A CONNECTOR SYSTEM TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to an offshore connector system suitable for connection of a flexible member to or through a bore of an offshore structure, such as a fixed platform or a vessel. The invention also relates to a female connector of such offshore connector system.

BACKGROUND ART

Many offshore installations require installing of a flexible member, such as a power cable, an umbilical, or a pipeline to a bore of an offshore structure, such as a floating or a fixed structure. In order to protect the flexible member from overloading due to water waves, movements of the offshore structure, where it is a moored offshore structure and similar, the flexible member is usually protected by a bend limiting element adjacent to the connection site.

Several systems and methods for providing a simple installation and connection procedure has previously been suggested. It is well known to apply a connection comprising a female connector and a male connector.

US2009020061 describes a connector for releasable connection between an anchorage in the form of a female part arranged on a floating means and a male part formed at the end of a retrievable umbilical provided with a bend stiffener. The male part comprises a mandrel body having a pulling head for connection to a pulling means at one end and the umbilical at the other end. The male part comprises a sleeve-formed body that is fixed to the mandrel body by sharable elements. The bend stiffener is fixed directly to the sleeve-formed body and is designed for abutment against and parking together with the bend stiffener within the female part while the remaining part of the male part including the umbilical is designed to be pulled further up through the female part for fluid communication and connection on a floating means or a vessel. US2015337607 describes a subsea connector assembly for automatically coupling a movable subsea structure to a tubular fixed subsea structure. The connector assembly comprises a male connector assembly, removable mountable to the movable subsea structure, and further comprising a through bore, at least one first actuator member and at least one second actuator member. The connector assembly further comprises an adapter assembly, removable mountable to an end fitting of a string of tubulars, comprising at least one first engagement member and at least one second engagement member, each of the at least one first and second engagement member are operable to be acted upon by the first and/or second actuator member so as to selectively release a locked engagement with the male connector assembly, allowing the adapter assembly to be moved through the through bore of the male connector assembly.

US2014212221 describes a method of providing a flexible line and a bend limiter axially immobilized around the flexible line by a releasable immobilizing mechanism. It includes partially inserting the flexible line through a hollow rigid member, immobilizing the bend limiter on the hollow rigid member, and deactivating the releasable immobilizing mechanism. The releasable immobilizing mechanism is deactivated independently of the movement of the flexible line relative to the bend limiter.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

An objective of the present invention is to provide an offshore connector system for installing a flexible member to an offshore structure, which offshore connector system is relatively simple to produce.

In an embodiment, it is an objective to provide an offshore connector system, which facilitates a simple and reliable installation, which may even be a diverless installation i.e. an installation that may be performed without need of a diver.

In an embodiment, it is an objective to provide an offshore connector system, which is relatively cost-effective and is simple to use. These and other objects have been solved by the invention or embodiments thereof as defined in the claims or as described herein below.

It has been found that the invention or embodiments thereof have a number of additional advantages, which will be clear to the skilled person from the following description.

The offshore connector system of the invention is adapted for installing a flexible member to an offshore structure comprising a guide channel. The instalment may comprise connecting the flexible member to an offshore structure and/or passing a length of the flexible member into or through guide channel of the offshore structure. Methods of using the offshore connector system are described in connection with embodiments of the connector below.

The connector system comprises a female connector and a male connector. The female connector comprises a tube-shaped wall defining a bore and a centre axis, also referred to as the female connector centre axis. The tube-shaped wall of the female connector comprises at least one spring arrangement adapted for engaging and locking the male connector. The spring arrangement comprises a strip-shaped portion formed by one or more cuts in the tube-shaped wall of the female connector. The strip-shaped portion has a flexible portion and a root where it is rooted to the tube-shaped wall of the female connector. The flexible portion comprises an inwards facing engagement protuberance and/or the spring arrangement comprises an inwards facing engagement protuberance located at the flexible portion.

Thus, the flexible portion has an inwards facing side facing towards the female connector centre axis when the flexible member is in unloaded condition. The inwards facing engagement protuberance may be located on the inwards facing side of the flexible portion. In the alternative, the inwards facing engagement protuberance is located on and form part of an extension portion fixed to the flexible portion. The extension portion is a portion fixed to the flexible portion of the spring arrangement. Where the extension portion is denoted as forming part of the flexible portion, it should be interpreted to mean that the extension portion is fixed to the flexible portion to be integrated therewith. The term "root" designates a root line where the strip-shaped portion preferably is in one with and/or integral with the tube-shaped wall of the female connector.

The phrase "inwards facing protuberance "is herein used to mean that the protuberance is facing inwards towards the female connector centre axis when the flexible member is in unloaded condition.

The term "rigid" is herein used to mean that a rigid element is stiff at least at standard conditions of 1 atm. and 23°C.

The term "submerged weight" means herein the weight when fully submerged in water having a density of 1025 kg/m ³ . The actual density of sea water depends on salinity, pressure (and thereby depth) and temperature.

The range of density in the oceans is generally from about 1.020 to 1.070 g/cm ³ colder water more dense saltier water more dense higher pressure causes density increase - pressure increases with depth due to the mass of water above

In practice as well as herein, the submerged weight is determined setting the density to 1025 kg/m ³ .

It should be emphasized that the term "comprises/comprising" when used herein is to be interpreted as an open term, i.e. it should be taken to specify the presence of specifically stated feature(s), such as element(s), unit(s), integer(s), step(s) component(s) and combination(s) thereof, but does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other stated features.

Throughout the description or claims, the singular encompasses the plural unless otherwise specified or required by the context.

The "an embodiment" should be interpreted to include examples of the invention comprising the feature(s) of the mentioned embodiment. The term "about" is generally used to include what is within measurement uncertainties. When used in ranges the term "about" should herein be taken to mean that what is within measurement uncertainties is included in the range.

The term "substantially" should herein be taken to mean that ordinary product variances and tolerances are comprised. All features of the invention and embodiments of the invention as described herein, including ranges and preferred ranges, may be combined in various ways within the scope of the invention, unless there are specific reasons not to combine such features.

Any chemical or physical property is to be determined at standard conditions of 23°C and 1 atm. unless otherwise specified.

The male connector is adapted to be mounted to or is mounted to a bend limiter for protecting a portion of the flexible member adjacent to the offshore structure high mechanical load caused by water turbulence acting on the flexible member adjacent to its connection to the offshore structure which is less flexible.

The male connector comprises a bore for the flexible member and has a centre axis referred to as the male connector centre axis.

The female connector has a distal end and a proximal end. The male connector has a distal end and a proximal end.

Distal and proximal is seen from the subsea structure. Proximal is (or adapted to be) closer to or longest into guide channel of the offshore structure, and distal is (or adapted to be) further from or shortest into the guide channel of the offshore structure.

The female connector conveniently has a first opening at its distal end and a second opposite opening at its second opposite end, wherein the first opening advantageously is adapted for facing downwards relative to the guide channel and for inserting or pulling in at least a length portion of the male connector.

Usually the male connector is pulled into the female connector.

In an embodiment, the female connector comprises a mounting flange suitable for being mounted to an offshore structure, by bolts and nuts and/or by welding. The mounting flange is preferably located proximally to the spring arrangement e.g. at the proximal end of the female connector.

The male connector may be adapted to be mounted to the female connector by being at least partly pulled through the first opening. To ensure low resistance by the inwards facing protuberance and to ensure high strength (high load capacity), the root is preferably located proximally to the flexible portion.

By this configuration the female connector will have a surprisingly high load capacity. Advantageously, the at least one spring arrangement is configured for carrying a weight of at least 100 kg via the male connector, such as at least 500 kg via the male connector, such as at least 1 ton.

In an embodiment, the at least one spring arrangement is configured for carrying a submerged weight of at least 100 kg via the male connector, such as at least 500 kg, such as at least 1 ton via the male connector.

The male connector advantageously comprises a tube-shaped wall defining the male connector bore and the male connector centre axis. The male connector is advantageously shaped to have an outer shape fitting into the female connector, such that the male connector can be locked coaxially in the female connector. To ensure a strong and safe locking it is desired that the male connector comprises a mating recess for engaging with the inwards facing protuberance of the female connector to thereby lock the female connector and the male connector to each other.

The mating recess may comprise a flange, a cavity, a carving, a depression or any kind of recess adapted for engaging the protuberance of the female connector. For even further improving the instalment efficiency the recess may comprise an annular or semi-annular recess. The term "annular recess" is herein used to denote a recess that is extending in the entire circumference of the tube-shaped wall of the male connector. The term "annular recess" is herein used to denote a recess that is extending in at least 25%, preferably at least 40% of the circumference of the tube shaped wall of the male connector. In an embodiment, the male connector comprises a mating recess for each inwards facing protuberance of the female connector.

In an embodiment, the male connector comprising a mating recess engaging with two or more inwards facing protuberance of the female connector, for example in the form of an annular recess.

Such as an annular recess is advantageously concentric to the centre axis of the male connector.

In use, the proximal end of the male connector is inserted into the bore of the female connector from the distal end of the female connector, until the inwards facing protuberance has engaged with the mating recess of the male connector.

It has been found that the offshore connector system solves the objections provided above.

It has been found that the offshore connector system is relatively simple to produce compared to prior art systems. In addition, the offshore connector system simplifies the instalment of a flexible member and provide a highly reliable instalment which may further be very cost-effective.

Also, it has been found that an installation comprising the offshore connector system is relatively simple to inspect, since the stability of the flexible member(s) may be observed visually from outside of the female connector.

The female connector is advantageously adapted to be mounted to the offshore structure to, provide a passage between the bore of the female connector and the guide channel of the offshore structure. Preferably, the female connector may be fixed to the offshore structure, such that the centre axis of the guide channel and the female connector centre axis are parallel or more preferably such that the centre axis of the guide channel and the female connector centre axis are coincident.

Where the guide channel has a circular opening it may be desired to mount the female connector coaxially with the centre axis of the circular opening of the guide channel. In an embodiment, the proximal end of female connector is adapted to be fixed to the offshore structure so that the bore of the female connector is coaxial with the guide channel.

The female connector may be mounted to the offshore structure by any suitable means, preferably to ensure a relatively strong connection between the female connector and the offshore structure, wherein the relatively strong connection preferably is sufficiently strong to withstand the pulling and twisting forces which may be applied to the female connector when connected to a male connector assembly comprising a bend limiter and a flexible member.

The connection between the female connector and the offshore structure may conveniently be a flange-to-flange connection established by nuts and bolts and/or the female connector may be welded to or integrated with the offshore structure e.g. as disclosed above.

The offshore structure may be any offshore structure, such as a fluid exploitation installation or a part thereof and or a subsea foundation e.g. of an energy harvesting system comprising a generator. The offshore structure may for example be a rigid structure fixed on the sea bottom or a floating structure such as a naval surface support, a semi-submersible platform, a floating riser or a ship.

The offshore structure may advantageously be a stationary structure, i.e. an offshore structure that is relatively stationary compared to the flexible member.

The offshore structure may for example be a fixed offshore structure or a floating offshore structure, such as a floating moored and/or anchored offshore structure or an offshore floating offshore structure comprising a Dynamic Positioning (DP) system for automatically controlling the position and heading of the structure, e.g. the vessel or platform.

Examples of offshore structures includes platforms, vessels, floating oil and gas production units, such as FPSO (Floating Production, Storage and Offloading), semi- submersible platforms, floating drilling units such as drilling ships and semi- submersible drilling platforms, jacket platforms, gravity-based platforms, offshore wind turbines. The offshore structure may be fully or partly above waterline. In an embodiment, the offshore structure comprises a turret and the guide channel is a guide channel of the turret.

In an embodiment, the offshore structure is a subsea structure.

In an embodiment, the subsea structure is a sea surface offshore structure, wherein the entrance to the guide channel may be located subsea and/or above sea surface.

In an embodiment, the offshore structure comprises a tube, such as an I-tube or a J-tube providing the guide channel of the offshore structure.

In an embodiment, the guide channel is provided by an opening in offshore structure, such as an opening into a cavity of the offshore structure. The female connector may for example be bolted to the structure with its centre axis coincident with a centre axis of the opening in the offshore structure.

The guide channel of the offshore structure may be any guide channel which the flexible member is adapted to be passed into or through, e.g. the flexible member may be adapted to be installed through the guide channel, such that a length section of the flexible member is passed through and a length section of the flexible member is hanging below. The guide channel may in an embodiment be a channel of a hollow rigid tube, such as the I-tube or J-tube discussed above.

The flexible member may for example be a pipe for fluid transportation, such as a flexible bonded or unbonded pipe, a cable, such as a power cable and/or a cable comprising optical fibre(s), an umbilical or any combination comprising one or more of these.

The tube-shaped wall of the female connector is advantageously substantially rigid, both to ensure a desired strength of the female connector and to ensure an effective and strong spring arrangement. Preferably the tube-shaped wall of the female connector at standard conditions has a flexural stiffness (bending stiffness) El of at least 100 kNm ² , such as at least about 500 kNm ² , preferably at least 1000 kNm ² .

Advantageously, the female connector except for the spring arrangement(s) is rigid.

The term "rigid" is herein used to mean that the rigid element is stiff at least at standard conditions of 1 atm. and 23°C. The term "rigid" when applied for the female connector preferably mean that the female connector has a flexural stiffness El of at least 500 kNm ² .

The tube-shaped wall of the female connector may comprise one or more layers, such as one or more main layers extending in the entire tube-shaped wall of the female connector and optionally one or more additional layers extending only in a part of the tube-shaped wall of the female connector.

The tube-shaped wall of the female connector may preferably comprise a layer of a metal, such as steel. By providing the tube-shaped wall of the female connector to be partly or fully of metal a very strong and durable female connector may be obtained.

In an embodiment, the tube-shaped wall of the female connector may comprise or consist of one or more polymer layers. The one or more polymer layer may for example include one or more fibre-reinforced polymer and/or one or more non fibre-reinforced polymer.

In an embodiment the fibre-reinforced polymer comprises a cross-linked and/or a thermoset polymer, such as a cross-linked polyolefin and/or epoxy resin.

In an embodiment, the female connector is fully or partly of fibre-reinforced polymer, such as fibre-reinforced polymer comprising a fibre-reinforced thermoset polymer(s). Examples of suitable fibres of the fibre-reinforced polymer include fibres selected from glass fibres, basalt fibres, polypropylene fibres, carbon fibres, glass fibres, aramid fibres, steel fibres, polyethylene fibres, mineral fibres and/or mixtures comprising at least one of the foregoing fibres.

The fibre-reinforced polymer advantageously comprise at least about 10% by weight of fibres, such as from about 20% to about 90% by weight of fibres.

Advantageously, the material of the at least one layer of material of the tube-shaped wall has a young's modulus of at least about 0.7 GPa, such as at least about 1 GPa, such as at least about 10 GPa. Where the layer of material is a metal, it may be desired that the metal has a young's modulus of at least about 10 GPa, such as at least about 100 GPa, such as at least about 190 GPa, such as at least about 200 GPa. In an embodiment, the cut(s) may be slim cut(s) providing a pair of opposite cut faces that are facing each other and is immediately adjacent to each other, such as with a distance of less than 1 mm. When using slim cuts, it may be ensured that only a minimum of material is cut out of the female connector.

In an embodiment, the cut(s) may be slot cut(s) providing a pair of opposite cut faces that are facing each other and having a distance of at least 1 mm, such as up to 2 cm, such as 2-10 mm, e.g. 3-5 mm. Slut cuts may be applied locally e.g. for simpler mounting of the locking wedge as described further below.

In an embodiment, the cut(s) may comprise a combination of slim cut(s) and slot cut(s).

The cut(s) in the tube-shaped wall of the female connector providing the strip shaped portion may in an embodiment be provided substantially perpendicular to the centre axis of the female connector.

In an embodiment, the cut(s) in the tube-shaped wall of the female connector providing the strip-shaped portion has an angle to the centre axis of the female connector such as an angle up to about 55°, thereby providing the pair of opposite cut faces with inclination in respect of the centre axis of the female connector.

The cut(s) in the tube-shaped wall of the female connector providing the strip shaped portion may for example have an angle to the centre axis of the female connector of from 10° to 55°, such as in the range of from 15° to 45°.

To ensure that the strip-shaped portion may be pressed outwards when inserting the male connector into the female connector, the angle of the cut (s) in the tube shaped wall of the female connector providing the strip-shaped portion should advantageously be directed such that the outwards facing surface of the strip shaped portion has a larger surface area than the inwards facing surface of the strip shaped portion.

Where the outwards facing surface of the strip-shaped portion is larger than the inwards facing surface of the strip-shaped portion, the edge(s) of the tube-shaped wall of the female connector bordering the strip-shaped portion may block the strip shaped portion from flexing inwards. By ensuring that the strip-shaped portion is blocked from flexing inwards, an even simpler connection may be provided between the female connector and the male connector, since the risk of the strip-shaped portion bending inwards to block the male connector from being inserted into the female connector has been reduced or fully avoided.

The cuts, such as the cut slots in the tube-shaped wall may be provided by several cuttings means, such as by CNC machining, by a jig saw and/or by laser cutting.

In an embodiment, the cuts in the tube-shaped wall is made by water jet cutting. Water jet cutting has proven to provide excellent and accurate cuts.

In an embodiment the cuts in the tube-shaped wall is made by plasma cutting. Plasma cutting is very efficient in particular for cutting in steel having large wall thickness. Plasma cutting may be used for cutting steel plates having a thickness up to 150 mm.

In an embodiment, the cuts in the tube-shaped wall is provided by use of oxy-fuel cutting using oxygen and a fuel gas.

The use of oxy-fuel cutting is especially advantageously where the tube-shaped wall is of or comprises metal such as steel, since it is both fast and very accurate. The cutting process may for example applying a mixture of oxygen and fuel gas to preheat the metal to its 'ignition' temperature (bright red heat), which for steel is usually in the range 700°C - 900°C, but well below its melting point. A jet of oxygen is then directed into the preheated area instigating a vigorous exothermic chemical reaction between the oxygen and the metal to form iron oxide or slag. The oxygen jet blows away the slag enabling the jet to pierce through the material and continue to cut through the material.

It should be understood that the strip-shaped portion formed by the one or more cuts, surrounds the strip shape except for the root where it remains connected to the remaining of the female connector. The strip-shaped portion has a length extending from the root and along the flexible portion e.g. in a line parallel to the centre axis of the female connector. The length of the strip-shaped portion is advantageously larger than its maximal width, such as larger than twice its maximal width. The maximal width of the strip-shaped portion may advantageously be at the root of the strip-shaped portion. The root width of the strip-shaped portion may be selected to provide the desired flexing force of the flexible portion of the strip shaped portion - i.e. the flexing force required to flexing the flexible portion inwards, preferably without resulting in plastic deformation.

The cuts in the tube-shaped wall may conveniently comprise a pair of cuts having an average distance less than their average length and, optionally, a cross cut crossing from one of the pair of cuts to the other one of the pair of cuts, such as at a first edge of the respective cuts. The root of the strip-shaped portion will then be formed at the second ends of the pair of cuts and the cross cut will form a free edge of the flexible portion of the strip-shaped portion. The flexible portion extends from the root to the free edge. The end opposite to the root is referred to as the free end or simply the end of the flexible portion. The term "free" is used to indicate that the end/edge is the flexing end/edge. The free end may thus be mounted to an extension portion e.g. a locking wedge.

Where the free end is to be mounted to an extension portion a slab of the tube shaped wall adjacent the free edge is advantageously cut out to make space for the extension portion. The slab advantageously has a size corresponding to the space filled out by the extension portion. Thereby, when under high load, the extension portion may be supported by the tube-shaped wall for ensuring an even higher load capacity.

The cross cut may be straight or curved and in the same way the pair of cuts may individually of each other be straight or curved. In an embodiment, the pair of cuts are substantially equidistant cuts. In an embodiment, pair of cuts in the tube-shaped wall are cuts following parallel lines, such as straight parallel lines or non-parallel lines, such as lines that are angled to each other e.g. to provide a more narrow free edge than the width of the root.

The strip-shaped portion may be substantially rectangular, triangular symmetrical in an axis parallel to the centre axis of the female connector or non-symmetrical. It may have a periphery with sharp or rounded edges. In an embodiment, the cuts in the tube-shaped wall comprises a pair of cuts which together with the root provides that the strip-shaped portion is substantially triangular.

The cuts in the tube-shaped wall advantageously comprises a pair of cuts having an average distance less than their average length, preferably the strip-shaped portion is symmetrical having a symmetry axis parallel to the centre axis of the female connector.

In an embodiment, the flexible portion of the strip-shaped portion is located distally to the root of the strip-shaped portion.

Alternatively, the flexible portion of the strip-shaped portion is located proximally to the root of the strip-shaped portion.

For providing the strongest connection to the male connector, the flexible portion of the strip-shaped portion may conveniently be located distally to the root of the strip shaped portion.

The strip-shaped portion has a length extending from the root and parallel to the centre axis of the female connector, which length is advantageously larger than its maximal width, such as larger than twice its maximal width.

The strip-shaped portion may conveniently comprise a longitudinal strip-shaped portion with its length oriented lengthwise relative to the centre axis of the female connector and preferably the root located proximally to the flexible portion, the load applied to the spring arrangement may be applied in the length direction of the strip-shaped portion and be carried by the female connector via the root of the spring arrangement. Thereby, the female connector and its one or more spring arrangements may provide a very strong connection with the male connector.

Advantageously, the one or more cuts in the tube-shaped wall comprises a cross cut providing a free end of the strip-shaped portion wherein the free end of the strip shaped portion forms part of the flexible portion.

Advantageously, the strip-shaped portion comprises a longitudinal strip-shaped portion a narrow length section and a wider length section, wherein the wider length section is at least 10% wider than the narrow length section, such as at least 50% wider than the narrow length section, such as at least 100% wider than the narrow length section.

The narrow length section may preferably be located closer to the root than the wider length section, preferably the narrow length section is located proximally to the wider length section.

The width of the narrow section may be selected to provide a desired flexibility of the spring arrangement. The wider the narrow section, the stiffer will the spring arrangement be.

The protuberance is advantageously located at the wider length section of the strip shaped portion. The width of the wider section may then be selected to allow the protuberance to be relatively wide for ensuring a strong and relatively large engagement with a recess of the male connector.

The narrow length section may conveniently longer than the wider length section, such as at least 50% longer than the wider length section, such as at least 75% longer than the wider length section.

In an embodiment, the strip-shaped portion has a length and the flexible portion has a tip located furthest away from the root, wherein the inwards facing protuberance is located closer to the tip than to the root, preferably the inwards facing protuberance is located immediately adjacent to the tip.

As mentioned, the tip of the strip-shaped portion may be provided by the free end/the end of the strip-shaped portion i.e. the end opposite to the root.

The, shape, height and location of the protuberance may advantageously be selected in dependence of the recess or recesses of the male connector to ensure a safe connection.

The maximum height of the protuberance is determined perpendicular to and from the inwards surface of the strip-shaped portion and to the highest point of the protuberance. The inwards facing protuberance has a maximal protruding height which is sufficient to engage and/or lock with the recess of the male connector. Preferably, the maximal protruding height of the protuberance is at least 5 mm, preferably from 1 to 20 cm, such as from 2 to 10 cm, such as from 3 to 5 cm.

When the male connector is pulled into the female connector, the outer surface of the male connector will press the protuberance outwards. Thereby, the flexible portion of the spring arrangement will be flexed outwards. When the male connector has been inserted to its correct location, the protuberance will engage with the recess of the male connector and the flexible portion of the spring arrangement will return to its original non-flexed condition and hold the protuberance safely engaged with the recess of the male connector.

Advantageously, the inwards facing protuberance has an inclined surface forming a ramp inclining from a low level ramp end to a high level ramp end, wherein the low level ramp end is located distally to the high level ramp end. Thereby, the male connector may be easy to pull into the female connector. The flexible portion will gradually be pressed outwards as the male connector passes into the bore of the female connector, until the protuberance engages with the recess of the male connector.

The high level is preferably the maximal protruding height.

In an embodiment, the inwards facing protuberance has an engagement side face extending from the high level ramp end and down towards the strip-shaped portion, the engagement side is preferably in the form of an engagement edge for engaging with a recess of the male connector.

The engagement side/edge is preferably adapted to engage with the recess of the male connector. The engagement side may advantageously have a width which is larger than the maximum protruding height of the protuberance. The width of the protuberance may thereby conveniently be larger than its maximal protruding height.

In an embodiment, the inwards facing protuberance is provided by or comprises folds of the strip-shaped portion. This may, for example, be provided by folding back the strip-shaped portion at its free edge, for example to have a triangular shape. Advantageously, the inwards facing protuberance is provided by or comprises an extension portion, preferably in the form of a locking wedge. The locking wedge is preferably fixed to the flexible portion of the strip-shaped portion. The locking wedge may for example comprise a flange extending beyond the free end/end of the strip shaped portion, to thereby make a desired fixation. To make space for the locking wedge, a slab of the tube-shaped wall located distally to the flexible potion may conveniently be cut out. Advantageously, the length of the slab corresponds to the length of the locking wedge, where the height is determined in the length of the flexible portion. Preferably, the length of the slab is from 0.01% to 10%, such as from 0.5% to 5% longer than the length of the locking wedge.

Thus, preferably the flexible portion of the spring arrangement comprises a locking wedge providing the or comprising the inwards facing protuberance, which may conveniently have a wedge shape providing the above described ramp with a high level ramp end and a low level ramp end and comprises an engagement edge for engaging with a recess of said male connector.

The locking wedge may be fixed to the flexible portion of the strip-shaped portion by nut and bolts, by welding or any other fastening providing a strong and durable fastening.

Advantageously, the locking wedge is fixed to the flexible portion via a fixing orifice located at the flexible portion.

The engagement edge has advantageously a proximally facing contact surface for ensuring a strong and safe engagement.

In an embodiment, the locking wedge comprises a flange extending beyond a tip of the flexible portion located furthest away from the root.

In an embodiment, the locking wedge comprises a pin extending at least partly through the fixing orifice to thereby fix the locking wedge to the flexible portion of strip-shaped portion. The pin preferably extends fully through the fixing orifice and preferably protrudes further outwards from the flexible portion. The female connector may beneficially comprise a restraining arrangement for ensure a safe connection to avoid unintentional disconnection of the male connector from the female connector. The restraining arrangement is preferably configured for blocking the flexible portion from moving outwards, such as configured for blocking the flexible portion from moving outwards when at least a length portion of the male connector has been drawn into the female connector, such as when at least one mating recess has been drawn to past the inwards facing engagement protuberance.

In an embodiment, the restraining arrangement comprises a slidable latch having a locked condition in which it is blocking the flexible portion from moving outwards and an open condition in which the flexible portion is not blocked from moving outwards. Thereby, a the restraining arrangement is both simple to handle and ensures an effective prevention of the flexible portion from flexing outwards and thus, disengagement of the inwards facing protuberance and the mating flange of the male connector may be effectively prevented.

In an embodiment, the strip-shaped portion comprises or carries an outwards protruding lock engagement portion and wherein the restraining arrangement comprises a slidable latch having a locked condition in which the slidable latch is engaged with the lock engagement portion and an open condition in which the slidable latch is engaged with the lock engagement portion. The slidable latch may e.g. be operated by a piston e.g. by remote control. The protruding lock engagement portion may conveniently form part of the extension portion, preferably in the form of the locking wedge.

The slidable latch may advantageously comprise a gripping jaw, and the outwards protruding lock engagement portion may comprise a gripper pin and wherein the slidable latch in its locked condition is engaged by the outwards protruding lock engagement portion by engagement between the gripping jaw and the gripper pin.

The above described pin for fixing the locking wedge to the flexible portion via the orifice in the flexible portion may for example provide the gripper pin.

To provide the connection between the male connector and the female connector to be a releasable lock, the female connector may comprise a releaser arrangement engaged with the strip-shaped portion for moving the flexible portion outwards for releasing an engagement between the male connector and the female connector. Due to the relatively simple structure of the spring arrangement and the locking between the female connector and the male connector, the releaser arrangement may be a relatively uncomplicated arrangement configured for applying a linear unidirectional force to the flexible portion of the spring arrangement.

In an embodiment, the releaser arrangement comprises a piston and/or a rod mounted to the outwards facing side of the flexible portion of the strip-shaped portion. The piston and/or a rod is preferably adapted for being moved outwards by pulling and/or pushing for thereby moving the flexible portion outwards e.g. using an arrangement for moving the piston and/or rod outwards by pulling and/or pushing. The arrangement for moving the piston and/or rod outwards may for example be a mechanical pulling/pushing arrangement and/or a hydraulic pulling/pushing arrangement.

The mechanical pulling/pushing arrangement and/or a hydraulic pulling/pushing arrangement needs not be mounted to the female connector, but may be operated from above when the female connector and the male connector are to be disconnected. The mechanical pulling/pushing arrangement and/or a hydraulic pulling/pushing arrangement may for example be mounted to engage with the piston(s) and/or rod(s) immediately before the disconnection.

In an embodiment, at least a portion of the arrangement for pulling and/or pushing the piston and/or rod outwards, such as a mechanical pulling/pushing arrangement and/or a hydraulic pulling/pushing arrangement form part of the female connector.

In an embodiment, the releaser arrangement comprises a rotatable collar mounted engage with the flexible portion of the strip-shaped portion or a pin or knob mounted to protrude outwards from the flexible portion e.g. mounted to the outwards side of the flexible portion or provided by a outwards protruding pin of a locking wedge, so that by rotating the collar the flexible portion of the strip-shaped portion is pulled outwards for releasing the engagement between the protuberance of the female connector and the recess of the male connector.

The releaser arrangement ensures a simple and effective disconnection of the male connector and the female connector from each other. The female connector may comprise as many spring arrangements as desired. Advantageously, the female connector comprises at least two, such as three spring arrangements, such as four spring arrangements or even further. The two or more spring arrangement of the female connector are advantageously identical and are preferably located evenly distributed in the circumference of the tube-shaped wall of the female connector.

To protect a length of the flexible member located immediately outside the male connector during or after installation against forces applied by water waves and other agitation of the water, the offshore connector system advantageously comprises a bend limiter mountable or mounted to the male connector. The male connector advantageously comprises a distally located flange and the bend limiter preferably being mounted to this distally located flange, e.g. by bolts and nuts and/or by welding.

The bend limiter, may in principle be any kind of bend limiter, such as the bend limiter known in the art of flexible pipes.

The bend limiter may be a bend restrictor or a bend stiffener or a combination thereof, for example a polymer based stiffener e.g. a polyurethane (PU) based stiffener and/or a limiter made up of hinged rigid elements (vertebrae).

A bend restrictor functions as a mechanical stop and limits the radius of curvature of a length section of the flexible member to be installed to a minimum value.

A bend stiffener reduces bending stresses and curvature of a length section of the flexible member to be installed to acceptable levels.

In an embodiment, the bend limiter comprises or consist of one or more polymer materials optionally with metallic reinforcements at its connection to the male connector. Suitable polymers includes polyolefins, such as polyethylene and rubbers, such as polyurethane. Advantageously, the polymer has a Shore D hardness of 40 or larger such as from 50 to 70, such as 55-65 measured by a durometer at 23°C in dry condition. In an embodiment, the bend limiter portion is fully or partly of polymer such as of a cross-linked polymer, such as a polyurethane (PU) or a copolymer comprising PU.

In an embodiment, the bend limiter comprises a tube-shaped wall comprising a tube-shaped layer of a rigid material selected from a metal, such as steel and/or a polymer, such fibre-reinforced polymer e.g. as described for the tube-shaped wall of the female connector above.

The tube-shaped wall may e.g. have a flexural stiffness (bending stiffness) El of at least 100 kNm ² , such as at least about 500 kNm ² , preferably at least 1000 kNm ² .

The tube-shaped layer of rigid material of the bend limiter advantageously comprises a cut pattern comprising one or more through cuts. The cut pattern may be provided to be sufficient for allowing the bend limiter portion to bend with a selected bending radius. The selected bending radius may e.g. be from 0.5 to 25 m, such as from 2 to 10 m.

The bend limiter may e.g. be as described in GB2304393 and/or US2515366.

The cut pattern may comprise cut(s) extending in substantially the entire circumference of the tube-shaped wall. The cut pattern may conveniently comprise a meandering pattern, preferably extending partly or fully in the circumference of the metal wall.

In an embodiment, the cut pattern comprises a helically meandering pattern, such as a trapezoid meandering pattern.

In an embodiment, the tube-shaped wall of the bend limiter comprises a tube shaped polymer layer of a polymer material having a flexural stiffness lower than the flexural stiffness of the rigid material. The tube-shaped polymer layer may be located above and/or below the tube-shaped layer of rigid material. The tube shaped polymer layer may e.g. be provided as protective coating, protecting the female connector against corrosion.

In an embodiment, the tube-shaped layer of rigid material e.g. in the form of a rigid layer comprising a cut pattern, is embedded in the tube-shaped polymer layer. The tube-shaped polymer layer may e.g. be of polyolefins, such as polyethylene and rubbers, such as polyurethane.

In an embodiment, the bend limiter comprises a helically shaped body adapted to surround a length section of the flexible member, preferably the helically shaped body comprises a helical string of solid material, preferably having a flexural stiffness (bending stiffness) El of at least 100 kNm ² , such as at least about 500 kNm ² , preferably at least 1000 kNm ² .

Advantageously, the helically shaped body has a root end and an opposite far end, wherein the helically shaped body is mounted to the male connector at its root end, preferably via a flange.

The helically shaped body may e.g. be of or comprise the rigid material disclosed above.

In an embodiment, the helically shaped body comprises windings with a pitch of from 5 cm to 2 m, such as from 0.1 m to 0.5 m.

The pitch may be constant or it may vary along the length of the helically shaped body of the bend stiffener. In an embodiment, the pitch is substantially constant in a first length section nearest to the root end of the bend stiffener and in a section further from the root end of the bend stiffener the pitch is gradually increasing with increasing distance to the root end of the bend stiffener.

In an embodiment, the helical string windings may advantageously have an angle (or angles) to the bend stiffener centre axis of from about 30 degrees to about 65 degrees, such as from about 40 degrees to about 55 degrees.

The helical string may in principle be of any type of material and combinations of material having a sufficient stiffness and strength. Generally, the material(s) of the helically shaped body of the bend stiffener should preferably also be selected to have a desired chemical resistance against sea water. Thus, some materials may beneficially be provided with a coating of a material with a chemical resistance to withstand the influence of sea water and other aggressive components to which the bend stiffener may be subjected. The helical string may for example comprise polymer and/or metal, such as steel or titanium, optionally the helical string comprises polymer coated metal.

In a preferred embodiment the helical string comprises fibre-reinforced polymer. The fibres may advantageously be selected from natural fibres and/or synthetic fibres. Preferred fibres include carbon fibres, glass fibres, aramid fibres, steel fibres, polyethylene fibres, mineral fibres and mixtures comprising at least one of the foregoing.

The helical string may in principle have any cross-sectional shape, however, generally it is desired that the helical string has a cross-sectional shape which is selected from square, round, oval or semi-round with a flat face towards the flexible member. Thereby the string is relatively simple to produce, and it may be provided to result in relatively little wear of the outer face of the flexible member.

In a preferred embodiment, the helical string in at least a part of its length is hollow. Thereby the bend stiffener may be provided with a very low weight, which as described above may be very beneficial.

The helically shaped body of the bend stiffener may e.g. be produced by filling a fibre woven stocking with a support material, such as sand or foam, applying a stocking shaped polymer bag which is slightly larger than the filled fibre woven stocking to surround the fibre woven stocking and infusing an impregnation substance, e.g. a partly cured polymer or a resin into the gap provided between the fibre woven stocking and the stocking shaped polymer bag. If desired, additional fibres may be infused together with the impregnation substance. Thereafter, the helically shaped body of the bend stiffener is shaped and cured. If desired, the filling material may be removed to provide the hollow string or string length section as described above. Alternatively, the filling material may remain.

Thus, in an embodiment the helical string in at least a part of its length comprises a core of non-reinforcing material selected from foam and flowable particulate material, such as sand.

Generally, it is desired that the helical string has a maximal cross-sectional outer dimension which is up to about 15 cm, such as up to about 10 cm, such as up to about 5 cm, the maximal cross-sectional outer dimension preferably decreases from the root end to the far end of the bend stiffener. In an embodiment, the helically shaped body comprises two or more helical strings of solid material wound to surround the pipe. The two or more helical strings are preferably wound in the same directions. Advantageously, the helical strings form a double or triple helix. In an embodiment, the helical strings are substantially identical. In an embodiment, the helical strings differ from each other e.g. with respect to length and/or stiffness.

The male connector may conveniently be provided of materials as described for the female connector. Advantageously, the male connector is or comprises metal, such as steel.

The male connector and/or the bend limiter may comprise a releasable lock arrangement for temporarily locking the male connector and/or the bend limiter to an end fitting of a flexible member when the end fitting of the flexible member is located in the bore of the male connector.

In an embodiment, the releasable lock arrangement for temporarily locking the male connector and/or the bend limiter to the end fitting of the flexible member is adapted for locking the male connector and/or the bend limiter to the fitting of the flexible member via a pull-in head connected to the end fitting.

The releasable lock arrangement may for example be adapted for being mechanically and/or hydraulic released.

In an embodiment, the releasable lock arrangement is established using shear pins, having a selected maximum load which is sufficient for holding end fitting of the flexible member locked in the bore of the male connector until it is desired to have the end fitting released from the lock. The shear pins may then be broken by overloading by a fast twitch in the pull-in head.

In use a flexible member to be installed in the offshore structure is mounted in the bore of the male connector preferably with a distally located bend limiter. A pull-in head is mounted proximally to the end-fitting. The end-fitting is advantageously locked to the releasable lock arrangement of the male connector.

The female connector is preferably mounted to the offshore structure as described above. The male connector is thereafter pulled into the female connector by pulling in the pull-in head until the protuberances of respective spring arrangements of the female connector is engaged with one or more mating recesses of the male connector.

The temporarily lock of the releasable lock arrangement may now be released e.g. by overloading shear pins by a fast twitch in the pull-in head. The flexible member may now be pulled further into the guide channel of the offshore structure.

The release of the female connector/male connector engagement may be as described above.

The male connector and/or the female connector may conveniently comprise one or more offer anode to protect against corrosion.

The invention also comprises the female connector, which may be as described above. The female connector may be adapted to fit with any suitable male connector comprising a recess, such as an annular recess.

All features of the inventions and embodiments of the invention as described herein including ranges and preferred ranges may be combined in various ways within the scope of the invention, unless there are specific reasons not to combine such features.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS AND ELEMENTS OF THE INVENTION

The above and/or additional objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be further elucidated by the following illustrative and non-limiting description of embodiments of the present invention, with reference to the appended drawings.

The figures are schematic and are not drawn to scale and may be simplified for clarity. Throughout, the same reference numerals are used for identical or corresponding parts.

Figure 1 is a side view of an embodiment of a female connector of the invention. Figure 2 is a side view of an embodiment of a male connector of an offshore connector system of the invention.

Figure 3a illustrates the female connector of figure 1 and the male connector of figure 2 immediately prior to being connected to each other for installing a flexible member.

Figure 3b is a cross sectional view of the illustration of figure 3a.

Figure 4a illustrates the female connector of figure 1 and the male connector of figure 2 connected to each other for installing a flexible member.

Figure 4b is a cross sectional view of the illustration of figure 4a.

Figure 5a is a schematic side view of an offshore connector system of an embodiment of the invention, where the female connector and the male connector are connected to each other.

Figure 5b is a cross sectional view of the offshore connector system of figure 5a.

Figure 5c is a perspective view of the offshore connector system of figure 5a.

Figures 6a-6e illustrates a female connector and a male connector of an offshore connector system of an embodiment of the invention during stages of connecting to each other.

Figures 7a, 7c, 7e are enlargements of a section of, respectively, figure 6a, 6c and 6e-6e.

Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view of the female connector and a male connector connected together.

Figures 9a and 9b illustrate close-up views of the flexible portion with a locking wedge.

Figures 10a, 10b and 10c are perspective views of a female connector comprising a restraining arrangement during pulling in of the male connector, after pulling in of the male connector and after providing the slidable latch from its open condition to its locked condition. The female connector 1 shown in figure 1 comprises a tube-shaped wall defining a bore and a centre axis indicated with the dotted line X. The tube-shaped wall of the female connector 1 has a flange la at its proximal end and an outward angled edge at its distal end lb for making it simpler to pull a male connector into the female connector 1 via its distal end lb.

The tube-shaped wall of the female connector 1 comprises 3 spring arrangements, wherein only a first spring arrangement is visible and a second spring arrangement is partly visible in the figure 1. As mentioned above, it may have fewer or further spring arrangements. Each spring arrangement comprises a strip-shaped portion formed by one or more cuts in the tube-shaped wall of the female connector 1. The strip-shaped portion comprises flexible portion 3a, 3b and a root 2 where it is rooted to the tube-shaped wall of the female connector 1. The flexible portion 3a, 3b comprises an inwards facing engagement protuberance which is not visible in figure 1.

The strip-shaped portion comprises a longitudinal strip-shaped portion comprising a narrow length section 3a and a wider length section 3b. It can be seen that the narrow section 3a is relatively long compared to the wider section 3b. The protuberance is located at the wider section 3b of the flexible portion of the strip shaped portion, i.e. closer to the tip of the flexible portion 3a, 3b than to the root 2.

In this embodiment, the protuberance is provided by a locking wedge 4a, which is fixed to wider section 3b of the flexible portion of the strip-shaped portion, by a flange of the locking wedge 4a extending beyond the tip of the strip-shaped portion and is fixed with a pin 4b. For safe fixation the locking wedge 4a, may further be welded and/or glued e.g. by epoxy to the wider section 3b of the flexible portion.

The longitudinal strip-shaped portion is located to have its length oriented lengthwise relative to the centre axis of the female connector 1 and with the protuberance located distally to its root 2.

A moving unit 5 e.g. a piston or a rod is mounted to the outwards facing side of the flexible portion 3a, 3b of the strip-shaped portion for moving the flexible portion outwards by pulling and/or pushing. This moving unit 5 is adapted for being pulled outwards for thereby moving the flexible portion 3a, 3b outwards e.g., using a not shown arrangement for pulling and/or pushing, such as a mechanical pulling/pushing arrangement and/or a hydraulic pulling/pushing arrangement.

Figure 2 show a male connector 8 comprising a tube-shaped wall defining a bore and a centre axis indicated with the dotted line X. The male connector 8 comprises an annular recess 8b in the outwards facing surface of the male connector 8. The annular recess 8b is shaped to be mating with the protuberance of the female connector 1 as described further below.

The male connector 8 comprises a distally located flange 8a which is mounted to a flange 9a of a bend limiter 9, which in this embodiment is a bend stiffener 9.

In figure 3a and 3b the female connector 1 of figure 1 and the male connector 8 of figure 2 is prepared for being used for installing a flexible member where only the end fitting 7a of the flexible member is shown.

Prior to installing the female connector may be mounted to a not shown offshore structure as described elsewhere herein.

A pull-in head 6a is mounted to an end flange 7b of the end fitting 7a. The end fitting 7a is temporally fixed in the male connector 8. A plate 6b is fixed to the pull-in head 6a for attachment of a pulling wire for pulling the assembly of the male connector 8 with stiffener 9 and end fitting 7a into the female connector 1.

In figure 4a and 4b the male connector has been pulled fully into the female connector 1 and the protuberance 4c of the female connector 1 has engaged with the annular recess 8b of the male connector 8.

The male connector 8 is now fixed in the female connector 1 and thereby fixed to the offshore structure via the female connector 1. For further instalment of the flexible member, the temporal fixation of the end fitting 7a to the male connector 8 may be released, and the flexible member may be pulled into or e.g. partly through the offshore structure to a desired destination.

Whenever desired, the connection between the female connector 1 and the male connector 8 may be released by applying a pull in the moving unit 5 e.g. as described elsewhere herein. Figure 5a - 5c show an embodiment of an offshore connector system comprising a female connector 11 having a tube-shaped wall defining a bore and a centre axis. The tube-shaped wall of the female connector 11 has a flange 11a at its proximal end and a collar lib at its distal end.

The female connector 11 comprises a number of spring arrangements, wherein only a first spring arrangement is visible and a second spring arrangement is partly visible. The spring arrangement is provided by one or more cuts in the tube-shaped wall of the female connector 1 forming a strip-shaped portion comprising a flexible portion 13 and a root 12. The flexible portion 13 has a narrow section 13a and a wider section 13b. At the wider section 13b an inwards facing engagement protuberance 14c is located.

The male connector 18 comprises a tube-shaped wall defining a bore and a centre axis. An end fitting 17a, with flange 17b is mounted in the bore of the male connector 18. The male connector 18 comprises a first annular recess 18c and a second annular recess 18b in the outwards facing surface of the male connector 18. The first annular recess 18c is a security recess, and the second annular recess 18b is shaped to be mating with the protuberance 14c of the female connector 1 for ensuring a safe connection.

The male connector 18 comprises a distally located flange, which is mounted to a flange of a bend limiter 9. In a variation thereof the bend limiter may be fully or partly integrated with the male connector.

The male connector 18 is located in the bore of the female connector 11, and the protuberance 14c of the female connector 11 is fully engaged with the recess 18b of the male connector 8.

A moving unit 15 e.g. a piston or a rod is mounted to the outwards facing side of the flexible portion 13 of the strip-shaped portion. This moving unit 15 is adapted for being pulled outwards for thereby moving the flexible portion 13 outwards. In this embodiment, the moving unit 15 comprises a crevice into which a lifting arrangement may be pushed for pulling and/or pushing the moving unit outwards for releasing the engagement between the protuberance 14c of the female connector 11 and the recess 18b of the male connector 8. In Figures 6a-6e and in the enlarged sections 7a, 7c and 7e stages of providing the connection between the female connector 11 and the male connector 8 is illustrated.

Figure 6a shows a stage where the male connector 18 with the end fitting 17a in its bore has been pulled partly into the female connector 11. At this point, there is still no locking between the male connector 18 and the female connector 11, and the spring arrangements of the female connector are in unloaded conditions. In figure 7a it can be seen that the protuberance has an inclined surface 14c forming a ramp inclining from a low level ramp end to a high level ramp end.

At the stage shown in figure 6b, a collar forming the first annular recess 18c has reached and started pushing towards the protuberance 14c from the low level ramp end to the high level ramp end of the protuberance, and thereby the flexible portion 13 is pushed slightly outwards.

At the stage shown in figure 6c the protuberance 14c has now engaged with the first annular security recess 18c, and the flexible portion 13 has returned to its original position.

At the stage shown in figure 6d, a collar forming the second annular recess 18b has reached and started pushing towards the protuberance 14c from the low level ramp end to the high level ramp end of the protuberance and thereby, the flexible portion 13 is again pushed outwards, until - as shown in figure 6e - the protuberance 14c has fully engaged with the second recess 18b, and the flexible portion 13 has returned to its original position. The female connector 11 and the male connector 18 are now safely connected to each other.

Figure 8 provides a cross-sectional view of the female connector 21 and a male connector 28 connected together. A flexible member 29, with not shown end fitting, which had been temporarily mounted to the male connector 28, has been released from this temporary mount, and the flexible member has been pulled through the female connector 21 and further into or through the not shown guide channel of the subsea structure. The tube-shaped wall of the female connector 21 has a flange 21a at its proximal end and an outward angled edge at its distal end 21b for making it simpler to pull a male connector into the female connector 21 via its distal end 21b.

The female connector 21 comprises a number of spring arrangements, wherein only a first spring arrangement with a flexible portion 23 is visible in cross-sectional side view. The spring arrangement is provided by one or more not visible cuts in the tube-shaped wall of the female connector 21 forming a strip-shaped portion comprising the flexible portion 23, which comprises a protuberance provided by a locking wedge 24, The locking wedge is fixed to the flexible portion via a pin 23c inserted into a fixing orifice in the flexible portion 23. The locking wedge has an inclined surface 24c forming a ramp inclining from a low level ramp end to a high level ramp end, where the locking wedge has an engagement edge 24b.

The male connector 28 has a recess 28b which is in engagement with the engagement edge 24b of the inwards facing protuberance provided by the locking wedge 24.

As shown in this embodiment, the locking wedge 24 may have a length determined in the length orientation of the flexible strip 23, which corresponds to a cut-out length (length in orientation of the flexible portion) provided by cutting out a slab of the tube-shaped wall located distally to the flexible potion.

Advantageously, the length of the cut out provided by cutting out a slab is from 0.01% to 10%, such as from 0.5% to 5% longer than the length of the locking wedge 24.

Thereby the locking wedge 24, when under high load may rest on the distally located edge 21c of the tube-shaped wall provided by the cut out. Thereby, the load-bearing capacity of the female connector may be even further increased.

The locking wedge further comprises a gripper pin 24d which may form part of a restraining arrangement. Figures 9a and 9b illustrates close-up views of the flexible portion 33 with a locking wedge 34.

Figure 9a is a view from the outer side of the female connector, and figure 9b is a cross sectional view. The flexible portion 33 comprises a fixing orifice, and the locking wedge is fixed to the flexible portion via a pin 33c inserted into the fixing orifice in the flexible portion 33. The locking wedge 34 has an inclined surface 34c forming a ramp inclining from a low level ramp end 34L to a high level ramp end 34H, where the locking wedge has an engagement edge 34b.

Figures 10a, 10b and 10c are perspective views of a female connector 41 comprising a restraining arrangement 45 during pulling in of the male connector 48 (figure 10a) after pulling in of the male connector 48 (figure 10b) and after providing a slidable latch 45a from its open condition to its locked condition (figure 10c).

The tube-shaped wall of the female connector 41 has a flange 41a at its proximal end and an outward angled edge at its distal end 41b for making it simpler to pull a male connector into the female connector 41 via its distal end 41b.

The female connector 41 comprises a number of spring arrangements, wherein only a first spring arrangement with a flexible portion 43 is visible. The flexible portion 43 comprises a protuberance provided by a locking wedge 44. A second locking wedge 44 of a second spring arrangement is also visible. The locking wedge comprises a gripper pin 44d.

A part of the male connector 48 is visible below the female connector 41. A pull head 46 is about to be pulled or is pulled through the female connector 41. The pull head 46 is connected to an end fitting of a flexible member, which is being installed.

The female connector 41 comprises a restraining arrangement 45. The restraining arrangement comprises a slidable latch having a gripping jaw.

In figure 9a, the male connector 48 is being pulled into the female connector 41, and it can be seen that the not shown recess of the male connector 48 is about to pass the not shown protuberance of the locking wedge 44, thereby pressing the flexible portion 43 outwards. In figure 9b, the male connector 48 has been pulled into the female connector 41, and it can be seen that the not shown recess of the male connector 48 has passed the not shown protuberance of the locking wedge 44, thereby the flexible portion 43 is no longer pressed outwards. This means that the inwards facing protuberance is now engaged with the engagement recess of the male connector 48.

In figure 9c, the restraining arrangement 45 has been shifted to locked position. The slidable latch has been slided by a piston 45 to provide that the gripping jaw 45b has engaged with the gripper pin 44 to thereby blocking said flexible portion from moving outwards. Thereby, the female connector 41 and the female connector 41 together with the male connector 48 may have an even higher load capacity.