US4160229A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Concentric tube hydrophone streamer
Assignee: Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems LLC
•
Filing: 1978-02-21
•
Granted: 1979-07-03
•
Expires: 1998-02-21
Abstract
Abstract Hydrophone streamer apparatus embodying concentric tube construction for achieving improved low noise operation is disclosed. A plurality of hydrophone elements are supported within a compliant inner tube at spaced intervals therealong by compliant mounting means. The inner tube is supported within an elongated outer jacket by compliant support means between the outer surface of the inner tube and the inner surface of the jacket. Suitable support means may comprise a plurality of trilobate devices each formed of three tubular sections equally spaced around the inner tube, the trilobate devices being located along the inner tube at positions between adjacent transducer elements.
Inventors
- 👤 Ronald B. McGough
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 07:38
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01V; G01V1/00; G01V1/16; G01V1/20; G01V1/201
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
161 words
In hydrophone streamer apparatus having an elongated hollow jacket with means at one end for connection to a marine vessel, and along which are located spaced hydrophone transducer elements for producing electrical signals indicative of pressure variations in the medium surrounding the streamer, improved mechanical isolation means for effecting two stages of isolation between the transducer elements and the jacket comprising: a complaint tubular member positioned within the jacket and having an outer diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the jacket; a plurality of compliant support devices between the inner surface of the jacket and the outer surface of said tubular member at spaced locations therealong for maintaining said tubular member in a generally central position within the jacket, each support device comprising at least three separated elements spaced around said tubular member; and compliant mounting means for supporting a plurality of spaced transducer elements within said tubular member so that individual transducer elements are located between adjacent support devices.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
161 words
In hydrophone streamer apparatus having an elongated hollow jacket with means at one end for connection to a marine vessel, and along which are located spaced hydrophone transducer elements for producing electrical signals indicative of pressure variations in the medium surrounding the streamer, improved mechanical isolation means for effecting two stages of isolation between the transducer elements and the jacket comprising: a complaint tubular member positioned within the jacket and having an outer diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the jacket; a plurality of compliant support devices between the inner surface of the jacket and the outer surface of said tubular member at spaced locations therealong for maintaining said tubular member in a generally central position within the jacket, each support device comprising at least three separated elements spaced around said tubular member; and compliant mounting means for supporting a plurality of spaced transducer elements within said tubular member so that individual transducer elements are located between adjacent support devices.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
The hydrophone streamer apparatus of claim 1 wherein each compliant support device comprises a plurality of compliant tubes arranged around said tubular member so that their longitudinal axes are generally parallel with the longitudinal axis of said tubular member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The hydrophone streamer apparatus of claim 2 wherein said plurality of compliant tubes are equally spaced around said tubular member in a trilobate cross-sectional configuration.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
The hydrophone streamer apparatus of claim 3 wherein said compliant tubes are formed of a relatively soft rubber material.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The hydrophone streamer apparatus of claim 4 wherein said compliant mounting means is formed of an open cell foam material.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
The hydrophone streamer apparatus of claim 5 wherein said compliant mounting means for each transducer element comprises a plurality of strips of open cell foam material equally spaced around the transducer element.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
The hydrophone streamer apparatus of claim 1 wherein each compliant support device is formed of an open cell foam material.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
The hydrophone streamer apparatus of claim 7 wherein each compliant support device comprises strips of open cell foam material equally spaced around said tubular member.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
The hydrophone streamer apparatus of claim 8 wherein said compliant mounting means for each transducer element comprises strips of open cell foam material spaced around the transducer element.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
133 words
Hydrophone streamer apparatus for producing electrical signals indicative of pressure variations in the surrounding medium comprising, in combination: an elongated hollow jacket; a compliant tubular member having an outer diameter smaller than the inner diameter of said elongated hollow jacket, said tubular member being positioned within said jacket; a plurality of compliant support devices between the inner surface of said jacket and the outer surface of said tubular member at spaced locations therealong for maintaining said tubular member in a general central position within said jacket, each support device comprising at least three separated elements spaced around said tubular member; a plurality of hydrophone transducer elements; and compliant mounting means for supporting said transducer elements at spaced positions within said tubular member so that individual transducer elements are located between adjacent support devices.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
133 words
Hydrophone streamer apparatus for producing electrical signals indicative of pressure variations in the surrounding medium comprising, in combination: an elongated hollow jacket; a compliant tubular member having an outer diameter smaller than the inner diameter of said elongated hollow jacket, said tubular member being positioned within said jacket; a plurality of compliant support devices between the inner surface of said jacket and the outer surface of said tubular member at spaced locations therealong for maintaining said tubular member in a general central position within said jacket, each support device comprising at least three separated elements spaced around said tubular member; a plurality of hydrophone transducer elements; and compliant mounting means for supporting said transducer elements at spaced positions within said tubular member so that individual transducer elements are located between adjacent support devices.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
40 words
The hydrophone streamer apparatus of claim 10 wherein each compliant support device comprises a plurality of compliant tubes arranged around said tubular member so that the longitudinal axes thereof are generally parallel with the longitudinal axis of said tubular member.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
28 words
The hydrophone streamer apparatus of claim 11 wherein said compliant support means comprises three compliant tubes substantially equally spaced around said tubular member in a trilobate cross-sectional configuration.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
31 words
The hydrophone streamer apparatus of claim 12 wherein said compliant support means comprises short sections of compliant tubes located around said tubular member at locations generally midway between adjacent transducer elements.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
75 words
The hydrophone streamer apparatus of claim 13 including: a plurality of compliant tubular members axially spaced within said hollow jacket, each of said tubular members being shorter in length than said jacket; a spacer positioned around each said tubular member at each end thereof; and strain member means extending substantially the length of said hollow jacket fixed to said spacers so as to prevent relative longitudinal movement between said strain member means and said spacers.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
The hydrophone streamer apparatus of claim 14 wherein said strain member means comprises a plurality of Kevlar cables.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
33 words
The hydrophone streamer apparatus of claim 14 wherein electrical conductors for transmitting electrical signals between said transducer elements and utilization circuitry pass through the space between said hollow jacket and said tubular member.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1470733A
Cited
US2465696A
Cited
US3964424A
Cited
US3065456A
Cited
US3178681A
Cited
US3299397A
Cited
US3371311A
Cited
US3437171A
Cited
US3441902A
Cited
US3827023A
Cited
US3893065A
Cited
US3930254A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1982-07-02 | 1983-01-01 | 1983-07-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1986-07-02 | 1987-01-01 | 1987-07-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1990-07-02 | 1991-01-01 | 1991-07-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |