Spring system for high workloads

Abstract

Spring systems for subsea applications and equipment projects for the oil and gas industry are preferably manufactured from composite materials and include at least one pair of springs consisting of a first spring component and a second spring component, mounted so as to offer a first central contact region and double curvature and rebound areas forming a coupling. The pair of springs are thus, self-centering.

Claims

1. A spring system for high workloads comprising: at least one pair of Belleville springs comprising: one first spring component and one second spring component, the second spring component having a geometry different than a geometry of the first spring component, said first spring component having a predominantly cylindrical geometry and said second spring component having a partially cylindrical geometry, and said pair of springs has one first central contact region between said first spring component and second spring component, and wherein the first spring component has a double curvature and the second spring component has a corresponding rebound forming a coupling, said pair of springs being thus self-centering.

2. The spring system for high workloads according to claim 1 further comprising more than one pair of springs mounted in series or in parallel.

3. The spring system for high workloads according to claim 2, wherein the spring system comprises a series assembly consisting of at least two pairs of springs, such that one first pair of springs comprises one first spring component and one second spring component, said first pair of springs being assembled in a contiguous manner with one second pair of springs comprising one first spring component and one second spring component.

4. The spring system for high workloads according to claim 3, wherein the series assembly includes a first central contact region of the second pair of springs between said first spring component and second spring component of the second pair of springs and one second contact region provided by a double curvature of a spring of the first pair of springs and a rebound of the second pair of springs, forming a coupling.

5. The spring system for high workloads according to claim 3, comprising a parallel mounting comprising of one first set of spring components mounted in parallel, which forms one first pair of springs with one second set of spring components, also mounted in parallel.

6. The spring system for high workloads according to claim 5, comprising one first pair of springs and one second pair of springs, mounted in series so as to provide a contact region through double curvature and rebound areas, forming the self-centering coupling of the system.

7. The spring system for high workloads according to claim 1, wherein said springs are made of composite materials, so that one laminate is provided with a central orifice for the passage of the stem of a hydraulic actuator.

8. The spring system for high workloads according to claim 1, wherein said springs are made of composite materials, so that two laminates are joined by a matrix so as to provide an orifice for the passage of the stem of a hydraulic actuator.

9. The spring system for high workloads according to claim 1, wherein the spring system is used to increase maximum strength for a same strain.

10. The spring system for high workloads, according to claim 1, wherein the spring system is manufactured with a PEEK matrix and carbon fiber for subsea environment applications.

11. The spring system for high workloads, according to claim 1, wherein the spring system is used in subsea equipment for the storage of elastic potential energy for the actuation of subsea valves through hydraulic actuators.

12. A spring system for high workloads comprising: a first pair of Belleville springs comprising: one first spring component and one second spring component, each component having a rectangular geometry, and said pair of springs having one first central contact region between said first spring component and second spring component, and wherein the first spring component has a double curvature and the second spring component has a corresponding rebound forming a coupling, said pair of springs being thus self-centering; a second pair of Belleville springs positioned in series with the first pair of Belleville springs, the second pair of Belleville springs comprising: one first spring component and one second spring component, each component having a rectangular geometry, wherein the second spring component of the first pair of Belleville springs comprises a double curvature and the first spring of the second pair of Belleville springs comprises a corresponding rebound in contact with the double curvature of the second spring component of the first pair of Belleville springs forming a coupling, the pairs of springs being thus self-centering.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

(1) The spring system for high workloads according to the present invention shall be well understood from the illustrative appended figures, which, in a schematic way and not limiting the scope, represent:

(2) FIG. 1front view of one pair of components of the spring system according to the present invention;

(3) FIG. 2front view of a spring system according to the present invention assembled in series;

(4) FIG. 3front view of a spring system according to the present invention assembled in parallel;

(5) FIG. 4perspective view of the spring system illustrated in the assembly of FIG. 2;

(6) FIG. 5Magnified detail of the self-centering feature of the components of the spring system illustrated in FIG. 2;

(7) FIG. 6Concept base for manufacturing one component of the spring system according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(8) In one first aspect, according to FIG. 1, the present invention provides a spring system for high workloads which comprises at least one pair of springs (3) formed by a first spring component (1) and a second spring component (2). Said first spring component (1) and second spring component (2) have topology similar to that of Belleville springs, however, these differing due to their geometry.

