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US3659256A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Hydrophone streamer cable acoustic decoupler

Assignee: Texaco Inc
•
Filing: 1970-05-18
•
Granted: 1972-04-25
•
Expires: 1990-05-18
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Abstract

Abstract The pressure sensing device in a hydrophone streamer cable is compartmentalized between a pair of clamps which are tightened after the hydrophone streamer cable is filled with floatation liquid, thus isolating the pressure sensing device from the floatation liquid outside the compartment.

Inventors

  • 👤 John L Hudson
  • 👤 Billy H Towell

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-29 09:56
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01B; H01B7/00; H01B7/04; H01B7/045; G; G01; G01V; G01V1/00; G01V1/16; G01V1/20; G01V1/201

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim 123 words
In combination with a hydrophone streamer cable having a plurality of longitudinally spaced hydrophone sections filled with a floatation liquid, the improvement comprising an elongated cylindrical body of rigid protective material at each of said hydrophone sections, said body having spool shaped solid ends, pressure sensing means mounted in a cavity in said elongated body, in direct seismic wave communication with said floatation liquid, said streamer cable comprising a flexible tube surrounding said hydrophone sections, and a pair of straps applied around the body at said spool shaped ends to clamp said flexible tube into liquid tight sealing contact with said solid ends in order to cut off direct seismic wave energy paths in said floatation liquid along the length of said streamer.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 123 words
In combination with a hydrophone streamer cable having a plurality of longitudinally spaced hydrophone sections filled with a floatation liquid, the improvement comprising an elongated cylindrical body of rigid protective material at each of said hydrophone sections, said body having spool shaped solid ends, pressure sensing means mounted in a cavity in said elongated body, in direct seismic wave communication with said floatation liquid, said streamer cable comprising a flexible tube surrounding said hydrophone sections, and a pair of straps applied around the body at said spool shaped ends to clamp said flexible tube into liquid tight sealing contact with said solid ends in order to cut off direct seismic wave energy paths in said floatation liquid along the length of said streamer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 28 words
The invention according to claim 1 wherein said spool shaped ends have at least one annular groove around the body of each for improving the liquid tight seals.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 39 words
The invention according to claim 2 wherein said elongated body includes a plurality of transverse passageways for connecting said cavity with the outside of said body to provide acoustic coupling through said floatation liquid to said pressure sensing means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 11 words
The invention according to claim 3 wherein said straps are metal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 11 words
The invention according to claim 3 wherein said straps are plastic.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 161 words
In combination with a hydrophone streamer cable having a plurality of longitudinally spaced hydrophone sections filled with a floatation liquid, the improvement comprising an elongated cylindrical body of rigid protective material at each of said hydrophone sections, at least one pressure sensitive geophone mounted in a cavity in said body, said body having a plurality of transverse holes connecting said cavity with the outside thereof to permit free communication of said floatation liquid, a pair of solid spool shaped ends on said elongated body each having flanges and a pair of annular grooves therebetween, said streamer cable comprising a flexible tube having an inside diameter greater than the outside diameter of said body, and a pair of clamping straps outside of said flexible tube and located one at each of said spool shaped ends and drawn tightly around the said pair of annular grooves for creating liquid tight seals to prevent direct transmission of seismic wave energy longitudinally around said ends.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 161 words
In combination with a hydrophone streamer cable having a plurality of longitudinally spaced hydrophone sections filled with a floatation liquid, the improvement comprising an elongated cylindrical body of rigid protective material at each of said hydrophone sections, at least one pressure sensitive geophone mounted in a cavity in said body, said body having a plurality of transverse holes connecting said cavity with the outside thereof to permit free communication of said floatation liquid, a pair of solid spool shaped ends on said elongated body each having flanges and a pair of annular grooves therebetween, said streamer cable comprising a flexible tube having an inside diameter greater than the outside diameter of said body, and a pair of clamping straps outside of said flexible tube and located one at each of said spool shaped ends and drawn tightly around the said pair of annular grooves for creating liquid tight seals to prevent direct transmission of seismic wave energy longitudinally around said ends.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3371311A Cited
US3432000A Cited
US3371739A Cited
US3376948A Cited
US3448432A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1975-04-25 1975-10-25 1976-04-25 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1979-04-25 1979-10-25 1980-04-25 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1983-04-25 1983-10-25 1984-04-25 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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