Patent Application
20170010177
The present application hereby claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 to European patent application number EP 15176266.3 filed Jul. 10, 2015, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference.
At least one embodiment of the invention generally relates to a test device for hyperbaric testing of a part of a subsea device, and/or to a method of applying pressure to a part of a subsea device for hyperbaric testing.
Due to the increasing energy demand, offshore oil and gas production is moving into deeper waters. For ensuring an efficient and secure production of hydrocarbons from a subsea well, processing facilities are being installed at the ocean floor.
Such subsea installations can comprise a range of components, including pumps, compressors and the like as well as a power grid for providing such components with electric power. The power grid may for example comprise a subsea transformer, subsea switchgear and subsea variable speed drives (VSDs). The flow of hydrocarbons from a well is often controlled by way of a subsea valve tree. Furthermore, subsea sensors such as subsea flow meters, pressure sensors or temperature sensors are often part of a subsea installation.
Components of a subsea installation may be installed at water depths of 3,000 m or more, so that they are exposed to pressures up to or even in excess of 300 bars. To protect such components from the corrosive seawater and to handle the high pressures prevailing in such subsea environment, these components are provided with subsea enclosures or housings.
A subsea device can comprise a range of components, such as connectors, sensors or the like. These components may be sealed to a housing of the subsea device.
Before installation, the subsea device must pass a hyperbaric test to ensure that all seals and components meet the required specifications. These tests are performed to avoid unnecessary installation and retrieval of subsea equipment which may be required upon a failure of a subsea device, such as the leakage of a seal. Retrieval and installation of subsea equipment is a costly and laborious procedure.
Hyperbaric testing of such subsea device is performed by removing the subsea device from the remaining subsea installation and transporting the subsea device to a test facility, where it is tested in a large hyperbaric tank. In the tank, a high pressure is applied to the subsea device to test the integrity of the seals.
Accordingly, hyperbaric testing is a relatively expensive and complicated procedure. If a component of the subsea device, such as an electrical connector or sensor, is removed for inspection or servicing, the previously performed hyperbaric testing is considered to be void. Accordingly, the testing has to be repeated, so that the subsea device has to be removed from the subsea installation and has to be tested again in the hyperbaric tank.
It is desirable to facilitate the testing of such subsea devices and in particular to make the testing more efficient and less expensive.
Accordingly, the inventors recognize that there is a need for improving the hyperbaric testing of subsea equipment.
The claims describe embodiments of the invention.
According to an embodiment of the invention, a test device for hyperbaric testing of a part of a subsea device, such as a sealed connection, is provided. The test device includes a test pot configured to provide a test chamber around a part of the subsea device that is to be tested. It further comprises a mount configured to attach the test pot to the subsea device such that the test pot is affixed to the subsea device and can be pressurized without becoming detached from the subsea device during testing. At least one seal for sealing the test device to the subsea device is provided such that the test chamber is sealed from the surrounding environment. A pressure port of the test device allows pressurizing a medium in the test chamber to a test pressure that is higher than an ambient pressure in the surrounding environment.
According to a further embodiment of the invention, a method of applying pressure to a part of a subsea device for hyperbaric testing is provided. The method comprises providing a test chamber around a part of the subsea device by mounting a test pot to the subsea device, wherein the test chamber is sealed from the surrounding environment via a seal; fixing the test pot to the subsea device via a mount such that the test pot can be pressurized without becoming detached from the subsea device during testing; and pressurizing a medium in the test chamber to a test pressure that is higher than an ambient pressure.
The foregoing and other features and advantages of the invention will become further apparent from the following detailed description read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, like reference numerals refer to like elements.
In the following, embodiments of the invention are described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood that the following description of the embodiments is given only for the purpose of illustration and is not to be taken in a limiting sense. It should be noted that the drawings are to be regarded as being schematic representations only, and elements in the drawings are not necessarily to scale with each other. Rather, the representation of the various elements is chosen such that their function and general purpose become apparent to a person skilled in the art.
The drawings are to be regarded as being schematic representations and elements illustrated in the drawings are not necessarily shown to scale. Rather, the various elements are represented such that their function and general purpose become apparent to a person skilled in the art. Any connection or coupling between functional blocks, devices, components, or other physical or functional units shown in the drawings or described herein may also be implemented by an indirect connection or coupling. A coupling between components may also be established over a wireless connection. Functional blocks may be implemented in hardware, firmware, software, or a combination thereof.
Various example embodiments will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings in which only some example embodiments are shown. Specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are merely representative for purposes of describing example embodiments. Example embodiments, however, may be embodied in various different forms, and should not be construed as being limited to only the illustrated embodiments. Rather, the illustrated embodiments are provided as examples so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the concepts of this disclosure to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, known processes, elements, and techniques, may not be described with respect to some example embodiments. Unless otherwise noted, like reference characters denote like elements throughout the attached drawings and written description, and thus descriptions will not be repeated.The present invention, however, may be embodied in many alternate forms and should not be construed as limited to only the example embodiments set forth herein.
It will be understood that, although the terms first, second, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers, and/or sections, these elements, components, regions, layers, and/or sections, should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another. For example, a first element could be termed a second element, and, similarly, a second element could be termed a first element, without departing from the scope of example embodiments of the present invention. As used herein, the term “and/or,” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. The phrase “at least one of” has the same meaning as “and/or”.
Spatially relative terms, such as “beneath,” “below,” “lower,” “under,” “above,” “upper,” and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature's relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. It will be understood that the spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is turned over, elements described as “below,” “beneath,” or “under,” other elements or features would then be oriented “above” the other elements or features. Thus, the example terms “below” and “under” may encompass both an orientation of above and below. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly. In addition, when an element is referred to as being “between” two elements, the element may be the only element between the two elements, or one or more other intervening elements may be present.
Spatial and functional relationships between elements (for example, between modules) are described using various terms, including “connected,” “engaged,” “interfaced,” and “coupled.” Unless explicitly described as being “direct,” when a relationship between first and second elements is described in the above disclosure, that relationship encompasses a direct relationship where no other intervening elements are present between the first and second elements, and also an indirect relationship where one or more intervening elements are present (either spatially or functionally) between the first and second elements. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly” connected, engaged, interfaced, or coupled to another element, there are no intervening elements present. Other words used to describe the relationship between elements should be interpreted in a like fashion (e.g., “between,” versus “directly between,” “adjacent,” versus “directly adjacent,” etc.).
The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of example embodiments of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the,” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. As used herein, the terms “and/or” and “at least one of” include any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “includes,” and/or “including,” when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. Expressions such as “at least one of,” when preceding a list of elements, modify the entire list of elements and do not modify the individual elements of the list. Also, the term “exemplary” is intended to refer to an example or illustration.
When an element is referred to as being “on,” “connected to,” “coupled to,” or “adjacent to,” another element, the element may be directly on, connected to, coupled to, or adjacent to, the other element, or one or more other intervening elements may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly on,” “directly connected to,” “directly coupled to,” or “immediately adjacent to,” another element there are no intervening elements present.
It should also be noted that in some alternative implementations, the functions/acts noted may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, two figures shown in succession may in fact be executed substantially concurrently or may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality/acts involved.
Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which example embodiments belong. It will be further understood that terms, e.g., those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.
Before discussing example embodiments in more detail, it is noted that some example embodiments may be described with reference to acts and symbolic representations of operations (e.g., in the form of flow charts, flow diagrams, data flow diagrams, structure diagrams, block diagrams, etc.) that may be implemented in conjunction with units and/or devices discussed in more detail below. Although discussed in a particularly manner, a function or operation specified in a specific block may be performed differently from the flow specified in a flowchart, flow diagram, etc. For example, functions or operations illustrated as being performed serially in two consecutive blocks may actually be performed simultaneously, or in some cases be performed in reverse order. Although the flowcharts describe the operations as sequential processes, many of the operations may be performed in parallel, concurrently or simultaneously. In addition, the order of operations may be re-arranged. The processes may be terminated when their operations are completed, but may also have additional steps not included in the figure. The processes may correspond to methods, functions, procedures, subroutines, subprograms, etc.
Specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are merely representative for purposes of describing example embodiments of the present invention. This invention may, however, be embodied in many alternate forms and should not be construed as limited to only the embodiments set forth herein.
Although described with reference to specific examples and drawings, modifications, additions and substitutions of example embodiments may be variously made according to the description by those of ordinary skill in the art. For example, the described techniques may be performed in an order different with that of the methods described, and/or components such as the described system, architecture, devices, circuit, and the like, may be connected or combined to be different from the above-described methods, or results may be appropriately achieved by other components or equivalents.
According to an embodiment of the invention, a test device for hyperbaric testing of a part of a subsea device, such as a sealed connection, is provided. The test device includes a test pot configured to provide a test chamber around a part of the subsea device that is to be tested. It further comprises a mount configured to attach the test pot to the subsea device such that the test pot is affixed to the subsea device and can be pressurized without becoming detached from the subsea device during testing. At least one seal for sealing the test device to the subsea device is provided such that the test chamber is sealed from the surrounding environment. A pressure port of the test device allows pressurizing a medium in the test chamber to a test pressure that is higher than an ambient pressure in the surrounding environment.
Accordingly, by a test device of an embodiment, the selective pressurization of the part of the subsea device is achieved, so that the integrity of the seals of this part of the subsea device can be tested. Such test device further allows the hyperbaric testing to be performed on site, i.e. at the location at which the subsea device and/or the subsea installation of which the subsea device forms part is assembled.
In a particular embodiment, the hyperbaric testing can be performed even when the subsea device is mounted to another component of a subsea installation, such as a valve tree or the like. There is accordingly no longer the need to uninstall such subsea device from the remaining subsea installation and to transport it to a dedicated testing facility having a hyperbaric test tank. Accordingly, by way of such test device, the hyperbaric testing may be performed more cost efficiently, and delays in the assembly of the subsea installation may be prevented.
In an embodiment, the test pot comprises a rigid housing made of metal and having at least partly a cylindrical shape. The housing part is configured to be mounted over the part of the subsea device that is to be tested and to enclose the part of the subsea device inside the test chamber. The shape of the rigid housing may for example be adapted to the shape of the part of the subsea device that is to be tested. Accordingly, the test device can be made compact and may thus be more lightweight and more cost efficiently to produce.
In an embodiment, the test pot includes the seal. The seal may be configured and arranged to provide sealing against a housing part or flange part of the subsea device. As an example, the seal may provide sealing between a housing part of the subsea device and the rigid metal housing of the test pot. By way of such configuration, the volume of the test chamber may be kept small, and the test chamber may be formed efficiently together with a part of a housing of the subsea device.
In other embodiments, the sealing may for example occur between the mount and the subsea device, in particular a housing or housing part of the subsea device, and the mount may be sealed to the test pot.
In an embodiment, the part of the subsea device that is to be tested includes one or more seals. It may for example include a sealed connection between two housing parts, such as between the housing of a connector or of a sensor and a part of the housing of the subsea device, e.g. an adaptor part or the like. The test device is configured to provide the test chamber around the one or more seals. Accordingly, an efficient hyperbaric testing of such sealed connection is achieved.
In an embodiment, the test device is configured to be operable with a test pressure of more than 100 bars, preferably more than 200 bars, more preferably more than 300 bars. By way of such configuration, the test device may be used for hyperbaric testing of a part of the subsea device that has a rated installation depth of 3,000 m or even more. As an example, the test device may be configured to be operable at a maximum test pressure in the range between 200 and about 500 bars, preferably between about 300 and about 500 bars. The maximum test pressure may have in some configurations for example about 330 bars, or in other configurations about 450 bars.
The term ‘hyperbaric’ designates a pressure that is higher than the surrounding atmospheric pressure, although it should be clear that the test device may not only be employed in an atmospheric environment, but may also be employed in other mediums, such as water, for example during shallow water testing or the like.
In an embodiment, the part of the subsea device that is to be tested comprises a seal between the housing of a component, such as a bulkhead connector, and a housing of the subsea device. The housing of the component may include a flange by which the housing of the component is mounted to the housing of the subsea device. The test device is configured to provide the test chamber around the flange of the components housing, so that when the test device is sealed to the housing of the subsea device, the flange is located inside the test chamber. Accordingly, an efficient pressure testing of components that are mounted via a flange to the subsea device can be achieved.
In an embodiment, the mount may include a bearing face that is configured to bear against a surface of the subsea device. The bearing face may be positioned and shaped such that a force produced by pressurizing the test chamber is counteracted by the mount. Accordingly, while the pressurization of the test chamber may produce the force that acts to lift the test device of the subsea device, the test device may be held in place via the mount bearing against the surface of the subsea device.
The mount may include at least one plate that has a recess, in particular a C-shaped plate, the plate being configured to act as a retaining plate or clamp for retaining or clamping, respectively, the test pot to a structure, in particular a shoulder, on a housing of the subsea device. By providing such plate, in particular having a C-shape, the connecting of the test device to the subsea device may be facilitated, while the test device may be firmly secured in place.
The mount may comprise two C-shaped plates, and the plates may be configured to retain or clamp the test pot to a housing portion of the subsea device that has a smaller diameter portion around which the plates are mountable and a larger diameter portion that forms a shoulder against which one or both of the plates are configured to bear. A very robust mount may thus be obtained which achieves a relatively stable and secure attachment of the test device to the subsea device. In particular, the forces at the above outlined pressures can be significant. Such mount may provide an attachment of the test device to the subsea device that is strong enough to withstand such high forces.
As an example, the one or more plates of the mount may be bolted to the test pot, in particular to the rigid housing of the test pot.
In an embodiment, each C-shaped plate may have a complementary plate portion that complements the respective other C-shaped plate to a full circular plate configured to surround the smaller diameter portion of the subsea device's housing. Each C-shaped plate may comprise a portion of a bearing face adapted to bear against a surface of the subsea device. As an example, the complementary plate portion may protrude in axial direction from one side of the C-shaped plate and comprise a first part of the bearing face, and the other C-shaped plate may comprise a portion of the bearing face on the side that does not have the complementary plate portion, i.e. on the side that is opposite to the side of the plate from which the complementary plate portion protrudes. Accordingly, the complementary plate portion of one C-shaped plate completes an annular shape of the other C-shaped plate and thereby also completes an annular bearing face. The bearing face may be recessed in the respective complementary plate portion and the respective C-shaped plate.
The part or component of the subsea device that is to be tested may be a connector or sensor; it may in particular be a bulkhead connector.
The medium that is used in the test chamber and that is pressurized may be a liquid, in particular water.
The pressure port may comprise a fitting, in particular an autoclave fitting for the attachment of a pressure line for providing pressurized medium into the test chamber.
The test device may furthermore comprise a pump for generating the test pressure. The test device may furthermore comprise a measuring unit for measuring for example the integrity of a seal to be tested. Such measurement may also be performed by a measuring unit that forms part of the subsea device.
Furthermore, the test device may comprise a measuring port for measuring the pressure in the test chamber. The test device may further comprise a vent port for venting a medium that is present inside the test chamber when pressurized medium is filled into the test chamber through the pressure port. The pressure port or the vent port may be used as the measuring port.
According to a further embodiment of the invention, a method of applying pressure to a part of a subsea device for hyperbaric testing is provided. The method comprises providing a test chamber around a part of the subsea device by mounting a test pot to the subsea device, wherein the test chamber is sealed from the surrounding environment via a seal; fixing the test pot to the subsea device via a mount such that the test pot can be pressurized without becoming detached from the subsea device during testing; and pressurizing a medium in the test chamber to a test pressure that is higher than an ambient pressure.
By way of a method of an embodiment, a fast and efficient hyperbaric testing of the part of the subsea device may be achieved. In particular, the part of the subsea device can be tested without the need to remove the subsea device from a subsea installation. The method may in particular be performed at the assembly side of the subsea device or subsea installation, so that it is not necessary to transport the subsea device to a test facility which has a hyperbaric test tank.
In an embodiment, the method is performed on site. In particular, the method may be performed at a location at which the subsea device is assembled. The method may generally be performed topside, i.e. above the sea surface.
In an embodiment, the step of pressurizing a medium in the test chamber may comprise pressurizing the medium to a pressure above 100 bars, preferably above 200 bars, more preferably above 300 bars. By way of such method, hyperbaric testing of a part of a subsea device that is rated for an installation depth of up to 3,000 m or even more may be performed.
