Ring paravane
AssigneeWestern Geophysical Company of America
InventorMichael R. Conboy
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A submersible positioning device, such as a paravane coupled to a distant end of a towing cable may include a front cylindrical stabilizer having a wing diametrically disposed therein and having a predetermined angle of attack coupled to a towing bridle which in turn is coupled to the towing cable. A rear stabilizer may be coupled to the front stabilizer by a shaft, extending from the lower surface of the wing, and a plurality of struts coupled to the perimeter of the front stabilizer. A buoy coupled to the uppermost point of the front stabilizer may be pulled underwater while under tow, but returns the paravane to the surface for recovery purposes while not under a tow.
Claims8
A paravane disposed at a distal end of a cable for positioning at least one tow fish in a body of water, comprising:
- (a) a ring stabilizer having a plurality of holes extending therethrough;
- (b) a wing including a leading edge and trailing edge portion having an adjustable angle of attack diametrically disposed within said ring stabilizer;
- (c) a shaft centrally connected to said ring stabilizer and axially extending therefrom;
- (d) a second stabilizer coupled to said shaft and spaced apart from said ring stabilizer;
- (e) a plurality of struts equiangular from each other and interconnecting said ring stabilizer and said second stabilizer;
- and
- (f) means for coupling said paravane to said distal end of said cable including means for adjusting an angle of bank of said wing.
A paravane disposed at an end of a cable for positioning a tow fish towed through a body of water by a vehicle, comprising:
- (a) a cylindrical stabilizer;
- (b) a wing having a predetermined angle of attack and bank diametrically disposed within said cylindrical stabilizer;
- (c) a second stabilizer spaced apart from said cylindrical stabilizer and concentric therewith;
- (d) a plurality of struts interconnecting said cylindrical stabilizer and said second stabilizer;
- and
- (e) means for coupling said cylindrical stabilizer to said end of said cable in a predetermined orientation.
A paravane disposed at an end of a cable for positioning a submersible towed behind a vehicle in a body of water, comprising in combination:
- (a) a cylindrical front stabilizer;
- (b) at least one wing having an adjustable angle of attack mounted within said front stabilizer;
- (c) a rear stabilizer spaced apart from said at least one wing;
- (d) a plurality of struts interconnecting said rear stabilizer with said front stabilizer;
- and
- (e) means for coupling said front stabilizer to the end of said cable in a predetermined orientation so as to position said paravane at a predetermined location behind said vehicle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.