Dual gimbal geophone
AssigneeI/O Exploration Products
InventorsWilliam O. McNeel, Joe N. Wood
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
This invention provides a dual gimbal geophone assembly. The geophone is placed in the cavity of a mass member. The mass member is rotatably attached to a frame so that the mass member rotates about a first plane. The frame is rotatably attached to support members so that the frame rotates about a second plane which is orthogonal to the first plane. This geophone provides two degrees of rotation, one along the first plane and the second along the second orthogonal plane. The geophone remains vertical within the tilt tolerance of the geophone regardless of the orientation of the assembly.
Claims15
An apparatus for use in geophysical prospecting, comprising:
- an housing having first and second ends and having a longitudinal axis;
- a first end cap coupled to said housing substantially near said first end of said housing;
- a second end cap coupled to said housing substantially near said second end of said housing;
- a frame having first and second gimbal ends on opposite sides of said frame, said first gimbal end rotatably coupled to said first end cap, said second gimbal end rotatably coupled to said second end cap, said gimbal ends aligned to define a first pivot axis parallel to said longitudinal axis of said housing, and said frame having a center of gravity substantially offset from said first pivot axis of said frame;
- a body having a cavity, said body having two pins on opposite sides of said body, said pins rotatably coupled to said frame, said pins aligned to define a second pivot axis perpendicular to said first pivot axis, and said body having a center of gravity substantially offset from said first and second pivot axes;
- a geophone disposed within said cavity of said body;
- and
- a substantially nonconductive lubricant partially filling the housing.
An apparatus for use in geophysical prospecting, comprising:
- an housing having first and second ends;
- a first end cap coupled to said housing substantially near said first end of said housing;
- a second end cap coupled to said housing substantially near said second end of said housing;
- a frame made of conductive material, said frame having first and second gimbal ends on opposite sides of said frame, said first gimbal end rotatably coupled to said first end cap, said second gimbal end rotatably coupled to said second end cap, and said gimbal ends aligned to define a first pivot axis;
- a body having a cavity, said body having two pins on opposite ends of said body, said pins rotatably coupled to said frame, and said pins aligned to define a second pivot axis perpendicular to said first pivot axis;
- a geophone disposed within said cavity of said body;
- and
- a substantially nonconductive lubricant partially filling the housing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.