Bi-directional, rotating, pressure bulkhead penetrator

• US 10,461,464 B1
• Filed: 02/12/2019
• Issued: 10/29/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/2019
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Original Assignee: SPAWAR Systems Center Pacific
• Inventors: Wiedemeier, Brandon J., Miller, Nathan Todd, Hansen, Kyle M., Anderson, Gregory W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hammond, Briggitte R.
• Application Number:
  US16/273,304
• Time in Patent Office: 259 Days
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 37/008 for branching pipes; for joining pipes to walls
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 41/005 adjustable and comprising a hollow threaded part in an opening
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 41/007 adjustable and comprising a bend
• CPC Class Codes: G21C 13/036 the tube passing through the vessel wall, i.e. continuing on both sides of the wall
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 17/306 by embedding in material other than glass or ceramics
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/523 for use under water
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 15/013 Sealing means for cable inlets inlets for cables filled with, or surrounded by, gas or oil H02G15/32
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/22 Installations of cables or lines through walls, floors or ceilings, e.g. into buildings
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/24 Installation of lines or cables on walls, ceilings or floors by means of insulators insulators H01B17/00
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 5/061 Tubular casings H02G5/063 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 30/30 Nuclear fission reactors

Abstract

A bulkhead penetrator comprising a body having an interior and an exterior. An element having a first pressure is disposed within the body'"'"'s interior in a first pressure region. An inner penetrator is configured to permit a transfer of the element from the body'"'"'s interior past the physical boundary to the exterior of the body in a second pressure region having a second pressure, the inner penetrator having an interior surface exposed to the first pressure region and an exterior surface exposed to the second pressure region. An outer penetrator is configured to permit the transfer of the element from the interior of the body past the physical boundary to the exterior of the body in a third pressure region having a third pressure. An inner-outer connector connects the inner penetrator to the outer penetrator. Sealing mechanisms may prevent the transfer of the element from the first pressure region.

Claims

1. A bulkhead penetrator, comprising:

a body having an interior wall and an exterior wall;

an element disposed within the interior wall of the body in a first pressure region, the element having a first pressure;

an inner penetrator configured to permit a transfer of the element from the interior wall of the body past a physical boundary to the exterior wall of the body in a second pressure region having a second pressure, the inner penetrator having an interior surface exposed to the first pressure region and an exterior surface exposed to the second pressure region;

an outer penetrator, wherein the outer penetrator is configured to permit the transfer of the element from the interior wall of the body past the physical boundary to the exterior wall of the body in a third pressure region having a third pressure;

an inner-outer connector that connects the inner penetrator to the outer penetrator; and

at least two sealing mechanisms for the body, the at least two sealing mechanisms being configured to seal the first pressure region from the second pressure region and the third pressure region.

2. The bulkhead penetrator of claim 1, wherein the physical boundary is a pressure vessel.

3. The bulkhead penetrator of claim 1, wherein the inner-outer connector is locked so that the inner penetrator moves with the outer penetrator.

4. The bulkhead penetrator of claim 1, wherein the inner penetrator is configured to be independently swiveled from the outer penetrator.

5. The bulkhead penetrator of claim 1, wherein the outer penetrator is configured to be independently swiveled from the inner penetrator.

6. The bulkhead penetrator of claim 1, further comprising:

an input/output port disposed on the body, the input/output port being configured to receive the element, and wherein the element is a first fluid.

7. The bulkhead penetrator of claim 1, wherein the first pressure is different from the second pressure and the third pressure.

8. The bulkhead penetrator of claim 1, wherein the second pressure region and/or the third pressure region is underwater.

9. The bulkhead penetrator of claim 1, wherein the second pressure region and/or the third pressure region is a vacuum.

20. The bulkhead penetrator of claim 1, wherein the outer penetrator and inner penetrator are configured to be independently swiveled from each other.

10. A method, comprising:

providing a bulkhead penetrator that includes a body having an interior wall and an exterior wall, an inner penetrator and an outer penetrator;

connecting, via an inner-outer connector, the inner penetrator to the outer penetrator;

sealing, via at least two sealing mechanisms, a first pressure region from a second pressure region and a third pressure region;

exposing an interior surface of the inner penetrator to the first pressure region;

exposing an exterior surface of the inner penetrator to the second pressure region;

permitting, via the inner penetrator, the transfer of an element from the interior wall of the body of the bulkhead penetrator past a physical boundary to the exterior wall of the body of the bulkhead penetrator in a second pressure region having a second pressure; and

permitting, via the outer penetrator, the transfer of the element from the interior wall of the body of the bulkhead penetrator past the physical boundary to the exterior of the body of the bulkhead penetrator in a third pressure region having a third pressure.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the physical boundary is a pressure vessel.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

locking, via the inner-outer connector, the inner penetrator to the outer penetrator so that the inner penetrator moves with the outer penetrator.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

independently swiveling the inner penetrator from the outer penetrator.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

independently swiveling the outer penetrator from the inner penetrator.

15. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

receiving, via an input/output port disposed on the body, the element, wherein the element is a first fluid.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein the first pressure region has a first pressure that is different from the second pressure and the third pressure.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein the second pressure region and/or the third pressure region is underwater.

18. The method of claim 10, wherein the second pressure region and/or the third pressure region is a vacuum or a working fluid.

19. A bulkhead penetrator, comprising:

a body having an interior wall and an exterior wall;

a first fluid disposed within the interior wall of the body in a first pressure region, the first fluid having a first pressure;

an inner penetrator configured to permit a transfer of the first fluid from the interior wall of the body past a pressure vessel to the exterior wall of the body in a second pressure region having a second pressure, the inner penetrator having an interior surface exposed to the first pressure region and an exterior surface exposed to the second pressure region;

an outer penetrator, wherein the outer penetrator is configured to permit the transfer of fluid from the interior wall of the body in the first pressure region past the pressure vessel to the exterior wall of the body in a third pressure region having a third pressure;

an inner-outer connector that connects the inner penetrator to the outer penetrator; and

at least two sealing mechanisms for the body, the at least two sealing mechanisms being configured to seal the first pressure region from the second pressure region and the third pressure region, wherein the first pressure is different from the second pressure and the third pressure, and wherein the second pressure region and/or the third pressure region is underwater.