Vale S.a.

Peter Anthony Hurley

Benjamin David Polzer

Gordon Fox West

Peter Whyte Walker

Robert Leslie Scott Hogg

Benjamim David Polzer

Gorden Fox West

Peter Whyle Walker

Aspects of the disclosure may reduce motion noise by mounting vector component sensors on a bottom-weighted instrument platform that is supported with a spherical bearing. An apparatus for data acquisition is provided. The apparatus includes a base assembly, a spherical bearing mounted to the base assembly, and an instrument platform having at least one vector component sensor fixed thereto. The instrument platform is mounted on and supported by the spherical bearing. The spherical bearing couples the instrument platform to the base assembly and allows free angular rotation of the instrument platform, within a tilt angle range. The instrument platform is bottom weighted in that it has a center of mass disposed below its center of rotation. The apparatus may include a controller that receives and/or stores data from the at least one sensor.

Apparatus and method for data acquisition

A stabilized field sensor apparatus collects field data, in particular magnetic field data, with reduced motion noise. The apparatus includes a tear drop shaped housing, a tow frame in the housing, a plurality of vibration isolating dampers spaced around the frame, a base assembly mounted to the dampers, a support pedestal having a bottom end fixed to the base assembly and an upper free end, a single spherical air bearing connected to the upper free end of the pedestal, an instrument platform with a lower hollow funnel having an upper inside apex supported on the air bearing for a one point support, principal and secondary gyro stabilizers for maintaining pivotal and rotational stability, and at least one field sensor mounted to the instrument platform for collecting the field data while being stabilized against motion noise including vibration, pivoting and rotation from the base assembly, from the tow frame and from the housing. Stabilization of the instrument platform is enhanced by preserving accurate balance through a dynamic balancing system whereby small masses are moved under computer control to maintain the center of mass of the instrument platform at the center of rotation of the spherical air bearing. The dynamic stabilization process is made more precise by actively vibrating the instrument platform by a set of linear vibrators.

Stabilization system for sensors on moving platforms

Growing community of inventors

Toronto, Canada

Peter Anthony Hurley