Kongsberg Offshore As

John A Johansen

Timothy R Goggans

An undersea hydraulic coupling includes a pair of interconnectable male and female members where each of the members includes a body portion and a fluid valve disposed within the body portion. The male and female members cooperate with the fluid valves to actuate the valves such that the valves are placed in either an open position or a closed position to control fluid flow therebetween. The female member has a receiving chamber for receiving the male member, and a longitudinal axis defining a direction of engagement and disengagement between the male and female members. The undersea connector includes at least one annular seal in the receiving chamber for engaging the male member in sealed cooperation with the female member when the male member is received within the receiving chamber. Additionally, a plurality of vacuum relief channels are disposed in the annular seal that permit fluid surrounding the male and female members to pass through the vacuum relief channels to equalize pressure between the receiving chamber and the fluid surrounding the male and female members during engagement and disengagement of the male and female members.

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Houston, TX, United States of America

John A Johansen