US3789951A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Vibrator system for generating seismic waves in the earth
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1972-02-07
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Granted: 1974-02-05
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Expires: 1992-02-07
Abstract
Abstract This invention describes a vehicle-mounted electrohydraulic vibrator system useful for generating seismic waves in th earth. It comprises a baseplate supported from the vehicle by downwardly extending means and attached to the baseplate through compliances. The vibrator system comprises four hydraulic cylinders and pistons operatively mounted in the cylinders. The pistons are attached to the baseplate through a first frame and are supported thereby. The cylinders are connected to a second frame placed above and resting on the vibrator. The second frame is adapted to support a mass. The mass can be a separate discrete mass of metal, or alternatively, the second frame can be clamped to the bed of the vehicle, in which case the vehicle becomes the reaction mass. If the vehicle has a drive shaft, two of the cylinders are placed on each side of the drive shaft. The pistons in the cylinders are single-acting. That is, a first piston in a first cylinder is pushed downwardly and a second piston in a second cylinder is pushed upwardly with respect to the cylinders when pressure fluid is introduced into the cylinders. The four single-acting vibrators arranged in rectangular spacing provide an alternating vertical force acting at the center of the rectangle.
Inventors
- 👤 D Silverman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 07:11
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01V; G01V1/00; G01V1/02; G01V1/143; G01V1/155; G01V1/04; G01V1/09
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
331 words
In an electro-hydraulic vibrator system for generating seismic signals in the earth, said vibrator mounted on a vehicle and including baseplate a, and means to support said baseplate from said vehicle, said support means including means to lower said baseplate to the earths surface, and means including a compliant means for pressing down on said baseplate with a force equal to part of the weight of said vehicle, the improvement, comprising; a. four cylinders and four pistons means slidably and sealably received therein, one in each of said cylinders, said cylinders spaced apart on said baseplate in the four corners of a rectangle; b. first frame means attached to said pistons, and second frame means attached to said cylinders, either of said first or said second frame means attached to and supported by said base plate, the other of said first or second frame means attached to a reaction mass positioned above said cylinders, the axes of said cylinders directed perpendicular to said baseplate; c. reaction mass means supported by said second frame means; and d. means to selectively direct high pressure fluid to said cylinders, the first two cylinders on a first diagonal axis adapted to move their pistons upwardly on the application of pressure fluid, the second two cylinders on the second diagonal axis adapted to move their pistons downwardly on the application of pressure fluid, said pressure fluid applied seQuentially to said first two cylinders and then to said second two cylinders; whereby pairs of upward forces will be simultaneously applied to said base plate at the corners of said first diagonal axis and pairs of downward forces will be simultaneously applied at the corners of said second diagonal axis, sequentially, as said pressure fluid is applied sequentially to said first two and to said second two cylinders, said pairs of upward and downward forces all equal to each other and combining to form an oscillating vertical force applied to said baseplate at the center of said rectangle.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
331 words
In an electro-hydraulic vibrator system for generating seismic signals in the earth, said vibrator mounted on a vehicle and including baseplate a, and means to support said baseplate from said vehicle, said support means including means to lower said baseplate to the earths surface, and means including a compliant means for pressing down on said baseplate with a force equal to part of the weight of said vehicle, the improvement, comprising; a. four cylinders and four pistons means slidably and sealably received therein, one in each of said cylinders, said cylinders spaced apart on said baseplate in the four corners of a rectangle; b. first frame means attached to said pistons, and second frame means attached to said cylinders, either of said first or said second frame means attached to and supported by said base plate, the other of said first or second frame means attached to a reaction mass positioned above said cylinders, the axes of said cylinders directed perpendicular to said baseplate; c. reaction mass means supported by said second frame means; and d. means to selectively direct high pressure fluid to said cylinders, the first two cylinders on a first diagonal axis adapted to move their pistons upwardly on the application of pressure fluid, the second two cylinders on the second diagonal axis adapted to move their pistons downwardly on the application of pressure fluid, said pressure fluid applied seQuentially to said first two cylinders and then to said second two cylinders; whereby pairs of upward forces will be simultaneously applied to said base plate at the corners of said first diagonal axis and pairs of downward forces will be simultaneously applied at the corners of said second diagonal axis, sequentially, as said pressure fluid is applied sequentially to said first two and to said second two cylinders, said pairs of upward and downward forces all equal to each other and combining to form an oscillating vertical force applied to said baseplate at the center of said rectangle.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
The vibrator system as in claim 1 in which said mass means comprises a separate discrete volume of metal supported by said second frame.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
The vibrator system as in claim 1 in which said mass means comprises at lesat part of the mass of said vehicle.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
The vibrator system as in claim 3 including means to removably clamp said second frame means to said vehicle.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
177 words
In an electrohydraulic vibrator system for generating seismic waves in the earth, said system including a transport vehicle, a baseplate, a vibrator system having a first of two relatively reciprocating parts fastened to a first frame fastened to said baseplate and the second of said two parts supporting a second frame, and means on said vehicle for pressing down on said baseplate through compliances with a force equal to at least portion of the weight of said vehicle, and means to selectively apply high pressure fluid to said vibrator system, the improvement comprising; means to releasably rigidly clamp said second frame to said vehicle while said vibrator is operating and to unclamp said second frame from said vehicle when said vibrator is not operating, whereby said second frame and said vehicle are forced to move in unison when said vibrator is operating and to move separately when said vibrator is not operating, whereby at least a portion of the mass of said vehicle acts as at least a part of the reaction mass for said vibrator system.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
177 words
