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US4300218A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Free flooding hydrophone mounting

Assignee: Shell USA Inc
•
Filing: 1980-05-01
•
Granted: 1981-11-10
•
Expires: 2000-05-01
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Abstract

Abstract A hydrophone mounting in a cavity of the hydrophone cable and a method of mounting the hydrophone. The cavity which is provided in the hydrophone cable may be constructed so that it is free-flooding, that is, the construction allows the liquid in which the hydrophone cable is submerged to completely surround the hydrophone. The cavity serves to insulate the hydrophone from movements and perturbations to the cable so that the hydrophone response is not distorted by these sources of noise.

Inventors

  • 👤 Vitold R. Kruka
  • 👤 Albert J. Berni
  • 👤 Lawrence D. Park, Jr.
  • 👤 Edward R. Cadena

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-04 06:23
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01V; G01V1/00; G01V1/16; G01V1/20; G01V1/201

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim 142 words
Apparatus for mounting a seismic transducer for use in a seismic streamer cable which is comprised of flotation material and a cable core having a longitudinal axis, said core including a stress member, said cable having electrical conductors disposed therein and a plurality of seismic transducers connected to said electrical conductors, said transducer mounting comprising: a rigid structure having a cavity therein opening to the exterior thereof for containing said seismic transducer, said rigid structure located within said seismic cable adjacent said cable core; means located within said cavity for supporting said seismic transducer and allowing substantially free circulation for fluids external the streamer cable therebelow; and, a cover for said rigid structure having one or more openings therein for permitting entry of external fluids into said cavity and exit therefrom, said cover conforming to the exterior profile of said rigid structure.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 142 words
Apparatus for mounting a seismic transducer for use in a seismic streamer cable which is comprised of flotation material and a cable core having a longitudinal axis, said core including a stress member, said cable having electrical conductors disposed therein and a plurality of seismic transducers connected to said electrical conductors, said transducer mounting comprising: a rigid structure having a cavity therein opening to the exterior thereof for containing said seismic transducer, said rigid structure located within said seismic cable adjacent said cable core; means located within said cavity for supporting said seismic transducer and allowing substantially free circulation for fluids external the streamer cable therebelow; and, a cover for said rigid structure having one or more openings therein for permitting entry of external fluids into said cavity and exit therefrom, said cover conforming to the exterior profile of said rigid structure.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 15 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, including means for sealing said cover to said rigid structure.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 18 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, including means for bringing said seismic transducer electrical leads out of said mounting.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 17 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, including means for electrically insulating said transducer and said transducer electrical leads.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 21 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said means for supporting said seismic transducer comprises raised portions arranged in a trihedral pattern.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 19 words
Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said raised portions are three in number and comprised of a resilient material.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 24 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, including means arranged to allow electrical connection between said electrical conductors of said seismic cable and said seismic transducers.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 39 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said rigid structure has a curved shape conforming generally to the shape of said seismic cable on its exterior side and conforming to the shape of said cable core on its interior side.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 40 words
Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said rigid structure is curved radially such that its inner diameter conforms to the outer diameter of said cable core, and its outer diameter conforms substantially to the outer diameter of said seismic cable.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 22 words
Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said cover is curved radially to conform substantially to the outer diameter of said seismic cable.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 20 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein either of said rigid structure or said cover or both are comprised of plastic.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 21 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein either of said rigid structure or said cover or both are comprised of stainless steel.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 19 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a soft, compliant substance is introduced between said mounting and said cable core.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 16 words
Apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said substance adheres to said mounting and said cable core.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 20 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said openings have cross sectional areas having average diameters of 0.05 to 0.25 centimeters.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 13 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said cover has 10 to 50 openings.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 21 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said openings are distributed uniformly over an area ranging from 1 to 20 square inches.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 17 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least some of said openings are adjacent said cavity boundary.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 26 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said rigid structure, said seismic transducer, and said cover are coated with a surfactant to facilitate flooding of said cavity.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3002179A Cited
US2923915A Cited
GB833892A Cited
US3249913A Cited
US3281769A Cited
US3371311A Cited
US3659256A Cited
US3660809A Cited
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US3961304A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1984-11-09 1985-05-11 1985-11-10 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1988-11-09 1989-05-11 1989-11-10 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1992-11-09 1993-05-11 1993-11-10 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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