(9) The spring component (1) has a predominantly cylindrical geometry, while spring component (2) has a partially cylindrical geometry. Thus, it can be verified that one can obtain a first central contact region (4) between said first spring component (1) and second spring component (2) which allow the self-centering of components (1) and (2).

(10) The spring system according to the present invention can be mounted, for example, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 4, in a series configuration. In this series assembly system, one has two pairs of springs (3), such that one first pair of springs comprises one first spring component (1) and one second spring component (2), said first pair of springs being assembled in a contiguous manner, i.e., in series, with one second pair of springs comprising one first spring component (1a) and one second spring component (2a).

(11) As illustrated in a magnified detail in FIG. 5, in this condition, in addition to obtaining one first central contact region (4), between said first spring component (1) and second spring component (2), one also obtains a second contact region (5) through double curvature and rebound areas, so that the assembly may provide self-centering features, thus blocking transverse relative movements between said second spring component (2) and the subsequent first spring component (1a) through a coupling.

(12) The spring system according to the present invention can be mounted, for example, as illustrated in FIG. 3, in a parallel configuration. In this parallel mounting system, there is one first set of spring components (1, la) mounted in parallel, which forms one first pair of springs (7a) with one second set of spring components (2, 2a), also mounted in parallel. As can be seen, said first pair of springs (7a) can thus be mounted in a first series configuration with one second pair of springs (7b), providing with the latter the same contact region features (5) through double curvature and rebound areas, so that the set may achieve the self-centering feature, thus blocking transverse relative movements between said first pair of springs (7a) and second pair of springs (7b) through a coupling (6).

(13) The parallel mounting system according to above-described FIG. 3 is especially adequate for being used to increase the maximum force of the spring system according to the present invention to a same strain.

(14) In a second aspect, the present invention provides two concepts of manufacturing of the above-described high workload springs as illustrated in FIG. 6. In concept 1, the composite laminate (10) is manufactured by any known process, but must be such that it provides the carrying out of a central orifice (20) for the passage of the stem in a hydraulic actuator. In concept 2, said spring must be manufactured from two laminates (30, 40) joined by a matrix (50, 60) so as to provide an orifice (70) for the passage of the stem in a hydraulic actuator.

(15) The spring of the spring system according to the present invention may be manufactured using a number of manufacturing methodologies. The composite material with PEEK matrix and carbon fiber is preferred, but is not limited thereto, when the use of the spring system is directed at subsea environments. Thus, other materials may be used, including metallic materials.

(16) The use of composite materials in the manufacturing of the springs that make up the spring system according to the present invention has the advantage of eliminating all issues of corrosion and compatibility with hydrogen released by the cathodic protection systems in subsea environments. Negating the need to maintain a pressure compensation reservoir is yet another great advantage of using composite materials for said springs used in subsea environment.

(17) In addition, the use of the spring system according to the present invention in subsea actuators shall allow for reducing the costs of equipment projects with the reduction in the size of subsea Christmas tree blocks, in addition to a subsequent increase in the reliability of systems with its simplification.

(18) The spring system object of the present invention has been conceived in view of the use in subsea equipment, for storing elastic potential energy for actuating subsea valves through hydraulic actuators. Notwithstanding, this application is not unique, considering that the spring system according to the present invention can be used for storing energy in any type of subsea equipment, or even on the surface, in the oil and gas industry, as well as in other mechanical engineering general application fields.

(19) Persons skilled in the art shall further appreciate that the spring geometry which makes up the spring system of the present invention confers an important feature related to the fact that the same is self-centering, this being an added advantage in relation to Belleville-type springs in the prior art, which do not have this feature.