1-34. (canceled)
35. A remotely operated device for cleaning a subsea flexible pipe joint including a body, a riser extension extending from the body, and a flex element extending between the body and the riser extension, the remotely operated device comprising:
a support assembly including a first inner capture cavity and a first access opening, wherein the first inner capture cavity is configured to receive the riser extension through the first access opening;
a tool positioning assembly coupled to the support assembly, wherein the tool positioning assembly includes a rotating member configured to rotate the tool positioning assembly about a central axis relative to the support assembly;
wherein the rotating member includes a second inner capture cavity and a second access opening, wherein the second inner capture cavity is configured to receive the riser extension through the second access opening;
a cleaning assembly coupled to the rotating member of the tool positioning assembly, wherein the cleaning assembly includes a cleaning device axially moveable relative to the rotating member, wherein the cleaning device is configured to extend axially into an annular recess positioned between the flex element and the riser extension to clean the flex element axially spaced from the cleaning device when the cleaning device is disposed at a given position along the riser extension; and
a clamping assembly coupled to the support assembly, wherein the clamping assembly has an open position disengaged from the riser extension and a closed position engaging the riser extension.
36. The device of claim 35, wherein the cleaning assembly is radially moveable relative to the rotating member.
37. The device of claim 36, wherein the tool positioning assembly includes a tool support member moveably coupled to the rotating member;
wherein the tool support member is configured to move radially relative to the rotating member;
wherein the cleaning assembly is mounted to the tool support member; and
wherein the cleaning device is configured to move axially relative to the tool support member.
38. The device of claim 37, wherein the tool support member is coupled to the rotating member with a guide assembly positioned between the rotating member and the tool support member, wherein the guide assembly includes a guide track and a guide member that slidingly engages the guide track.
39. The device of claim 38, wherein the guide assembly includes a pair of elongate parallel linear guide tracks mounted to the rotating member and a pair of guide members mounted to the tool support member, wherein each guide member slidingly engages one of the guide tracks.
40. The device of claim 36, wherein the tool positioning assembly is rotatably coupled to the support assembly with a roller assembly axially positioned between the rotating member and the support assembly.
41. The device of claim 40, wherein the roller assembly includes a roller track coupled to the rotating member and a plurality of roller members coupled to the support assembly, each roller member being rotatable about an axis parallel to the central axis; and
wherein the roller track engages two or more of the plurality the roller members.
42. The device of claim 41, wherein the roller track is disposed at a uniform track radius measured from the central axis;
wherein a first set of the plurality of roller members are circumferentially spaced apart in a first row, each roller member in the first set being disposed at a uniform first radius measured from the central axis;
wherein a second set of the plurality of roller members are circumferentially spaced apart in a second row, each roller member in the second set being disposed at a uniform second radius measured from the central axis;
wherein the first radius is less than the track radius, and the track radius is less than the second radius.
43. The device of claim 37, wherein the cleaning assembly further comprises a slide post extending axially from the tool support member, a slide block that slidingly engages the slide post, and an extension member;
wherein the slide block is coupled to the cleaning device and the extension member;
wherein the extension member is configured to move the slide block and the cleaning device axially relative to the slide post and the tool support member.
44. The device of claim 43, wherein the cleaning device comprises a cavitation nozzle.
45. The device of claim 43, wherein the cleaning device comprises a brush head and a motor that rotates the brush head.
46. The device of claim 36, wherein the clamping assembly includes a first clamping member, a second clamping member, and a clamp drive assembly that actuates the clamping assembly between the open position and the closed position;
wherein in the closed position the first clamping member and the second clamping member engage the section of the flexible pipe joint, and in the open position the first clamping member and the second clamping member are withdrawn from the section of the flexible pipe joint.
47. The device of claim 44, wherein the first clamping member includes a first clamping arm extending into the first inner capture cavity of the support assembly and the second clamping member includes a second clamping arm extending into the first inner capture cavity of the support assembly; and wherein the first clamping arm and the second clamping arm are disposed on opposite sides of the central axis.
48. The device of claim 46, wherein the clamp drive assembly includes a clamp motor and a double threaded screw including a first threaded portion that threadingly engages the first clamping member and a second threaded portion that threadingly engages the second clamping member;
wherein the clamp motor rotates the double threaded screw.
49. The device of claim 46, further comprising two second clamping members, wherein the first clamping member is axially disposed between the two second clamping members.
50. The device of claim 49, wherein each clamping member includes a base, and wherein the base of each clamping member at least partially overlaps with the base of a different clamping member.
51. The device of claim 36, further comprising one or more buoyancy control members coupled to the support assembly, wherein the buoyancy control members control are adapted to control the subsea depth of the device.
52. The device of claim 37, further comprising a camera coupled to the tool support member.
53. The device of claim 43, further comprising a motor coupled to the support assembly and a toothed rail extending from the outer periphery of the rotating member;
wherein the motor is adapted to rotate a sprocket that engages the toothed rail.
54. A method for cleaning a subsea flexible pipe joint including a body, a riser extension having a central axis and extending axially from the body, and a flex element extending radially between the body and the riser extension, the method comprising:
(a) deploying a remotely operated device subsea;
(b) removably mounting the remotely operated device to the riser extension axially below the body and the flex element of the flexible pipe joint;
(c) axially extending a cleaning device of the remotely operated device into an annular recess radially disposed between the riser extension and the flex element after (b);
(d) cleaning an underside of the flex element with the cleaning device after (c).
55. The method of claim 54, further comprising:
moving the cleaning device radially within the annular recess during (d);
moving the cleaning device axially within the annular recess during (d);
moving the cleaning device circumferentially within the annular recess during (d).
56. The method of claim 55, further comprising:
(e) visually inspecting the subsea flexible pipe joint from a remote location using a camera of the remotely operated device.
57. The method of claim 55, wherein the remotely operated device comprises:
a support assembly including a first inner capture cavity and a first access opening;
a tool positioning assembly coupled to the support assembly, wherein the tool positioning assembly includes a rotating member configured to rotate about the central axis of the riser extension after (b), wherein the rotating member includes a second inner capture cavity and a second access opening; and
a clamping assembly coupled to the support assembly, wherein the clamping assembly includes a first clamping member with a first clamping arm extending into the first inner capture cavity and a second clamping member with a second clamping arm extending into the first inner capture cavity;
wherein the cleaning device and the camera are each coupled to the rotating member.
58. The method of claim 57, wherein (b) comprises:
aligning the first access opening and the second access opening; and
receiving the riser extension into the first inner capture cavity and the second inner capture cavity through the first access opening and the second access opening.
59. The method of claim 58, wherein (b) further comprises:
axially aligning the longitudinal axis of the flexible pipe joint with the central axis.
60. The method of claim 58, wherein (b) further comprises:
moving the first and the second clamping arms radially inward; and
engaging the riser extension with the first and second clamping arms to secure the remotely operated device to the riser flex joint.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. An electric drive module for motor vehicles having different track width dimensions, the electric drive module comprising:
an axle housing having an axial length dimension and defining a motor chamber and a gearbox chamber that are separated by a radial wall support;
an electric motor assembly positioned within the motor chamber of the axle housing and including a cartridge housing containing a non-rotary stator and a rotor shaft rotatably supported by the cartridge housing;
a reduction unit disposed in the gearbox chamber of the axle housing and having an input member driven by the rotor shaft and an output member driven at a reduced speed relative to the input member, the input member extending through a central aperture in the radial wall support of the axle housing into the motor chamber and being coupled for rotation with the rotor shaft;
a differential assembly disposed within the gearbox chamber of the axle housing and having a differential input driven by the output member of the reduction unit, a first differential output driving a first output shaft, and a second differential output driving a second output shaft;
a transfer assembly interconnecting the second differential output to the second output shaft, the transfer assembly including a transfer shaft connected to the second differential output and a coupling shaft selected from a plurality of coupling shafts each having a different axial dimension, the selected coupling shaft connecting the transfer shaft to the second output shaft; and
a cover selected from a plurality of covers each having a different axial dimension, the selected cover being attached to the axle housing for enclosing an open end of the motor chamber, at least one of the selected coupling shaft and the second output shaft is rotatably supported by the selected cover, wherein the selected coupling shaft and the selected cover are selected in combination with the axle housing based on the vehicle track width dimension of the motor vehicle.
2. The electric drive module of claim 1 wherein a pair of first and second bearing assemblies are provided for rotatably supporting first and second ends of the rotor shaft from the cartridge housing, wherein a third bearing assembly is provided for rotatably supporting the input member of the reduction unit in the central aperture in the radial wall support of the axle housing, wherein fourth and fifth bearing assemblies rotatably support the differential input between the axle housing and the input member of the reduction unit, and wherein a sixth bearing assembly is provided for rotatably supporting one end of the selected coupling shaft within a central aperture formed in the selected cover.
3. The electric drive module of claim 2 wherein the transfer shaft extends through the input member of the reduction unit into the motor chamber of the axle housing, wherein each of the plurality of coupling shaft is configured to extend through the rotor shaft and has a first end adapted to be fixedly connected to the transfer shaft and a second end adapted to be fixedly connected to the second output shaft.
4. The electric drive module of claim 3 wherein the second end of each of the coupling shafts is adapted to be rotatably supported by the sixth bearing assembly with the central aperture of the selected cover.
5. The electric drive module of claim 1 wherein a first end of the cartridge housing engages the radial wall support of the axle housing, and wherein the selected cover engages a second end of the cartridge housing and is fixedly secured to a flange portion of the axle housing.
6. The electric drive module of claim 1 wherein the reduction unit includes a first gear driven by the input member, a second gear meshed with the first gear and fixed to a countershaft rotatably supported in the gearbox chamber of the axle housing, a third gear driven by the countershaft, and a fourth gear meshed with the third gear and fixed to the differential input, whereby the reduction unit establishes a reduction speed ratio drive connection between the rotor shaft and the differential input.
7. The electric drive module of claim 1 wherein the reduction unit includes a sun gear driven by the rotor shaft, a ring gear fixed to the axle housing within the gearbox chamber, and a plurality of pinion gears rotatable supported by the differential input and meshed with the sun gear and the ring gear.
8. The electric drive module of claim 7 wherein the pinion gears each include a first pinion gear section meshed with the sun gear and a second pinion gear section meshed with the ring gear.
9. An electric drive module for use in a motor vehicle having a track width dimension to drive a pair of wheels, comprising:
an axle housing having an axial dimension, the axle housing defining a gearbox chamber, an open-ended motor chamber, and a support wall therebetween;
a gearbox assembly installed within the gearbox chamber, the gearbox assembly including a differential unit and a reduction unit, the reduction unit including a tubular input member rotatably supported in an aperture extending through the support wall and an output member driven at a reduced speed relative to the input member, the differential unit including a differential input driven by the output member, a first differential output driving a first output shaft adapted to drive one of the wheels, and a second differential output driving a transfer shaft extending through the input number into the motor chamber;
an electric motor assembly installed within the motor chamber, the electric motor assembly including a cartridge housing non-rotatably fixed on the support wall, a stator fixed to the cartridge housing and a rotor shaft rotatably supported by the cartridge housing and fixed for rotation with the input member of the reduction unit;
a coupling shaft having a desired shaft length and coupled for rotation with the transfer shaft, the coupling shaft selected from a plurality of coupling shafts each having a different shaft length;
a cover having a desired cover length and attached to a second output shaft that is adapted to drive the other one of the wheels, the cover selected from a plurality of covers each having a different cover length; and
wherein the selected coupling shaft extends through an aperture in the selected cover.
10. The electric drive module of claim 9 wherein the selected coupling shaft extends through the rotor shaft.
11. The electric drive module of claim 10 wherein the second output shaft extends within a tubular portion of the selected coupling shaft.
12. The electric drive module of claim 11 wherein the tubular portion of the selected coupling shaft is rotatably supported by the selected cover.
13. The electric drive module of claim 9 wherein the cartridge housing of the electric motor assembly has a face surface disposed in mating engagement with a wall surface of the support wall.
14. The electric drive module of claim 13 further comprising providing an annular lip on the cartridge housing and engaging the annular lip against a stepped surface of the axle housing.
15. The electric drive module of claim 14 further comprising providing the cover with an axially extending protection and engaging the axially-extending projection against an end face of the cartridge housing.
16. An electric drive module for a motor vehicle having a track with dimension, comprising:
an electric motor assembly positioned within a motor chamber of an axle housing;
a reduction unit positioned within a gearbox chamber of the axle housing, the reduction unit including an input member being driven by the electric motor assembly and an output member being driven at a reduced speed relative to the input member;
a differential assembly positioned with;- the gearbox chamber of the axle housing, the differential assembly including a differential input driven by the output member, a first differential output driving a first output shaft, and a second differential output driving a transfer shaft; and
a cover coupled to the axle housing to enclose the motor chamber, the cover selected from a plurality of covers each having a different axial dimension based on the vehicle track width,
wherein the transfer shaft extends through an aperture in the cover.
17. The electric drive module of claim 16 further including a coupling shaft coupled to the transfer shaft and a second output shaft, wherein the coupling shaft is selected from a plurality of coupling shafts each having a different axial dimension based on the vehicle track width.
18. The electric drive module of claim 16 wherein a cartridge housing of the electric motor assembly is clamped into engagement with portions of the motor chamber in the axle housing when the selected cover is coupled to the axle housing.