Automated geophysical sensor deployment apparatus and method
AssigneeGeophysical Technology, Inc.
InventorsRichard A. Degner, Gary L. Scott
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A geophysical sensor deployment apparatus designed to provide improved coupling between the sensor and the ground, includes a ram extendible through a ram guide. The guide has an opening for insertion of a geophysical sensor. The ram has a ground displacing bit at a movable end thereof. The ram and the guide are mounted to a frame. The mounting has a pivot and a plurality of angularly separated extension mechanisms disposed between the ram and guide and the frame whereby an elevation and an orientation of the ram and the guide are controllable by selective extension of each of the plurality of extension mechanisms.
Claims11
A geophysical sensor deployment apparatus, comprising:
- a ram extensible through a ram guide, the ram guide having an opening for insertion of a geophysical sensor, the ram having a ground displacing bit at a movable end thereof, the ground displacing bit comprising a same, non-zero exterior taper angle as an exterior taper angle of a ground contact portion of the geophysical sensor, the bit having dimensions smaller than the ground contact portion at corresponding longitudinal positions along each of the ground contact portion and the bit, the ground displacing bit having a substantially round and smooth exterior surface;
- and
- wherein the ram and the guide are mounted to a frame, the mounting having a pivot and a plurality of angularly separated extension mechanisms disposed between the ram and ram guide and the frame whereby an elevation and an orientation of the ram and the ram guide are controllable by selective extension of each of the plurality of extension mechanisms.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.