초록

An umbilical comprising a side-emitting optical fiber or optical fiber-bundle for providing a distributed source of light along part or the whole of the length of the umbilical.

대표청구항 ▼

1. An umbilical comprising: at least one of a tube or a hose, wherein the at least one tube or hose is configured for supplying gas or fluid; anda side-emitting optical fiber or a bundle of side-emitting optical fibers for providing a distributed source of light along part or the whole of a length o

1. An umbilical comprising: at least one of a tube or a hose, wherein the at least one tube or hose is configured for supplying gas or fluid; anda side-emitting optical fiber or a bundle of side-emitting optical fibers for providing a distributed source of light along part or the whole of a length of the umbilical. 2. An umbilical as claimed in claim 1 comprising at least one illuminating source coupled to the optical fiber or optical fiber-bundle. 3. An umbilical as claimed in claim 2 where the illuminating source is a light emitting diode (LED). 4. An umbilical as claimed in claim 3 comprising a converter for converting the frequency of light from the source. 5. An umbilical as claimed in claim 2 wherein the illuminating source is at least one of: a laser; a diode laser; a diode-laser-pumped solid-state laser. 6. An umbilical as claimed in claim 2 wherein the illuminating source is contained within a housing. 7. An umbilical as claimed in claim 6 wherein the housing has a window that is transparent to light from the source. 8. An umbilical as claimed in claim 7 wherein a coupling element is provided for pressing the end of the fiber or fiber bundle against the window to provide a butt coupled optical connection. 9. An umbilical as claimed in claim 6 wherein the housing is waterproof. 10. An umbilical as claimed in claim 6 wherein the housing is pressurized. 11. An umbilical as claimed in claim 2 wherein a controller is provided for controlling an output of the illuminating source. 12. An umbilical as claimed in claim 11 wherein the controller is adapted to cause flashing and/or a change in color of the light emitted. 13. An umbilical as claimed in claim 1 wherein the light is modulated to carry a message or information. 14. An umbilical as claimed in claim 13 wherein the light modulation is visible directly by eye, for example as in the case of a general warning message. 15. An umbilical as claimed in claim 13 wherein an optical receiver is provided for decoding the modulated message for presentation to a user. 16. An umbilical as claimed in claim 15 comprising means for presenting the message to the user visually and/or orally. 17. An umbilical as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a cable for supplying power; and a communications link. 18. An umbilical as claimed in claim 17 wherein the optical fiber or optical fiber bundle is wound around one or all of the tube or hose, the cable and the communications link. 19. An umbilical as claimed in claim 1 adapted for use as a diver umbilical. 20. An umbilical as claimed in claim 19 wherein the umbilical is adapted for use between a surface and a subsea location. 21. An umbilical as claimed in claim 19 wherein the umbilical is adapted for use between a diving bell and an individual diver. 22. An umbilical as claimed in claim 19 wherein the umbilical is adapted for use between two or more locations subsea or surface to sea. 23. An umbilical as claimed in claim 19 wherein the umbilical is adapted to be connected to an underwater remote operating vehicle. 24. An umbilical comprising a side-emitting optical fiber or a bundle of side-emitting optical fibers for providing a distributed source of light along part or the whole of the length of the umbilical, wherein said umbilical is adapted for use as a diver umbilical. 25. An umbilical as claimed in claim 24 comprising at least one illuminating source coupled to the optical fiber or optical fiber-bundle. 26. An umbilical as claimed in claim 25 where the illuminating source is a light emitting diode (LED). 27. An umbilical as claimed in claim 26 comprising a converter for converting the frequency of light from the source. 28. An umbilical as claimed in claim 25 wherein the illuminating source is at least one of: a laser; a diode laser; a diode-laser-pumped solid-state laser. 29. An umbilical as claimed in claim 25 wherein the illuminating source is contained within a housing. 30. An umbilical as claimed in claim 29 wherein the housing has a window that is transparent to light from the source. 31. An umbilical as claimed in claim 30 wherein a coupling element is provided for pressing the end of the fiber or fiber bundle against the window to provide a butt coupled optical connection. 32. An umbilical as claimed in claim 29 wherein the housing is waterproof. 33. An umbilical as claimed in claim 29 wherein the housing is pressurized. 34. An umbilical as claimed in claim 25 wherein a controller is provided for controlling an output of the illuminating source. 