Pressure Hull Glands (PHG)
Maintaining the integrity of a submarine’s pressure hull is critical to protecting the life of the crew, as well as maintaining its operational capacity. The boat’s cable system is its central nervous system, delivering data and power to and from the command centre to the platform’s extremities. Wherever that cable system passes through the pressure hull, a potential weakness is created.
Penetrators route cabling through a bulkhead, whether that is a simple internal partition or a safety-critical barrier such as a fuel tank or submarine pressure hull. Often called a feed-through, the penetrator must seal the transition completely, preventing any leak between one side of the bulkhead and the other. The engineering complexity involved varies enormously depending on the application.
A gland penetrator permanently integrates the cables within the unit itself. Where flexibility is needed, a connectorised version allows receptacles on either side of the bulkhead to be mated and de-mated as required.
SMI has designed and manufactured world-leading pressure hull penetrators for over 25 years, consistently delivering advanced capability with total reliability. As bandwidth demands have grown, purely electrical penetrations have evolved into hybrid electro-optic solutions. Where higher service density is required through a single penetration, a junction box turret or Multi Gland Penetrator can be used.
Reliable Hull Transitions
Pressure hull glands (PHGs) are by far the most reliable hull transitions available. Multiple cables are amalgamated in a complex thermoplastic moulding, with individual cables sealed and water blocked to prevent leaks. SMI PHGs can manage electrical, coaxial and optical conductors from single cables or up to 19 cables through a single small aperture in a boat’s hull. Our glands are continuously tested in production, then finally inspected, visually, radiographically and pressure tested in our on-site pressure vessels to ensure they will withstand the challenges of the ocean, as well as the challenges of combat, for many decades.
SMI holds MOD Capability Approval for the design and manufacture of polyethylene moulded pressure hull glands and any other equipment with a polyethylene moulded sealing mechanism. We are the only manufacturer worldwide to hold this approval for a continuous 30 years, demonstrating our retained expertise.
Connector Integration
A pressure hull gland does not exist in isolation. SMI works with a range of connectors from leading manufacturers for applications from deep subsea environments to aerospace, selecting the most appropriate technology and optimising it for deployment in the most challenging situations. Close collaboration with our clients and early engagement in the engineering and design process enables us to advise on the options available and assist in selecting the right combination of cable and connector for each bespoke project. Where an off-the-shelf solution is unavailable, SMI can configure bespoke inserts to shells.
We supply wet-mate and dry-mate solutions for high pressure and/or high-temperature applications. Shell materials can be from a range of metals or polymers, depending on whether weight, corrosion or robustness are the priority. Our skilled teams will assess the mechanical, electrical and optical properties to identify the best fit for the job. We regularly use connectors from Gisma, Souriau, Teledyne, TE, Amphenol and Glenair, amongst others.