Patent · US Expired

Seismic cable deployment apparatus

US5197716A · kind A · utility

26Cited by
10References
28Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateApr 22, 1991
Grant dateMar 30, 1993
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 22, 2011

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
  • CPC primaryF16L1/23
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A marine cable deployment apparatus for deploying marine seismic cable from a ship which reduces tension force on the cable at the cable storage reel when the cable storage reel (drum) is winding out the cable. Marine cable is subject to a longitudinal tension force which can damage the marine cable when it is deployed from a storage reel. The apparatus of this application reduces the longitudinal tension force on a portion of marine cable so that the portion of cable can be deployed from a storage reel. The apparatus includes a collar attached to the marine cable and a cable deployment tool which is placed around the marine cable. The cable deployment tool has dogs which engage the collar and a locking ring which holds the dogs in place. The cable is deployed with the deployment tool accompanying the deployed cable. A line between the deployment tool and the ship provides an opposing force to the longitudinal tension force on the cable trailing behind the collar. After the portion of cable is deployed the opposing force on the cable retrieval tool is reduced to a point that the deployed portion of cable assumes the longitudinal tension force on the cable trailing behind the collar…

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