[go: up one dir, main page]

GB2618972A - A connector system - Google Patents

A connector system Download PDF

Info

Publication number
GB2618972A
GB2618972A GB2314276.3A GB202314276A GB2618972A GB 2618972 A GB2618972 A GB 2618972A GB 202314276 A GB202314276 A GB 202314276A GB 2618972 A GB2618972 A GB 2618972A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
female connector
connector
offshore
strip
shaped
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Pending
Application number
GB2314276.3A
Other versions
GB202314276D0 (en
Inventor
Sola Holberg Christian
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
National Oilwell Varco Denmark IS
Original Assignee
National Oilwell Varco Denmark IS
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by National Oilwell Varco Denmark IS filed Critical National Oilwell Varco Denmark IS
Publication of GB202314276D0 publication Critical patent/GB202314276D0/en
Publication of GB2618972A publication Critical patent/GB2618972A/en
Pending legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16B—DEVICES FOR FASTENING OR SECURING CONSTRUCTIONAL ELEMENTS OR MACHINE PARTS TOGETHER, e.g. NAILS, BOLTS, CIRCLIPS, CLAMPS, CLIPS OR WEDGES; JOINTS OR JOINTING
    • F16B7/00—Connections of rods or tubes, e.g. of non-circular section, mutually, including resilient connections
    • F16B7/04—Clamping or clipping connections
    • F16B7/0406—Clamping or clipping connections for rods or tubes being coaxial
    • F16B7/0413—Clamping or clipping connections for rods or tubes being coaxial for tubes using the innerside thereof
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
    • E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
    • E21B17/00—Drilling rods or pipes; Flexible drill strings; Kellies; Drill collars; Sucker rods; Cables; Casings; Tubings
    • E21B17/02—Couplings; joints
    • E21B17/04—Couplings; joints between rod or the like and bit or between rod and rod or the like
    • E21B17/046—Couplings; joints between rod or the like and bit or between rod and rod or the like with ribs, pins, or jaws, and complementary grooves or the like, e.g. bayonet catches
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
    • E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
    • E21B17/00—Drilling rods or pipes; Flexible drill strings; Kellies; Drill collars; Sucker rods; Cables; Casings; Tubings
    • E21B17/02—Couplings; joints
    • E21B17/08—Casing joints
    • E21B17/085—Riser connections
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
    • E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
    • E21B19/00—Handling rods, casings, tubes or the like outside the borehole, e.g. in the derrick; Apparatus for feeding the rods or cables
    • E21B19/002—Handling rods, casings, tubes or the like outside the borehole, e.g. in the derrick; Apparatus for feeding the rods or cables specially adapted for underwater drilling
    • E21B19/004—Handling rods, casings, tubes or the like outside the borehole, e.g. in the derrick; Apparatus for feeding the rods or cables specially adapted for underwater drilling supporting a riser from a drilling or production platform
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
    • E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
    • E21B43/00—Methods or apparatus for obtaining oil, gas, water, soluble or meltable materials or a slurry of minerals from wells
    • E21B43/01—Methods or apparatus for obtaining oil, gas, water, soluble or meltable materials or a slurry of minerals from wells specially adapted for obtaining from underwater installations
    • E21B43/0107—Connecting of flow lines to offshore structures
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16L—PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16L37/00—Couplings of the quick-acting type
    • F16L37/08—Couplings of the quick-acting type in which the connection between abutting or axially overlapping ends is maintained by locking members
    • F16L37/084—Couplings of the quick-acting type in which the connection between abutting or axially overlapping ends is maintained by locking members combined with automatic locking
    • F16L37/0847—Couplings of the quick-acting type in which the connection between abutting or axially overlapping ends is maintained by locking members combined with automatic locking by means of hooks
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16L—PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16L23/00—Flanged joints
    • F16L23/02—Flanged joints the flanges being connected by members tensioned axially
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16L—PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16L33/00—Arrangements for connecting hoses to rigid members; Rigid hose-connectors, i.e. single members engaging both hoses
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
    • H02G—INSTALLATION OF ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES, OR OF COMBINED OPTICAL AND ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES
    • H02G1/00—Methods or apparatus specially adapted for installing, maintaining, repairing or dismantling electric cables or lines
    • H02G1/06—Methods or apparatus specially adapted for installing, maintaining, repairing or dismantling electric cables or lines for laying cables, e.g. laying apparatus on vehicle
    • H02G1/10—Methods or apparatus specially adapted for installing, maintaining, repairing or dismantling electric cables or lines for laying cables, e.g. laying apparatus on vehicle in or under water
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
    • H02G—INSTALLATION OF ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES, OR OF COMBINED OPTICAL AND ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES
    • H02G3/00—Installations of electric cables or lines or protective tubing therefor in or on buildings, equivalent structures or vehicles
    • H02G3/22—Installations of cables or lines through walls, floors or ceilings, e.g. into buildings
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
    • H02G—INSTALLATION OF ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES, OR OF COMBINED OPTICAL AND ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES
    • H02G9/00—Installations of electric cables or lines in or on the ground or water
    • H02G9/02—Installations of electric cables or lines in or on the ground or water laid directly in or on the ground, river-bed or sea-bottom; Coverings therefor, e.g. tile

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mining & Mineral Resources (AREA)
  • Geology (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
  • Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Geochemistry & Mineralogy (AREA)
  • Quick-Acting Or Multi-Walled Pipe Joints (AREA)
  • Mechanical Coupling Of Light Guides (AREA)
  • Paper (AREA)
  • Details Of Connecting Devices For Male And Female Coupling (AREA)

Abstract

An offshore connector system (fig. 3B) for installing a flexible member to an offshore structure comprising a guide channel, wherein the connector system comprises a female connector (1) and a male connector (8); and a female connector (1) for connecting a flexible member to a guide channel. The female connector (1) comprises a tube-shaped wall defining a bore and a centre axis, wherein the tube-shaped wall comprises at least one spring arrangement. The spring arrangement comprises a strip-shaped portion formed by one or more cuts in the tube-shaped wall of the female connector (1), wherein the strip-shaped portion having a flexible portion (3b) and a root (2) where it is rooted to the tube-shaped wall of the female connector (1) and wherein the flexible portion (3b) comprises an inwards facing engagement protuberance (4c).

Claims (84)

PATENT CLAIMS
1. An offshore connector system for installing a flexible member to an offshore structure comprising a guide channel, wherein the connector system comprises a female connector and a male connector, said female connector comprises a tube-shaped wall defining a bore and a centre axis, wherein the tube shaped wall comprises at least one spring arrangement, wherein the spring arrangement comprises a strip-shaped portion formed by one or more cuts in the tube-shaped wall of the female connector, wherein the strip-shaped portion having a flexible portion and a root, where it is rooted to the tube-shaped wall of the female connector and wherein the flexible portion comprises an inwards facing engagement protuberance and/or said spring arrangement comprises an inwards facing engagement protuberance located at said flexible portion.
2. The offshore connector system of claim 1, wherein the female connector has a distal end with a first opening and a proximal end with a second opposite opening, wherein the first opening is adapted for facing downwards relative to the guide channel and for inserting or drawing in at least a length portion of the male connector.
3. The offshore connector system of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the female connector has a distal end with a first opening and a proximal end with a second opposite opening, wherein the female connector comprises a mounting flange suitable for being mounted to an offshore structure, by bolts and nuts and/or by welding, said mounting flange preferably being located proximally to the spring arrangement.
4. The offshore connector system of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the female connector has a distal end with a first opening and a proximal end with a second opposite opening, wherein the male connector is adapted to be mounted to the female connector by being at least partly drawn through the first opening, and wherein the root is located proximally to the flexible portion.
5. The offshore connector system of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one spring arrangement is configured for carrying a weight of at least 100 kg via the male connector, such as at least 500 kg via the male connector, such as at least 1 ton.
6. The offshore connector system of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one spring arrangement is configured for carrying a submerged weight of at least 100 kg via the male connector, such as at least 500 kg, such as at least 1 ton via the male connector.
7. The offshore connector system of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the female connector has a distal end with a first opening and a proximal end with a second opposite opening, wherein the flexible portion of the spring arrangement comprises a locking wedge providing said inwards facing protuberance, the locking wedge is fixed to the flexible portion via a fixing orifice in said flexible portion and comprises an engagement edge for engaging with a recess of said male connector.
8. The offshore connector system of claim 7, wherein said engagement edge has a proximally facing contact surface.
9. The offshore connector system of claim 7 or claim 8, wherein said locking wedge comprises a flange extending beyond a tip of the flexible portion located furthest away from the root.
10. The offshore connector system of any one of claims 7-9, wherein said locking wedge comprises a pin extending at least partly through said fixing orifice, said pin preferably extends fully through said fixing orifice and preferably protrudes further outwards from the flexible portion.
11. The offshore connector system of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the male connector comprises a tube-shaped wall defining a bore and a centre axis and having an outer shape fitting into said female connector and comprising a mating recess for engaging with said inwards facing protuberance.
12. The offshore connector system of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the male connector comprising a mating recess for each inwards facing protuberance of the female connector or the male connector comprising a mating recess engaging with two or more inwards facing protuberance of the female connector, for example in the form of an annular recess.
13. The offshore connector system of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the female connector is adapted to be mounted to said offshore structure.
14. The offshore connector system of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the tube-shaped wall of the female connector is substantially rigid, preferably the tube-shaped wall of the female connector has a flexural stiffness (bending stiffness) El of at least 100 kNm2, such as at least about 500 kNm2, preferably at least 1000 kNm2.
15. The offshore connector system of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the tube-shaped wall of the female connector comprises a layer of a metal, such as steel and/or a layer of polymer, such as fibre-reinforced polymer.
16. The offshore connector system of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the cuts in the tube-shaped wall comprises a pair of cuts having an average distance less than their average length, preferably the strip-shaped portion is symmetrical, having a symmetry axis parallel to the centre axis of the female connector.
17. The offshore connector system of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the strip-shaped portion formed by the one or more cuts surrounds the strip shape except for the root where it remains connected to the remaining of the tube shaped wall.
18. The offshore connector system of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the cuts in the tube-shaped wall comprises a cross cut providing a free end of the strip-shaped portion wherein the free end of the strip-shaped portion forms part of the flexible portion.
19. The offshore connector system of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the strip-shaped portion comprises a longitudinal strip-shaped portion with its length oriented lengthwise relative to the centre axis of the female connector.
20. The offshore connector system of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the strip-shaped portion comprises a longitudinal strip-shaped portion comprising a narrow length section and a wider length section, wherein the wider length section is at least 10% wider than the narrow length section, such as at least 50% wider than the narrow length section, such as at least 100% wider than the narrow length section.
21. The offshore connector system of claim 20, wherein the narrow length section is longer than the wider length section, such as at least 50% longer than the wider length section, such as at least 75% longer than the wider length section.
22. The offshore connector system of claim 20 or claim 21, wherein the narrow length section is located closer to the root than the wider length section, preferably the narrow length section is located proximally to the wider length section.
23. The offshore connector system of any one of claims 20-22, wherein the protuberance is located at said wider length section of said strip-shaped portion.
24. The offshore connector system of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the flexible portion of the strip-shaped portion is located distally to the root of the strip-shaped portion.
25. The offshore connector system of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the strip-shaped portion has a length and the flexible portion has a tip located furthest away from the root, wherein the inwards facing protuberance is located closer to the tip than to the root, preferably the inwards facing protuberance is located immediately adjacent to the tip.
26. The offshore connector system of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the inwards facing protuberance has a maximal protruding height, which is sufficient to engage and lock with a mating recess of the male connector, preferably the maximal protruding height of the protuberance is at least 5 mm, preferably from 1 to 20 cm, such as from 2 to 10 cm, such as from 3 to 5 cm.
27. The offshore connector system of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the inwards facing protuberance has an inclined surface forming a ramp inclining from a low level ramp end to a high level ramp end, wherein the low level ramp end preferably is located distally to the high level ramp end.
28. The offshore connector system of claim 27, wherein the inwards facing protuberance has an engagement side face extending from the high level ramp end and down towards the strip-shaped portion, said engagement side is preferably in the form of an engagement edge for engaging with a recess of said male connector.
29. The offshore connector system of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the inwards facing protuberance is provided by or comprises folds of the strip-shaped portion.
30. The offshore connector system of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the inwards facing protuberance is provided by or comprises a locking wedge, the locking wedge is preferably fixed to the flexible portion of the strip shaped portion, advantageously the locking wedge comprises a flange extending beyond the tip and/or free end of the strip-shaped portion.
31. The offshore connector system of any one of the preceding claims wherein the female connector comprises a restraining arrangement configured for blocking said flexible portion from moving outwards, such as configured for blocking said flexible portion from moving outwards when at least a length portion of the male connector has been drawn into the female connector, such as when at least one mating recess has been drawn to past the inwards facing engagement protuberance.
