Subsea screen connection assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10014678-B2
Application number	US-201615298502-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 20, 2016
Priority date	Nov 4, 2015
Publication date	Jul 3, 2018
Grant date	Jul 3, 2018

Abstract

A subsea screen connection assembly configured to electrically couple a subsea cable having an earth screen, the earth screen at least partially surrounding a cable core, to a subsea device. The subsea connection assembly has a connector body configured to be electrically connected to the subsea device and a clamping element configured to at least partially surround the earth screen of the subsea cable in a circumferential direction and to apply a clamping force in a radial direction to the at least partially surrounded earth screen of the subsea cable, the inner diameter of the clamping element being adjustable, and the clamping element configured to electrically connect the earth screen to the connector body.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A subsea screen connection assembly configured to electrically couple a subsea cable comprising an earth screen, the earth screen at least partially surrounding a cable core, to a subsea device, the subsea screen connection assembly comprising:
a connector body configured to be electrically connected to the subsea device, and
a clamping element configured to at least partially surround the earth screen of the subsea cable in a circumferential direction and to apply a clamping force in a radial direction to the at least partially surrounded earth screen of the subsea cable, an inner diameter of the clamping element being adjustable, and wherein the clamping element further comprises a coupling configured to electrically connect the earth screen to the connector body,
wherein the earth screen terminates at the clamping element.

2. The subsea screen connection assembly according to claim 1 , further comprising
a collar,
wherein an inner circumferential surface of the collar is configured such that the inner circumferential surface mates to an outer circumferential surface of an inner layer of the subsea cable, the inner layer of the subsea cable being surrounded by the earth screen of the subsea cable and surrounding the cable core.

3. The subsea screen connection assembly according to claim 2 ,
wherein the collar is located between the earth screen of the subsea cable and the inner layer of the subsea cable, and is at least partially surrounded by the clamping element, wherein the clamping element applies the clamping force in the radial direction to the earth screen and the collar.

4. The subsea screen connection assembly according to claim 2 ,
wherein the earth screen comprises a first portion having a first inner diameter mating to an outer diameter of the inner layer of the subsea cable, a second portion having a second inner diameter larger than the first inner diameter and mating to an outer diameter of the collar, and a third portion connecting the first and second portions.

5. The subsea screen connection assembly according to claim 4 ,
wherein the clamping element applies radial force onto the second portion, the second portion forwarding the force to the collar.

6. The subsea screen connection assembly according claim 1 ,
wherein the connector body comprises a receptacle through which the subsea cable is passed to enter the subsea device, wherein the connector body includes a filling opening in a fluid communication with the receptacle for filling an elastomeric encapsulant into the receptacle for sealing the subsea cable within the receptacle.

7. The subsea screen connection assembly according to claim 6 ,
wherein the connector body comprises a seal arranged at an inner circumferential surface of the receptacle, the seal being configured to provide a sealing between the connector body and an outer circumferential surface of the subsea cable.

8. The subsea screen connection assembly according to claim 7 ,
wherein the connector body is composed of at least a first connector body part and a second connector body part, wherein the seal is arranged between the first connector body part and the second connector body part.

9. The subsea screen connection assembly according to claim 8 ,
wherein the first connector body part is configured to be coupled to the subsea device and the second connector body part is coupled to the clamping element.

10. The subsea screen connection assembly according to claim 7 , further comprising
a boot coupled in a fluid tight connection to the connector body,
wherein the boot has an opening configured such that the subsea cable can be passed through the opening;
wherein an interior of the boot is in fluid communication to the receptacle, wherein the seal and the boot are configured to communicate an external pressure to the elastomeric encapsulant within the subsea screen connection assembly creating a pressure balanced system.

11. The subsea screen connection assembly according to claim 1 , further comprising
a boot coupled in a fluid tight connection to the connector body,
wherein the boot has an opening configured such that the subsea cable can be passed through the opening.

12. The subsea screen connection assembly according to claim 11 , further comprising
a compressing ring which presses the boot at least partially on the connector body.

13. The subsea screen connection assembly according to claim 1 ,
wherein the connector body and the clamping element are made at least partially of an electrically conductive material.

14. The subsea screen connection assembly according to claim 1 ,
wherein the coupling comprises a bolt,
wherein the clamping element is coupled to the connector body via the bolt.

15. The subsea screen connection assembly according to claim 14 , further comprising
a washer,
wherein the washer is arranged between the clamping element and a bolt head of the bolt.

16. A subsea connector for electrically coupling a subsea cable to subsea equipment, the subsea connector comprising:
a housing,
an electrical contact configured to be coupled to a cable core of the subsea cable, and
a subsea screen connection assembly configured to electrically couple an earth screen of the subsea cable to the housing, the subsea screen connection assembly comprising:
a connector body configured to be electrically connected to the housing, and
a clamping element configured to at least partially surround the earth screen of the subsea cable in a circumferential direction and to apply a clamping force in a radial direction to the at least partially surrounded earth screen of the subsea cable, an inner diameter of the clamping element being adjustable, wherein the clamping element further comprises a coupling configured to electrically connect the clamping element to the connector body,

wherein the earth screen terminates at the clamping element.

17. A subsea screen connection assembly configured to electrically couple a subsea cable comprising an earth screen, the earth screen at least partially surrounding a cable core, to a subsea device, the subsea screen connection assembly comprising:
a connector body configured to be electrically connected to the subsea device, and
a clamping element configured to at least partially surround the earth screen of the subsea cable in a circumferential direction and to apply a clamping force in a radial direction to the at least partially surrounded earth screen of the subsea cable, an inner diameter of the clamping element being adjustable, and wherein the clamping element further comprises a coupling configured to electrically connect the earth screen to the connector body,
wherein the connector body comprises a receptacle through which the subsea cable is passed to enter the subsea device, wherein the connector body includes a filling opening in a fluid communication with the receptacle for filling an elastomeric encapsulant into the receptacle for sealing the subsea cable within the receptacle
wherein the connector body comprises a seal arranged at an inner circumferential surface of the receptacle, the seal being configured to provide a sealing between the connector body and an outer circumferential surface of the subsea cable
wherein the subsea screen connection assembly further comprises a boot coupled in a fluid tight connection to the connector body, wherein the boot has an opening configured such that the subsea cable can be passed through the opening, and wherein an interior of the boot is in fluid communication to the recepta

Assignees

• Siemens Ag

Inventors

• Barrett Wesley
• Knight Neil
• Tioffo Thierry

Classifications

• H02G9/00

  Installations of electric cables or lines in or on the ground or water · CPC title

• H05K9/0064

  Earth or grounding circuit · CPC title

• H02G15/013 Primary

  Sealing means for cable inlets (inlets for cables filled with, or surrounded by, gas or oil H02G15/32) · CPC title

• H01R13/523

  for use under water · CPC title

• H01R13/5205

  Sealing means between cable and housing, e.g. grommet (H01R13/5221 takes precedence) · CPC title