NO343477B1

NO343477B1 - Connector for transferring gas and electrical signals

Info

Publication number: NO343477B1
Application number: NO20180107A
Authority: NO
Inventors: Severin Gjerde
Original assignee: Oss Invest As
Priority date: 2018-01-24
Filing date: 2018-01-24
Publication date: 2019-03-25
Also published as: NO20180107A1; WO2019147136A1

Description

CONNECTOR FOR TRANSFERRING GAS AND ELECTRICAL SIGNALS

The present invention relates to a connector for transferring gas and electrical signals, and in particular a connector suitable for use in aquaculture applications, for example for end termination of multi-signal cables.

BACKGROUND

In aquaculture applications, such as fish farms for salmon farming, there is commonly a need to transfer electric signals (which may include electric power and/or electronic signals) and/or fluids (for example, compressed air or oxygen) to the fish farm or within the fish farm (e.g., between a feeding barge and individual pens/cages). It is important that such transfer can be done in a secure and reliable manner, which can pose challenges in e.g. floating fish farms which are exposed to varying weather and water currents, as well as workboats and operators carrying out daily routine operations on the fish farm and from time to time special operations such as de-lousing or cleaning of the net pens/cages.

It is further important that a high level of safety is maintained, including both personnel safety and equipment safety, in order to minimize the risk of injury or damage to personnel or equipment.

Documents which may be useful for understanding the background include CN 206441961 U, US 2017/083237 A1, GB 2301236 A, US 3673541 A, US 2008/085620 A1, and DE 202015103307 U1.

The present invention has the objective to provide systems which have advantages over known technology in the above-mentioned or other areas.

SUMMARY

In an embodiment, there is provided a connector for arrangement on a cable end, the connector comprising a first conduit configured to convey a fluid, the first conduit having an outlet port arranged on a side of the connector, a second conduit configured to convey an electrical signal, the second conduit having an electrical end plug, a support face configured for sealingly engaging a connector holder or receiver, wherein the support face is arranged between the outlet port and the electrical end plug. The outlet port is arranged radially outwardly in relation to a longitudinal axis of the connector.

In another embodiment, there is provided an assembly comprising a connector and a connector holder or receiver, wherein the holder or receiver comprises a barrier sealingly engaged with the support face, and the connector holder or receiver is part of a cabinet comprising an electrical component connected to the electrical end plug.

The dependent claims and the detailed description below outline further embodiments according to the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other characteristics will become clear from the following description of illustrative embodiments, given as non-restrictive examples, with reference to the attached drawings, in which

Fig.1 is a perspective view of a connector according to an embodiment,

Fig.2 is a longitudinal cut view of the connector shown in Fig.1,

Fig.3 is a side view of the connector shown in Fig.1,

Fig.4 is a schematic illustration of the connector shown in Fig.1, illustrating a plurality of conduits,

Fig.5 is a schematic illustration of an assembly according to an embodiment,

Figs 6A and 6B show a connector according to another embodiment, and

Figs 7 and 8 illustrate assemblies according to an embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In an embodiment, illustrated in Figs 1-4, there is provided a connector 1 for arrangement on a cable end (not shown). The connector 1 has a back end with a back face 3, and a front end with a front face 2. The connector comprises a fluid conduit 4 configured to convey a fluid between an inlet port 4a and an outlet port 4b. In this embodiment, the connector 1 further comprises a further fluid conduit 5, configured to convey a fluid between an inlet port 5a and an outlet port 5b. As can be most clearly seen in Fig.2, the outlet ports 4b,5b are arranged on a side of the connector 1, radially outwardly in relation to a longitudinal axis 11 of the connector 1.

Three electrical conduits 6,7,8 are configured to convey an electrical signal, which can be an electric power signal, an electric communication signal, or a combination of the two. There may be more or less than three electrical conduits, for example one, two, four or more than four. The electrical conduits 6,7,8 each have an electrical end plug 6b,7b,8b at the front of the connector 1 (end plugs are not visible in Figs 1-3 but can be seen schematically in Fig.4).

A support face 9 is provided at the front of the connector 1, and is configured for sealingly engaging a connector holder or receiver 25, described in further detail below. The support face 9 is arranged between the outlet ports 4b,5b and the electrical end plugs 6b,7b,8b.

In this embodiment, the electrical end plugs 6b,7b,8b are arranged on the front face 2 of the connector 1. Alternatively, they may be arranged farther back on the connector 1 and, for example, on the side of the connector 1, if the positioning of the support face 9 is also farther back towards the back end.

The support face 9 is in this embodiment also arranged on the front face 2 of the connector 1 and arranged to surround the electrical end plugs 6b,7b,8b. That is, the support face 9 forms a continuous surface which can engage a holder or receiver. Alternatively, a non-continuous surface may be used if operational requirements permit.

In this embodiment, the electrical end plugs 6b,7b,8b are arranged on a protrusion 12 and part of the front face 2 of the connector 1 is also arranged on the protrusion 12. The protrusion 12 can extend outwardly and adjoin the support face 9. The electrical end plugs 6b,7b,8b are in this embodiment arranged on a front face 12a of the protrusion 12, however may alternatively be arranged on a side 12b of the protrusion 12.

The side 12b of the protrusion 12 can comprise connection means, such as threads, for fixing the connector 1 to the connector holder or receiver. Alternatively, the connector 1 may be fixed by other means, such as a clamp connector engaging the connector 1 elsewhere on its body, a clip connector, etc.

The further fluid conduit 5 has its outlet on the side of the connector 1, behind the support face 9, but may alternatively have its outlet on the front face 2 or elsewhere on the connector 1 in front of the support face 9.

Fig. 4 shows, schematically, the connections and conduits of the connector 1. The electrical conduits 6,7,8 extend from connectors 6a,7a,8a at the back end of the connector 1 to the electrical end plugs 6b,7b,8b at or near the front end of the connector 1. The fluid conduits 4,5 extend from their inlet ports 4a,5a to their outlet ports 4b,5b. The connectors 6a,7a,8a and the ports 4a,5a are arranged at the back end of the connector 1. When installed, the back end of the connector 1 faces a cable end, where the cable comprises corresponding fluid conduits and electric leads which are coupled to the connectors 6a,7a,8a and the ports 4a,5a.

Fig. 5 shows an assembly of the connector 1 and the holder or receiver 25. In this embodiment, the holder or receiver 25 comprises a barrier 26 sealingly engaged with the support face 9. The connector 1 is fixed to the end of a cable 21, which is capable of supplying and/or receiving electrical signals and/or fluids. Preferably, a single cable 21 is used, which comprises conduits and leads for both electrical signals and fluids, however more than one cable can be used if necessary.

The holder or receiver 25 can be part of a cabinet 23, as illustrated, wherein the cabinet comprises an electrical component 24 connected to the electrical end plugs 6b,7b,8b via electric leads 27.

One or more gas conduits 22 are connected to the outlet ports 4b,5b. Since the support face 9 engages the wall barrier 26 of the cabinet 23, the gas conduit 22 is arranged entirely outside the cabinet 23.

If the connector 1 has a protrusion 12, as illustrated in Figs 1-3, it can be designed to extend into the cabinet 23 when the connector 1 is fixed in place, which can be done by means of threads on the protrusion 12, by means of friction fixation, a clamp, clips, or any other suitable fixation method. The cabinet 23 may, for example, have an appropriate receiver arranged with the wall barrier 26 such that the electrical end plugs 6b,7b,8b automatically connects to the leads 27. Alternatively, the connector 1 may be arranged without the protrusion and with a flat front face or with a depression in the front face inside the area which is encircled by the support face 9, and wherein the electrical leads 27 extend through an opening in the wall barrier 26 to the electrical end plugs 6b,7b,8b.

The connector 1 may connect to the cabinet 23 at any side of the cabinet, for example on a side or on the underside of the cabinet.

The holder or receiver may, alternatively, be a cable adapter which is arranged with or without a cabinet. (See e.g. Fig.7.) The cable adapter may be arranged with further conduits and leads to distribute fluid and electrical signals further.

Figs 6A and 6B illustrate a connector 1’ according to another embodiment. This embodiment has a number of the same features as those described above, indicated with the same reference numeral, but has one differing aspect which is that the outlet port 5b is arranged at the front of the connector 1’, i.e. in front of the support face 9. This may be beneficial, for example, if a fluid supply into the cabinet 23 is desired. As shown in Fig.6B, the connector 1’ may comprise flange parts 28 which form part of the ports and/or conduits. The flange parts 28 may further assist in connecting the conduits and leads of the cable 21 (see Fig.5) to the connector 1’. The connector 1’ shown in Figs 6A and 6B further comprises a back cover 29 with an opening 29’ for the cable 21.

Figure 7 illustrates the use of the connector 1 or 1’ in a fish farm. The holder or receiver 23 is in this embodiment a receiver for the connector 1,1’, being arranged on a floatation element 30 of a floating fish pen. Alternatively, the receiver 23 can be arranged on a different floating unit. The receiver 23 may be connected to a cabinet (not shown) arranged on the floatation element 30, or it may have conduits and leads extending to other components on the floatation element 30. The outlet port 4b is arranged at the back end and outside the receiver 23. In the illustrated embodiment, the holder or receiver is arranged horizontally on the floatation element 30, however may in another embodiment be arranged vertically, e.g. fixed to the hand rail support structure. By arranging the holder or receiver horizontally or vertically on the floatation element 30, it can be ensured that the cable 21 and the connector 1,1’ is, for example, not exposed to damage from operators on the farm.

