Three-dimensional geophone

An assembly for detecting orthogonal components of a transient signal propagating through a medium, comprising in combination:

• (a) a housing coupled to the medium;
• (b) a plurality of sensors fixed within the housing and disposed along orthogonal axes, at least one of the sensors being disposed above another of the sensors and separated therefrom by a compliant member;
• (c) conductor means extending through the housing for interconnecting the sensors to a remote recording device;
• (d) means concentrically about the conductor means for sealing the conductor means with the housing;
• (e) means within the housing for determining when the housing is in a preferred orientation with respect to a gravitational vertical;
• and
• (f) means, integral within the sealing means for fixing the conductor means with the assembly.

A three-dimensional geophone assembly for detecting orthogonal components of a transient seismic signal propagating through the earth, comprising in combination:

• (a) a housing defining a cavity therein and having at least one opening extending through a side thereof;
• (b) a plurality of sensors orthogonally disposed within the cavity, at least one of the sensors disposed above the plurality and separated therefrom by a compliant member;
• (c) transmission means extending through the opening in the housing for interconnecting the plurality of sensors to a remote unit;
• (d) a compliant boot having a tapered exterior surface engaging the opening and the transmission means;
• (e) a compression sleeve concentrically received about and adapted to engage the tapered surface of the compliant boot for placing the boot in sealing engagement about the transmission means;
• (f) a locking nut engaging the compression means the housing for retaining the boot in sealing engagement with the housing and about the transmission means;
• (g) means coupled to the housing for indicating a predetermined orientation of the housing with respect to a gravitational vertical;
• and
• (h) means coupled to the housing for penetrating the earth and coupling the housing thereto.