US3718207A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for providing underwater seismic energy signals
Assignee: FIRST CITY NATIONAL BANK OF HOUSTON A NATIONAL BANKING ASSOCIATION
•
Filing: 1969-12-10
•
Granted: 1973-02-27
•
Expires: 1989-12-10
Abstract
Abstract A seismic energy source provided in the form of a hollow cylindrical member supporting a drum plate on its rear end and connected to a tow line on its forward end for movement through a body of water with rapid-actuating valve means on the rear of the cylindrical member which, when closed, entraps a large mass of water the inertia of which resists continued movement of the cylindrical member; a piston and cylinder assembly is connected to the tow line by a piston rod so that the momentum of the towing vessel moves the piston with respect to the cylinder to pressurize a pressure accumulator to a desired pressure at which point a release coupling between the rod and the tow line is activated to permit the rod to be forcefully urged at a high speed rearwardly to strike the drum plate to provide a seismic signal.
Inventors
- 👤 J Babb
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 12:04
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01V; G01V1/00; G01V1/02; G01V1/143; G01V1/147; G01V1/38
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
95 words
A device for providing underwater seismic signals as the device is towed beneath the surface of a body of water by a towing means extending from a towing vessel, said device comprising: a. selectively operable means for applying a force against said towing means in a direction opposite the direction of movement of the towing vessel to reduce the momentum of the towing vessel; b. energy absorbing means for storing energy lost by the towing vessel through reduction of its momentum; and c. energy converting means for converting said stored energy into underwater seismic signals.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
95 words
A device for providing underwater seismic signals as the device is towed beneath the surface of a body of water by a towing means extending from a towing vessel, said device comprising: a. selectively operable means for applying a force against said towing means in a direction opposite the direction of movement of the towing vessel to reduce the momentum of the towing vessel; b. energy absorbing means for storing energy lost by the towing vessel through reduction of its momentum; and c. energy converting means for converting said stored energy into underwater seismic signals.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
47 words
The structure of claim 1, wherein: a. said towing means comprises a tow line; and b. said selectively operable means includes water entrapping means for entrapping water wherein the entrapped water provides resistance to movement of the towing vessel to reduce the momentum of the towing vessel.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
93 words
The structure of claim 2 wherein said energy absorbing means comprises: a. a power cylinder mounted with said water entrapping means; b. a pressure accumulator connected to said power cylinder; c. a piston and a piston rod in said power cylinder; and d. relEasable drive means for connecting said piston rod to said tow line wherein resistance to movement by said water entrapping means causes the towing vessel to move said piston with respect to said cylinder to increase the pressure in said pressure accumulator and reduce the momentum of the towing vessel.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
54 words
The structure of claim 3 wherein said energy converting means comprises: a drum plate for engaging said piston rod upon release of said releasable drive means from said piston rod, said piston rod exerting a striking force formed by the pressure in said pressure accumulator driving said piston rod to strike said drum plate.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
116 words
A method for providing a seismic signal comprising the steps of towing a hollow member through a body of water so that water enters said hollow member and flows through said hollow member to exit therefrom, rapidly entrapping the body of water within said hollow member to provide an inertia force resisting continued movement of said hollow member, using the inertia force of said entrapped water and the momentum of a towing vessel acting in opposite directions for increasing the pressure in a pressure accumulator to a high level and driving a piston by the high level pressure in said accumulator to accelerate a striking head to strike a drum plate to provide a seismic signal.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
116 words
A method for providing a seismic signal comprising the steps of towing a hollow member through a body of water so that water enters said hollow member and flows through said hollow member to exit therefrom, rapidly entrapping the body of water within said hollow member to provide an inertia force resisting continued movement of said hollow member, using the inertia force of said entrapped water and the momentum of a towing vessel acting in opposite directions for increasing the pressure in a pressure accumulator to a high level and driving a piston by the high level pressure in said accumulator to accelerate a striking head to strike a drum plate to provide a seismic signal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
91 words
An underwater seismic signal source for forming a seismic signal when towed in a body of water by a towing vessel, comprising: a. body member means for permitting the water to flow therethrough when towed by the towing vessel; b. selectively operable means for blocking the flow of water in said body member means, exerting a force reducing the momentum of the towing vessel; c. accumulator means for storing energy from the reduction of momentum of the towing vessel; and d. means for converting said stored energy into a seismic signal.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
91 words
An underwater seismic signal source for forming a seismic signal when towed in a body of water by a towing vessel, comprising: a. body member means for permitting the water to flow therethrough when towed by the towing vessel; b. selectively operable means for blocking the flow of water in said body member means, exerting a force reducing the momentum of the towing vessel; c. accumulator means for storing energy from the reduction of momentum of the towing vessel; and d. means for converting said stored energy into a seismic signal.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
50 words
The structure of claim 6, further including: a. power cylinder means for containing a fluid therein; and b. power piston means operably connected with the towing vessel for exerting force on the fluid in said power cylinder means when the flow of water in said body member means is blocked.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
The structure of claim 7, wherein said accumulator means comprises: pressure responsive means for absorbing the force from the fluid in said power cylinder means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
38 words
The structure of claim 6, wherein said means for converting comprises: a. drum plate means for forming a seismic signal when struck; and b. hammer rod means responsive to said accumulator means for striking said drum plate means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
45 words
The structure of claim 6, further including releasable connector means comprising: a. means for transmitting a force from the towing vessel to said accumulator means; and b. actuator means for permitting the energy stored in said accumulator means to act on said means for converting.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
91 words
An apparatus for forming a seismic signal, comprising: a. body member means for permitting the flow of water therethrough; b. means for entrapping a body of water in said body member means to provide a force resisting movement of said body member means; c. means for accumulating energy from the force resisting movement of said body member means; d. striker means responsive to said means for accumulating energy for forming the seismic signal; and e. actuator means for permitting the energy in said means for accumulating to operate said striker means.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
91 words
An apparatus for forming a seismic signal, comprising: a. body member means for permitting the flow of water therethrough; b. means for entrapping a body of water in said body member means to provide a force resisting movement of said body member means; c. means for accumulating energy from the force resisting movement of said body member means; d. striker means responsive to said means for accumulating energy for forming the seismic signal; and e. actuator means for permitting the energy in said means for accumulating to operate said striker means.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
97 words
A method of forming a seismic signal comprising the steps of: a. towing a member through a body of water so that the water flows through the member; b. entrapping a body of water in the member to exert a force resisting movement of the member; c. opposing the force exerted by said step of entrapping with the force exerted by said step of towing to thereby form a pressure; d. accumulating the pressure formed by said step of opposing; and e. striking a portion of the member using the pressure accumulAted to form a seismic signal.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
97 words
A method of forming a seismic signal comprising the steps of: a. towing a member through a body of water so that the water flows through the member; b. entrapping a body of water in the member to exert a force resisting movement of the member; c. opposing the force exerted by said step of entrapping with the force exerted by said step of towing to thereby form a pressure; d. accumulating the pressure formed by said step of opposing; and e. striking a portion of the member using the pressure accumulAted to form a seismic signal.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2395862A
Cited
US2792804A
Cited
US3536157A
Cited
US3610366A
Cited
US3642090A
Cited
US3642089A
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 |