35. An umbilical as claimed in claim 34 wherein the controller is adapted to cause flashing and/or a change in color of the light emitted. 36. An umbilical as claimed in claim 24 wherein the light is modulated to carry a message or information. 37. An umbilical as claimed in claim 36 wherein the light modulation is visible directly by eye, for example as in the case of a general warning message. 38. An umbilical as claimed in claim 36 wherein an optical receiver is provided for decoding the modulated message for presentation to a user. 39. An umbilical as claimed in claim 38 comprising means for presenting the message to the user visually and/or orally. 40. An umbilical as claimed in claim 24 further comprising at least one of a tube or hose; a cable for supplying power; and a communications link. 41. An umbilical as claimed in claim 40 wherein the at least one tube or hose is provided for supplying gas or fluid. 42. An umbilical as claimed in claim 40 wherein the optical fiber or optical fiber bundle is wound around one or all of the tube or hose, the cable and the communications link. 43. An umbilical as claimed in claim 24 wherein the umbilical is adapted for use between a surface and a subsea location. 44. An umbilical as claimed in claim 24 wherein the umbilical is adapted for use between a diving bell and an individual diver. 45. An umbilical as claimed in claim 24 wherein the umbilical is adapted for use between two or more locations subsea or surface to sea. 46. An umbilical as claimed in claim 24 wherein the umbilical is adapted to be connected to an underwater remote operating vehicle. 47. An umbilical comprising: a side-emitting optical fiber or a bundle of side-emitting optical fibers; andat least one illuminating source coupled to the optical fiber or optical fiber-bundle for providing a distributed source of light along part or the whole of the length of the umbilical, wherein the illuminating source is contained within a housing, and wherein the housing has a window that is transparent to light from the source. 48. An umbilical as claimed in claim 47 where the illuminating source is a light emitting diode (LED). 49. An umbilical as claimed in claim 48 comprising a converter for converting the frequency of light from the source. 50. An umbilical as claimed in claim 47 wherein the illuminating source is at least one of: a laser; a diode laser; a diode-laser-pumped solid-state laser. 51. An umbilical as claimed in claim 47 wherein the light is modulated to carry a message or information. 52. An umbilical as claimed in claim 51 wherein the light modulation is visible directly by eye, for example as in the case of a general warning message. 53. An umbilical as claimed in claim 51 wherein an optical receiver is provided for decoding the modulated message for presentation to a user. 54. An umbilical as claimed in claim 53 comprising means for presenting the message to the user visually and/or orally. 55. An umbilical as claimed in claim 47 further comprising at least one of a tube or hose; a cable for supplying power; and a communications link. 56. An umbilical as claimed in claim 55 wherein the at least one tube or hose is provided for supplying gas or fluid. 57. An umbilical as claimed in claim 55 wherein the optical fiber or optical fiber bundle is wound around one or all of the tube or hose, the cable and the communications link. 58. An umbilical as claimed in claim 47 wherein a coupling element is provided for pressing the end of the fiber or fiber bundle against the window to provide a butt coupled optical connection. 59. An umbilical as claimed in claim 47 wherein the housing is waterproof. 60. An umbilical as claimed in claim 47 wherein the housing is pressurized. 61. An umbilical as claimed in claim 47 wherein a controller is provided for controlling an output of the illuminating source. 62. An umbilical as claimed in claim 61 wherein the controller is adapted to cause flashing and/or a change in color of the light emitted. 63. An umbilical as claimed in claim 47 adapted for use as a diver umbilical. 64. An umbilical as claimed in claim 63 wherein the umbilical is adapted for use between a surface and a subsea location. 65. An umbilical as claimed in claim 63 wherein the umbilical is adapted for use between a diving bell and an individual diver. 66. An umbilical as claimed in claim 63 wherein the umbilical is adapted for use between two or more locations subsea or surface to sea. 67. An umbilical as claimed in claim 63 wherein the umbilical is adapted to be connected to an underwater remote operating vehicle. 68. An umbilical comprising: a side-emitting optical fiber or a bundle of side-emitting optical fibers;at least one illuminating source coupled to the optical fiber or optical fiber-bundle for providing a distributed source of light along part or the whole of the length of the umbilical, wherein the light is modulated to carry a message or information; andan optical receiver for decoding the modulated message or information for presentation to a user.