Compact vibrator and seismic monitoring or prospecting method using such a vibrator
US6338394B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignees
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 24, 2000 |
| Grant date | Jan 15, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 24, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01V1/143
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Compact vibrator for emitting elastic waves in a material medium such as the subsoil. The vibrator comprises a baseplate (3) intended to be coupled in operation with a surface of this medium, an inertia mass (5) and at least a pair of electromechanical transducers (1, 2) comprising each one or more pillars (A, B) made for example of a piezoelectric or magnetostrictive material. Pillars (A) of first transducer (1) are interposed between baseplate (3) and a relay plate (4). Pillars (B) of the second transducer are interposed between relay plate (4) and inertia mass (5), on the same side of relay plate (4) as pillars (A) preferably, so that inertia mass (5) is positioned in the vicinity of baseplate (3), which contributes to the compactness and to the stability of the vibrator that can therefore be used on slightly sloping surfaces. An excitation generator (6) comprising phase shifting means (7) respectively applies to transducers (A, B) phase-shifted signals that are amplitude-modulable, so that their vibrations combine. The vibrator can be applied: notably for equipping an underground zone under development with periodic seismic monitoring means or for carrying out seismic prospecti…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.