The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.

The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.

Date of Patent:
Feb. 16, 2021

Filed:

Oct. 05, 2018
Applicant:

Fairfield Industries Incorporated, Houston, TX (US);

Inventors:

Roger L. Fyffe, Sugar Land, TX (US);

Etienne Marc, Houston, TX (US);

Chance Mann, Houston, TX (US);

Assignee:

Magseis FF LLC, Houston, TX (US);

Attorneys:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
B63G 8/00 (2006.01); G01V 1/38 (2006.01); B63G 8/04 (2006.01); B63G 8/08 (2006.01); B63G 8/39 (2006.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
G01V 1/3852 (2013.01); B63G 8/001 (2013.01); B63G 8/04 (2013.01); B63G 8/08 (2013.01); B63G 8/39 (2013.01); G01V 1/3808 (2013.01); B63G 2008/004 (2013.01);
Abstract

The present disclosure is directed to systems, methods, and apparatus for delivering seismic data acquisition units to, and retrieving from, an underwater vehicle. A sensor storage container can be tethered to a surface vessel, which can move on the surface with a non-zero velocity. The underwater vehicle can include a storage compartment to store seismic data acquisition units and a propulsion system to aid the movement of the underwater vehicle. The underwater vehicle also can include passive and active protrusions for coupling with corresponding receptacles on the sensor storage container. The sensor storage container also can include a propulsion system to aid movement of the sensor storage container. The propulsion systems of both the underwater vehicle and the sensor storage container can be controlled to allow the underwater vehicle and the sensor storage container to couple and allow transfer of seismic data acquisition units.


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