32. The offshore connector system of claim31, wherein the restraining arrangement comprises a slidable latch having a locked condition in which it is blocking said flexible portion from moving outwards and an open condition in which the flexible portion is not blocked from moving outwards.
33. The offshore connector system of claim 31 or claim 32, wherein the strip-shaped portion comprises or carries an outwards protruding lock engagement portion and wherein said restraining arrangement comprises a slidable latch having a locked condition, in which the slidable latch is engaged with said lock engagement portion and an open condition in which the slidable latch is engaged with said lock engagement portion.
34. The offshore connector system of claim 32 or claim 33, wherein the slidable latch comprises a gripping jaw and the outwards protruding lock engagement portion comprises a gripper pin, and wherein the slidable latch in its locked condition is engaged by said outwards protruding lock engagement portion by engagement between said gripping jaw and said gripper pin.
35. The offshore connector system of any one of the preceding claims wherein the female connector comprises a releaser arrangement engaged with the strip-shaped portion for moving the flexible portion outwards for releasing an engagement between the male connector and the female connector.
36. The offshore connector system of claim 35, wherein the releaser arrangement comprises a piston and/or a rod mounted to the outwards facing side of the flexible portion of the strip-shaped portion, wherein the piston and/or a rod preferably being adapted for being pulled and/or pushed outwards for thereby moving the flexible portion outwards e.g., using an arrangement for pulling and/or pushing said piston and/or rod outwards, such as a mechanical pulling/pushing arrangement and/or a hydraulic pulling/pushing arrangement.
37. The offshore connector system of claim 36, wherein said arrangement for pulling and/or pushing said piston and/or rod outwards, such as a mechanical pulling/pushing arrangement and/or a hydraulic pulling/pushing arrangement, form part of the female connector.
38. The offshore connector system of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the female connector comprises at least two spring arrangements, such as at least three spring arrangements, such as at least four spring arrangements.
39. The offshore connector system of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the female connector has an inner diameter adapted to an outer diameter of the male connector for being mated with said male connector.
40. The offshore connector system of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the offshore connector system comprises a bend limiter, said male connector comprises a distally located flange and said bend limiter preferably being mounted to said distally located flange.
41. The offshore connector system of claim 40, wherein the bend limiter comprises a tube-shaped wall comprising a tube-shaped layer of a rigid material selected from a metal, such as steel and/or a polymer, such fibre-reinforced polymer, wherein the material preferably has a flexural stiffness (bending stiffness) El of at least 100 kNm2, such as at least about 500 kNm2, preferably at least 1000 kNm2.
42. The offshore connector system of claim 41, wherein the tube-shaped layer of rigid material comprises a cut pattern comprising one or more through cuts, preferably the cut pattern is sufficient for allowing the bend limiter portion to bend with a selected bending radius, wherein the selected bending radius is from 0.5 to 25 m, such as from 2 to 10 m.
43. The offshore connector system of claim 42, wherein the tube-shaped wall of the bend limiter comprises a tube-shaped polymer layer of a polymer material having a flexural stiffness lower than the flexural stiffness of the rigid material, wherein polymer layer is located above and/or below the tube-shaped layer of rigid material, optionally the tube-shaped layer of rigid material is embedded in said polymer layer.
44. The offshore connector system of claim 40, wherein the bend limiter comprises a helically shaped body adapted to surround a length section of the flexible member, preferably the helically shaped body comprises a helical string of solid material, preferably having a flexural stiffness (bending stiffness) El of at least 100 kNm2, such as at least about 500 kNm2, preferably at least 1000 kNm2.
45. The offshore connector system of claim 44, wherein the helically shaped body has a root end and an opposite far end, wherein the helically shaped body is mounted to the male connector at its root end, preferably via a flange.
46. The offshore connector system of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the male connector and/or the bend limiter comprises a releasable lock arrangement for temporarily locking the male connector and/or the bend limiter to an end fitting of a flexible member when the end fitting of the flexible member is located in the bore of the male connector.
