US3884324A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Mounting for seismic vibrator
Assignee: Hamilton Brothers Oil Co
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Filing: 1972-08-11
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Granted: 1975-05-20
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Expires: 1992-08-11
Abstract
Abstract A seismic exploration vehicle includes a main frame upon which a vibrator assembly and control cab are positioned and front and rear powered tractors connected to the main frame for desired pivotal movement relative thereto. The vehicle is quickly and easily assembled or disassembled into five basic component parts for air transportation and to facilitate ready replacement of damaged parts without undue downtime. Each tractor is provided with a unique control stick for complete operation of the associated tractor, and the control cab is provided with an identical control stick which is operably connected to the control sticks on the tractors when the vehicle is assembled so that the operation of the vehicle can be controlled from either tractor or from the control cab. The vibrator assembly includes a vibrator mass which is reciprocal at a desired frequency by an operator controlled hydraulic system. The mass is isolated from the remainder of the vehicle by an air suspension system which damps both horizontal and upward vertical force components in such a way as to concentrate the application of force in a downward direction to most efficiently transmit seismic waves into the earth.
Inventors
- 👤 Ferris F Hamilton
- 👤 James S Johnson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 12:42
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01V; G01V1/00; G01V1/02; G01V1/143; G01V1/155; G01V1/04; G01V1/09
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
211 words
In a seismic vibrator assembly carried by a support structure, said vibrator assembly having a vibrator mass mounted for reciprocal movement in a vertical direction, the improvement comprising an inner frame having means for retaining the mass so that vibrations of the mass will be imparted directly into the inner frame, a base plate secured to the inner frame and adapted to be placed in engagement with the earth whereby vibrations of the mass will be transmitted into the earth, an outer frame anchored to the support structure and having at least a portion thereof surrounding the upper end and sides of said inner frame, and a plurality of vibration damping units interconnecting the inner and outer frames to separate said frames, said damping units including first vibration damping means separating the upper ends of said inner and outer frames whereby to confine the application of vibrational forces generated by the mass to a downward vertical direction of movement and second vibration damping means disposed between the frames in a direction normal to said vertical direction whereby vibrations of the mass will be concentrated along said vertical direction of movement while isolating the vibrations from the outer frame so that the energy transmitted by the mass into the earth is maximized.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
211 words
In a seismic vibrator assembly carried by a support structure, said vibrator assembly having a vibrator mass mounted for reciprocal movement in a vertical direction, the improvement comprising an inner frame having means for retaining the mass so that vibrations of the mass will be imparted directly into the inner frame, a base plate secured to the inner frame and adapted to be placed in engagement with the earth whereby vibrations of the mass will be transmitted into the earth, an outer frame anchored to the support structure and having at least a portion thereof surrounding the upper end and sides of said inner frame, and a plurality of vibration damping units interconnecting the inner and outer frames to separate said frames, said damping units including first vibration damping means separating the upper ends of said inner and outer frames whereby to confine the application of vibrational forces generated by the mass to a downward vertical direction of movement and second vibration damping means disposed between the frames in a direction normal to said vertical direction whereby vibrations of the mass will be concentrated along said vertical direction of movement while isolating the vibrations from the outer frame so that the energy transmitted by the mass into the earth is maximized.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
210 words
In a seismic vibrator assembly carried by a support structure, said vibrator assembly having a vibrator mass mounted for reciprocal movement on a substantially vertical shaft, the improvement comprising an inner frame having means for supporting the mass so that vibrations of the mass will be imparted directly into the inner frame, a base plate secured to the inner frame and adapted to be placed in engagement with the earth whereby vibrations of the mass will be transmitted into the earth, an outer frame anchored to the support structure and having at least a portion thereof surrounding the upper end and sides of said inner frame, and a plurality of damping units interconnecting said frames To isolate vibrations of said inner frame from said outer frame, said damping units including a damping unit above the inner frame to dampen vertical vibratory force components created by the vibrating mass, and a plurality of upper and lower damping units at equally spaced intervals around the sides of the inner frame reacting to horizontal vibratory force components created by the vibrating mass whereby the vibrating mass will be maintained for directing high energy force vibrations into the earth and the outer frame will be isolated from the vibratory forces by the damping units.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
210 words
In a seismic vibrator assembly carried by a support structure, said vibrator assembly having a vibrator mass mounted for reciprocal movement on a substantially vertical shaft, the improvement comprising an inner frame having means for supporting the mass so that vibrations of the mass will be imparted directly into the inner frame, a base plate secured to the inner frame and adapted to be placed in engagement with the earth whereby vibrations of the mass will be transmitted into the earth, an outer frame anchored to the support structure and having at least a portion thereof surrounding the upper end and sides of said inner frame, and a plurality of damping units interconnecting said frames To isolate vibrations of said inner frame from said outer frame, said damping units including a damping unit above the inner frame to dampen vertical vibratory force components created by the vibrating mass, and a plurality of upper and lower damping units at equally spaced intervals around the sides of the inner frame reacting to horizontal vibratory force components created by the vibrating mass whereby the vibrating mass will be maintained for directing high energy force vibrations into the earth and the outer frame will be isolated from the vibratory forces by the damping units.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
56 words
In the seismic vibrator assembly of claim 2, said damping units around the sides of the inner frame being arranged in vertically spaced sets to react against both horizontal and oscillatory forces created by the vibratory mass so that the mass will be retained for reciprocating movement along the substantially vertical direction of the said shaft.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
In the seismic vibrator assembly of claim 3, there being only two vertically spaced sets of damping units.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
In the seismic vibrator assembly of claim 4, each of said vertically spaced sets of damping units comprising four damping units equally spaced circumferentially from each other.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
204 words
A seismic vibrator assembly comprising in combination a vibrator mass mounted on a substantially vertical shaft for reciprocating movement, power means for effecting vibratory movement of the mass along the shaft, an inner frame having upstanding legs spaced from and adjacent to the vibrator mass, said inner frame having means for anchoring the shaft for the vibrator mass whereby vibrations of the mass will be imparted into the inner frame, a base plate secured to the inner frame and adapted to be placed in engagement with the earth whereby vibrations of the mass will be transmitted into the earth, an outer frame having portions spaced from and adjacent to the legs of said inner frame, a plurality of pneumatic damping units interconnecting the legs of said inner frame with the outer frame, and a damping unit in alignment with said shaft above the inner frame connecting the inner frame to the outer frame whereby vibratory forces created by said vibratory mass will be isolated from the outer frame by the damping units and the damping units will urge the vibratory mass to undergo a purely reciprocatory movement so that high energy vibratory forces will be directed into the earth to produce desired seismic waves.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
204 words
A seismic vibrator assembly comprising in combination a vibrator mass mounted on a substantially vertical shaft for reciprocating movement, power means for effecting vibratory movement of the mass along the shaft, an inner frame having upstanding legs spaced from and adjacent to the vibrator mass, said inner frame having means for anchoring the shaft for the vibrator mass whereby vibrations of the mass will be imparted into the inner frame, a base plate secured to the inner frame and adapted to be placed in engagement with the earth whereby vibrations of the mass will be transmitted into the earth, an outer frame having portions spaced from and adjacent to the legs of said inner frame, a plurality of pneumatic damping units interconnecting the legs of said inner frame with the outer frame, and a damping unit in alignment with said shaft above the inner frame connecting the inner frame to the outer frame whereby vibratory forces created by said vibratory mass will be isolated from the outer frame by the damping units and the damping units will urge the vibratory mass to undergo a purely reciprocatory movement so that high energy vibratory forces will be directed into the earth to produce desired seismic waves.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
51 words
In the seismic vibrator assembly of claim 2 wherein said pneumatic damping units comprise hermetically sealed rubber-like bladders having a pair of mounting plates secured thereto on opposite sides, said mounting plates being secured respectively to the inner and outer frames so that the inner and outer frames are pneumatically separated.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
In the seismic vibrator assembly of claim 7 wherein said damping unit above the inner frame has a metal ring extending around the bladder to divide the bladder into two vertically aligned toroidal segments.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
50 words
In the seismic vibrator of claim 2, further including fixed length strap means interconnecting an upper portion of the outer frame with an upper portion of the inner frame to limit the vertical displacement of the upper portions of the inner and outer frames during operation of the vibrator assembly.
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) | 1978-05-19 | 1978-11-18 | 1979-05-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-05-19 | 1982-11-18 | 1983-05-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-05-19 | 1986-11-18 | 1987-05-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |