GB2166185A - Locking arrangement for connectors - Google Patents

Locking arrangement for connectors Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2166185A
GB2166185A GB08427175A GB8427175A GB2166185A GB 2166185 A GB2166185 A GB 2166185A GB 08427175 A GB08427175 A GB 08427175A GB 8427175 A GB8427175 A GB 8427175A GB 2166185 A GB2166185 A GB 2166185A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
locking
aperture
locking pin
pin
connector
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
GB08427175A
Other versions
GB2166185B (en
GB8427175D0 (en
Inventor
Graham Leonard Adams
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
STC PLC
Original Assignee
STC PLC
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by STC PLC filed Critical STC PLC
Priority to GB08427175A priority Critical patent/GB2166185B/en
Publication of GB8427175D0 publication Critical patent/GB8427175D0/en
Priority to AU48519/85A priority patent/AU4851985A/en
Publication of GB2166185A publication Critical patent/GB2166185A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of GB2166185B publication Critical patent/GB2166185B/en
Expired legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
    • E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
    • E21B17/00—Drilling rods or pipes; Flexible drill strings; Kellies; Drill collars; Sucker rods; Cables; Casings; Tubings
    • E21B17/02—Couplings; joints
    • E21B17/04—Couplings; joints between rod or the like and bit or between rod and rod or the like
    • E21B17/046—Couplings; joints between rod or the like and bit or between rod and rod or the like with ribs, pins, or jaws, and complementary grooves or the like, e.g. bayonet catches
    • E21B17/0465—Couplings; joints between rod or the like and bit or between rod and rod or the like with ribs, pins, or jaws, and complementary grooves or the like, e.g. bayonet catches characterised by radially inserted locking elements
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16B—DEVICES FOR FASTENING OR SECURING CONSTRUCTIONAL ELEMENTS OR MACHINE PARTS TOGETHER, e.g. NAILS, BOLTS, CIRCLIPS, CLAMPS, CLIPS OR WEDGES; JOINTS OR JOINTING
    • F16B21/00—Means for preventing relative axial movement of a pin, spigot, shaft or the like and a member surrounding it; Stud-and-socket releasable fastenings
    • F16B21/10—Means for preventing relative axial movement of a pin, spigot, shaft or the like and a member surrounding it; Stud-and-socket releasable fastenings by separate parts
    • F16B21/16—Means for preventing relative axial movement of a pin, spigot, shaft or the like and a member surrounding it; Stud-and-socket releasable fastenings by separate parts with grooves or notches in the pin or shaft
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16B—DEVICES FOR FASTENING OR SECURING CONSTRUCTIONAL ELEMENTS OR MACHINE PARTS TOGETHER, e.g. NAILS, BOLTS, CIRCLIPS, CLAMPS, CLIPS OR WEDGES; JOINTS OR JOINTING
    • F16B2200/00—Constructional details of connections not covered for in other groups of this subclass
    • F16B2200/77—Use of a shape-memory material

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mining & Mineral Resources (AREA)
  • Geology (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
  • Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Geochemistry & Mineralogy (AREA)
  • Mechanical Coupling Of Light Guides (AREA)
  • Optical Couplings Of Light Guides (AREA)

Abstract

Two connector portions (1, 2) are locked in the coupled-together state by means of a locking pin (3) engaged in a locking recess (4) of one portion (1). The locking pin (3) is carried by an element (5) of shape memory metal comprised as a leaf spring or compression spring. To retract the locking pin (3) for coupling or uncoupling of the connector portions (1, 2) the element (5) is heated by optical power supplied thereto from a remote laser source via an optical fibre cable (7) with a lens termination (6). Upon cooling of the element the locking pin is returned and extends into the bore of the portion (2) in the absence of a portion (1). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Locking arrangements for connectors This invention relates to locking arrangements, and in particular to the remote actuation of such arrangements and remote locking and unlocking of fibre optic connectors.
Interest is currently being expressed, in the offshore oil industry, regarding the idea of replacing off-shore platforms from which oil well valves etc are operated by cable incorporating fibre-optics, whereby the valves etc can be operated remotely, and in particular from the shore.
There are various possibilities whereby the two halves of an optical fibre connector can be mated subsea, remotely or otherwise. The present invention is, however, particularly concerned with the remote locking and unlocking of such connections.
According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a locking arrangement comprising a first member; a second member; the first member having an aperture adapted to receive the second member, which is of corresponding dimensions thereto and is to be locked to the first member; a locking pin; an element of shape memory material carrying the locking pin; and means for supplying optical power from a remote laser source to the element for heating thereof, wherein upon such heating of the element the locking pin is retracted from the aperture to permit entry of the second member into the first member, or to permit removal therefrom, and wherein when the element is not so heated the locking pin extends into the aperture and, when the second member is located in the first member, into a corresponding locking aperture of the second member whereby to lock the first and second members together.
According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of remotely locking and unlocking a first member to a second member, the first member having an aperture, adapted to receive the second member which is of corresponding dimensions thereto, and a locking pin which extends into the aperture and into a locking aperture of the second member in the locked-together coupled state of the two members, which locking pin is carried by an element of shape memory material, the method including the step of heating the element, by optical power supplied thereto from a remote laser source over an optical fibre cable, whereby to retract the locking pin from the aperture to permit entry of the second member into the first member for coupling and locking, or to permit removal of the second member from the first member for unlocking and uncoupling, and wherein upon subsequent cooling of the element the locking pin is inserted into the locking aperture for locking of the two members coupled together, or inserted into the aperture following uncoupling of the two members, respectively.
Embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 shows, schematically, the connector locked condition, and Fig. 2 shows, schematically, the connector uniocked condition.
In Fig. 1, reference numeral 1 represents a member, typically an unanchored connector element, which is locked in position relative to a sleeve 2 by means of a locking pin 3, the sleeve 2 comprising a portion of an anchored connector element. It is assumed for the purposes of connector locking that in the locked position of the connector elements (halves), the pin 3 engages with a correspondingly shaped locking aperture 4 in the connector element 1.
The locking pin is mounted at one end of a strip 5 of shape material (metal) which is mounted to be sleeve 2 at its other end. The strip 5 is formed as a leaf spring and is mounted to the sleeve 2 such that in its "normal" (cold) position the pin 3 is in its locking position, as shown in Fig. 1, that is extending into the bore of sleeve 2 in the absence a element 1. Mounted adjacent the strip 5 is a terminating lens arrangement 6 for an optical fibre cable 7. By using a high optical power (100mew) it is possible to send a reasonable amount of optical energy down the fibre optic cable 7 in order to heat the memory metal strip 5. When the strip 5 is so heated it bends and retracts the pin 3 from the locking aperture 4 (Fig. 2), thus enabling the connector element 1 to be removed from the sleeve 2.
The locking arrangement described above will be used as follows. With the strip 5 optically heated and the pin 3 retracted the connector housing 1 can be inserted into the sleeve 2 and thus coupled thereto whereby, for example, connect valve optical fibres.
Once the coupling is made the optical heating is terminated by ceasing to send optical power along cable 7. The memory metal strip then cools and readopts the configuration shown in Fig. 1 with the pin 3 engaged with the element disposed 1 in sleeve 2. In order to subsequently disconnect the coupling, the strip 5 must first be reheated by sending optical power along cable 7 until the elements have been disconnected.
Thus there is provided a method and means of remotely locking and unlocking a connector, which may be employed for connecting elements other than optical fibre cables, by the use of fibre optics.
No electrical power transmission or operator at the connector is required.
Whereas a memory metal leaf spring has been described, it may alternatively comprise a memory metal compression spring.
CLAiMS
1. A locking arrangement comprising a first member; a second member; the first member having an aperture adapted to receive the second member, which is of corresponding dimensions thereto and is to be locked to the first member; a locking pin; an element of shape memory material carrying the locking pin; and means for supplying optical power from a remote laser source to the element for heating thereof, wherein upon such heating of the element the locking pin is retracted
**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (11)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Locking arrangements for connectors This invention relates to locking arrangements, and in particular to the remote actuation of such arrangements and remote locking and unlocking of fibre optic connectors. Interest is currently being expressed, in the offshore oil industry, regarding the idea of replacing off-shore platforms from which oil well valves etc are operated by cable incorporating fibre-optics, whereby the valves etc can be operated remotely, and in particular from the shore. There are various possibilities whereby the two halves of an optical fibre connector can be mated subsea, remotely or otherwise. The present invention is, however, particularly concerned with the remote locking and unlocking of such connections. According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a locking arrangement comprising a first member; a second member; the first member having an aperture adapted to receive the second member, which is of corresponding dimensions thereto and is to be locked to the first member; a locking pin; an element of shape memory material carrying the locking pin; and means