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US 7,443,766 B2Granted
Sensor assembly
AssigneeWesternGeco L.L.C.
InventorsHarvey Ray Grimes, Francis Maissant
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A sensor assembly includes a seismic sensor element and a shell. The shell at least partially surrounds the sensor element to shield the sensor element from a magnetic field that is generated outside of the shell.
Claims28
A sensor assembly, comprising:
- a seismic sensor element enclosed in a housing;
- a first shell separate from the housing and having a first opening to receive part of the housing, the first shell being formed from a material that concentrates magnetic flux lines relative to free air;
- a second shell separate from the housing and having a second opening to receive another part of the housing, the second shell being formed from a material that concentrates magnetic flux lines relative to free air,
- wherein the first and second shells are adapted to mate such that the first shell closes off the second opening and the second shell closes off the first opening to form an enclosed shell that surrounds the sensor element to shield the sensor element from a magnetic field that is generated outside of the enclosed shell.
1 more element
A method comprising:
- partially disposing an enclosed seismic sensor element in a first shell separate from the seismic sensor element;
- partially disposing the enclosed seismic sensor element in a second shell separate from the seismic sensor element;
- combining the first and second shells together to form an enclosed shell such that the first shell closes off an opening of the second shell and the second shell closes off an opening of the first shell;
- and
- using the enclosed shell to shield the sensor element from a magnetic field that is generated outside of the enclosed shell.
2 more elements
A system comprising:
- a seismic acquisition subsystem;
- and
- a sensor assembly electrically coupled to the seismic acquisition system to provide a signal indicative of seismic activity to the seismic acquisition system, the sensor assembly comprising:
- a geophone element enclosed in a housing;
- a first half shell separate from the housing to receive part of the housing and being formed from a material that concentrates magnetic flux lines relative to free air;
- and
- a second half shell separate from the housing to receive another part of the housing and being formed from a material that concentrates magnetic flux lines relative to free air,
- wherein the first and second half shells are adapted to mate to form an enclosed shell that surrounds the geophone element to shield the geophone element from a magnetic field that is generated outside of the enclosed shell.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.