Patents by Inventor Christopher Plant

Christopher Plant has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 9748669
    Abstract: A cable termination apparatus, for an underwater cable with a conductive core and an axially extending annular insulation portion, the apparatus having a cable crimp for electrically connecting the conductive core of the underwater cable to a pin and a conductive crimp screen. The crimp screen is arranged such that when the termination is assembled a portion of the conductive crimp screen extends axially over and is radially outwardly of the annular insulation portion of the cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Richard Lewin, Christopher Plant
  • Patent number: 9742104
    Abstract: Underwater connecting apparatuses include a flexible diaphragm that at least in part defines a wall of a chamber configured to contain a fill material, the wall having a perimeter with a non-circular profile when the chamber is viewed in cross-section. The non-circular profile of the perimeter is configured to allow a volume of the chamber to change without substantially changing a length of the perimeter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Christopher Plant, Mark Simmonds, Stephen Ward
  • Patent number: 9742078
    Abstract: A cable termination apparatus for an underwater cable with a conductive core, an axially extending annular insulation portion radially outwardly of the core and an axially extending annular conductive screen layer radially outwardly of the insulation portion. The apparatus having a stress control sleeve, located radially outwardly of the insulation portion and extending partially over the annular conductive screen layer. The stress control sleeve includes an insulating portion and a conductive portion. When the cable termination apparatus is assembled the conductive portion of the stress control sleeve is in contact with an end portion of the screen layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Richard Lewin, Christopher Plant
  • Patent number: 9742129
    Abstract: A pin for a subsea connector having an electrical conductor, an insulating sleeve around the conductor and a conductive layer provided on a portion of the outer surface of the insulating sleeve. The insulating sleeve has a recess that extends in an axial direction over a portion of the insulating sleeve. The conductive layer is provided in the recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Kieran Jenkin, Trevor Jones, Christopher Plant
  • Publication number: 20170222355
    Abstract: A method of dry-mating a first connector part and a second connector part wherein the first and second connector parts are brought into a first mated state, wherein a seal is engaged between the first and second connector parts. A sealed inner space is formed between the first and second connector parts. The sealed inner space is evacuated through an evacuating port. The evacuation port is arranged such that it is located on an inner sealed side of the engaged seal in the first mated state. Further, the first connector part and the second connector part are brought into a second mated state, wherein a seal is engaged between the first connector part and the second connector part such that the evacuation port is located on an outer side of the engaged seal so that it is no longer in flow communication with the sealed inner space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2017
    Publication date: August 3, 2017
    Applicant: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Richard Lewin, Christopher Plant, Andrew Thompson, Daniel Walton
  • Publication number: 20170221605
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a conductor part for a connector unit is provided. The conductor part includes a conductive core, an insulating sleeve, and at least a first conductive layer arranged between the conductive core and the insulating sleeve. The method includes equipping at least one section of a radially inner surface of the insulating sleeve with the first conductive layer, and equipping at least one section of a radially outer surface of the insulating sleeve with at least a second conductive layer. The second conductive layer is a metal layer or a conductive plastic layer. The method also includes inserting the conducting core in the insulating sleeve before or after equipping a surface of the insulating sleeve with a conductive layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2017
    Publication date: August 3, 2017
    Inventors: Christopher Burrow, Paul Chana, Trevor Jones, Christopher Plant
  • Patent number: 9659684
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a conductor part for a connector unit is provided. The conductor part includes a conductive core, an insulating sleeve, and at least a first conductive layer arranged between the conductive core and the insulating sleeve. The method includes equipping at least one section of a radially inner surface of the insulating sleeve with the first conductive layer, and equipping at least one section of a radially outer surface of the insulating sleeve with at least a second conductive layer. The second conductive layer is a metal layer or a conductive plastic layer. The method also includes inserting the conducting core in the insulating sleeve before or after equipping a surface of the insulating sleeve with a conductive layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Christopher Burrow, Paul Chana, Trevor Jones, Christopher Plant
  • Patent number: 9627798
    Abstract: A connector part for use underwater or in a wet or severe environment, the connector part comprising a pin, projecting axially forwardly from a support, the pin comprising an axially extending electrically conductive portion, an axially extending sleeve comprising fiber reinforced plastic around the conductive portion, a protective layer around the sleeve to prevent exposure of the sleeve to ambient conditions when the pin is exposed to ambient conditions, and an axially extending conductive and impermeable layer between the sleeve and the protective layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventor: Christopher Plant
  • Publication number: 20170093082
    Abstract: A connector part which is a female connector part for engagement with a male connector part having a pin. A connector body has a front portion with an opening for receiving a pin of a male connector part. A chamber inside the connector body is filled with dielectric liquid. A shuttle pin is configured to seal the opening in the front portion of the connector body when the connector part is in a de-mated state. The shuttle pin is moveable rearwardly into a rear portion of the connector body during mating. The first latching mechanism latches the shuttle pin to the pin of the male connector part during mating. A second latching mechanism in the rear portion of the connector body inside a fluid-filled chamber latches at least one of the shuttle pin or the pin towards the connector body in a mated state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2016
    Publication date: March 30, 2017
    Applicant: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Trevor Jones, Christopher Plant
  • Publication number: 20170093083
    Abstract: A method for conditioning at least a section of a mating member of a connector unit having the mating member and a corresponding receiving chamber with a cavity wall partially encasing a receiving cavity, including at least the steps of: using a mating force caused by a mate of the mating member and the receiving chamber to force an insulation medium housed in the receiving cavity of the receiving chamber to travel along a distribution path for the insulation medium, wherein the insulation medium exits the receiving cavity and re-enters the receiving cavity along the distribution path and conditioning at least the section of the mating member with the insulation medium while the insulation medium is bypassing the section of the mating member due to the mate of the mating member and the receiving chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2015
    Publication date: March 30, 2017
    Applicant: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Paul Chana, Trevor Jones, Richard Lewin, Christopher Plant, Stephen Ward
  • Publication number: 20170085071
    Abstract: A pressure compensator for compensating volume variations of a medium. The pressure compensator has a first compensator part and a second compensator part. The first compensator part encloses a first volume and the second compensator part encloses a second volume. The first and second volumes are in flow communication. The first compensator part includes a first bellows portion and the second compensator part includes a second bellows portion. A moveable element, to which the first bellows portion and the second bellows portion are mechanically coupled such that movement of the moveably element along a predetermined axis results in the compression of one of the bellows portions and in the expansion of the other of the bellows portions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2015
    Publication date: March 23, 2017
    Applicant: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Christopher Burrow, Richard Lewin, Christopher Plant, Antonella Simpson, Daniel Walton
  • Patent number: 9590350
    Abstract: An underwater connecting apparatus is provided. The underwater connecting apparatus includes a flexible diaphragm defining a wall of a chamber for receiving therein an electrical conductor and for containing an electrically insulating material around the conductor. The flexible diaphragm includes an electrically conductive material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Christopher Plant, Mark Simmonds, Stephen Ward
  • Publication number: 20170018892
    Abstract: A pin for a subsea connector having an electrical conductor, an insulating sleeve around the conductor and a conductive layer provided on a portion of the outer surface of the insulating sleeve. The insulating sleeve has a recess that extends in an axial direction over a portion of the insulating sleeve. The conductive layer is provided in the recess.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2016
    Publication date: January 19, 2017
    Applicant: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Kieran Jenkin, Trevor Jones, Christopher Plant
  • Publication number: 20160308300
    Abstract: A connector part of a connector unit with a male part and a female part, has at least one electrically conductive layer with at least one end region being electrically stressed after a mating process of the male part and the female part. To minimize electrical stress concentrations, the connector part has at least one stress control device for reducing electrical stress at the at least one end region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2014
