US3718206A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Amphibious seismic exploration vehicle and method
Assignee: FIRST CITY NATIONAL BANK OF HOUSTON A NATIONAL BANKING ASSOCIATION
•
Filing: 1971-01-18
•
Granted: 1973-02-27
•
Expires: 1991-01-18
Abstract
Abstract A seismic signal providing vehicle is provided in the form of pneumatic tires rollingly supporting a hollow metal casing with a body of liquid on the interior of the casing communicating with the interior of the tires and an expandible acoustic signal transducer being positioned in the body of liquid in the casing for activation for transmitting a pressure pulse to the surface of the tires from which the signal is radiated into the environmental surroundings of the tires either on dry land or under water.
Inventors
- 👤 J Babb
- 👤 M Bays
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 11:26
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01V; G01V1/00; G01V1/02; G01V1/04; G01V1/047; B; B63; B63C; B63C11/00; B63C11/34; B63C11/36; B63C11/40
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 35
Claim 1
Independent Claim
93 words
A seismic signal apparatus capable of providing seismic exploration signals on land or in water, comprising: a main casing, transducer means mounted in said main casing for forming a signal, means attached to said casing for supporting said main casing during movement, means for providing fluid communication between said main casing and said means for supporting, and a fluid filling said main casing and further filling said means for supporting whereby actuation of said transducer means provides a signal conveyed by said fluid to said means for supporting for emission of the signal.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
93 words
A seismic signal apparatus capable of providing seismic exploration signals on land or in water, comprising: a main casing, transducer means mounted in said main casing for forming a signal, means attached to said casing for supporting said main casing during movement, means for providing fluid communication between said main casing and said means for supporting, and a fluid filling said main casing and further filling said means for supporting whereby actuation of said transducer means provides a signal conveyed by said fluid to said means for supporting for emission of the signal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The invention of claim 1 wherein: said means for supporting comprises tire members mounted on opposite sides of said main casing.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
a tire adapted to be filled with fluid for supporting said fluid-filled casing on the surface; and
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
a tire adapted to be filled with fluid for supporting said fluid-filled casing on the surface; and
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
means for providing fluid communication between said casing and said tire, wherein acoustic signals formed by said transducer means are hydraulically coupled to the surface.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
means for providing fluid communication between said casing and said tire, wherein acoustic signals formed by said transducer means are hydraulically coupled to the surface.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
40 words
The invention of claim 2 further including: sealed means connecting said tire members to said main casing for permitting rotation of said tire members with respect to said casing so that said device can be moved across a supporting surface.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
39 words
The invention of claim 3 wherein: said casing comprises: a. a main cylindrical portion; b. first and second laterally extending hollow tubular support arms; and c. said sealed means being mounted on the ends of said tubular support arms.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
36 words
The invention of claim 4 further including: a steering frame extending from said casing; and steerable wheel means mounted on said steering frame for enabling directional control of said device when said device is being towed.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
77 words
The invention of claim 5 wherein said transducer means is fluid actuated and further including: an air-trap dome mounted on said main casing having an interior chamber connected to said main casing by tube means; said air-trap dome containing fluid received from said main casing via said tube means and having a body of air above said fluid in said dome and an air bleed means on said dome for varying the pressure in said air trap.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
40 words
The invention of claim 1 wherein: said transducer means comprises a first member connected to said main casing and a second member connected to said first member by flexible coupling means for relative movement with respect to said first member.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
The invention of claim 7 wherein: said means for supporting comprises tire members mounted on opposite sides of said main casing.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
40 words
The invention of claim 8 further including: sealed means connecting said tire members to said main casing for permitting rotation of said tire members with respect to said casing so that said device can be moved across a supporting surface.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
40 words
The invention of claim 9 wherein: said casing comprises: a. a main cylindrical portion; b. a first and second laterally extending hollow tubular support arms; and c. said sealed means being mounted on the ends of said tubular support arms.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
36 words
The invention of claim 10 further including: a steering frame extending from said casing and steerable wheel means mounted on said steering frame for enabling directional control of said device when said device is being towed.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
77 words
The invention of claim 11 wherein said transducer means is hydraulically actuated and further including: an air-trap dome mounted on said main casing having an interior chamber connected to said casing by tube means and said air-trap dome containing fluid received from said main casing via said tube means and having a body of air above said fluid in said dome and an air bleed means on said dome for varying the pressure in said air trap.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
62 words
A seismic signal apparatus comprising a main frame comprising a hollow casing having an internal chamber adapted to be filled with fluid, tires supporting said main frame for rolling movement and signal providing means including a signal transducer mounted in said chamber coupled to said tires for providing a signal to said tires to provide a seismic signal radiating from said tires.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
62 words
A seismic signal apparatus comprising a main frame comprising a hollow casing having an internal chamber adapted to be filled with fluid, tires supporting said main frame for rolling movement and signal providing means including a signal transducer mounted in said chamber coupled to said tires for providing a signal to said tires to provide a seismic signal radiating from said tires.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
12 words
The invention of claim 13 wherein said tires are filled with liquid.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
40 words
A method of providing seismic signals comprising the steps of filling a tire with fluid; forming fluid pressure pulses externally of the tire; communicating the fluid pressure pulses to the tire to cause radiation of seismic signals from the tire.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
40 words
A method of providing seismic signals comprising the steps of filling a tire with fluid; forming fluid pressure pulses externally of the tire; communicating the fluid pressure pulses to the tire to cause radiation of seismic signals from the tire.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 15 further including the step of moving the tire over a land surface while causing radiation of the seismic signals.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 15 further including the step of: moving the tire over a submerged surface while causing radiation of the seismic signals.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 15 further including the step of: moving tHe tire through a body of water in which the tire is suspended while causing radiation of the seismic signals.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
32 words
A seismic signal source for seismic geophysical exploration beneath a surface comprising: a. transducer means for forming a seismic signal; b. means for hydraulically coupling the acoustic signal to the surface comprising:
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
32 words
A seismic signal source for seismic geophysical exploration beneath a surface comprising: a. transducer means for forming a seismic signal; b. means for hydraulically coupling the acoustic signal to the surface comprising:
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
69 words
The structure of claim 19, wherein said transducer means comprises: a. a seismic signal transducer producing a seismic signal; b. a first housing member mounted with said transducer; c. a second housing member mounted with said casing; and d. means for flexibly connecting said first housing member with said second housing member permitting relative movement therebetween wherein signals from said transducer are transmitted into the fluid in said casing.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
33 words
The structure of claim 20, wherein: said first housing member is mounted substantially vertically with respect to said second housing member, wherein movement therebetween reinforces the acoustic signals hydraulically coupled with the surface.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
39 words
The structure of claim 19, wherein said means for providing fluid communication comprises: a. an arm mounted with said casing, said arm having a fluid passage formed therein; and b. hub means for mounting said tire with said arm.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
20 words
The structure of claim 22, wherein: said hub means has a plurality of apertures formed therein for fluid communication therethrough.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
19 words
The structure of claim 22, wherein: said arm has a plurality of apertures formed therein for fluid communication therethrough.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
20 words
The structure of claim 22, further including: means for permitting relative rotational movement between said arm and said hub means.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
19 words
The structure of claim 25, further including: means for preventing fluid escape between said arm and said hub means.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
17 words
The structure of claim 19, further including: means for indicating the level of fluid in said casing.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3301345A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-02-27 | 1976-08-28 | 1977-02-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-02-27 | 1980-08-28 | 1981-02-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-02-27 | 1984-08-28 | 1985-02-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |