Undersea implosion device
AssigneeBenthos, Inc.
InventorsSamuel O. Raymond, Gary G. Hayward
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method is described for causing hollow glass spheres to implode on command while deep in the ocean, whereby to produce an acoustic pulse. Specific means for causing the spheres to implode are described. The invention is useful for seismic work.
Claims20
An implosion device for generating a pressure pulse in a deep body of water, said device comprising a hollow glass sphere, first means for causing the sphere to sink when dropped into the water, and second means including a deformation at the outer surface of said sphere for causing said sphere to implode when subjected to a hydraulic pressure which exceeds a predetermined magnitude.
Method of generating a pressure pulse in a deep body of water comprising producing a hollow glass sphere, adapting a portion of the wall of said sphere so that said portion is capable of withstanding less compressive strain than the remainder of said wall and will cause said sphere to implode when subjected to an exterior hydraulic pressure in excess of a predetermined minimum pressure, sinking said sphere in said deep body of water, and subjecting said sphere to a hydraulic pressure exerted by said water in excess of said predetermined minimum pressure so as to cause said sphere to implode and produce a pressure pulse in said deep body of water.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.