Figure 8 illustrates the use of the connector 1,1’, wherein the holder or receiver 23 is arranged on a feeding barge 31. The cable 21 may extend from the feeding barge 31 as shown in Fig.8 to the fish pen as shown in Fig.7. In an embodiment, the fluid conduits and the electrical conduits may all extend through the front of the connector 1,1’.

According to embodiments of the invention, it is possible to obtain a more compact and efficient solution for provision of electric signals and fluids, for example in a fish farm. The compactness reduces the risk that the connector, cables and associated systems are in the way of operators on the farm, and reduces the risk of e.g. conduits being accidentally damaged.

Enhanced safety can be achieved, for example when transporting oxygen or an oxygen-rich gas, in that the fluid outlet 4b is separated from electrical connectors and electrical systems. For example, it may be desirable to transfer an oxygen-rich gas in one fluid conduit, compressed air in another conduit, electric power in one electrical conduit, and electric communication signals in one electrical conduit. Other fluids may include water or a water-based fluid. The size of the conduits may be adapted in relation to the fluid to be transported.

The connector 1,1’ may, in one embodiment, be made of polyoxymethylene, which has been discovered to have advantageous characteristics for the purpose of transferring a combination of fluids and signals in a fish farm environment.

The connectors 1,1’ described in the above embodiments have a circular crosssection and a predominantly cylindrical form, however the connector is not limited to this design and may have other forms.

The invention is not limited by the embodiments described above; reference should be had to the appended claims.

Claims

1. A connector (1,1’) comprising

a first conduit (4,5) configured to convey a fluid, the first conduit (4,5) having an outlet port (4b,5b) arranged on a side of the connector (1,1’),

a second conduit (6,7,8) configured to convey an electrical signal, the second conduit (6,7,8) having an electrical end plug (6b,7b,8b), and a support face (9) configured for sealingly engaging a connector holder or receiver (25),

wherein the support face (9) is arranged between the outlet port (4b,5b) and the electrical end plug (6b,7b,8b), c harac terized in that

the connector is configured for arrangement on a cable end and the outlet port (4b,5b) is arranged radially outwardly in relation to a longitudinal axis (11) of the connector (1,1’).

2. A connector (1,1’) according to any preceding claim, wherein the electrical end plug (6b,7b,8b) is arranged on a front face (2) of the connector (1,1’).

3. A connector (1,1’) according to the preceding claim, wherein the support face (9) is arranged on the front face (2) of the connector (1,1’) and the support face (9) surrounds the electrical end plug (6b,7b,8b).

4. A connector (1,1’) according to any of the two preceding claims, wherein the electrical end plug (6b,7b,8b) is arranged on a protrusion (12) and part of the front face (2) is arranged on the protrusion (12).

5. A connector (1,1’) according to claim 1, wherein the electrical end plug (6b,7b,8b) is arranged on a protrusion (12) extending from the support face (9), and wherein the electrical end plug (6b,7b,8b) is arranged:

on a front face (12a) of the protrusion (12), or

on a side (12b) of the protrusion (12).

6. A connector (1,1’) according to any of the two preceding claims, wherein a side (12b) of the protrusion (12) comprises connection means for fixing the connector (1,1’) to the connector holder or receiver.

7. A connector (1,1’) according to any preceding claim, comprising a third conduit (4,5) configured to convey a fluid, the third conduit (4,5) having an outlet port (4b,5b)

arranged on a side of the connector (1,1’), or

arranged on a front face (2) of the connector (1,1’).

8. A connector (1,1’) according to any preceding claim, comprising a plurality of second conduits (6,7,8) configured to convey an electrical signal.

9. An assembly (20) comprising a connector (1,1’) according to any preceding claim and the connector holder or receiver (25), wherein the holder or receiver (25) comprises a barrier (26) sealingly engaged with the support face (9), and the connector holder or receiver (25) is part of a cabinet (23), the cabinet comprising an electrical component (24) connected to the electrical end plug (6b,7b,8b).

10. An assembly (20) according to the preceding claim, comprising a gas conduit (22) connected to the outlet port (4b,5b), the gas conduit (22) arranged outside the cabinet (23).

11. An assembly (20) according to any of the two preceding claims in connection with any of claims 4-6, wherein the protrusion (12) extends into the cabinet (23).

12. An assembly (20) according to any of claims 9-11, further comprising a supply cable (21), the supply cable (21) comprising at least one fluid conduit and at least one electrical conduit.