In an embodiment of the method, the step of fixing the test pot to the subsea device comprises the step of providing at least one plate, preferably two C-shaped plates, around a smaller diameter portion of the subsea device and mounting the test pot to the at least one plate. The at least one plate may have a bearing face that bears against a larger diameter portion of the subsea device when the test chamber is pressurized, thereby affixing the test pot to the subsea device. By way of such method, the test device may be mounted relatively fast and efficiently to the subsea device. Furthermore, by mounting the test device in the way as described in the embodiment, a strong and effective mount may be achieved which is capable of withstanding the high pressures during testing.
In an embodiment, the part of the subsea device that is to be tested comprises a seal, wherein the method further comprises the step of testing the integrity of the seal. As outlined above, this may for example be done by way of a measuring unit, for example by measuring the ingress of the medium, such as water, through the seal into the subsea device, by measuring the pressure drop in the test chamber or the like.
The method may be performed with a test device that is configured in accordance with any of the above outlined embodiments. Furthermore, the test device may be configured so as to perform any of the methods described herein.
It is to be understood that the features mentioned above and those yet to be explained below can be used not only in the respective combinations indicated, but also in other combinations or in isolation without leaving the scope of the present invention.
The test device 100 is mounted to the subsea device 200 to provide an environment in which the pressure can be controlled around the component 210 that has to be tested. It should be clear that the test device 100 can be applied to all kinds of components and to provide hyperbaric testing for any desired element, the application is not restricted to bulkhead connectors and the testing of seals.
The test device 100 includes a test pot 10 that provides a test chamber 30 around the component 210 to be tested. The test chamber 30 is confined between the component 210 to be tested, the test pot 10, and parts of the housing 205 of the subsea device 200. The test device 100 comprises a seal 40 that provides sealing between the test pot 10 and the housing 205. The test pot 10 includes a pressure port 51 through which a medium can be introduced into the test chamber 30 and can be pressurized to the desired test pressure. It further includes a second port 52 through which for example a medium such as air may escape during the filling of the test chamber 30 with the test medium. The pressure port 51 and the second port 52 may be provided with respective fittings for providing a connection to for example tubing or pipes, through which the test medium is introduced and pressurized. The test device 100 may furthermore comprise such fittings, pipes and a respective pump for pressurizing the test medium. The medium that is introduced into the test chamber 30 and is pressurized may for example be water, such as fresh water or seawater, or may in other embodiments comprise another liquid such as oil, or may comprise a gas such as helium or nitrogen or the like. The vent port 52 can be plugged after the test chamber 30 is filled with the test medium.
The test device 100 is configured to allow pressurization of the test chamber 30 to a pressure of up to at least 200 bars, or even up to at least 300 bars. Accordingly, hyperbaric testing for a rated installation depth of the subsea device 200 of 3,000 m or more may be achieved.
Upon application of such high pressures to the medium in the test chamber 30, the pressurized medium will apply significant forces to the test pot 10 to separate the test pot 10 from the subsea device 200. To counteract such forces, the test device 100 comprises a mount 20 that is configured to firmly attach the test pot 10 to the subsea device 200. In the example of
The mount 20 includes a bearing face 28 that bears against a surface of the subsea device 200 that is provided by the shoulder 208. The plates 21, 22 are thus mounted around the smaller diameter portion 206 and rest and bear against the shoulder 208 upon application of pressure to the test chamber 30. The forces generated by the high pressures provided in the test chamber 30 are thus counteracted efficiently.
As illustrated in
Inside the housing 205 of the subsea device 200, a predetermined pressure may be maintained in the chamber 202, such as an almost atmospheric pressure, e.g. between 1 bar and 2 bar. The seals 240 that are to be tested thus provide separation between the high pressure environment outside the subsea device 200 when it is installed subsea and the internal atmospheric chamber 202. By way of the test device 100, such high ambient pressures can be simulated, so that the seals 240 can be tested. For this purpose, the test device 100 may furthermore comprise a measuring unit (not shown) that provides measurements to determine the integrity of the seals 240. As an example, a pressure drop in the test chamber 30 may be measured, or the ingress of test medium through the seals 240 into the chamber 202 may be determined, for example by measuring the conductivity of a medium inside the chamber 202 or the like.
Hyperbaric testing may for example include the performing of a function test of the subsea device or of part of the subsea device, e.g. of a sensor of the subsea device, prior to hyperbaric testing, the application of the test pressure by way of the test device while monitoring the test pressure, and performing a corresponding function test after the pressure test is completed. A pressure drop may for example indicate a leak through one of the seals. Similarly, any deviation of the results of the two function tests may indicate a negative result of the hyperbaric testing and thus a failure. In such case, the component can be removed and inspected for identifying the failure.
By way of the test device 100, it becomes possible to perform a hyperbaric test of a part of the subsea device 200 without the need to completely remove the subsea device 200 from the remaining subsea structure and transporting it to a dedicated test facility where the whole subsea device 200 is tested in a hyperbaric tank. By way of the test device 100, costs and possible delays that accompany such offsite testing can be avoided. In particular, the hyperbaric testing can be performed onsite, meaning it can be performed at the location at which the subsea device 200 or the respective subsea installation is assembled, and at which the component 210 is for example removed from the subsea device 200 for service or inspection.
The test pot 10 furthermore includes the through-holes 26 into which bolts 25 can be inserted for mounting the mount 20 to the test pot 10. Furthermore, the pressure port 51 and the second port 52 are visible in
In
Turning now to
When joining the first and second plates 21, 22, the first plate 21 is for example turned about 180 degrees from the position in
It is noted then that in the example of
In step 63, the test pot is fixed to the subsea device via a mount such that the test pot can be pressurized without becoming detached from the subsea device during testing. As an example, in step 63, the first and second plates 21, 22 may be joined around the smaller diameter portion 206 of the housing 205 and may then be bolted with bolts 25 to the test pot 10.
In step 46, a medium in the test chamber is pressurized to a test pressure that is higher than the ambient pressure. This may for example include the filling of the test chamber 30 with a medium, such as water, and then applying the respective test pressure via the pressure port 51, for example by using a respective pump and a pressure sensor for controlling the pressure.
In step 65, hyperbaric testing is performed for testing the integrity of the seal between the housing parts 205, 215 of the subsea device. As an example, the pressure in the test chamber may be monitored to detect a pressure drop and/or a function testing of the component may be performed prior and after the application of the pressure to determine any influence on the component's operation. This way, it may for example be detected whether any of the test medium penetrates the seals 240.
Accordingly, by way of such method, a fast and efficient hyperbaric testing of a part of a subsea device, such as the component 210, can be performed. Preferably, the method is performed onsite. It should be clear that the method may be used for hyperbaric testing of other parts of a subsea device, and that the test device may be adapted correspondingly for the particular part of the subsea device that is to be tested. Fast and efficient hyperbaric testing of a part of a subsea device is thus achieved.
While specific embodiments are disclosed herein, various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. The present embodiments are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and non-restrictive, and all changes coming within the meaning and equivalency range of the appended claims are intended to be embraced therein.
The patent claims of the application are formulation proposals without prejudice for obtaining more extensive patent protection. The applicant reserves the right to claim even further combinations of features previously disclosed only in the description and/or drawings.
References back that are used in dependent claims indicate the further embodiment of the subject matter of the main claim by way of the features of the respective dependent claim; they should not be understood as dispensing with obtaining independent protection of the subject matter for the combinations of features in the referred-back dependent claims. Furthermore, with regard to interpreting the claims, where a feature is concretized in more specific detail in a subordinate claim, it should be assumed that such a restriction is not present in the respective preceding claims.
Since the subject matter of the dependent claims in relation to the prior art on the priority date may form separate and independent inventions, the applicant reserves the right to make them the subject matter of independent claims or divisional declarations. They may furthermore also contain independent inventions which have a configuration that is independent of the subject matters of the preceding dependent claims.
None of the elements recited in the claims are intended to be a means-plus-function element within the meaning of 35 U.S.C. §112(f) unless an element is expressly recited using the phrase “means for” or, in the case of a method claim, using the phrases “operation for” or “step for.”
Example embodiments being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the present invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15176266.3 | Jul 2015 | EP | regional |
