Apparatus For Making And Breaking An Electrical Underwater Connection Between Releasable Underwater Members

Abstract

An apparatus for making and breaking an electrical underwater connection between releasable first and second members of an underwater connector by providing a fixed electrical contact on the first member and a movable electrical contact on the second member with means for moving the movable contact into and out of engagement with the fixed contact and penetratable sealing means on each of the members protecting the electrical contacts from water but allowing passage of the movable contacts into and out of engagement with the fixed contact. Piston and cylinder means on the second member for carrying the movable contact for making and breaking the electrical connection. A fluid bypass between both ends of the piston for allowing bypass of a flowable non-water soluble insulating compound between the male and female members as the piston is reciprocated.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is generally old, as shown by U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,486,556 and 3,581,815 to use an underwater connector having releasable male and female members for supplying hydraulic power and controls and magnetic controls for controlling underwater equipment such as well drilling, production and transportation equipment.

However, in addition to providing underwater hydraulic power and controls, it may be desirable to provide direct electrical power and/or controls to the underwater equipment. Since the underwater equipment remains subjected to its environment for prolonged periods of time, any electrical contacts exposed to the water would be subject to corrosion and deterioration. The present invention is directed to an improved apparatus for making and breaking underwater electrical connections while at the same time protecting the electrical connections from the water.

SUMMARY

The present invention is directed to an apparatus for making and breaking an electrical underwater connection between first and second coacting and releasable underwater members by providing a fixed electrical contact on the first member and a movable electrical contact on the second member with means on the second member for moving the movable contact into and out of engagement with the fixed contact. A penetratable sealing means on each of the first and second members protects the fixed and movable electrical contacts from water, but allows passage of the movable contact into and out of engagement with the fixed contact.

A still further object of the present invention is the provision of sealing means on one of the members positioned to seal between the members and about the electrical contacts when the members are connected.

Still a further object of the present invention is the provision of a recess in the first member with the fixed electrical contact recessed in the recess. A piston and cylinder is provided in the second member for moving the movable contact to and from the fixed contact. A fluid bypass is provided extending between the ends of the piston and an insulating non-water soluble compound fills the recess, the cylinder and the bypass whereby the compound can be moved between the recess and the cylinder as the piston is reciprocated for moving the compound out of the way when making the electrical connection, but moving the compound into a contact protecting position when the electrical connection is broken.

Still a further object is the provision of a resilient penetratable sealing means on each of the members protecting the fixed and movable electrical contacts. The movable contact includes a point for piercing the resilient sealing means as the movable contact is moved toward the fixed contact and the seals again seal off the fixed and movable contacts when the movable contact is retracted.

Other and further objects, features and advantages will be apparent from the following description of presently preferred embodiments of the invention, given for the purpose of disclosure, and taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary, elevational view, in cross section, of a portion of coacting underwater members in which an electrical underwater connection is provided and shown in the engaged position,

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary, elevational view, of the apparatus of FIG. 1 in which the electrical underwater connection is disengaged,

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary, elevational view, in cross section, of another embodiment of the present invention showing the electrical connection engaged, and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary elevational view, in cross-section, of the embodiment of FIG. 3 showing the electrical connection disengaged.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, the preferred embodiment of the present invention is best seen and is generally indicated by the reference numeral 10 in which two coacting and releasable underwater members 12 and 14 are shown in an engaging position. The first member 12 and the second member 14 are adapted to be connected together and released and may be of any conventional type such as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,486,556. One of the members, such as member 12, may be the female member and may be stationary and fixed underwater and connected to the underwater equipment (not shown) to which power and/or controls is desired to be transmitted from above water. The second member 14 may be the movable member and may be the male member which is retrievable and may be raised and lowered from the water surface and releasably connected to and disconnected from the first member 12.

The retrievable member 14 includes a conventional electrical connection 16 for connection to an electrical conductor (not shown) leading to the water surface for providing electrical power or electrical controls to the underwater equipment. The stationary member 12 includes an electrical connector 18 for receiving the electrical power or control from the connector 16 in the member 14 and in turn is connected to the underwater equipment.

The member 12 includes a recess 20 positioned to mate with the member 14 when the underwater connector members 12 and 14 are engaged. A fixed electrical contact 22 such as a circular contact is positioned in the recess 20 and is supported on an insulated rod 24 and is electrically connected to the electrical connector 18 through an electrical conductor 24. The contact 22 is spaced from the contacting face 26 of the member 12 so as to be recessed in the recess 20.

The male member 14 carries a movable electrical contact 30 such as a ring which is connected by an electrical conductor 32 to the electrical connector 16 and is thus in communication with equipment at the water surface for supplying electrical power or controls. Suitable means are provided for supporting and moving the electrical contact 30 into and out of engagement with the fixed electrical contact 32 to make or break the electrical underwater connection. Preferably, the movable contact 30 is supported from a piston 34 which is movable in a cylinder 36. The piston includes piston extensions 35 and 37 which are movable in cylinder extensions 39 and 41, respectively. The cylinder 36 is positioned so as to be axially aligned with the recess 20 and fixed contact 22 when the male member 14 is connected to the female member 12. Suitable hydraulic lines 38 and 40 are connected on either side of the piston 30 for reciprocating the piston by a suitable hydraulic controls (not shown) for making and breaking the electrical connection between the contacts 30 and 22.

A seal 51 is provided on one of the members, preferably member 14, and positioned to seal between the members 12 and 14 about the recess 20 and the cylinder 36 when the members 12 and 14 are connected for preventing entrance of water into the connection.

However, since the female member 12 is generally stationarily positioned on the water floor adjacent the equipment to be serviced for prolonged periods of time, and the male member 14 is raised and lowered for various purposes, into and out of engagement with the member 14, the seal 50 would not protect the electrical contacts 22 and 30 from the water when the members 12 and 14 were disconnected. In the preferred embodiment an insulating non-water soluble silicone compound, such as sold by Dow-Corning under the trademark DC, is provided filling the recess 20 and the portions 39 and 41 of the cylinder 36 in which the piston extensions 35 and 37 move. The member 14 may include a recess 21 between the coacting face 27 and the movable contact 30 and may also be filled with the compound 50. The compound 50 protects the electrical contacts 22 and 30 even when the members 12 and 14 are disconnected and exposed to water. The compound 50 fills the cavities of the recesses 20 and 21 and cylinder 39 to prevent the entrance of water. In addition, a bypass, including portions 52 and 54, is provided, preferably in the piston extensions 35 and 37. The purpose of the bypass passageway portions 52 and 54 is to allow the insulating and sealing compound 50 to be displaced from one end to the other end of the piston 34 and piston extensions 35 and 37 as the piston 34 is actuated. Thus, referring to FIG. 2, the recesses 20 and 21 are initially filled with the flowable silicone compound 50 when the electrical connection is disengaged. When the piston 34 is actuated to move the movable electrical contact ring 30 into engagement with the fixed contact 22 the insulating and sealing compound 50 will flow through bypass passageways 54 and 52 into the member 14 and into cylinder extension 41, as best seen in FIG. 1. And when it is desired to release the member 14 from the member 12, the piston 34 is retracted again forcing the insulating and sealing compound 50 from the member 14 through the bypass passageways 52 and 54 and into the recesses 20 and 21, as best seen in FIG. 2, so as to seal off the fixed contact 22 from water contact during the period the member 14 is disconnected from the member 12.

Therefore, the insulating and sealing compound 50 will initially cover and protect the fixed electrical contact 22, will be moved out of the recess 20 to allow engagement of the contacts 30 and 32 and can again be replaced in the recess 20 when the electrical connection is disengaged.

The electrical conductor 32 may include a coiled portion 31 to allow extension and retraction of the movable contact 30, and may also include a rigid portion 33 about which the passageway 52 of psiton 34 reciprocates thereby preventing damage to the conductor 32 as the piston 34 reciprocates.

Other and further embodiments and modifications can be made one of which is shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 wherein like parts are designated with like numbers corresponding to the parts in FIGS. 1 and 2 with the addition of the suffix a. In the embodiment of FIGS. 3 and 4, the insulating silicone compound is replaced by a seal 60 on the member 12 and a coacting seal 62 on the member 14. The seals 60 and 62 may be any suitable resilient penetratable sealing means such as rubber, plastic or neoprene. The movable electric contact 64 includes a point 66 which is forced through the seals 60 and 62 by the piston 34a and into contact with the fixed electrical contact 68. The electrical connection is disengaged by the piston 34a being retracted and as the pointed electrical contact 34 is removed, the seals 60 and 62 close the opening made by the point 66 to protect the electrical contacts 64 and 68 from water when the members 12 and 14 are disconnected.

The present invention, therefore, is well adapted to carry out the objects and attain the ends and advantages mentioned as well as others inherent therein. While presently preferred embodiments of the invention have been given for the purpose of disclosure, numerous changes in the details of construction and arrangement of parts may be made which will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art and which are encompassed within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for making and breaking an electrical underwater connection comprising,

a first underwater member adapted to remain positioned underwater,

a second underwater member adapted to be lowered underwater and releasably coact with the first member,

a fixed electrical contact on said first member,

a movable electrical contact on said second member for coacting with the fixed contact for conducting electricity from the water surface,

a hydraulic piston and cylinder connected to the second member for actuation from the water surface for moving the movable contact into and out of engagement with the fixed contact, and

penetratable insulating non-water soluble sealing means on each of the first and second members positioned for protecting the fixed and movable electrical contacts from water when the first and second members are disconnected but allowing passage of the movable contact into and out of engagement with the fixed contact.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the movable contact including a point for piercing the sealing means as the movable contact is moved toward the fixed contact.

3. Apparatus for making and breaking an electrical underwater connection comprising,

a first underwater member having a recess and adapted to remain positioned underwater,

a fixed electrical contact in said recess,

a second underwater member adapted to be lowered underwater and releasably coact with the first member,

said second member including a hydraulic cylinder,

a piston movable in the cylinder,

control means for actuation from the water surface for moving the piston,

a movable electrical contact connected to the piston for movement to and from the fixed contact,

a bypass passageway between both ends of the piston for allowing bypass of flowable material between the recess and the cylinder,

an electrical insulating and sealing non-water soluble flowable solid compound filling the recess, the cylinder and the bypass for protecting the fixed and movable electrical contacts from water when the first and second members are disconnected but allowing passage of the movable contact into and out of engagement with the fixed contact.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 including a second recess, said second recess positioned in the second member between the piston and the recess in the first member and adapted to receive said insulating and sealing compound.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 including, a flexible electrical cable connected to the movable contact and extending through the bypass.

6. The apparatus of claim 3 including,

solid sealing and insulating means on the second member about the cylinder for sealing against the first member about the recess when the first and second members are connected.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 including,

a second recess, said second recess positioned in the second member between the piston and the recess in the first member for receiving said insulating and sealing compound.