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US3601217A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Air-operated seismic gas exploders
Assignee: Western Atlas International Inc
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Filing: 1969-05-16
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Granted: 1971-08-24
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Expires: 1989-05-16
Abstract
Abstract This invention relates to marine seismic gas exploders and to methods for operating them. A seismic gas exploder typically includes a housing having an expansible combustion chamber to which is periodically supplied a charge of a combustible gas mixture. The charge is detonated and the spent gases are preferably exhausted by a vacuum-operated exhaust system. The combustible gas mixture in accordance with this invention generally includes oxygen, a fuel gas, and an inert gas or preferably a fuel gas, oxygen and air. The partial air pressure is selected to allow the oxygen to completely burn the fuel gas and the nitrogen portion of the air is selected to obtain a prefiring pressure equal to or less than the ambient pressure of the water.
Inventors
- 👤 Ben B Thigpen
- 👤 Carl H Savit
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 20:38
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01V; G01V1/00; G01V1/02; G01V1/104; G01V1/108
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
140 words
A seismic gas exploder system for generating pulses of energy in a body of water when the exploder moves through the water at depths having predetermined ambient pressures, the exploder comprising: a housing having an extensible wall enclosing a confined expansible combustion chamber; supply means to supply a combustible gaseous mixture to said chamber, said mixture including compressed air, oxygen and fuel, the partial pressure at least of the nitrogen portion of said air being determined in dependence upon the ambient pressure of the water at the depth at which said exploder operates; ignition means to detonate said mixture within said chamber thereby producing spent gaseous products of combustion which causes said chamber to expand and to generate said pulses; and exhaust means operatively coupled to said chamber and arranged to purge said gaseous products of combustion from said chamber.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
140 words
A seismic gas exploder system for generating pulses of energy in a body of water when the exploder moves through the water at depths having predetermined ambient pressures, the exploder comprising: a housing having an extensible wall enclosing a confined expansible combustion chamber; supply means to supply a combustible gaseous mixture to said chamber, said mixture including compressed air, oxygen and fuel, the partial pressure at least of the nitrogen portion of said air being determined in dependence upon the ambient pressure of the water at the depth at which said exploder operates; ignition means to detonate said mixture within said chamber thereby producing spent gaseous products of combustion which causes said chamber to expand and to generate said pulses; and exhaust means operatively coupled to said chamber and arranged to purge said gaseous products of combustion from said chamber.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
43 words
The gas exploder system of claim 1 wherein the sum of the partial pressures of said fuel, air and oxygen and of the partial pressure of said spent products remaining in said chamber prior to detonation is substantially equal to said ambient pressure.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
46 words
The gas exploder system of claim 1 wherein the sum of said partial pressures and of the partial pressure of said spend products remaining in said chamber prior to detonation is less than said ambient pressure by a predetermined amount in dependence upon said ambient pressure.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The seismic gas exploder system of claim 1 wherein said exhaust meaNs include a conduit coupling said chamber to a vacuum reservoir.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
61 words
The gas exploder system of claim 1 wherein said extensible wall includes an elastic cylindrical sleeve, a center core in said sleeve, and a plurality of hollow tubes arranged substantially parallel to and at an equal distance from the longitudinal axis of said sleeve to form a cylindrical cage for supporting said sleeve subsequent to the detonation of said combustible mixture.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
125 words
A method of energizing a gas exploder having a confined combustion chamber for generating pulses of energy in a body of water when the exploder moves through the water at depths having predetermined ambient pressures, the method comprising the steps of: supplying a combustible gaseous mixture to said combustion chamber, said mixture including inert gas, oxygen and fuel; adjusting the respective partial pressures of said inert gas, oxygen, and fuel in dependence upon the ambient pressure of the water at the depth at which said exploder operates; detonating said combustible mixture in said chamber to produce spent gaseous products of combustion which expand said chamber and generate said pulses; and exhausting said gaseous products of combustion from said chamber to a final spent gas pressure.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
125 words
A method of energizing a gas exploder having a confined combustion chamber for generating pulses of energy in a body of water when the exploder moves through the water at depths having predetermined ambient pressures, the method comprising the steps of: supplying a combustible gaseous mixture to said combustion chamber, said mixture including inert gas, oxygen and fuel; adjusting the respective partial pressures of said inert gas, oxygen, and fuel in dependence upon the ambient pressure of the water at the depth at which said exploder operates; detonating said combustible mixture in said chamber to produce spent gaseous products of combustion which expand said chamber and generate said pulses; and exhausting said gaseous products of combustion from said chamber to a final spent gas pressure.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 6 wherein the sum of said partial pressures of inert gas, oxygen, and fuel and of the said final spent gas pressure in said chamber is substantially equal to said ambient pressure.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-08-23 | 1975-02-22 | 1975-08-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-08-23 | 1979-02-22 | 1979-08-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-08-23 | 1983-02-22 | 1983-08-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |