USA As Represented by Secretary of the Navy

Exxon Production Research Company

Richard C Swenson

Dewey R Young, Ii

Alexander L Sutherland

A hydrostreamer includes connectors for joining to depending housings enclosing geophone sensors. These sensors are coupled to the bottom of the sea via such housings by the housings being appropriately weighted and externally surface serrated. Thus, the geophones detect s-waves directly from the ground in single-mode conversion fashion while simultaneously, hydrophones in the hydrostreamers detect p-wave reflections in traditional fashion.

Marine shear-wave detection system using single mode reflection boundary

A capstan adaptable 'V' puller fitted with a plurality of vertical staves d is positioned on a 'host' capstan. The staves are adjusted to the diameter of the capstan and securely clamped in place by any suitable means. Friction is enhanced by rubber pads mounted between the contact surface of the capstan and the staves.

Capstan adaptable 'V' puller

An adaptable thermistor array of variable length and sensor spacing. A pllity of thermistor modules are attached at any desired interval to a braided line. Each thermistor module contains its own power source, sensor, and an acoustic telemetry transmitter to transmit the temperature related data from the module to an acoustic receiver in a buoy from which the line depends.

Variable length and sensor spacing thermistor array

A method for detecting faults in a synthetic electro-mechanical cable uses n insulated conductor dipped in a slurry of graphite prior to being overbraided with the synthetic reinforcement material. Enough graphite oozes through the braid to insure a conductive path through the multiple layers of cable on a metal take-up reel to megger the finished cable between the conductor and the metal reel.

Method for detecting faults in a synthetic electro-mechanical cable

An improved safety mooring line of the type having an inner high stretch ety line and an outer high strength, low elongate synthetic fiber strength member also has an armor layer of a high strength, heat resistant synthetic fiber material braided over the safety line underneath the strength member. The armor layer is braided with a high braid angle so that it can elongate when the strength member parts, yet insulate the safety line from the heat and flailing ends of the strength member resulting from the released energy of parting.

Safety mooring line

A shallow water environmental/oceanographic measurement system for real time monitoring of specific parameters at a particular location. A three point moored buoy is anchored over the particular location. Bottom mounted sensors to measure the specific parameters are situated generally within the area of the three point mooring area. Sensor data is transmitted via cable to the buoy from where it is telemetered to a shore station.

Shallow water environmental/oceanographic measurement system

A self-deploying buoy system which will moor itself in various depths of er. The system has a fixed mid-water buoy and canister. In one end of the canister is an RF telemetry buoy and upper cable pack. In the other end of the canister is a lower cable pack, sensor and anchor assembly. When deployed all the cable in both the upper and lower cable packs is deployed under the force of gravity until no cable is left in either pack.

Self-deploying buoy system

A linear acoustic array for use in oceanographic work in either a towed or a vertically suspended configuration utilizes a flexible cable in which strands are woven or braided into a tube, the strands of which can be separated sufficiently to insert a hydrophone and multiplexer assembly at each of a plurality of specified locations therealong. Each hydrophone and multiplexer assembly is adapted to be readily connected into or removed from a two wire system.

Linear acoustic array

A flexible cable type of linear thermal array is constructed of a bundle of nsulated conductor pairs enclosed in a braided aramid fiber strength layer through which individual pairs are withdrawn at intended thermistor stations and the end portions thereof loosely caged in the lumens of thermoplastic tubes. After an outer layer of thermoplastic fiber is braided over the bundle and tubes openings are formed through the outer layer and tubes, the wire end portions withdrawn, thermistors connected thereto and reinserted in the tube lumens.

Flexible linear thermal array

A buoy anchoring system includes an anchor device in the form of a weighted annister that pays out line from the center of a fixed, hollow-cored bale during free fall. The line is secured against further pay out after the device impacts the bottom by wrapping about a shaft that is driven upwardly within the bale by the impact. The shaft has a line engaging cross-bar at its upper end, and is held in an extended position prior to impact by a shear pin.

Buoy anchoring system

A condition responsive line array cable having pairs of conductor contain, hollow braided strands plaited into a hollow braid in which transducer mounts are enmeshed and gripped. The mounts comprise a rigid plastic tubular housing in which a rubber jacketed transducer is resiliently suspended by elastomeric projections. Resiliently flexible, hollow, tapered, rubber fairings extend from each end of the housing and are slit to admit wires pulled from a cable strand. The fairings are long relative to the housing diameter and are retained assembled with the housing by cooperating ribs and grooves.

Condition responsive cable with bendable coaxial sensor mount

A buoy system for obtaining oceanic data from a predetermined depth to the urface includes an instrument vehicle programmed to cycle between predetermined positive and negative buoyancy conditions. A flexible tether having a degree of stiffness and a positive buoyancy factor distributed along its length is connected between a subsurface buoy and the vehicle so as to provide an increasing upward force on the negatively buoyant vehicle as it sinks toward a hovering depth at which the upward force of the buoyant tether balances the negative buoyancy of the vehicle.

Buoy system for vertical ocean profiling

A yarn or fiber is incorporated into the jacket of a long suspended small ameter cable for reducing low velocity current cable strumming in water. The yarn or fiber comprises at least one-quarter of the strands of a braided cable. A nap or mossy cable effect is produced when the jacket is brushed.

Antistrumming cable

A faired cage, forming part of a sensor array has conical shaped pieces at pposite ends and a plurality of grooved parallel bars secured therebetween. A chamber formed within the parallel bars is suitable for containing a sensor. The cage is utilized in conjunction with a parallel element synthetic strength member electromechanical cable. The conical shaped pieces comprise flexible boots having cavities for containing electrical wires and strength members. This configuration provided on each end of the cage enable the cable to bend smoothly over the cage.

Growing community of inventors

Carriere, MS, United States of America

Richard C Swenson