Modular penetrometer

A system for determining the physical characteristics of the sea floor which comprises:

• a transmitter assembly for transmitting an acoustic signal having a constant frequency;
• a cylindrical housing having an outer surface and formed with a recessed compartment, said housing defining a longitudinal axis and being engageable with said transmitter assembly, and said housing having a circumferential abutment formed on said outer surface;
• a nose engageable with said housing;
• a fin assembly, said fin assembly having a hollow tubular body, said hollows tubular body being slidingly engageable over said outer surface of said housing and into contact with said abutment to hold said fin assembly on said housing between said abutment and said transmitter assembly when said transmitter assembly is engaged with said housing;
• means selectively positionable between said housing and said nose, and respectively engageable therewith, for adding weight thereto;
• means selectively engageable with said nose for extending penetration depth of said nose into said sea floor upon impact therewith;
• and
• remote means for receiving said acoustic signal from said transmitter assembly during descent of said transmitter assembly toward said sea floor and during impact of said transmitter assembly with said sea floor.

A method for configuring a penetrometer for impact testing the sea floor which comprises the steps of:

• providing a cylindrical housing having a first end and a second end and defining a longitudinal axis, said housing having an outer surface with a circumferential abutment and a keyway formed thereon;
• engaging a fin assembly with said housing, said fin assembly having a tubular body slidingly positionable over said first end of said housing and into contact with said abutment, said fin assembly having a key engagable with said keyway to prevent rotation of said fin assembly on said housing;
• attaching a transmitter assembly to said first end of said housing to urge said fin assembly into contact with said abutment to hold said fin assembly on said housing;
• and
• attaching a nose to said second end of said housing.

A device for impact testing the surface of the earth which comprises:

• a hollow cylindrical housing defining a longitudinal axis for said device, said housing having an outer surface and having an open first end and an enclosed second end to form a recessed compartment in said housing therebetween;
• a fin assembly selectively engageable with said housing, said fin assembly having a plurality of fins aligned with said longitudinal axis during engagement of said fin assembly with said housing to direct said device along a vertical path;
• a transmitter assembly for transmitting an acoustic signal of constant frequency, said transmitter assembly being attachable to said first end of said housing;
• a spacer, said spacer having a first end and a second end, said first end of said spacer being selectively attachable to said second end of said housing, and wherein said spacer comprises a plurality of portions, each said portion having an end attachable to another said end of another said portion;
• and
• a nose selectively attachable to said second end of said spacer.

A device for impact testing the surface of the earth which comprises:

• a hollow cylindrical housing defining a longitudinal axis for said device, said housing having an outer surface and having an open first end and an enclosed second end to form a recessed compartment in said housing therebetween;
• a fin assembly selectively engageable with said housing, said fin assembly having a plurality of fins aligned with said longitudinal axis during engagement of said fin assembly with said housing to direct said device along a vertical path;
• a transmitter assembly for transmitting an acoustic signal of constant frequency, said transmitter assembly being attachable to said first end of said housing;
• and
• a nose selectively attachable to said second end of said housing;
• wherein said housing has a circumferential abutment formed on said outer surface, and wherein said fin assembly includes a hollow tubular body, said hollow tubular body being slidingly engageable over said outer surface of said housing and into contact with said abutment to hold said fin assembly on said housing between said abutment and said transmitter assembly when said transmitter assembly is engaged with said housing.

A device for impact testing the surface of the earth which comprises:

• a hollow cylindrical housing defining a longitudinal axis for said device, said housing having an outer surface and having an open first end and an enclosed second end to form a recessed compartment in said housing therebetween;
• a fin assembly selectively engageable with said housing, said fin assembly having a plurality of fins aligned with said longitudinal axis during engagement of said fin assembly with said housing to direct said device along a vertical path;
• a transmitter assembly for transmitting an acoustic signal of constant frequency, said transmitter assembly being attachable to said first end of said housing;
• a nose selectively attachable to said second end of said housing;
• an O-ring;
• an annular shoulder formed on said housing in said recessed compartment near said first end of said housing for supporting said O-ring thereon;
• an annular snap ring mounted on said transmitter assembly;
• and
• an annular slot formed on said housing in said recessed compartment between said shoulder and said first end of said housing for receiving said annular snap ring therein to hold said transmitter assembly on said housing and deform said O-ring on said shoulder against both said housing and said transmitter assembly to establish a fluid tight seal for said recessed compartment.