Halliburton Geophysical Services, Inc.

Texas Instruments Corporation

Input/output, Inc.

Western Atlas International, Inc.

Earnest R Harrison

Roy C Johnston

David M McCall

A wear ring assembly for an air gun includes a support ring having a receiving recess of a first length formed in a surface of an end of the support ring. An elastic ring is adjacent an end of the receiving recess. A wear ring seats in the receiving recess and is of a second length, greater than the first length, such that a portion of the wear ring overlaps the end of the support ring, thereby covering and deforming the elastic ring. The wear ring is formed of a thin, low-friction, wear-resistant plastic material having dimensions such that the wear ring does not plastically yield during installation into the receiving recess. Installation is accomplished by attaching a core tool adjacent the seal groove. The wear ring is installed with an expanding pusher tool, over the core tool and into the receiving recess.

Combination seal and wear for an air gun

A seismic air gun includes a body, a main chamber, two ports, several air passageways, a shuttle, a return device, and a firing device. The main chamber is within the body. The two ports are in the main chamber. The ports lie along a common axis. The air passageways connect a high pressure air source to the return device, the main chamber, and the firing device. The shuttle slides along the common axis between an open position, in which the main chamber is open, and a closed position, in which the main chamber is closed. The return device biases the shuttle toward the closed position. The firing device causes the shuttle to move from the closed position to the open position whereby pressurized air is released simultaneously from the two ports and in opposite directions.

Dual-port air gun having a single shuttle

A seismic source apparatus 10 includes body 12, cap 22, actuator 24, and shuttle 26. Body 12 includes a main chamber 14 that is formed therein and adapted to receive a charge of compressed air. Actuator 24 is preferably a solenoid actuated valve, capable of rapidly opening and closing in response to an electrical signal. Seismic source apparatus 10 includes a solenoid chamber orifice 38 that is positioned within a fill passage 34 to enable fluid communication between fill passage 34 and solenoid chamber 40. Solenoid chamber orifice 38 and solenoid chamber 40 are configured to provide a quick burst of high pressure air through actuator 24 when actuator 24 is opened in order to start the shuttle 26 in motion, while restricting the flow of air from main fill passage 34 and main chamber 14 into the actuator 24 so that the pressure in the main chamber 14 remains high enough to emit a suitable bubble, and so that shuttle 26 is not prevented from closing. A spring chamber 44 containing either compressed air or a mechanical spring provides a closing force bearing on surface 46 of shuttle 26. A shut-off chamber 68 is circumferentially disposed between shuttle 26 and cap 22, and is adapted to receive a portion of air released from the main chamber 14 during firing to provide an additional closing force on shuttle 26 when seismic source apparatus 10 is fired. A water sealing mechanism 74 prevents the flow of ambient fluid into shut-off chamber 68 prior to firing.

Air saving sleeve gun

A dual shuttle air gun for generating maximum acoustic output for seismic testing having a housing with an air chamber formed therein and a chamber opening that opens 360 degrees around the periphery of the body is disclosed. The two shuttles are positioned around the housing axially displaced from each other, but close enough to allow the end faces of each shuttle to come into close proximity with each other. When the air gun is fired by the activation of a solenoid, compressed air flows into a firing chamber formed between the first shuttle and the housing causing the first shuttle to begin opening. When the first shuttle moves, the end faces of the two shuttles are exposed to the compressed air from the primary chamber. This causes the two shuttles to rapidly move away from each other providing for very quick release of the stored compressed air. When the solenoid is deactivated, the two shuttles are forced back into a prefire condition over the 360 degree opening.

Dual shuttle air gun

The disclosure relates to a solenoid valve for an air gun which substantially increases the rate at which maximum air flow is achieved. The new valve structure includes a coil actuated plunger, which is preferably solid and formed of a magnetically permeable material and closes an annular 360 degree port opening between the valve inlet and valve outlet when in the unactuated state. This plunger position is maintained by a biasing spring which forces the forward annular sharp plunger edge against a face seal in the nose of the valve, thereby sealing the valve input port from its output port. Upon actuation of the solenoid valve coil, the plunger is moved against the bias of the spring very rapidly, thereby speedily uncovering the channel between inlet and outlet and permitting rapid 360 degree communication between the inlet and outlet to permit maximum air flow therebetween and out of the outlet port. Air flow is past the edge of the plunger and along an unimpeded 360 degree path rather than through a hollow stem. The importance of this is that the pressure provided by the solenoid valve builds up much faster and results in a much improved timing of the air gun firing (reduction in firing jitter).

Full flow solenoid valve for air gun operation

The present invention comprises a multi-barrel seismic source air gun module for use in a marine environment, preferably comprising a plurality of air gun barrels symmetrically disposed in a single plane about and rigidly secured to a control head containing means for actuating said barrels.

Multi-barrel air gun module

A seismic energy source air gun has a body with an air chamber formed therein that opens 360 degrees around the periphery of the body. A sleeve-type shuttle covers the opening in a pre-fire condition. When the air gun is fired, the shuttle moves rapidly away from the opening providing a large area for compressed air held in the chamber to escape. This very quick release maximizes the acoustic output. The movement of the shuttle is ultimately controlled by a solenoid which, when activated, causes the shuttle to move away from the 360 degree opening and when deactivated permits the shuttle to move back into the pre-fire position over the 360 degree opening.

Air release in seismic source air gun

Disclosed is a seismic source device, known in the industry as an air gun, having shuttle control for allowing a predetermined discharge of compressed air into water for purposes of seismic exploration. The shuttle is controlled by valve means for closing the exhaust ports before all of the compressed air in the firing chamber of the air gun is exhausted. By preventing further discharge of air, with little or no loss in acoustic output, secondary pulses are greatly reduced, thereby enhancing the operation of the entire system. Further by preventing all the air in the firing chamber from being discharged, the system becomes more efficient and more cost effective.

Internal air release control apparatus air gun

Disclosed is a seismic source device, known in the industry as an air gun, having shuttle and external sliding valve control for allowing a predetermined discharge of compressed air into water for purposes of seismic exploration. The shuttle is controlled by air pressure to move it upward, thereby permitting compressed air in the firing chamber to exhaust through exhaust ports. The external sliding valve had been held in a downward position by air pressure supplied from the firing chamber, compressing a spring. As the firing chamber pressure drops, the compressed spring expands, forcing the sliding valve to move upward, closing the exhaust ports. By preventing further discharge of air, secondary pulses are greatly reduced, with little or no loss in acoustic output, thereby enhancing the operation of the entire system. Further, by preventing all the air in the firing chamber from being discharged, the system becomes more efficient and more cost effective.

Growing community of inventors

Plano, TX, United States of America

Earnest R Harrison