In an electrohydraulic vibrator system for generating seismic waves in the earth, said system including a transport vehicle, a baseplate, a vibrator system having a first of two relatively reciprocating parts fastened to a first frame fastened to said baseplate and the second of said two parts supporting a second frame, and means on said vehicle for pressing down on said baseplate through compliances with a force equal to at least portion of the weight of said vehicle, and means to selectively apply high pressure fluid to said vibrator system, the improvement comprising; means to releasably rigidly clamp said second frame to said vehicle while said vibrator is operating and to unclamp said second frame from said vehicle when said vibrator is not operating, whereby said second frame and said vehicle are forced to move in unison when said vibrator is operating and to move separately when said vibrator is not operating, whereby at least a portion of the mass of said vehicle acts as at least a part of the reaction mass for said vibrator system.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
38 words
The vibrator system as in claim 5 in which said vibrator system includes a single cylinder and a single double-acting piston therein, said piston rigidly connected to said baseplate and said cylinder releasably rigidly clamped to said vehicle.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
59 words
The vibrator system as in claim 5 including a plurality of cylinders and including: a. valve means associated with each of said plurality of cylinders to control the admission and expulsion of high pressure fluid to and from said cylinders; and b. control means to control said valve means whereby the operation of said plurality of valves is simultaneous.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
The vibrator system as in claim 7 in which said control means is hydraulic.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
14 words
The vibrator system as in claim 7 in which said control means is mechanical.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
60 words
The vibrator system as in claim 5 in which said clamp means comprises; a. vertical post means attached to said second frame, and b. a plurality of opposed hydraulic rams attached to said vehicle in a horizontal plane directed inwardly radially to said post means to securely grasp said post and means to removably apply hydraulic pressure to said rams.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
98 words
The vibrator system as in claim 5 in which said clamp means comprises: a. spherical ball means supported by said second frame; b. spherical seat plates above and below said ball means; c. clamp frame means attached to the truck frame; d. a plurality of upwardly directed pistons in cylinders fastened to said clamp frame below, and a second plurality above said seat plate; and e. means to apply high pressure liquid to said cylinders to press said pistons on said top and bottom seat plates; and f. valve means to lock said pressure liquid in said cylinders.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
75 words
The vibrator system as in claim 5 in which said clamp means comprises: a. vertical first post means attached to said second frame; b. second post means attached to the truck frame on second post mounted on each side of said first pOst; c. transverse openings coaxial through said three posts, said opening of a selected taper; and d. tapered piston rod means of said selected taper operatively controlled be driven into said tapered opening.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
51 words
The vibrator system as in claim 11 including two spaced seal rings between said pistons and their cylinders, and means to apply to the annular space between each piston and its cylinder, between said two seal rings, a liquid pressure substantially equal to the pressure of said liquid in said cylinders.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
160 words
In an electrohydraulic vibrator system for generating seismic waves in the earth, said system including a transport vehicle, a baseplate, and means on said vehicle for pressing down on said baseplate through compliances with a force equal to at least a portion of the weight of said vehicle, and including a vibrator system comprising a plurality of spaced-apart vibrator assemblies, each assembly comprising two elements relatively reciprocable with respect to each other, one element of each assembly connected to a first frame and the second element of each assembly connected to a second frame, one frame connected to said baseplate, the other frame connected to a reaction mass, the improvement comprising; a. high pressure fluid means to operate said vibrator assemblies; b. plurality of valve means, one associated with each of said vibrator assemblies for controlling the flow of pressure fluid to said vibrator assemblies ; and c. control means to drive all of said valve means in precise synchronism.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
160 words
In an electrohydraulic vibrator system for generating seismic waves in the earth, said system including a transport vehicle, a baseplate, and means on said vehicle for pressing down on said baseplate through compliances with a force equal to at least a portion of the weight of said vehicle, and including a vibrator system comprising a plurality of spaced-apart vibrator assemblies, each assembly comprising two elements relatively reciprocable with respect to each other, one element of each assembly connected to a first frame and the second element of each assembly connected to a second frame, one frame connected to said baseplate, the other frame connected to a reaction mass, the improvement comprising; a. high pressure fluid means to operate said vibrator assemblies; b. plurality of valve means, one associated with each of said vibrator assemblies for controlling the flow of pressure fluid to said vibrator assemblies ; and c. control means to drive all of said valve means in precise synchronism.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
15 words
The vibrator system as in claim 14 in which said control means comprises mechanical means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
32 words
The vibrator system as in claim 1 in which said vehicle has a central longitudinal drive shaft and said cylinders and pistons are positioned two on each side of said drive shaft.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
19 words
The vibrator system as in claim 16 in which said cylinders and pistons are positioned adjacent said base plate.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
53 words
The vibrator system as in claim 1 including: a. valve means associated with each of said plurality of cylinders to control the admission and expulsion of high pressure fluid to and from said cylinders; and b. control means to control said valve means whereby the operation of said plurality of valves is simultaneous.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
15 words
The vibrator system as in claim 18 in which said control means comprises mechanical means.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
15 words
The vibrator system as in claim 18 in which said control means comprises hydraulic means.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
21 words
The vibrator system as in claim 5 in which said vibrator system comprises two cylinders, each including a double-acting piston therein.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
54 words
The vibrator system as in claim 5 in which said vibrator system comprises four cylinders arranged in the corners of a rectangle, each cylinder containing a single-acting piston, two of the pistons adapted to move upwardly and two adapted to move downwardly with respect to said cylinders on the application of said pressure fluid.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
38 words
The vibrator system as in claim 14 in which at least part of said reaction mass includes a part of the mass of said vehicle; and including means to releasably rigidly clamp said other frame to said vehicle.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
15 words
The vibrator system as in claim 14 in which said control means comprises hydraulic means.
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) | 1977-02-04 | 1977-08-06 | 1978-02-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-02-04 | 1981-08-06 | 1982-02-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-02-04 | 1985-08-06 | 1986-02-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |