21-01-2020 | Souriau | Connectors, Switches & EMECH
Souriau now offers connectors that can be mated underwater. For maximum safety and service life, the connectors, known as wet-mate, provide a special method of ejecting water from the connection interface, therefore reducing the likelihood of short-circuits or contact corrosion.
The company's M series connectors are robust underwater dry-mate connectors made from 'marine' bronze due to its resistance to corrosion and biofouling. They are also offered in stainless steel (316L), titanium and even Super Duplex, a stainless steel with a high chromium content, for even longer immersion times.
These connectors provide extreme resistance to straining or transverse forces on the cables as well as vibration and shock. For cable termination, sealing is assured in several ways, including with a cable gland (pressure resistance up to 100bar/1500psi). This method eradicates the necessity for any resin glue or potting, so it has the benefit of being repairable. It can withstand depths of approximately 1000m. For waterproofing down to -7,000m, overmoulding is favoured. These connectors are intended for applications such as remotely operated underwater robots, commercial diving, offshore oil wells and defence submarines.
The SWIM range satisfies the demands of ocean surface drones employed for oceanographic missions, oil exploration or more defence applications such as maritime surveillance. They also satisfy the requirements of meteo-oceanographic buoys, remotely operated underwater observation robots and a wide assortment of equipment integrating sensors (hydrophones, temperature, salinity, etc.) and electronic devices.
