US3690403A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Acoustic energy source utilizing the water-hammer phenomenon
Assignee: Texas Instruments Inc
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Filing: 1970-01-02
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Granted: 1972-09-12
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Expires: 1990-01-02
Abstract
Abstract An elongated pipe is connected at an upper end to a pressurized fluid container and extends downwardly into water at the lower end. A valve is connected between the pressurized fluid container and the elongated pipe. A piston member is slidable within the elongated pipe. A diaphragm is connected at the submerged end of the pipe and includes seating structure for engaging the piston member. When the valve is opened, a high energy supply of fluid is directed against the piston member to force the piston member at high speed down the pipe into abutment with the seating structure. Compressional waves are thus created along the length of the elongated pipe, the diaphragm coupling the compressional waves into the adjacent water to create acoustic energy for use in marine exploration.
Inventors
- 👤 Billy W Davis
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 03:35
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01V; G01V1/00; G01V1/02; G01V1/133
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
95 words
A source of acoustic energy for marine seismic exploration comprising: a. pressurized supply tanks for providing fluid under pressure; b. an elongated flow channel having a pressurized fluid inlet end and an open outlet end, said inlet end being connected to said supply tanks for admitting fluid under pressure to said channel; c. A piston stop means; and d. piston means movable along a substantial portion of said elongated flow channel responsive to the pressurized fluid, said piston means aDapted to engage the stop means and close said open outlet end to create acoustic energy.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
95 words
A source of acoustic energy for marine seismic exploration comprising: a. pressurized supply tanks for providing fluid under pressure; b. an elongated flow channel having a pressurized fluid inlet end and an open outlet end, said inlet end being connected to said supply tanks for admitting fluid under pressure to said channel; c. A piston stop means; and d. piston means movable along a substantial portion of said elongated flow channel responsive to the pressurized fluid, said piston means aDapted to engage the stop means and close said open outlet end to create acoustic energy.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
52 words
The source defined in claim 1 wherein the piston stop means has a spring rate and the mass of said piston means and the spring rate of said stop means are constructed so that the resulting springmass system has natural frequency generally equal to the cyclic pressure frequency within the flow channel.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
51 words
The source defined in claim 1 and further comprising: rigid diaphragm means connected at said outlet end of said flow channel for radiating acoustic energy, said rigid diaphragm means including a plate having a piston seat defining an outlet in the plate for the flow channel on which it is mounted.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
43 words
The source defined in claim 1 wherein compression waves are generated along said flow channel in response to the closing of said piston means against said seating structure, the frequency of said compression waves being dependent upon the length of said flow channel.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
92 words
A source of acoustic energy for marine seismic exploration comprising: supply means for providing fluid under pressure, an elongated flow channel connected to said supply means and extending to an outlet located, valve means operable for directing high energy fluid from said supply means along said flow channel, piston means for being moved by said high energy fluid along said flow channel, and diaphragm means at said outlet location for abruptly arresting the movement of said piston means to create acoustic energy which is transmitted to the water through said diaphragm means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
92 words
A source of acoustic energy for marine seismic exploration comprising: supply means for providing fluid under pressure, an elongated flow channel connected to said supply means and extending to an outlet located, valve means operable for directing high energy fluid from said supply means along said flow channel, piston means for being moved by said high energy fluid along said flow channel, and diaphragm means at said outlet location for abruptly arresting the movement of said piston means to create acoustic energy which is transmitted to the water through said diaphragm means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
41 words
The source of claim 5 wherein the mass of said piston means and the spring rate of said seating structure are constructed so that the resulting spring-mass system has a natural frequency generally equal to the frequency of the acoustic energy.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
The source defined in claim 5 wherein said supply means comprises a container pressurized with gas.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
36 words
The source defined in claim 5 wherein the arresting of the movement of said piston means abruptly terminates the flow of high energy fluid along said flow channel to create compressional waves along said flow channel.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
The source of claim 8 wherein said compressional waves oscillate along said flow channel at a frequency determined by the length of said flow channel.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
The source of claim 5 wherein said flow channel comprises a circular pipe having an internal diameter closely fitting the outer diameter of said piston means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
37 words
The source of claim 5 wherein said diaphragm means includes an opening therein, said opening defining a seat which said piston means seats upon to close said opening for generation of compressional waves along said flow channel.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
The source of claim 11 wherein said diaphragm means includes a flexible expansion joint to allow movement of said diaphragm in response to said compressional waves generated in said flow channel.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
29 words
The source of claim 5 wherein said piston means has a circular cross section and includes a tapered end portion for extending through an opening in said diaphragm means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
16 words
The source of claim 13 wherein said piston means has a resilient impact member disposed therein.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
142 words
A system for generating acoustic waves for marine exploration comprising: pump means for picking up water, a pressurized container connected to said pump means for storing water under pressure, an elongated pipe connected at one end to said pressurized container and extending downwardly into the water at the other end, valve means connected between said pressurized container and said elongated pipe, a piston member slidable within said elongated pipe, expandable diaphragm means connected at the submerged end of said elongated pipe and including seating means for engaging said piston member, and means for selectively operating said valve means to direct a high energy supply of water against said piston member when at the upper end of said elongated pipe, wherebY said piston member is forced at high speed down said elongated pipe into abutment with said seating means to create acoustic waves.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
142 words
A system for generating acoustic waves for marine exploration comprising: pump means for picking up water, a pressurized container connected to said pump means for storing water under pressure, an elongated pipe connected at one end to said pressurized container and extending downwardly into the water at the other end, valve means connected between said pressurized container and said elongated pipe, a piston member slidable within said elongated pipe, expandable diaphragm means connected at the submerged end of said elongated pipe and including seating means for engaging said piston member, and means for selectively operating said valve means to direct a high energy supply of water against said piston member when at the upper end of said elongated pipe, wherebY said piston member is forced at high speed down said elongated pipe into abutment with said seating means to create acoustic waves.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
41 words
The system of claim 15 wherein the mass of said piston means and the spring rate of said seating structure are constructed so that the resulting spring-mass system has a natural frequency generally equal to the frequency of the acoustic energy.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 15 wherein said diaphragm means includes a contained pocket of air on the back side thereof to reduce the effective impedance thereof.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system of claim 15 wherein said piston member has a circular cross section generally equal in diameter to the internal diameter of said pipe.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
34 words
The system of claim 15 wherein said diaphragm includes an opening in the center thereof, said piston member adapted to seat against said seating means to close said opening during operation of the system.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
37 words
The system of claim 15 wherein compressional waves are generated along said elongated pipe when said piston member closes against said seating means, the frequencies of said compressional waves being dependent upon the length of said pipe.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 15 wherein said system is mounted upon a vessel and wherein said pump means picks up water during traverse of the vessel.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
83 words
A method for creating acoustic energy comprising: directing a fluid under pressure from a pressurized tank source against a movable piston located adjacent an inlet end of a flow channel having an inlet end and an open outlet end, driving said piston responsive to the pressurized fluid down the flow channel to its open outlet end, and abruptly terminating movement of the piston body at the open outlet end of the flow channel to close said open outlet end to create acoustic energy.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
83 words
A method for creating acoustic energy comprising: directing a fluid under pressure from a pressurized tank source against a movable piston located adjacent an inlet end of a flow channel having an inlet end and an open outlet end, driving said piston responsive to the pressurized fluid down the flow channel to its open outlet end, and abruptly terminating movement of the piston body at the open outlet end of the flow channel to close said open outlet end to create acoustic energy.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 22 wherein the movement of the piston body is terminated by abutment with seating structure at the end of the flow channel.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 22 wherein the termination of movement of said piston body causes compressional waves to be directed along the length of the flow channel.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 24 wherein the frequencies of the compressional waves are dependent upon the length of the flow channel.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 22 wherein said transmission medium comprises water.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-09-12 | 1976-03-13 | 1976-09-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-09-12 | 1980-03-13 | 1980-09-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-09-12 | 1984-03-13 | 1984-09-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |