrying the annular conductive tracks 144).
The insulating block 142 here extends along the fourth and fifth truncated portions of the stationary part 2 (so that this insulating block covers the first connection assembly 60 and the second connection assembly 62), as can be clearly seen in
As can be seen in
The different conductive rods 146 (each in contact with a crown 140) are for example distributed over the circumference of the casing 50.
The connection assembly (not shown) associated with each conductive rod 146 is electrically connected to a conductive wire of a cable connected to the stationary part 2.
The diameter of the crowns 140 carried by the stationary part 2 (at the annular conductive track 144) is substantially equal to (and in practice slightly greater than) the inner diameter of the associated circumferential comb 130 so that the claws 126 of the circumferential comb 130 (belonging to a contact element 122) comes against the corresponding annular conductive track 144 (and that, for each pair of crowns 124, 140) when the movable part 4 is placed onto the stationary part 2, as shown in
Thanks to the intermediate element 120 made of an elastically deformable material, a good positioning (and hence a good electrical contact) is ensured between the respectively associated contact elements 122 and conductive tracks 144, even when a misalignment exists between the casing 50 of the stationary part 2 and the lower casing 70 of the movable part 4 (this misalignment being compensated for by a deformation of the intermediate element 120).
The cap 6 comprises a hydraulic system 200 designed to receive the injection needle 40 of the lifting tool 10 in order to supply with fluid (here oil) either the cap 6 itself, or the movable part 4 when this movable part 4 carries the cap 6, as in the situation shown in
The supply of the cap 6 or the movable part 4 with fluid is used when the concerned element (cap 6 or movable part 4) is deposited onto another element (stationary part 2 or support 8), in order to expel the sea water present between these two elements.
The hydraulic system 200 comprises a cylinder 202 housed (with possibility of sliding) in a cylinder body 204 mounted between the lower casing 100 of the cap 6 and the upper casing 110 of the cap 6. The cylinder 202 and the cylinder body 204 here extend along the symmetry axis Z of the cap 6.
The cylinder 202 comprises a slide 206 slidingly mounted in the cylinder body 204 and a needle 208 extending from the slide 206 towards the lower casing 100 of the cap 6.
The needle 208 passes through a distribution system 210 equipping the cap 6 and, when the slide is in lower position in the cylinder body 204, as shown in
The slide 206 comprises an inner housing 212 sized so as to receive the injection needle 40 of the lifting tool 10 (i.e. having an inner size identical to the outer size of the injection needle 40, here an inner diameter equal to the outer diameter of the injection needle 40).
The cylinder 202 comprises at least one hydraulic circuit 214 (here four such hydraulic circuits) that extends between an inlet orifice 216, formed on a wall of the slide 206 forming the inner housing 212, and an outlet orifice 218, formed on an outer wall of the needle 208. The hydraulic circuit 214 hence extends inside the slide 206 and the needle 208.
The inner housing 212 moreover receives a plug 220 movable between a first position (not shown), in which this plug 220 obstructs the inlet orifice 216 (here the four inlet orifices), and a second position, in which this plug clears the inlet orifice 216.
Here, elastic return means 222 (such as a spring) are further provided, positioned in the inner housing 212 so as to push the plug 220 towards the first position, the plug 220 being bought in the second position under the effect of the injection needle 40 of the cap 6 when this injection needle 40 is inserted into the inner housing 212.
The movable part 4 also comprises a hydraulic system 230. This hydraulic system 230 comprises a distribution system 232 that extends about a central space intended to receive the needle 208 of the hydraulic system 200 of the cap 6, as can be clearly seen in
The hydraulic system 230 of the movable part 4 also comprises a plug 234 brought back by elastic return means 236 (here a spring) into the above-mentioned central space so as to obstruct orifices (not shown) of the distribution system 232 in the absence of the needle 208. As shown in
In the position shown in
Moreover, the needle 208 of the hydraulic system 200 being inserted into the central space surrounded by the distribution system 232 of the movable part 4, the outlet orifice 218 of the hydraulic circuit 214 (or of each such hydraulic circuit) is in alignment with an orifice (not shown) of the distribution system 232.
The lifting tool 10 can hence supply the distribution system 232 of the movable part 4 with fluid (here oil) (via the hydraulic circuit 240 of the injection needle 40 and the hydraulic circuit 214 of the hydraulic system 200 of the cap 6), the distribution system 232 being moreover designed to inject the fluid between the movable part 4 and the stationary part 2 when the movable part 4-cap 6 unit is deposited onto the stationary part 2, as shown in
Moreover, when the slide 206 is in upper position in the cylinder body 204, the outlet orifice 218 is in alignment with an orifice of the distribution system 210 of the cap 6. The lifting tool 10 can hence, in this case, supply the distribution system 210 of the cap 6 with fluid (here oil) (via the hydraulic circuit 240 of the injection needle 40 and the hydraulic circuit 214 of the hydraulic system 200 of the cap 6), the distribution system 210 being moreover designed to inject the fluid between the cap 6 and the element (for example, the support 8 at step 1e described hereinabove) onto which the cap 6 is deposited.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1761663 | Dec 2017 | FR | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/FR2018/053118 | 12/5/2018 | WO |
| Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| WO2019/110929 | 6/13/2019 | WO | A |
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3193636 | Daniels | Jul 1965 | A |
| 3665509 | Elkins | May 1972 | A |
| 4373767 | Cairns | Feb 1983 | A |
| 5409403 | Falossi et al. | Apr 1995 | A |
| 5468912 | Zalewski | Nov 1995 | A |
| 7959454 | Ramasubramanian | Jun 2011 | B2 |
| 9685742 | Liu | Jun 2017 | B2 |
| 20180013227 | Arditty et al. | Jan 2018 | A1 |
| Number | Date | Country |
|---|---|---|
| 202340006 | Jul 2012 | CN |
| 0048601 | Mar 1982 | EP |
| Entry |
|---|
| International Search Report, dated Mar. 11, 2019, from corresponding PCT application No. PCT/FR2018/053118. |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20210175675 A1 | Jun 2021 | US |
