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US 11,027,806 B2Granted
Towed body with foiled depressor
AssigneePGS Geophysical AS
InventorRune Sindre Voldsbekk
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Abstract
Apparatus and methods are disclosed relating to a body towable behind a vessel in a body of water, an arm rotatably coupled to the body, and one or more foils disposed on the arm. The arm, when deployed, is configured to be free to rotate as the apparatus is towed through the body of water. The one or more foils are configured to generate lift as the apparatus is towed. Due to the free rotation of the arm, the foils impart tension force to the body and not torque forces.
Claims23
An apparatus, comprising:
- a body towable behind a survey vessel in a body of water;
- an arm rotatably coupled to the body such that the arm, when deployed, is free to rotate as the apparatus is towed through the body of water;
- a first end stop and a second end stop, wherein the first end stop and the second end stop define a range of rotation of the arm when deployed;
- a motor configured to adjust the range of rotation by adjusting a position of the first end stop;
- and
- a plurality of foils disposed on the arm and configured to generate lift as the apparatus is towed through the body of water.
3 more elements
A method, comprising:
- towing an apparatus behind a vessel in a body of water, wherein the apparatus includes a body and an arm having a plurality of foils disposed on the arm, and the towing is performed with the arm in an undeployed position;
- controlling the apparatus to deploy the arm to a deployed position in which the arm is free to rotate and the plurality of foils generate lift as the apparatus is towed through the body of water;
- and
- towing the apparatus behind the vessel with the arm in the deployed position;
- wherein the apparatus further includes a first end stop and a second end stop, the first end stop and the second end stop define a range of rotation of the arm when deployed, and controlling the apparatus to deploy the arm to a deployed position includes adjusting a position of the first end stop.
2 more elements
An apparatus, comprising:
- a body towable behind a survey vessel in a body of water;
- an arm rotatably coupled to the body such that the arm, when deployed, is free to rotate as the apparatus is towed through the body of water;
- a first end stop and a second end stop, wherein the first end stop includes a first bracket and the second end stop includes a second bracket, wherein one or more of the first bracket and the second bracket are configured to slide along a longitudinal axis of the body, and wherein a distance between the first bracket and the second bracket defines a range of rotation of the arm when deployed;
- and
- a plurality of foils disposed on the arm and configured to generate lift as the apparatus is towed through the body of water.
2 more elements
An apparatus, comprising:
- a body towable behind a survey vessel in a body of water;
- an arm rotatably coupled to the body such that the arm, when deployed, is free to rotate about an axis of rotation as the apparatus is towed through the body of water;
- and
- a plurality of foils disposed on the arm and configured to generate lift as the apparatus is towed through the body of water;
- wherein a longitudinal member is coupled to the body, first and second attachment members couple the arm to the longitudinal member, and a position of the second attachment member along the longitudinal member is configured to be adjustable such that the position of the second attachment member along the longitudinal member adjusts a distance between the axis of rotation and the body.
2 more elements
An apparatus, comprising:
- a body towable behind a survey vessel in a body of water;
- an arm rotatably coupled to the body such that the arm, when deployed, is free to rotate as the apparatus is towed through the body of water;
- a plurality of foils disposed on the arm and configured to generate lift as the apparatus is towed through the body of water;
- and
- one or more motors configured to alter the angle of attack of one or more of the plurality of foils.
2 more elements
An apparatus, comprising:
- a first body towable behind a survey vessel in a body of water;
- an arm rotatably coupled to the first body such that the arm, when deployed, is free to rotate as the apparatus is towed through the body of water;
- a plurality of foils disposed on the arm and configured to generate lift as the apparatus is towed through the body of water;
- a float coupled to the first body;
- and
- a second body coupled to the first body and configured to be submerged in the body of water during towing, wherein the second body includes one or more seismic sources.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.