US-12627099-B2 - Plug for a connector

Abstract

A plug includes a housing defining an inner space that is sealably separated from the underwater environment, a first contact disposed within the inner space and including a first conducting region, a second contact disposed within the inner space and including a second conducting region, a third contact disposed within the inner space and including a third conducting region, and a connection cartridge selectively movable between three discrete positions without disconnecting the plug from the receptacle. A first position provides an electrical connection between the first conducting region and the second conducting region and insulates the third conducting region, a second position in which the first conducting region, the second conducting region, and the third conducting region are electrically connected to one another, and a third position in which the first conducting region, the second conducting region, and the third conducting region are electrically insulated from one another.

Inventors

• Wesley Barrett

Assignees

• Siemens Energy Limited

Dates

Publication Date

20260512

Application Date

20240202

Priority Date

20230301

Claims (18)

1. 1 . A plug arranged to make an underwater electrical connection with a receptacle, the plug comprising: a housing defining an inner space that is sealably separated from the underwater environment; a first contact disposed within the inner space and including a first conducting region; a second contact disposed within the inner space and including a second conducting region; a third contact disposed within the inner space and including a third conducting region; and a connection cartridge selectively movable between three discrete positions without disconnecting the plug from the receptacle, wherein a first position provides an electrical connection between the first conducting region and the second conducting region and insulates the third conducting region, a second position in which the first conducting region, the second conducting region, and the third conducting region are electrically connected to one another, and a third position in which the first conducting region, the second conducting region, and the third conducting region are electrically insulated from one another.
2. 2 . The plug of claim 1 , wherein the receptacle receives or provides three-phase power to the plug, and wherein the first contact is electrically connected to a first phase of the three-phase power, the second contact is electrically connected to a second phase of the three-phase power, and the third contact is electrically connected to a third phase of the three-phase power.
3. 3 . The plug of claim 1 , further comprising a handle coupled to the connection cartridge and movable along an axis by a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) to any of the three discrete positions.
4. 4 . The plug of claim 1 , further comprising a handle coupled to a rotary to linear convertor disposed within the housing, the handle rotatable about an axis by a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) to position the connection cartridge in any of the three discrete positions.
5. 5 . The plug of claim 1 , wherein the connection cartridge is further movable to a fourth position in which the first conducting region, the second conducting region, and the third conducting region are electrically connected to one another through a star-linked resistor arrangement.
6. 6 . The plug of claim 5 , wherein the connection cartridge is further movable to a fifth position in which the first conducting region and the third conducting region are electrically connected to one another and the second conducting region is electrically insulated, and wherein the connection cartridge is further movable to a sixth position in which the second conducting region and the third conducting region are electrically connected to one another and the first conducting region is electrically insulated.
7. 7 . The plug of claim 1 , wherein the connection cartridge includes a first disk, a second disk, and a third disk, each of the first disk, the second disk, and the third disk, including a first aperture aligned and sized to receive the first contact, a second aperture aligned and sized to receive the second contact, and a third aperture aligned and sized to receive the third contact.
8. 8 . The plug of claim 7 , wherein the first disk, the second disk, and the third disk are formed from an electrically insulating material, and wherein the first disk includes a first conductor portion positioned to provide an electrical connection between the first aperture and the second aperture.
9. 9 . The plug of claim 7 , wherein the second disk includes a second conductor portion positioned to provide an electrical connection between the first aperture, the second aperture, and the third aperture.
10. 10 . A method of changing an underwater electrical connection made between a plug and a receptacle, the method comprising: connecting the plug to the receptacle along an axis; positioning a connection cartridge disposed within the plug in a first position, the first position defining a first connection arrangement between a first contact, a second contact, and a third contact disposed within the plug; and moving a handle without disconnecting the plug from the receptacle to move the connection cartridge to one of a second position, the second position defining a second connection arrangement between the first contact, the second contact, and the third contact that is different from the first connection arrangement and a third position, the third position defining a third connection arrangement between the first contact, the second contact, and the third contact that is different from the first connection arrangement and the second connection arrangement.
11. 11 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising receiving or providing three-phase power from the receptacle to the plug, and electrically connecting the first contact to a first phase of the three-phase power, the second contact to a second phase of the three-phase power, and the third contact to a third phase of the three-phase power.
12. 12 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the handle is coupled to the connection cartridge and the moving step further comprises moving the handle along an axis to any of the three discrete positions using a remotely operated vehicle (ROV).
13. 13 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising rotatably moving the handle, the handle coupled to a rotary to linear convertor disposed within the housing, the rotary to linear convertor moving the connection cartridge along an axis to any of the three discrete positions.
14. 14 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising moving the connection cartridge to a fourth position in which the first contact, the second contact, and the third contact are electrically connected to one another through a star-linked resistor arrangement.
15. 15 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising moving the connection cartridge to one of a fifth position in which the first contact and the third contact are electrically connected to one another and the second contact is electrically insulated, and a sixth position in which the second contact and the third contact are electrically connected to one another, and the first contact is electrically insulated.
16. 16 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the connection cartridge includes a first disk, a second disk, and a third disk, the method further comprising passing the first contact through a portion of a first aperture, the second contact through a portion of a second aperture and the third contact through a portion of a third aperture, the first aperture, the second aperture, and the third aperture formed in each of the first disk, the second disk, and the third disk.
17. 17 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising forming the first disk, the second disk, and the third disk from an electrically insulating material, and attaching a first conductor portion to the first disk, the first conductor portion positioned to provide an electrical connection between the first aperture and the second aperture.
18. 18 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising attaching a second conductor portion to the second disk, the second conductor portion positioned to provide an electrical connection between the first aperture, the second aperture, and the third aperture.

Description

BACKGROUND Connections, such as electrical connections, are required to be made under water. For example, a subsea installation for the production of hydrocarbons from a subsea well in which different components of the subsea installation require connecting for power and/or data communication. Such connections may comprise a connection from a topside installation, such as a floating or fixed platform or from an onshore site to a subsea component via an umbilical or subsea cable. Other connections include electrical connections between different types of subsea equipment, such as a connection between a subsea transformer and subsea switchgear for the transfer of electrical power. A connector assembly comprises a receptacle and a plug. The receptacle has an array of exposed connector pin conductors, and the plug has a corresponding array of socket contacts which are encapsulated in a dielectric oil chamber, where the electrical connection can be safely made during mating of the plug and receptacle. When the receptacle is underwater and not connected to a corresponding plug it is desirable to prevent or inhibit corrosion and electrically insulate exposed connector pins. The electrical connector pins are expensive to manufacture and cannot be replaced in situ. Overhaul of a defective connector and it's respective cable harness results in costly downtime of subsea equipment. Corrosion and subsequent failure in service can cause attenuation or interruption in the transmission of electrical power and signals, which is highly undesirable. Enhanced subsea corrosion protection and electrical insulation to inhibit corrosion and electrically insulate exposed connector pins that are deployed subsea would solve or reduce many of these problems. BRIEF SUMMARY In one aspect, a plug is arranged to make an underwater electrical connection with a receptacle. The plug includes a housing defining an inner space that is sealably separated from the underwater environment, a first contact disposed within the inner space and including a first conducting region, a second contact disposed within the inner space and including a second conducting region, a third contact disposed within the inner space and including a third conducting region, and a connection cartridge selectively movable between three discrete positions without disconnecting the plug from the receptacle. A first position provides an electrical connection between the first conducting region and the second conducting region and insulates the third conducting region, a second position in which the first conducting region, the second conducting region, and the third conducting region are electrically connected to one another, and a third position in which the first conducting region, the second conducting region, and the third conducting region are electrically insulated from one another. The receptacle receives or provides three-phase power to the plug, and the first contact is electrically connected to a first phase of the three-phase power, the second contact is electrically connected to a second phase of the three-phase power, and the third contact is electrically connected to a third phase of the three-phase power. The plug may also include a handle coupled to the connection cartridge and movable along an axis by a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) to any of the three discrete positions. The plug may also include a handle coupled to a rotary to linear convertor disposed within the housing, the handle rotatable about an axis by a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) to position the connection cartridge in any of the three discrete positions. The plug may also include a connection cartridge that is further movable to a fourth position in which the first conducting region, the second conducting region, and the third conducting region are electrically connected to one another through a star-linked resistor arrangement. The plug may also include a connection cartridge that includes a first disk, a second disk, and a third disk, each of the first disk, the second disk, and the third disk, including a first aperture aligned and sized to receive the first contact, a second aperture aligned and sized to receive the second contact, and a third aperture aligned and sized to receive the third contact. The plug may also include a connection cartridge that is further movable to a fifth position in which the first conducting region and the third conducting region are electrically connected to one another and the second conducting region is electrically insulated, and where the connection cartridge is further movable to a sixth position in which the second conducting region and the third conducting region are electrically connected to one another and the first conducting region is electrically insulated. The plug may also include a first disk, a second disk, and a third disk that are formed from an electrically insulating material, and where the first disk includes a first conductor portion