Patent US3733584A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3733584A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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System for remotely controlling and activating a seismic vibrator
Assignee: Pelton Co Inc
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Filing: 1971-03-03
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Granted: 1973-05-15
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Expires: 1991-03-03
Abstract
Abstract This invention is applicable to seismic prospecting in which a vibrator is used as the source of seismic waves, and the seismic waves are detected, recorded and processed at a recording point remote from the vibrator, after passing through the earth. Means are provided at the vibrators and at the recording point for generating identical unique signals for controlling the vibrator and processing the recorded data. Precise clock and control means at the vibrator and recording point, after being synchronized, are used to control the simultaneous generation of the unique signals.
Inventors
- 👤 C Pelton
- 👤 K Mitchell
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 12:48
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01V; G01V1/00; G01V1/24; G01V1/26
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
215 words
In a seismic geophysical system in which a vibrator at a vibrator station imparts into the earth a unique signal of predetermined frequency and phase, which signal is detected at a recording station and phonographically recorded for later playback and processing, the method of simultaneous initiation of said unique signals at said vibrator and said recording stations, when there is no communication between said stations, comprising the steps of: a. at each of said vibrator and recording stations generating coincident time pulses at a uniform rate; b. at each of said vibrator and recording stations counting said time pulses in a counter means; c. temporarily bringing said recording station and said vibrator station into communication before the time selected for generating said unique signals, thence synchronizing said counter means in said recording station with said counter means in said vibrator station to start counting at the same instant, and presetting each of said counter means to a desired total count; d. taking said vibrator station and said recording station out of communication with each other; and e. when said first preset total count is reached on each of said counters in said vibrator station and in sAid recording station, simultaneously initiating the generation of identical unique signals in said vibrator station and said recording station.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
215 words
In a seismic geophysical system in which a vibrator at a vibrator station imparts into the earth a unique signal of predetermined frequency and phase, which signal is detected at a recording station and phonographically recorded for later playback and processing, the method of simultaneous initiation of said unique signals at said vibrator and said recording stations, when there is no communication between said stations, comprising the steps of: a. at each of said vibrator and recording stations generating coincident time pulses at a uniform rate; b. at each of said vibrator and recording stations counting said time pulses in a counter means; c. temporarily bringing said recording station and said vibrator station into communication before the time selected for generating said unique signals, thence synchronizing said counter means in said recording station with said counter means in said vibrator station to start counting at the same instant, and presetting each of said counter means to a desired total count; d. taking said vibrator station and said recording station out of communication with each other; and e. when said first preset total count is reached on each of said counters in said vibrator station and in sAid recording station, simultaneously initiating the generation of identical unique signals in said vibrator station and said recording station.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
52 words
A method as in claim 1 including the additional steps, at said vibrator and recording stations, of resetting said counter means, starting a second counter means, presetting said second counter means to a second total count, and initiating start pulses to start said unique-signal generators upon reaching said second preset total count.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method as in claim 1 including the additional steps of transmitting simultaneous synchronizing pulses to each of said vibrator and recording stations, and responsive to said synchronizing pulses at each station starting said first counter means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
45 words
A method as in claim 3 including the step of encoding and transmitting at least one of said synchronizing pulses, and at least at one station decoding said transmitted coded synchronizing pulse, and responsive to said decoded coded synchronizing pulse, starting said first counter means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method as in claim 2 including the steps of resetting said first and second counter means, and thereafter disabling said second counter means, whereby said first counter means will continue to count to its preset total count.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method of claim 5 including the step of moving said vibrator and/or said recording station to a different relative location during the time said first counter is continuing to count to its preset total count.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
A system of claim 1 wherein said presetting of each of said counter means to a desired total count occurs after taking said vibrator station and said recording station out of communication with each other.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
209 words
In a seismic geophysical system in which a vibrator at a vibrator station imparts into the earth a unique signal of predetermined frequency and phase, which signal is detected at a recording station and phonographically recorded for later playback and processing, including means at said vibrator and recording stations for generating identical unique signals on receipt of a start pulse, the improvement in means for simultaneous initiation of said unique signals at said vibrator and said recording stations while said stations are out of communication with each other, comprising: a. precise clock means at each of said stations for generating clock pulses; b. clock pulse first counting means at each of said stations; c. means for temporarily bringing said vibrator and recording stations into communication to synchronize said clock pulse first counting means at each of said vibrator and recording stations in advance of the time for generating said unique signal; d. means for presetting said first counting means; and e. means for generating a start pulse at a preselected count in each of said first counting means and for transmitting said start pulses to said means for generating said unique signals simultaneously at said vibrator and recording stations while said stations are not in communication with each other.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
209 words
In a seismic geophysical system in which a vibrator at a vibrator station imparts into the earth a unique signal of predetermined frequency and phase, which signal is detected at a recording station and phonographically recorded for later playback and processing, including means at said vibrator and recording stations for generating identical unique signals on receipt of a start pulse, the improvement in means for simultaneous initiation of said unique signals at said vibrator and said recording stations while said stations are out of communication with each other, comprising: a. precise clock means at each of said stations for generating clock pulses; b. clock pulse first counting means at each of said stations; c. means for temporarily bringing said vibrator and recording stations into communication to synchronize said clock pulse first counting means at each of said vibrator and recording stations in advance of the time for generating said unique signal; d. means for presetting said first counting means; and e. means for generating a start pulse at a preselected count in each of said first counting means and for transmitting said start pulses to said means for generating said unique signals simultaneously at said vibrator and recording stations while said stations are not in communication with each other.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
57 words
The seismic geophysical system as in claim 8 including, at each of said vibrator and recording stations, second counting means actuated in response to said preselected count of said first counting means, said second counting means capable of being preset to a selected count to generate said start pulse to reset said first and second counting means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system of claim 9 including means at each station to recycle said second counting means at the end of its selected count.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
31 words
The seismic geophysical system as in claim 9 including means to disable the counting of said second counting means until the first counting means has reached its first preset total count.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
34 words
The seismic geophysical system as in claim 9 including, after said second counting means has started counting, means for disabling said second counting means, while permitting said first counting means to continue to count.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-05-14 | 1976-11-13 | 1977-05-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-05-14 | 1980-11-13 | 1981-05-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-05-14 | 1984-11-13 | 1985-05-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |