Underwater connector with electrical stress reduction

• US 6,659,780 B2
• Filed: 04/12/2001
• Issued: 12/09/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Siemens Energy Global GmbH & Co. KG (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Tronic Limited (Umbrellastream LP, Inc.)
• Inventors: Parkinson, Stuart L., Marklove, Michael C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Prasad, Chandrika
• Application Number:
  US09/833,939
• Publication Number:
  US 20020016097A1
• Time in Patent Office: 971 Days
• Field of Search: 439/89, 439/88, 439/271, 439/273, 439/274, 439/201, 385/99, 385/107
• US Class Current: 439/89
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/523 for use under water
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 15/14 specially adapted for submarine cables

Abstract

A connector for making an electrical connection underwater or in a wet environment, comprising first and second connector parts for engagement with each other to establish the electrical connection, the first connector part having a connecting pin provided with an insulating layer around a conductive core leading to a first electrical contact portion, the second connector part having a second electrical contact portion for engagement by the first electrical contact portion, and the second connector part having a seal arranged so that in the mated condition of the connector the connecting pin extends forwardly through an opening in the seal, the first electrical contact portion then making contact with the second electrical contact portion, wherein an earthing conductive layer is provided around the insulating layer for reducing electrical stress at the seal when the connecting pin passes therethrough.

Claims

1. A connector for making a high voltage electrical connection underwater or in a wet or conductive environment, the connector comprising first and second connector parts for engagement with each other to establish the electrical connection, the first connector part having a connecting pin with an outer surface and provided with an insulating layer around a conductive core leading in a forward direction to a first electrical contact portion, a length of the insulating layer being disposed within and screened by a screening conductive layer, the screening conductive layer being immovably positioned relative to the insulating layer, the second connector part having a second electrical contact portion for engagement by the first electrical contact portion, and the second connector part having a seal arranged so that in the mated condition of the connector the connecting pin extends forwardly through an opening in the seal, the first electrical contact portion then making contact with the second electrical contact portion, wherein when the connecting pin passes through the seal, the screening conductive layer is arranged to avoid or reduce electrical stress at the seal by avoiding or reducing localized condensing of equipotential field lines in the seal, and wherein the screening conductive layer has a front end portion having an inner surface, the inner surface of the front end portion being curved in the forward direction towards the outer surface of the connecting pin.

2. A connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein the conductive layer is arranged so that in the mated condition of the connector it extends forwardly from outside the seal at least partly into the seal opening.

3. A connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein the conductive layer is arranged so that in the mated condition of the connector it extends forwardly from outside the seal and into the second connector, beyond the seal opening.

4. A connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein first and second seals are provided such that the connecting pin passes through respective openings in both the seals when the connector is in the mated condition, and wherein the conductive layer is arranged so that in the mated condition it extends at least partly into the second seal opening.

5. A connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein the profile of the inner surface of the front end portion of the conductive layer, as viewed in axial section, is defined by an exponential function.

6. A connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein the profile of the inner surface of the front end portion of the conductive layer, as viewed in axial section, is the Rogowski profile.

7. A connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein the profile of the inner surface of the front end portion of the conductive layer, as viewed in axial section, has a constant or variable radius of curvature.

8. A connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein the conductive layer is on the outside of the connecting pin.

9. A connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein a further insulating layer is provided around the conductive layer.

10. A connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein dielectric fluid is provided inwardly of the seal.

11. A connector as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a shield provided on the outside of the connecting pin so as to protect the connecting pin from the external environment when the first and second connector parts are in the mated condition.

12. A connector as claimed in claim 11, wherein the shield is made of corrosion resistant material.

13. A connector as claimed in claim 11, wherein the shield is made of non-porous material.

14. A connector as claimed in claim 11, wherein the shield is made of electrically conductive material.

15. A connector as claimed in claim 11, wherein the shield comprises a portion which extends radially outwardly therefrom to form a stop for limiting the forward movement of the connecting pin during mating of the first and second connector parts.

16. A connector as claimed in claim 11, wherein the shield is electrically connected to the screening conductive layer so as to connect the screening conductive layer to earth.

17. A connector for making a high voltage electrical connection underwater or in a wet or conductive environment, the connector comprising a first connector part and a second connector part, the first and second connector parts being adapted for engagement with each other to establish the electrical connection, the first connector part having a connecting pin with an outer surface and provided with an insulating layer around a conductive core leading in a forward direction to a first electrical contact portion, a length of the insulating layer being disposed within and screened by a screening conductive layer which has a front end portion, an inner surface of the front end portion curving in the forward direction towards the outer surface of the connecting pin, and a further insulating layer being provided around the conductive layer, the screening conductive layer being immovably positioned relative to the insulating layer, the second connector part having a second electrical contact portion for engagement by the first electrical contact portion, and the second connector part having a first seal and a second seal arranged so that in the mated condition of the connector the connecting pin extends forwardly through respective openings in both the first and second seals, the first electrical contact portion then making contact with the second electrical contact portion, wherein when the connecting pin passes through the seals, the screening conductive layer is arranged to avoid or reduce electrical stress at the seals by avoiding or reducing localized condensing of equipotential field lines in the seals, and wherein the conductive layer is arranged so that in the mated condition it extends at least partly into the second seal opening, the connector further comprising a corrosion resistant shield, provided on the outside of the connecting pin so as to protect the connecting pin from the external environment when the first and second connector parts are in the mated condition.

18. A connector as claimed in claim 17, wherein the shield comprises a portion which extends radially outwardly therefrom to form a stop for limiting the forward movement of the connecting pin during mating of the first and second connector parts.

19. A connector as claimed in claim 17, wherein the shield is electrically connected to the screening conductive layer so as to connect the screening conductive layer to earth.

20. A connector for making a high voltage electrical connection underwater or in a wet or conductive environment, the connector comprising first and second connector parts for engagement with each other to establish the electrical connection, the first connector part having a connecting pin provided with an insulating layer around a conductive core leading to a first electrical contact portion, a length of the insulating layer being disposed within and screened by a screening conductive layer, the screening conductive layer being immovably positioned relative to the insulating layer, the second connector part having a second electrical contact portion for engagement by the first electrical contact portion, and the second connector part having a seal arranged so that in the mated condition of the connector the connecting pin extends forwardly through an opening in the seal, the first electrical contact portion then making contact with the second electrical contact portion, wherein when the connecting pin passes through the seal, the screening conductive layer is arranged to avoid or reduce electrical stress at the seal by avoiding or reducing localized condensing of equipotential field lines in the seal, and wherein the connector comprises an electrically conductive shield provided on the outside of the connecting pin and extending forwardly along the connecting pin so that in the mated condition of the connector the electrically conductive shield extends into the opening in the seal in contact therewith.

21. A connector as claimed in claim 20, wherein the electrically conductive shield is also the screening conductive layer.

22. A connector as claimed in claim 20, wherein the screening conductive layer is radially inwardly spaced from the electrically conductive shield and is electrically connected thereto.