    Publication date: October 20, 2016
    Applicant: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Richard Lewin, Christopher Plant
  • Publication number: 20160246012
    Abstract: A connector for subsea use is provided. The connector includes a first and a second connector part adapted to be made at subsea. A first coupling portion is arranged in the first connector part and a second coupling portion is arranged in the second connector part. The first and second coupling portions are configured to be brought into engagement for establishing an electrical or optical connection when the first and the second connector part are mated. The connector further includes a first protection assembly which forms part of the first connector part. The first protection assembly is configured to prevent the exposure of the first coupling portion to seawater when the connector is unmated and deployed subsea. A second protection assembly, which forms part of the second connector part, is configured to prevent the exposure of the second coupling portion to seawater when the connector is unmated and deployed subsea.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2014
    Publication date: August 25, 2016
    Inventors: Christopher BURROW, Christopher PLANT
  • Publication number: 20160233608
    Abstract: A flushing arrangement for flushing a surface of a wet-mateable connector for subsea use is provided. The flushing arrangement has a cartridge adapted to form a chamber around the surface to be flushed prior to flushing. The cartridge has a sealing portion adapted to be sealed against a part of the connector. An inlet port for receiving a fluid from a fluid source and an outlet port for discharging a fluid are provided. Plural flow channels are formed in the cartridge, the plural flow channels comprising flow channels providing a fluid connection between the inlet port and the chamber for enabling a flow of fluid into the chamber and flow channels providing a fluid connection between the chamber and the outlet port for enabling a flow of medium out of the chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2014
    Publication date: August 11, 2016
    Inventors: Christopher BURROW, Christopher PLANT
  • Publication number: 20160211589
    Abstract: A cable termination apparatus for an underwater cable is disclosed. The apparatus includes a cable crimp for electrically connecting the underwater cable to a pin; a conductive crimp screen; and an insulating portion which is located radially outwardly of the conductive crimp screen. The insulating portion has been moulded on the conductive crimp screen prior to assembly of the termination.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2016
    Publication date: July 21, 2016
    Inventors: Richard LEWIN, Christopher Plant
  • Publication number: 20160211588
    Abstract: A cable termination apparatus is disclosed for an underwater cable with a conductive core, an axially extending annular insulation portion radially outwardly of the core and an axially extending annular conductive screen layer radially outwardly of the insulation portion. The apparatus includes a stress control sleeve, arranged to be located radially outwardly of the insulation portion and extend partially over the annular conductive screen layer. The stress control sleeve includes an insulating portion and a conductive portion. When the cable termination apparatus is assembled the conductive portion of the stress control sleeve is in contact with an end portion of the screen layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2016
    Publication date: July 21, 2016
    Inventors: Richard LEWIN, Christopher PLANT
  • Patent number: 9343846
    Abstract: A connector unit for connecting at least two cables includes at least a male part, a female part, and a shuttle piston. The shuttle piston includes an opening configured for receiving at least a section of the male part, at least one latching device, and at least one latching structure. The male part includes the section configured for insertion into the opening of the shuttle pin, at least one latching aid, and an interaction area configured for a force-fitting interaction with at least one backing latch of the female part. The female part includes the at least one backing latch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Christopher Burrow, Richard Lewin, Christopher Plant
  • Publication number: 20160126662
    Abstract: A connector part for use underwater or in a wet or severe environment, the connector part comprising a pin, projecting axially forwardly from a support, the pin comprising an axially extending electrically conductive portion, an axially extending sleeve comprising fibre reinforced plastic around said conductive portion, a protective layer around the sleeve to prevent exposure of the sleeve to ambient conditions when the pin is exposed to ambient conditions, and an axially extending conductive and impermeable layer between the sleeve and the protective layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2014
    Publication date: May 5, 2016
    Applicant: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventor: Christopher PLANT