for supplying optical power from a remote laser source to the element for heating thereof, wherein upon such heating of the element the locking pin is retracted from the aperture to permit entry of the second member into the first member, or to permit removal therefrom, and wherein when the element is not so heated the locking pin extends into the aperture and, when the second member is located in the first member, into a corresponding locking aperture of the second member whereby to lock the first and second members together. According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of remotely locking and unlocking a first member to a second member, the first member having an aperture, adapted to receive the second member which is of corresponding dimensions thereto, and a locking pin which extends into the aperture and into a locking aperture of the second member in the locked-together coupled state of the two members, which locking pin is carried by an element of shape memory material, the method including the step of heating the element, by optical power supplied thereto from a remote laser source over an optical fibre cable, whereby to retract the locking pin from the aperture to permit entry of the second member into the first member for coupling and locking, or to permit removal of the second member from the first member for unlocking and uncoupling, and wherein upon subsequent cooling of the element the locking pin is inserted into the locking aperture for locking of the two members coupled together, or inserted into the aperture following uncoupling of the two members, respectively. Embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 shows, schematically, the connector locked condition, and Fig. 2 shows, schematically, the connector uniocked condition. In Fig. 1, reference numeral 1 represents a member, typically an unanchored connector element, which is locked in position relative to a sleeve 2 by means of a locking pin 3, the sleeve 2 comprising a portion of an anchored connector element. It is assumed for the purposes of connector locking that in the locked position of the connector elements (halves), the pin 3 engages with a correspondingly shaped locking aperture 4 in the connector element 1. The locking pin is mounted at one end of a strip 5 of shape material (metal) which is mounted to be sleeve 2 at its other end. The strip 5 is formed as a leaf spring and is mounted to the sleeve 2 such that in its "normal" (cold) position the pin 3 is in its locking position, as shown in Fig. 1, that is extending into the bore of sleeve 2 in the absence a element 1. Mounted adjacent the strip 5 is a terminating lens arrangement 6 for an optical fibre cable 7. By using a high optical power (100mew) it is possible to send a reasonable amount of optical energy down the fibre optic cable 7 in order to heat the memory metal strip 5. When the strip 5 is so heated it bends and retracts the pin 3 from the locking aperture 4 (Fig. 2), thus enabling the connector element 1 to be removed from the sleeve 2. The locking arrangement described above will be used as follows. With the strip 5 optically heated and the pin 3 retracted the connector housing 1 can be inserted into the sleeve 2 and thus coupled thereto whereby, for example, connect valve optical fibres. Once the coupling is made the optical heating is terminated by ceasing to send optical power along cable 7. The memory metal strip then cools and readopts the configuration shown in Fig. 1 with the pin 3 engaged with the element disposed 1 in sleeve 2. In order to subsequently disconnect the coupling, the strip 5 must first be reheated by sending optical power along cable 7 until the elements have been disconnected. Thus there is provided a method and means of remotely locking and unlocking a connector, which may be employed for connecting elements other than optical fibre cables, by the use of fibre optics. No electrical power transmission or operator at the connector is required. Whereas a memory metal leaf spring has been described, it may alternatively comprise a memory metal compression spring. CLAiMS
1. A locking arrangement comprising a first member; a second member; the first member having an aperture adapted to receive the second member, which is of corresponding dimensions thereto and is to be locked to the first member; a locking pin; an element of shape memory material carrying the locking pin; and means for supplying optical power from a remote laser source to the element for heating thereof, wherein upon such heating of the element the locking pin is retracted from the aperture to permit entry of the second member into the first member, orto permit removal therefrom, and wherein when the element is not so heated the locking pin extends into the aperture and, when the second member is located in the first member, into a corresponding locking aperture of the second member whereby to lock the first and second members together.
2. A locking arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the element of shape memory material comprises a memory metal leaf spring.
3. A locking arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the element of shape memory material comprises a memory metal compression spring.
4. A locking arrangement as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first and second members comprise fibre optic cable connector elements.
5. A locking arrangement substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
6. A method of remotely locking and unlocking a first member to a second member, the first member having an aperture, adapted to receive the second member which is of corresponding dimensions thereto, and a locking pin which extends into the aperture and into a locking aperture of the second member in the locked-together coupled state of the two members, which locking pin is carried by an element of shape memory material, the method including the step of heating the element, by optical power supplied thereto from a remote laser source over an optical fibre cable, whereby to retract the locking pin from the aperture to permit entry of the second member into the first member for coupling and locking, orto permit removal of the second member from the first member for unlocking and uncoupling, and wherein upon subsequent cooling of the element the locking pin is inserted into the locking aperture for locking of the two members coupled together, or inserted into the aperture following uncoupling of the two members, respectively.
7. A method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the element of shape memory material comprises a memory metal leaf spring.
8. A method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the element of shape memory material comprises a memory metal compression spring.
9. A method as claimed in any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein the first and second members comprise fibre optic cable connector elements.
10. A method of remotely locking and unlocking a first member to a second member substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
11. A locking arrangement comprising a first member; a second member; the first member adapted to receive the second member, which is of corresponding dimensions thereto and can be locked to the first member by a locking part; an element of shape memory material carrying the locking part; and meansforsupplying optical power from a remote laser source to the element for heating thereof to unlock the first and second members.
GB08427175A 1984-10-26 1984-10-26 Locking arrangement for connectors Expired GB2166185B (en)

Priority Applications (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB08427175A GB2166185B (en) 1984-10-26 1984-10-26 Locking arrangement for connectors
AU48519/85A AU4851985A (en) 1984-10-26 1985-10-11 Connector locking by fibre optics

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB08427175A GB2166185B (en) 1984-10-26 1984-10-26 Locking arrangement for connectors

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB8427175D0 GB8427175D0 (en) 1984-12-05
GB2166185A true GB2166185A (en) 1986-04-30
GB2166185B GB2166185B (en) 1988-06-08

Family

ID=10568825

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB08427175A Expired GB2166185B (en) 1984-10-26 1984-10-26 Locking arrangement for connectors

Country Status (2)

Country Link
AU (1) AU4851985A (en)
GB (1) GB2166185B (en)

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2787504A1 (en) * 1998-12-18 2000-06-23 Inst Francais Du Petrole SYSTEM FOR THE PERMANENT INSTALLATION OF MEASUREMENT PROBES AGAINST THE INTERIOR WALL OF A DUCT
US6191692B1 (en) 1998-04-01 2001-02-20 FäRGKLäMMAN AB Theft-deterrent device and a locking element and a release device for a theft-deterrent device
WO2004085860A1 (en) * 2003-03-24 2004-10-07 Telezygology Inc. Fastener for air bags and other uses
EP1960676A1 (en) * 2005-12-12 2008-08-27 Telezygology Inc. Instrument panel
EP1979564A1 (en) * 2005-12-12 2008-10-15 Telezygology Inc. Developments in beam type fasteners

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS61213811A (en) * 1985-03-19 1986-09-22 Sumitomo Electric Ind Ltd Optical connector

Cited By (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6191692B1 (en) 1998-04-01 2001-02-20 FäRGKLäMMAN AB Theft-deterrent device and a locking element and a release device for a theft-deterrent device
FR2787504A1 (en) * 1998-12-18 2000-06-23 Inst Francais Du Petrole SYSTEM FOR THE PERMANENT INSTALLATION OF MEASUREMENT PROBES AGAINST THE INTERIOR WALL OF A DUCT
US6289985B1 (en) 1998-12-18 2001-09-18 Institut Francais Du Petrole System intended for permanent installation of measuring sondes against the inner wall of a pipe
WO2004085860A1 (en) * 2003-03-24 2004-10-07 Telezygology Inc. Fastener for air bags and other uses
US7806427B2 (en) 2003-03-24 2010-10-05 Telezygology Inc. Fastener for air bags and other uses
EP1960676A1 (en) * 2005-12-12 2008-08-27 Telezygology Inc. Instrument panel
EP1979564A1 (en) * 2005-12-12 2008-10-15 Telezygology Inc. Developments in beam type fasteners
EP1960676A4 (en) * 2005-12-12 2010-06-02 Telezygology Inc Instrument panel
EP1979564A4 (en) * 2005-12-12 2010-06-02 Telezygology Inc Developments in beam type fasteners

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB2166185B (en) 1988-06-08
AU4851985A (en) 1986-05-01
GB8427175D0 (en) 1984-12-05

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PCNP Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee