US3675193A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Hoop stressed beam hydrophone
Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corp
•
Filing: 1970-12-28
•
Granted: 1972-07-04
•
Expires: 1990-12-28
Abstract
Abstract Seismic hydrophone streamer assemblies are constructed utilizing hydrophones which comprise cylindrical segments of crystals disposed with the axis of the crystals transverse to the axis of the streamer cable. This construction permits usage of a crystal having a diameter significantly larger than the diameter of the cable regardless of whether the crystal is disposed internally of a streamer cable. A crystal mounting means is provided which can be affixed to the exterior of a central stress member streamer cable and which supports the crystal solely by the edge of the crystal segment parallel to the cylindrical axis of the cylinder.
Inventors
- 👤 Billy W Davis
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 17:53
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01V; G01V1/00; G01V1/16; G01V1/20; G01V1/201; B; B06; B06B; B06B1/00; B06B1/02; B06B1/06; B06B1/0644; B06B1/0655
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
72 words
A hydrophone streamer assembly comprising: an elongated streamer cable; at least one piezoelectric crystal transducer for detection of underwater waves, said crystal comprising a segment of a cylinder; and means mounting said crystal with respect to said cable with the cylindrical axis of said crystal disposed in a transverse relation to the axis of said cable, said means supporting said crystal to define a void beneath the curved surface of the crystal.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
72 words
A hydrophone streamer assembly comprising: an elongated streamer cable; at least one piezoelectric crystal transducer for detection of underwater waves, said crystal comprising a segment of a cylinder; and means mounting said crystal with respect to said cable with the cylindrical axis of said crystal disposed in a transverse relation to the axis of said cable, said means supporting said crystal to define a void beneath the curved surface of the crystal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
The hydrophone streamer assembly of claim 1 wherein the radius of said segment of said cylinder is greater than the greatest radius of said hydrophone streamer assembly.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
The hydrophone streamer assembly of claim 1 wherein said crystal is the segment of a circular cylinder.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
The hydrophone streamer assembly of claim 1 wherein said means mounting said crystal includes means to hold two crystals in opposed relation with the convex surfaces of the crystal disposed outwardly of said streamer cable.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The hydrophone streamer assembly of claim 1 wherein said streamer cable is a central stress member streamer cable.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
The hydrophone streamer assembly of claim 5 wherein said transducer comprises a pair of piezoelectric crystals disposed in opposing relation with their convex surfaces facing exteriorly of said cable.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
49 words
The hydrophone streamer assembly of claim 6 wherein said means mounting said crystals includes two mounting blocks adapted to be mounted exteriorly of said central stress member streamer, said mounting blocks having means therein to support said crystals to define a void beneath the curved surface of the crystal.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
The hydrophone streamer assembly of claim 6 including means to removably affix said mounting blocks in opposed relation about the exterior or said central stress member streamer.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
43 words
The hydrophone assembly of claim 7 wherein each of said mounting blocks comprises a member comprised of rigid material having an elongated recess terminating in diverging crystal support surfaces, and wherein the edges of said crystal are on said diverging crystal support surfaces.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
43 words
The hydrophone streamer assembly as recited in claim 9 including substantially rigid side members interfitting with said mounting blocks on either side of said crystal, and further including means enclosing and sealing the convex surface of said crystal comprising elastomeric water impervious mateRial.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
The hydrophone streamer assembly of claim 10 including means removably securing said side members to said mounting blocks and to said central stress member streamer.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
95 words
A hydrophone streamer assembly comprising: an elongated streamer cable; at least one piezoelectric crystal transducer to detect reflected seismic waves, said crystal comprising a segment of a cylinder having first edge surfaces generally parallel to the axis of said cylinder and second edge surfaces generally transverse to said axis; and means mounting said crystal with respect to said cable with the cylindrical axis of said crystal transverse to the axis of said cable, said means supporting said crystal solely on said first edge surfaces to provide a void beneath the curved surface of said crystal.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
95 words
A hydrophone streamer assembly comprising: an elongated streamer cable; at least one piezoelectric crystal transducer to detect reflected seismic waves, said crystal comprising a segment of a cylinder having first edge surfaces generally parallel to the axis of said cylinder and second edge surfaces generally transverse to said axis; and means mounting said crystal with respect to said cable with the cylindrical axis of said crystal transverse to the axis of said cable, said means supporting said crystal solely on said first edge surfaces to provide a void beneath the curved surface of said crystal.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
The hydrophone streamer assembly of claim 12 wherein said crystal is a segment of a circular cylinder.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
34 words
The hydrophone streamer assembly of claim 12 wherein said cable is a central stress member cable and including means removably securing said means mounting said crystal to said central stress member of said cable.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
55 words
The hydrophone streamer assembly of claim 14 wherein said means mounting said crystal includes mounting blocks comprised of rigid material and adapted to be mounted exteriorly of a central stress member of said streamer cable and having recesses therein terminating in diverging crystal support surfaces, which abut and support said first edges of said crystal.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
37 words
The hydrophone streamer assembly of claim 15 including means sealing said crystal and said mounting block, said means including an elastomeric portion disposed over the outer surface of said crystal to permit crystal response from underwater waves.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
59 words
In a hydrophone streamer assembly including an elongated streamer cable having curved piezoelectric crystals which are cylindrical crystal segments mounted with respect thereto, said crystals being adapted to detect reflected seismic waves, the improvement comprising: means supporting said curved crystal solely from the edges of said cylindrical crystal segment generally parallel to the axis of said cylindrical crystal segment.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
59 words
In a hydrophone streamer assembly including an elongated streamer cable having curved piezoelectric crystals which are cylindrical crystal segments mounted with respect thereto, said crystals being adapted to detect reflected seismic waves, the improvement comprising: means supporting said curved crystal solely from the edges of said cylindrical crystal segment generally parallel to the axis of said cylindrical crystal segment.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
117 words
A hoop stressed hydrophone for attachment to elongated seismic streamers and the like; said hydrophone comprising at least one substantially rigid mounting block having a recess along the length thereof to permit mounting of said block around a central stress member of said streamer, an elongated piezoelectric crystal comprising a segment of a cylinder being retained by said mounting block with the axis of curvature of said crystal disposed in transverse relation to the axis of said recess, said crystal cooperating with said mounting block to define a void beneath the curved surface of the crystal, and means enclosing and sealing said mounting block and said crystal including elastomeric means covering the exterior surface of said crystal.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
117 words
A hoop stressed hydrophone for attachment to elongated seismic streamers and the like; said hydrophone comprising at least one substantially rigid mounting block having a recess along the length thereof to permit mounting of said block around a central stress member of said streamer, an elongated piezoelectric crystal comprising a segment of a cylinder being retained by said mounting block with the axis of curvature of said crystal disposed in transverse relation to the axis of said recess, said crystal cooperating with said mounting block to define a void beneath the curved surface of the crystal, and means enclosing and sealing said mounting block and said crystal including elastomeric means covering the exterior surface of said crystal.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
35 words
The hydrophone of claim 18; wherein said means enclosing and sealing said mounting block includes a pair of side members interfitting with said support block and cooperating therewith to define a generally cylindrical external configuration.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
40 words
The hydrophone of claim 18 including a pair of opposed mounting blocks adapted to mount two crystals in opposed relation on opposite sides of said stress member and means removably securing said mounting blocks together and to said stress member.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
33 words
The hydrophone of claim 20; including side members interfitting with said mounting blocks and defining a generally cylindrical external configuration with said mounting blocks and said means enclosing and sealing said mounting blocks.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2788513A
Cited
US3489994A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-07-04 | 1976-01-03 | 1976-07-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-07-04 | 1980-01-03 | 1980-07-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-07-04 | 1984-01-03 | 1984-07-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |