Subsea dummy insert
A dummy insert ( 20 ) for a plug ( 12 ) of a connector assembly ( 11 ), the dummy insert ( 20 ) comprises a forward end ( 45 ) and a rearward end ( 46 ), an insert body ( 22 ), an array of shuttle pin assemblies ( 24 ), a retention plate ( 26 ). The insert body ( 22 ) has an internal wall ( 42 ) and a plurality of guide tubes ( 36 ). The plurality of guide tubes ( 36 ) extends generally forwardly from the internal wall ( 42 ). The retention plate ( 26 ) is located rearwardly of the internal wall ( 42 ). Each shuttle pin assembly ( 24 ) is located at least partly in one guide tube ( 36 ) and is retained by the retention plate ( 26 ). The insert body ( 22 ), the internal wall ( 42 ) and the plurality of guide tubes ( 36 ) is a monolithic structure.
1. A dummy insert ( 20 ) for a plug ( 12 ) of a connector assembly ( 11 ), the dummy insert ( 20 ) comprising:
a forward end ( 45 ) and a rearward end ( 46 );
an insert body ( 22 );
an array of shuttle pin assemblies ( 24 );
a retention plate ( 26 ); and
a seal carrier ( 76 ); and
the insert body ( 22 ) having an internal wall ( 42 ) and a plurality of guide tubes ( 36 ),
the plurality of guide tubes ( 36 ) arranged to extend generally forward from the internal wall ( 42 ), and
the retention plate ( 26 ) located rearward of the internal wall ( 42 ), and
the seal carrier ( 76 ) located rearwardly of the retention plate ( 26 ) and seals against the insert body ( 22 ),
wherein each shuttle pin assembly ( 24 ) is located at least partly in one guide tube ( 36 ) and is retained by the retention plate ( 26 ), and
wherein the insert body ( 22 ), the internal wall ( 42 ) and the plurality of guide tubes ( 36 ) cooperate to form a monolithic structure.
2. A dummy insert ( 20 ) as claimed in claim 1 , wherein
the seal carrier ( 76 ) comprises an annular recess ( 82 ) and an O-ring seal ( 84 ),
the O-ring seal ( 84 ) located partly in the annular recess ( 82 ) and arranged to define a seal against a radially inward surface ( 86 ) of the insert body ( 22 ).
3. A dummy insert ( 20 ) as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the shuttle pin assembly ( 24 ) comprises a spring ( 48 ) and a shuttle pin ( 50 ), the spring ( 48 ) connects to the retention plate ( 26 ) at one end and at its other end connects to the shuttle pin ( 50 ).
4. A dummy insert ( 20 ) as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the retention plate ( 26 ) comprises an array of holes ( 92 ), at least one of the holes ( 94 ) is aligned with at least one of the guide tubes ( 36 ) and at least one of the other holes ( 96 ) is not aligned with any of the guide tubes ( 36 ).
5. A dummy insert ( 20 ) as claimed in claim 1 wherein the internal wall ( 42 ) comprises an array of ports ( 120 ), each port of the array of ports ( 120 ) extends through the internal wall ( 42 ).
6. A dummy insert ( 20 ) as claimed in claim 1 , wherein each guide tube of the plurality of guide tubes ( 36 ) comprises an internal surface ( 116 ) and wherein at least the internal surface ( 116 ) is coated with an electrically insulating layer ( 118 ), the electrically insulating layer ( 118 ) selected from the group comprising acrylonitrile butadiene rubber and other rubber based materials.
7. A dummy insert ( 20 ) as claimed in claim 1 , wherein a radially inward surface ( 86 ) of the insert body ( 22 ) comprises an annular groove ( 90 ) into which a circlip ( 88 ) is located, the circlip ( 88 ) retains the retention plate ( 26 ) from movement in a rearwards direction relative to the insert body ( 22 ).
8. A dummy insert ( 20 ) as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the monolithic structure ( 22 , 42 , 36 ) is formed from an electrically non-conductive or electrically insulating material.
9. A dummy insert ( 20 ) as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising:
a diaphragm assembly ( 52 ) having a diaphragm ( 56 ) and a front plate ( 54 ),
the diaphragm ( 56 ) surrounding at least a portion of the guide tubes ( 36 ),
the front plate ( 54 ) located at the forward end ( 45 ) of the dummy insert ( 20 ),
the front plate ( 54 ) forming a seal at the front end ( 45 ) of the diaphragm assembly ( 52 ) and the dummy insert ( 20 ),
the front plate ( 54 ) comprises an array of apertures ( 60 ) and each aperture ( 60 ) is engaged by one of the shuttle pins ( 50 ) at its opposite end to the retention plate ( 26 ).
10. A dummy insert ( 20 ) as claimed in claim 9 , wherein,
the diaphragm assembly ( 52 ) and the insert body ( 22 ) cooperate to forma chamber ( 102 ), and the chamber ( 102 ) is filled with a dielectric fluid.
11. A dummy insert ( 20 ) as claimed in claim 9 , further comprising:
a support sleeve ( 66 ),
the support sleeve ( 66 ) located radially outwardly of the diaphragm ( 56 ) and abutting the insert body ( 22 ) and the front plate ( 54 ).
12. A dummy insert ( 20 ) as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the front plate ( 54 ) comprises a stiffener plate ( 58 ) and a sealing member ( 62 ), the sealing member ( 62 ) forms wiper-seals ( 64 ) within the apertures ( 60 ) of the array of apertures ( 60 ).
13. A dummy insert ( 20 ) as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the retention plate ( 26 ) comprises an array of bosses ( 47 ), each shuttle pin assembly ( 24 ) is retained within one boss of the array of bosses ( 47 ).
14. A dummy insert ( 20 ) as claimed in claim 13 , wherein each boss of the array of bosses ( 47 ) extends into one of the guide tubes ( 36 ) of the array of guide tubes ( 36 ).
15. A plug ( 12 ) for a connector assembly ( 10 ), the plug ( 12 ) comprising
a casing ( 104 ) and the dummy insert ( 20 ) as claimed in claim 9 ,
the dummy insert ( 20 ) housed within the casing ( 104 ) such that the front plate ( 54 ) is exposed.
16. A plug assembly for a connector assembly ( 10 ), the plug assembly comprising
the plug ( 12 ) as claimed in claim 15 , a plug adapter ( 17 ) and a handle ( 18 ),
the plug assembly connected to the plug adapter ( 17 ), and the handle ( 18 ) flexibly attached to the plug adapter ( 17 ) at the opposite end of the plug adapter ( 17 ) to the plug assembly ( 12 ).
17. A connector assembly ( 10 ) comprising:
the plug ( 12 ) as claimed in claim 15 ,
a receptacle including a receptacle housing ( 13 ),
an array of connector pins mounted within the receptacle,
the plug ( 12 ) mates to the receptacle ( 11 ) such that the receptacle housing ( 13 ) at least partly surrounds at least a part of the plug ( 12 ) and
the array of connector pins ( 14 ) extends through the array of apertures ( 60 ) and engages the shuttle pin assemblies ( 24 ) within the guide tubes ( 36 ),
the array of connector pins ( 14 ) is surrounded by the guide tube ( 36 ) internal surfaces ( 116 ).
18. A method of assembling a dummy insert ( 20 ) as claimed in claim 9 , the method comprising:
inserting the shuttle in assemblies ( 24 ) into the guide tubes ( 36 ),
engaging the shuttle pin assemblies ( 24 ) and the retention plate ( 26 ),
inserting the retention plate ( 26 ) into the insert body ( 22 ),
inserting the insert body ( 22 ), shuttle pin assemblies ( 24 ) and guide tubes ( 36 ) into the diaphragm assembly ( 52 ).
19. A method of assembling a dummy insert ( 20 ) as claimed in claim 18 , wherein the step of inserting is carried out in a bath and submerged in a dielectric fluid.
20. A method of assembling a dummy insert ( 20 ) as claimed in claim 1 , the method comprising the steps
inserting the shuttle pin assemblies ( 24 ) into the guide tubes ( 36 ),
engaging the shuttle pin assemblies ( 24 ) and the retention plate ( 26 ),
inserting the retention plate ( 26 ) into the insert body ( 22 ).
21. A method of manufacturing a dummy insert as claimed in claim 20 , the method comprising the step
injection moulding a monolithic structure comprising the insert body ( 22 ), the plurality of guide tubes ( 36 ) and the internal wall ( 42 ).
22. A method of manufacturing a dummy insert as claimed in claim 21 , the method comprising the step
machining at least one annular groove ( 90 ) on an internal surface ( 86 ) of the insert body ( 22 ).