Patent · US Expired

Electret cable hydrophone array

US3978446A · kind A · utility

10Cited by
3References
10Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateAug 25, 1975
Grant dateAug 31, 1976
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 25, 1995

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01V1/208
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A simplified hydrophone array for use in a towed marine streamer for seismic undersea exploration comprises a longitudinal series of electrically separate sensor sections comprising radially spaced coaxial inner and outer conductors and a plurality of longitudinally extending electret cables tightly fitted in the annular space between the conductors. Each cable has a conductive lead wire insulated by an electret covering, such as electrostatically charged tetrafluoroethylene (Teflon); an electrical signal between inner and outer conductors and across the electret is produced by acoustic energy transmitted to the outer conductor. The outer conductors are electrically insulated from each other and the inner conductor is longitudinally continuous throughout the length of the array and thus is common to all sections. The signal processing apparatus on the towing ship is connected to the individual sections by the lead wires which are connected to the outer conductors, respectively, and by the common inner conductor and so is responsive to the separate transducing actions of the several sections. A waterproof jacket around the outer conductors seals the assembly.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.