Multi-gimbal marine communication cable to ocean buoy transition interface
First Claim
1. An arrangement for interfacing a marine communication cable, that is retained within a communication buoy mooring cable, with a communication cable connection fixture of a buoy, said arrangement comprising a segmented, flexible sheath structure having an interior passageway that is sized to accommodate therethrough one or more communication link members, first ends of said one or more communication link members being connectable with said communication cable connection fixture of said buoy, and second ends of said one or more communication link members being connectable to communication cable terminal connectors of a terminal end of said mooring cable, and,wherein said segmented, flexible sheath comprises a plurality of pivotally interconnected gimbal rings having mutually adjacent interior apertures through which said one or more communication link members pass.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A multi-gimbal configured transition protectively interfaces a mooring and communication cable to a communication ocean buoy. The transition interface contains a segmented, flexible sheath formed of a plurality of pivotally interconnected gimbal rings having mutually adjacent interior apertures through which one or more communication link members pass. Successive gimbal rings are orthogonally pivotally interconnected with one another so as to make the flexible sheath flexible in three dimensions. Upper ends of one or more communication link members are connectable with a communication cable connection fixture of the buoy. Lower ends of the communication link members are connectable to communication cable terminal connectors of a terminal end of the mooring cable.
67 Citations
18 Claims
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1. An arrangement for interfacing a marine communication cable, that is retained within a communication buoy mooring cable, with a communication cable connection fixture of a buoy, said arrangement comprising a segmented, flexible sheath structure having an interior passageway that is sized to accommodate therethrough one or more communication link members, first ends of said one or more communication link members being connectable with said communication cable connection fixture of said buoy, and second ends of said one or more communication link members being connectable to communication cable terminal connectors of a terminal end of said mooring cable, and,
wherein said segmented, flexible sheath comprises a plurality of pivotally interconnected gimbal rings having mutually adjacent interior apertures through which said one or more communication link members pass.
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10. A method of interfacing a marine communication cable, that is retained within a communication buoy mooring cable, with a communication cable connection fixture of a buoy, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing a segmented, flexible sheath structure having an interior passageway that is sized to accommodate therethrough one or more communication link members;
(b) inserting one or more communication link members through said segmented, flexible sheath structure; and
(c) coupling first ends of said one or more communication link members with said communication cable connection fixture of said buoy, and second ends of said one or more communication link members to communication cable terminal connectors of a riser terminal end of said mooring cable; and
whereinsaid providing step (a) comprises pivotally intercoupling a plurality of gimbal rings to form said segmented, flexible sheath structure, said gimbal rings having mutually adjacent interior apertures, and said coupling step (c) comprises passing said one or more communication link members through said mutually adjacent interior apertures of said plurality of gimbal rings. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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- 16. A transition interface for interfacing a marine communication cable, that is retained within a communication buoy mooring cable, with a communication cable connection fixture of a buoy, said transition interface comprising a segmented, flexible sheath formed of a plurality of pivotally interconnected gimbal rings having mutually adjacent interior apertures through which one or more communication link members pass, wherein successive ones of said pivotally interconnected gimbal rings are pivotally interconnected with one another so as to make said flexible sheath flexible in three dimensions, first ends of said one or more communication link members being connectable with said communication cable connection fixture of said buoy, and second ends of said one or more communication link members being connectable to communication cable terminal connectors of a terminal end of said mooring cable.
Specification