47. The offshore connector system of claim 46, wherein the releasable lock arrangement for temporarily locking the male connector and/or the bend limiter to the end fitting of the flexible member is adapted for locking the male connector and/or the bend limiter to the fitting of the flexible member via a pull-in head connected to said end fitting.
48. The offshore connector system of claim 46 or claim 47, wherein the releasable lock arrangement is adapted for being mechanically and/or hydraulically released.
49. A female connector for connecting a flexible member to a guide channel of an offshore subsea structure, wherein the female connector comprises a tube-shaped wall defining a bore, wherein the tube-shaped wall comprises at least one spring arrangement, wherein the spring arrangement comprises a strip-shaped portion formed by one or more cuts in the tube-shaped wall of the female connector, wherein the strip-shaped portion having a flexible portion and a root where it is rooted to the tube-shaped wall of the female connector and comprises an inwards facing protuberance.
50. The female connector of claim 49, wherein the female connector is adapted to be mounted to said offshore structure.
51. The female connector of claim 49 or claim 50, wherein the tube-shaped wall of the female connector is substantially rigid, preferably the tube-shaped wall of the female connector has a flexural stiffness (bending stiffness) El of at least 100 kNm2, such as at least about 500 kNm2, preferably at least 1000 kNm2.
52. The female connector of claims 49-51, wherein the tube-shaped wall of the female connector comprises a layer of a metal, such as steel and/or a layer of polymer, such as fibre-reinforced polymer.
53. The female connector of claims 49-52, wherein the cuts in the tube shaped wall comprises a pair of cuts having an average distance less than their average length, preferably the strip-shaped portion is symmetrical, having a symmetry axis parallel to the centre axis of the female connector.
54. The female connector of claims 49-53, wherein the strip-shaped portion formed by the one or more cuts surrounds the strip shape except for the root where it remains connected to the remaining of the tube-shaped wall.
55. The female connector of claims 49-54, wherein the cuts in the tube shaped wall comprise a cross cut providing a free end of the strip-shaped portion wherein the free end of the strip-shaped portion forms part of the flexible portion.
56. The female connector of claims 49-55, wherein the strip-shaped portion comprises a longitudinal strip-shaped portion with its length oriented lengthwise relative to the centre axis of the female connector.
57. The female connector of claims 49-56, wherein the strip-shaped portion comprises a longitudinal strip-shaped portion comprising a narrow length section and a wider length section, wherein the wider length section is at least 10% wider than the narrow length section, such as at least 50% wider than the narrow length section, such as at least 100% wider than the narrow length section.
58. The female connector of claim 57, wherein the narrow length section is longer than the wider length section, such as at least 50% longer than the wider length section, such as at least 75% longer than the wider length section.
59. The female connector of claim 57 or claim 58, wherein the narrow length section is located closer to the root than the wider length section, preferably the narrow length section is located proximally to the wider length section.
60. The female connector of any one of claims 57-59, wherein the protuberance is located at said wider length section of said strip-shaped portion.
61. The female connector of claims 49-60, wherein the flexible portion of the strip-shaped portion is located distally to the root of the strip-shaped portion.
62. The female connector of any one of claims 49-61, wherein the strip shaped portion has a length and the flexible portion has a tip located furthest away from the root, wherein the inwards facing protuberance is located closer to the tip than to the root, preferably the inwards facing protuberance is located immediately adjacent to the tip.
63. The female connector of any one of claims 49-62, wherein the inwards facing protuberance has a maximal protruding height of at least 5 mm, preferably from 1 to 20 cm, such as from 2 to 10 cm, such as from 3 to 5 cm.
64. The female connector of any one of claims 49-63, wherein the inwards facing protuberance has an inclined surface forming a ramp inclining from a low level ramp end to a high level ramp end, wherein the low level ramp end preferably is located distally to the high level ramp end.
65. The female connector of claim 64, wherein the inwards facing protuberance has an engagement side face extending from the high level ramp end and down towards the strip-shaped portion, said engagement side is preferably in the form of an engagement edge for engaging with a recess of said male connector.
66. The female connector of any one of claims 49-65, wherein the inwards facing protuberance is provided by or comprises folds of the strip-shaped portion.
67. The female connector of any one of claims 49-66, wherein the inwards facing protuberance is provided by or comprises a locking wedge, the locking wedge is preferably fixed to the flexible portion of the strip-shaped portion, advantageously the locking wedge comprises a flange extending beyond the tip and/or free end of the strip-shaped portion.
68. The female connector of any one of claims 49-67, wherein the female connector has a distal end with a first opening and a proximal end with a second opposite opening, wherein the flexible portion of the spring arrangement comprises a locking wedge providing said inwards facing protuberance, the locking wedge is fixed to the flexible portion via a fixing orifice in said flexible portion and comprises an engagement edge for engaging with a recess of said male connector.
69. The female connector of claim 65, claim 67 or claim 68, wherein said engagement edge has a proximally facing contact surface.
70. The female connector of any one of claims 67-69, wherein said locking wedge comprises a flange extending beyond a tip of the flexible portion located furthest away from the root.
71. The female connector of any one of claims 67-70, wherein said locking wedge comprises a pin extending at least partly through said fixing orifice, said pin preferably extends fully through said fixing orifice and preferably protrudes further outwards from the flexible portion.
72. The female connector of any one of claims 49-71, wherein the female connector comprises a restraining arrangement configured for blocking said flexible portion from moving outwards, such as configured for blocking said flexible portion from moving outwards when at least a length portion of the male connector has been drawn into the female connector, such as when at least one mating recess has been drawn to past the inwards facing engagement protuberance.
73. The female connector of claim 72, wherein the restraining arrangement comprises a slidable latch having a locked condition in which it is blocking said flexible portion from moving outwards and an open condition in which the flexible portion is not blocked from moving outwards.
74. The female connector of claim 72 or claim 73, wherein the strip-shaped portion comprises or carries an outwards protruding lock engagement portion and wherein said restraining arrangement comprises a slidable latch having a locked condition in which the slidable latch is engaged with said lock engagement portion and an open condition in which the slidable latch is engaged with said lock engagement portion.
75. The female connector of claim 73 or claim 74, wherein the slidable latch comprises a gripping jaw and the outwards protruding lock engagement portion comprises a gripper pin and wherein the slidable latch in its locked condition is engaged by said outwards protruding lock engagement portion by engagement between said gripping jaw and said gripper pin.
76. The female connector of any one of claims 49-75, wherein the female connector comprises a releaser arrangement engaged with the strip-shaped portion for moving the flexible portion outwards for releasing an engagement between the male connector and the female connector.
77. The female connector of claim 76, wherein the releaser arrangement comprises a piston and/or a rod mounted to the outwards facing side of the flexible portion of the strip-shaped portion, wherein the piston and/or a rod preferably being adapted for being pulled and/or pushed outwards for thereby moving the flexible portion outwards e.g., using an arrangement for pulling and/or pushing said piston and/or rod outwards, such as a mechanical pulling/pushing arrangement and/or a hydraulic pulling/pushing arrangement.
78. The female connector of claim 77, wherein said arrangement for pulling/pushing said piston and/or rod outwards, such as a mechanical pulling/pushing arrangement and/or a hydraulic pulling/pushing arrangement, form part of the female connector.
79. The female connector of any one of claims 49-78, wherein the female connector comprises at least two spring arrangements, such as at least three spring arrangements, such as at least four spring arrangements.
80. The female connector of any one of claims 49-79, wherein the female connector has a distal end with a first opening and a proximal end with a second opposite opening, wherein the first opening is adapted for facing downwards from the guide channel.
81. The female connector of any one of claims 49-80, wherein the female connector has a distal end with a first opening and a proximal end with a second opposite opening, wherein the female connector comprises a mounting flange suitable for being mounted to an offshore structure, by bolts and nuts and/or by welding, said mounting flange preferably being located proximally to the spring arrangement.
82. The female connector of any one of claims 49-81, wherein the female connector has a distal end with a first opening and a proximal end with a second opposite opening, wherein the male connector is adapted to be mounted to the female connector by being inserted through the first opening and wherein the root is located proximally to the flexible portion.
83. The female connector of any one of claims 49-82, wherein the at least one spring arrangement is configured for carrying a weight of at least 100 kg via a male connector, such as at least 500 kg via the male connector, such as at least 1 ton.
84. The female connector of any one of claims 49-83, wherein the at least one spring arrangement is configured for carrying a submerged weight of at least 100 kg via a male connector, such as at least 500 kg, such as at least 1 ton via the male connector.
GB2314276.3A 2021-03-08 2022-03-08 A connector system Pending GB2618972A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DKPA202100243 2021-03-08
PCT/DK2022/050039 WO2022188935A1 (en) 2021-03-08 2022-03-08 A connector system

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB202314276D0 GB202314276D0 (en) 2023-11-01
GB2618972A true GB2618972A (en) 2023-11-22

Family

ID=83226352

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB2314276.3A Pending GB2618972A (en) 2021-03-08 2022-03-08 A connector system

Country Status (4)

Country Link
AU (1) AU2022233417A1 (en)
GB (1) GB2618972A (en)
NO (1) NO20231061A1 (en)
WO (1) WO2022188935A1 (en)

Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3987741A (en) * 1976-01-12 1976-10-26 The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Navy Remote unmanned work system (ruws) mating latch
EP0046616A1 (en) * 1980-08-22 1982-03-03 Wavin B.V. Coupling pipe part for interconnecting corrugated pipe parts and pipe connection
US4459931A (en) * 1978-10-07 1984-07-17 Fmc Corporation Method and apparatus for tension setting and compression releasing tubular connectors
FR2926346A1 (en) * 2008-01-11 2009-07-17 Technip France Sa DEVICE FOR MOUNTING A FLEXIBLE LINE ON AN INSTALLATION STRUCTURE AND ASSOCIATED METHOD
GB2463471A (en) * 2008-09-11 2010-03-17 First Subsea Ltd System for automatic installation of riser and bend stiffener
WO2018060004A1 (en) * 2016-09-28 2018-04-05 Seaproof Solutions As Quick release connection flange
DK201700209A1 (en) * 2017-03-24 2018-12-13 Lic Engineering A/S Locking mechanism with torus shaped contact surface for locking and automatic release of end piece
US20200025230A1 (en) * 2017-02-22 2020-01-23 Advanced Insulation Limited Connection apparatus

Patent Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3987741A (en) * 1976-01-12 1976-10-26 The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Navy Remote unmanned work system (ruws) mating latch
US4459931A (en) * 1978-10-07 1984-07-17 Fmc Corporation Method and apparatus for tension setting and compression releasing tubular connectors
EP0046616A1 (en) * 1980-08-22 1982-03-03 Wavin B.V. Coupling pipe part for interconnecting corrugated pipe parts and pipe connection
FR2926346A1 (en) * 2008-01-11 2009-07-17 Technip France Sa DEVICE FOR MOUNTING A FLEXIBLE LINE ON AN INSTALLATION STRUCTURE AND ASSOCIATED METHOD
GB2463471A (en) * 2008-09-11 2010-03-17 First Subsea Ltd System for automatic installation of riser and bend stiffener
WO2018060004A1 (en) * 2016-09-28 2018-04-05 Seaproof Solutions As Quick release connection flange
US20200025230A1 (en) * 2017-02-22 2020-01-23 Advanced Insulation Limited Connection apparatus
DK201700209A1 (en) * 2017-03-24 2018-12-13 Lic Engineering A/S Locking mechanism with torus shaped contact surface for locking and automatic release of end piece

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB202314276D0 (en) 2023-11-01
NO20231061A1 (en) 2023-10-05
WO2022188935A1 (en) 2022-09-15
AU2022233417A1 (en) 2023-09-14

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
KR102368586B1 (en) Infrastructure interface device
EP0263671B1 (en) Quick-locking connector
RU2011127112A (en) DEVICE FOR PUSHING A CABLE INTO AN EXISTING TUBE NETWORK
KR102463728B1 (en) quick release connection flange
CN104394921A (en) Needle guard
GB2618972A (en) A connector system
CN103340588A (en) Vacuum cleaner suction hose
US20220074441A1 (en) Connection apparatus
WO2020096878A3 (en) Introducing stylet
BR112012007981B1 (en) slapper
US20110132597A1 (en) Downhole jarring tool
CN211355640U (en) Tissue drag hook and medical retractor with same
WO2013067455A4 (en) Matrix band retainer
CN211325244U (en) Tissue drag hook and medical retractor with same
US9579141B2 (en) Orthopedic device holder and related system and method
CN116115288A (en) Hemostatic clamp assembly and hemostatic clamp comprising same
JP3204265U (en) Cable catch
JP7261897B2 (en) clip device
US6926082B2 (en) Wireline fishing safety sleeve
KR101064975B1 (en) Shape lock of flexible tube
CN112641474A (en) Medical retractor
CN218513774U (en) Quick connector
EP0146336A2 (en) Stab connector assembly
CN102743205A (en) Guide device for round pipe type anastomat
CN112773434A (en) Anchoring device