US3568140A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Underwater electrical power source and sonic beacon
Assignee: Mobil Oil AS
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Filing: 1969-06-20
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Granted: 1971-03-02
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Expires: 1989-06-20
Abstract
Abstract The specification discloses an underwater sonic beacon for marking the location of metallic structures such as underwater wellheads. The sonic beacon is powered by a galvanic cell formed by the water as the electrolyte, the metallic structure as one electrode, and a galvanic anode spaced from the metallic structure as the other electrode. An electronic oscillator circuit and electroacoustic transducer are connected as the load on the galvanic cell. The sonic beacon is provided extended lifetime by sequentially activated anodes which produce continuous electrical power.
Inventors
- 👤 Wallace B Allen
- 👤 Floyd E Blount
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 02:58
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B41/00; E21B41/0085; B; B06; B06B; B06B1/00; B06B1/02; B06B1/0207; B06B1/0223; B06B1/08; C; C23; C23F; C23F13/00; C23F13/02; C23F13/06; B06B2201/00; B06B2201/50; B06B2201/58; B06B2201/70; B06B2201/74; C23F2213/00; C23F2213/30; C23F2213/31
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
108 words
An electrical power source for a utilization device located at the site of a metallic structure immersed in a body of water, comprising: a. a plurality of galvanic anodes spaced from said metallic structure in said body of water, each anode having a different activation time with respect to the others; b. a first electrical lead extending from said metallic structure to one input terminal of said utilization device; and c. a second electrical lead extending from each of said anodes to another input terminal of said utilization device, whereby continuous electrical power is supplied to said utilization device by galvanic action as said anodes become sequentially activated.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
108 words
An electrical power source for a utilization device located at the site of a metallic structure immersed in a body of water, comprising: a. a plurality of galvanic anodes spaced from said metallic structure in said body of water, each anode having a different activation time with respect to the others; b. a first electrical lead extending from said metallic structure to one input terminal of said utilization device; and c. a second electrical lead extending from each of said anodes to another input terminal of said utilization device, whereby continuous electrical power is supplied to said utilization device by galvanic action as said anodes become sequentially activated.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
An electrical power source as defined in claim 1 wherein said utilization device comprises a sonic generator adapted to produce sonic waves which serve as a beacon signal to mark the location of said metallic structure.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
An electrical power source as defined in claim 1 wherein said metallic structure comprises the wellhead structure of a well extending into the earth beneath said body of water.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
79 words
An electrical power source as defined in claim 1 wherein each of said galvanic anodes comprises: a. a body of anode material; b. an electrical lead secured to said body Of anode material; and c. a hermetic casing enclosing said body of anode material, at least a portion of said casing comprising a relatively corrodible material exposed to the exterior thereof, whereby said anodes may become exposed to said body of water at a delayed time after location therein.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
An electrical power source as defined in claim 4 wherein at least a portion of said casing comprises a coating of plastic material on said body of anode material.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
An electrical power source as defined by claim 4 wherein said corrodible material comprises a plate sealed in an opening in said casing and secured to the exterior of said body of anode material.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
An electrical power source as defined in claim 4 wherein said body of anode material comprises magnesium.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
14 words
An electrical power source as defined by claim 6 wherein said plate comprises iron.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
57 words
An electrical power source as defined by claim 2 wherein said sonic generator comprises: a. an electroacoustic transducer; and b. an oscillator and amplifier circuit coupled between said metallic structure and said galvanic anodes, said circuit being also coupled to said electroacoustic transducer to excite said transducer with electrical pulsation whereby said transducer may generate sonic waves.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
80 words
A sonic beacon for a metallic structure located in a body of water, comprising: a. a galvanic anode spaced from said metallic structure in said body of water; b. a sonic generator; c. an electrical lead extending from said metallic structure to one terminal of said sonic generator; and d. a second electrical lead extending from said galvanic anode to another input of said sonic generator, whereby electrical power is provided said sonic generator to produce a sonic beacon signal.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
80 words
A sonic beacon for a metallic structure located in a body of water, comprising: a. a galvanic anode spaced from said metallic structure in said body of water; b. a sonic generator; c. an electrical lead extending from said metallic structure to one terminal of said sonic generator; and d. a second electrical lead extending from said galvanic anode to another input of said sonic generator, whereby electrical power is provided said sonic generator to produce a sonic beacon signal.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
56 words
A sonic beacon as defined by claim 10 wherein said sonic generator comprises: a. an electroacoustic transducer; and b. an oscillator and amplifier circuit coupled between said metallic structure and said galvanic anodes, said circuit being also coupled to said electroacoustic transducer to excite said transducer with electrical pulsations whereby said transducer may generate sonic waves.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
68 words
sonic beacon as defined by claim 11 further including a plurality of galvanic anodes spaced from said metallic structure in said body of water, each anode having a delay-activation time with respect to the others, and each anode being connected to said metallic structure by said second electrical lead, whereby said plurality of galvanic anodes may be sequentially activated to provide extended-life electrical power for said sonic generator.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
77 words
A sonic beacon as defined by claim 12 wherein each of said galvanic anodes comprises: a. a body of anode material; b. an electrical lead secured to said body of anode material; and c. a hermetic casing enclosing said body of anode material, at least a portion of said casing comprising a relatively corrodible material exposed to the exterior thereof, whereby said galvanic anodes may become exposed to an electrolyte at a delayed time after location therein.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
28 words
A sonic beacon as defined by claim 13 wherein at least a portion of said casing comprises a coating of plastic material on said body of anode material.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
55 words
A sonic beacon as defined by claim 13 wherein said casing comprises a plate sealed in an opening thereof, said plate comprising a relatively corrodible material such that the corrosive action of said body of water will create a passageway through said opening to expose said body of anode material to said body of water.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
17 words
A sonic beacon as defined by claim 11 wherein said electroacoustic transducer is of the magnetostrictive type.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
14 words
A sonic beacon as defined by claim 13 wherein said anode material comprises magnesium.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
97 words
A sonic beacon as defined by claim 13 further comprising: a. a housing enclosing said electroacoustic transducer and said oscillator and amplifier circuit; b. a flexible diaphragm in sAid housing; c. a bundle of wires in said housing disposed in contact with said flexible diaphragm; and d. a coil of wire surrounding said bundle of wires and connected to said amplifier circuit, whereby electrical pulsations generated by said oscillator circuit and passing through said coil may cause said wires to change longitudinal dimension by magnetostrictive action and cause said flexible diaphragm to vibrate and produce sonic waves.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
29 words
A sonic beacon as defined by claim 10 wherein said metallic structure comprises the wellhead structure of a mineral well extending into the earth underlying said body of water.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
30 words
A sonic beacon as defined by claim 18 wherein said flexible diaphragm is oriented to generate sonic waves in a direction perpendicular to the surface of a body of water.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2545179A
Cited
US3432350A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-03-01 | 1974-08-31 | 1975-03-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-03-01 | 1978-08-31 | 1979-03-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-03-01 | 1982-08-31 | 1983-03-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |