Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an apparatus and a method for operating a streamer cable in a horizontal direction. SOLUTION: There are provided the apparatus and the method for operating the streamer cable that is pulled in water at the rear of an earthquake surveying ship in a longitudinal direction. The apparatus comprises a cable controlling assembly that is fitted rotatably to a streamer cable. The assembly has a body with one or more wings mounted thereon. The wings are arranged so as to revolve around a revolution shaft. Ballast is attached to the assembly so that the revolution shaft is mainly in a vertical plane. The prior cable leveling bird is converted to one version of cable operating apparatuses by ballasting so that the revolution shaft of the wings of the bird is mainly maintained vertically. The cable operating apparatus provides force of a longitudinal component for operating the streamer, by adjusting the angle of the wings with an azimuth sensor for detecting the azimuth of the wings. COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI
Abstract:
A connection system for connecting external devices to specified locations on a marine seismic streamer. Inner collars are clamped to the cable at specified locations along its length. Each inner collar forms a circular race encircling the cable. A cuff attached to an external device is in the form of a C-shaped cylindrical ring with a circular inner surface. A gap in the ring interrupts the inner surface. A throat is formed in the ring by the gap, which extends the full length of the cuff across the ends of the C. The spacing between the ends of the C across the throat defines the width of the gap. The width of the gap is slightly larger than the diameter of the cable so that the cuff can be slipped over the cable through the throat. The width of the gap is smaller than the diameter of the circular race so that, when the cuff is slid into position on the race, the cuff cannot be removed radially from the race. The inner surface of the cuff rides on the race to allow the cable to rotate inside the cuff. The race can include a circumferential groove for retaining a retractable pin extending from the external device to snap the device in place and a raised circumferential shoulder to further restrain the cuff and attached device from sliding along the cable.
Abstract:
A depth control device 100 for an underwater cable 10 includes a rotary actuator 171 having a rotating output shaft connected to a swash plate 190. Rotation of the swash plate 190 by the actuator 171 causes a rocker arm 220 to pivot about an axis transverse to the axis of the output shaft. The rocker arm 220 is drivingly connected to a drive shaft 145 for rotating wings 140 about their pitch axes. The pitch axes of the wings 140 can be perpendicular to and intersecting the axis of the actuator output shaft, enabling the depth control device 100 to be extremely compact.
Abstract:
A device and a method for laterally steering a streamer cable towed underwater behind a seismic survey vessel. The device includes a cable-steering assembly rotatably attached to a streamer cable. The assembly includes a body to which one or more wings are mounted. The wings are arranged to pivot about pivot axes. The assembly is ballasted so that the pivot axes of the wings are largely in a vertical plane. A conventional cable-leveling bird is converted to one version of a cable-steering device by ballasting to maintain the pivot axes of the bird's wings largely vertical. With an orientation sensor for sensing the orientation of tile wings, the cable-steering device adjusts the angle of the wings to provide a sideward component of force to steer the streamer.
Abstract:
The present invention provides an internal device for use in an underwater cable. The internal device comprises a tubular body including first and second sections. The first and second sections are detachably connected to each other at a joint which allows the sections to engage one another to form the tubular body.
Abstract:
A depth control device 100 for an underwater cable 10 includes a rotary actuator 171 having a rotating output shaft connected to a swash plate 190. Rotation of the swash plate 190 by the actuator 171 causes a rocker arm 220 to pivot about an axis transverse to the axis of the output shaft. The rocker arm 220 is drivingly connected to a drive shaft 145 for rotating wings 140 about their pitch axes. The pitch axes of the wings 140 can be perpendicular to and intersecting the axis of the actuator output shaft, enabling the depth control device 100 to be extremely compact.
Abstract:
A connection system for connecting external devices to specified locations o n a marine seismic streamer. Inner collars are clamped to the cable at specifi ed locations along its length. Each inner collar forms a circular race encircli ng the cable. A cuff attached to an external device is in the form of a C-shape d cylindrical ring with a circular inner surface. A throat is formed in the ri ng by a gap, which extends the full length of the cuff across the ends of the C . The spacing between the ends of the C across the throat defines the width of the gap, which is slightly larger than the diameter of the cable so that the cuff can be slipped over the cable through the throat, and which is smaller than the diameter of the circular race so that, when the cuff is slid into position on the race, the cuff cannot be removed radially.
Abstract:
The present invention provides an internal device for use in an underwater cable. The internal device comprises a tubular body including first and second sections. The first and second sections are detachably connected to each other at a joint which allows the sections to engage one another to form the tubular body.