GB2170161A - Node for towed acoustic array - Google Patents

Node for towed acoustic array Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2170161A
GB2170161A GB08313194A GB8313194A GB2170161A GB 2170161 A GB2170161 A GB 2170161A GB 08313194 A GB08313194 A GB 08313194A GB 8313194 A GB8313194 A GB 8313194A GB 2170161 A GB2170161 A GB 2170161A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
node
canisters
flexible
ropes
assembly
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
GB08313194A
Other versions
GB2170161B (en
Inventor
Michael John Bryant
Frank Richard Attenborough
Christopher Graham Sykes
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
STC PLC
Original Assignee
Standard Telephone and Cables PLC
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Standard Telephone and Cables PLC filed Critical Standard Telephone and Cables PLC
Priority to GB08313194A priority Critical patent/GB2170161B/en
Priority claimed from EP86302865A external-priority patent/EP0241608A1/en
Publication of GB2170161A publication Critical patent/GB2170161A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of GB2170161B publication Critical patent/GB2170161B/en
Expired legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
    • B63G—OFFENSIVE OR DEFENSIVE ARRANGEMENTS ON VESSELS; MINE-LAYING; MINE-SWEEPING; SUBMARINES; AIRCRAFT CARRIERS
    • B63G8/00—Underwater vessels, e.g. submarines; Equipment specially adapted therefor
    • B63G8/42—Towed underwater vessels
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01V—GEOPHYSICS; GRAVITATIONAL MEASUREMENTS; DETECTING MASSES OR OBJECTS; TAGS
    • G01V1/00—Seismology; Seismic or acoustic prospecting or detecting
    • G01V1/16—Receiving elements for seismic signals; Arrangements or adaptations of receiving elements
    • G01V1/20—Arrangements of receiving elements, e.g. geophone pattern
    • G01V1/201—Constructional details of seismic cables, e.g. streamers

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Remote Sensing (AREA)
  • Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
  • Geology (AREA)
  • Acoustics & Sound (AREA)
  • General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Geophysics (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Aviation & Aerospace Engineering (AREA)
  • Transducers For Ultrasonic Waves (AREA)

Abstract

A flexible node for a towed acoustic array or seismic streamer comprises a plurality of waterproof canisters 10, 11 each containing a part of the electronic and electrical hardware of the node and attached by clamps 10c, 11c to strain ropes 12. The node is encased in a flexible sheath 13 which is filled with a buoyancy liquid or gel. Flexibility of the node allows it to pass over winches, the strain ropes transmitting towing strains without stressing the individual canisters. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Node for towed acoustic array This invention relates to a node for a towed acoustic array or seismic streamer.
Typically a towed acoustic array includes one or more long flexible hydrophone assemblies in which the hydrophones are spaced at intervals within a flexible sheath, e.g. a plastics hose. Each sheathed assembly is headed by a so-called "node", which contains electronic and power equipment for the hydrophones in the assembly.
The node for each assembly in addition incorporates towing means whereby the assembly is attached to the towing cable payed out from a ship, or to the tail of the preceding assembly where more than one assembly is used. The node is therefore required to contain a significant amount of electronic and electrical hardware in a waterproof environment and to possess considerable strength to withstand the towing strains. Known forms of node are encased in rigid metal housings which lack buoyancy, are difficult to handle on winches and drums, and generate vibration.
According to the present invention there is provided a flexible node for a towed acoustic array comprising a plurality of individual waterproof canisters each containing a part of the electronic and electrical hardware of the node, the canisers being encased in a flexible sheath together with one or more strain ropes or the like extending longitudinally within the flexible sheath.
Embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing which illustrates the internal structure of a flexible node.
The flexible node comprises a number of individual waterproof canisters 10, 11 each containing a certain amount of electronic or electrical circuitry (not shown). As illustrated the canisters are aluminium or other metal containers closed by screw on end caps 10a, lia. Alternatively the containers may be thin walled aluminium inners encased in glass reinforced plastics to provide them with strength. The screw caps are provided with hermetic lead troughs for electrical cables in a known manner. Each canister is located within, and may be attached to, four Kevlar (RTM) ropes 12 which are equally spaced around the canisters. Each canister has a split clamp 10c, lic which clamps the ropes to the canister. The vvhole assembly of canisters and ropes is encased in a flexible plastics tube 13.After assembly the remaining space in the plastics tube is filled with a buoyancy liquid or gel to provide the node with the required buoyancy.
The node, being flexible, is readily passed over winches and drums on board ship. The four ropes individually or collectively transmit the towing strain from the front of the node to the following hydrophone assembly without stressing the individual canisters. Individual canisters can be removed for replacement or repair without disturbing the other canisters. Electric cabling can be laid alongside the strain ropes, e.g. in grooves or bores in the clamps where the latter are cylindrical. The number of ropes may obviously be varied according to design requirements. In an alternative construction a single central strain rope may be used threaded through the centre of cylindrical canisters.
1. A flexible node for a towed acoustic array comprising a plurality of individual waterproof canisters each containing a part of the electronic and electrical hardware of the node, the canisters being encased in a flexible sheath together with one or more strain ropes or the like extending longitudinally within the flexible sheath.
2. A flexible node according to claim 1 characterised in that the strain ropes are spaced around the periphery of the canisters.
3. A flexible node according to claim 2 characterised in that the strain ropes are secured to the canisters by clamp members.
4. A flexible node according to claim 3 characterised in that electric cables are laid in grooves or bores in the clamps.
5. A flexible node according to claim 1 characterised in that a single strain rope is threaded through the centres of the canisters.
6. A flexible node according to any preceding claim characterised in that after assembly of the canisters, ropes and clamps within the sheath the mode is filled with a buoyancy liquid or gel.
7. A flexible node for a towed acoustic array substantially as described with reference to the drawing.
**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (7)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Node for towed acoustic array This invention relates to a node for a towed acoustic array or seismic streamer. Typically a towed acoustic array includes one or more long flexible hydrophone assemblies in which the hydrophones are spaced at intervals within a flexible sheath, e.g. a plastics hose. Each sheathed assembly is headed by a so-called "node", which contains electronic and power equipment for the hydrophones in the assembly. The node for each assembly in addition incorporates towing means whereby the assembly is attached to the towing cable payed out from a ship, or to the tail of the preceding assembly where more than one assembly is used. The node is therefore required to contain a significant amount of electronic and electrical hardware in a waterproof environment and to possess considerable strength to withstand the towing strains. Known forms of node are encased in rigid metal housings which lack buoyancy, are difficult to handle on winches and drums, and generate vibration. According to the present invention there is provided a flexible node for a towed acoustic array comprising a plurality of individual waterproof canisters each containing a part of the electronic and electrical hardware of the node, the canisers being encased in a flexible sheath together with one or more strain ropes or the like extending longitudinally within the flexible sheath. Embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing which illustrates the internal structure of a flexible node. The flexible node comprises a number of individual waterproof canisters 10, 11 each containing a certain amount of electronic or electrical circuitry (not shown). As illustrated the canisters are aluminium or other metal containers closed by screw on end caps 10a, lia. Alternatively the containers may be thin walled aluminium inners encased in glass reinforced plastics to provide them with strength. The screw caps are provided with hermetic lead troughs for electrical cables in a known manner. Each canister is located within, and may be attached to, four Kevlar (RTM) ropes 12 which are equally spaced around the canisters. Each canister has a split clamp 10c, lic which clamps the ropes to the canister. The vvhole assembly of canisters and ropes is encased in a flexible plastics tube 13.After assembly the remaining space in the plastics tube is filled with a buoyancy liquid or gel to provide the node with the required buoyancy. The node, being flexible, is readily passed over winches and drums on board ship. The four ropes individually or collectively transmit the towing strain from the front of the node to the following hydrophone assembly without stressing the individual canisters. Individual canisters can be removed for replacement or repair without disturbing the other canisters. Electric cabling can be laid alongside the strain ropes, e.g. in grooves or bores in the clamps where the latter are cylindrical. The number of ropes may obviously be varied according to design requirements. In an alternative construction a single central strain rope may be used threaded through the centre of cylindrical canisters. CLAIMS
1. A flexible node for a towed acoustic array comprising a plurality of individual waterproof canisters each containing a part of the electronic and electrical hardware of the node, the canisters being encased in a flexible sheath together with one or more strain ropes or the like extending longitudinally within the flexible sheath.
2. A flexible node according to claim 1 characterised in that the strain ropes are spaced around the periphery of the canisters.
3. A flexible node according to claim 2 characterised in that the strain ropes are secured to the canisters by clamp members.
4. A flexible node according to claim 3 characterised in that electric cables are laid in grooves or bores in the clamps.
5. A flexible node according to claim 1 characterised in that a single strain rope is threaded through the centres of the canisters.
6. A flexible node according to any preceding claim characterised in that after assembly of the canisters, ropes and clamps within the sheath the mode is filled with a buoyancy liquid or gel.
7. A flexible node for a towed acoustic array substantially as described with reference to the drawing.
GB08313194A 1983-05-13 1983-05-13 Node for towed acoustic array Expired GB2170161B (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB08313194A GB2170161B (en) 1983-05-13 1983-05-13 Node for towed acoustic array

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB08313194A GB2170161B (en) 1983-05-13 1983-05-13 Node for towed acoustic array
EP86302865A EP0241608A1 (en) 1986-04-17 1986-04-17 Node for towed accoustic array

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB2170161A true GB2170161A (en) 1986-07-30
GB2170161B GB2170161B (en) 1987-09-23

Family

ID=26104058

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB08313194A Expired GB2170161B (en) 1983-05-13 1983-05-13 Node for towed acoustic array

Country Status (1)

Country Link
GB (1) GB2170161B (en)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2223727A (en) * 1988-09-30 1990-04-18 Roy Wyatt Couplings for reducing the transfer of vibration forces"
GB2429062A (en) * 2005-08-10 2007-02-14 Sercel Inc Flexible body hydrophone
FR2925231A1 (en) * 2007-12-18 2009-06-19 Thales Sa TRANSMIT SONAR ANTENNA WITH VERTICAL AXIS WINDABLE ON A WINCH

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB826301A (en) * 1957-09-25 1959-12-31 Exxon Research Engineering Co Improved collapsible floating containers for liquids
GB1421364A (en) * 1972-09-18 1976-01-14 Exxon Production Research Co Marine seismic cable buoyancy system

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB826301A (en) * 1957-09-25 1959-12-31 Exxon Research Engineering Co Improved collapsible floating containers for liquids
GB1421364A (en) * 1972-09-18 1976-01-14 Exxon Production Research Co Marine seismic cable buoyancy system

Cited By (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2223727A (en) * 1988-09-30 1990-04-18 Roy Wyatt Couplings for reducing the transfer of vibration forces"
GB2223727B (en) * 1988-09-30 1992-09-16 Roy Wyatt Improvements in or relating to couplings for reducing the transfer of vibration forces
GB2429062A (en) * 2005-08-10 2007-02-14 Sercel Inc Flexible body hydrophone
GB2429062B (en) * 2005-08-10 2009-02-04 Sercel Inc Flexible hydrophone
FR2925231A1 (en) * 2007-12-18 2009-06-19 Thales Sa TRANSMIT SONAR ANTENNA WITH VERTICAL AXIS WINDABLE ON A WINCH
WO2009077532A1 (en) * 2007-12-18 2009-06-25 Thales Vertical-axis transmitting sonar antenna that can be wound onto a winch
US7983114B2 (en) 2007-12-18 2011-07-19 Thales Vertical-axis transmitting sonar antenna that can be wound onto a winch

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB2170161B (en) 1987-09-23

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
732 Registration of transactions, instruments or events in the register (sect. 32/1977)
PCNP Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee