OCEANOGRAPHIC SURVEY DEVICE

• US 3,628,205 A
• Filed: 12/12/1968
• Issued: 12/21/1971
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/1968
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Starkey Bertrand Julian, Watson Alexander Smith
• Original Assignee: Starkey Bertrand Julian, Watson Alexander Smith
• Inventors: STARKEY BERTRAND JULIAN, WATSON ALEXANDER SMITH
• Application Number:
  US04/783,382
• Time in Patent Office: 1,104 Days
• US Class Current: 441/25
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 22/003 adapted for being launched from an aircraft or water vehicle;, e.g. with brakes deployed in the water

Abstract

An oceanographic survey device according to the invention comprises a buoy, means for mooring the buoy at a predetermined depth to the ocean bed, instruments attached to the buoy for one or more recorders carried by the buoy for measuring one or more parameters, means for causing the buoy to move up and down in the water along a substantially vertical line, and clock means for sequentially initiating operation of the means for causing the buoy to move at regular predetermined times after the buoy is moored. Means are provided for controlling the operation of the means for causing the buoy to move so that in response to each initiation of the operation thereof the buoy moves vertically in the water from the predetermined depth to a second depth and back to the predetermined depth.

Claims

1. An oceanographic survey device comprising, a. a buoy, b. means for mooring said buoy at a predetermined depth to the ocean bed, c. instruments attached to the buoy for one or more recorders carried by the buoy for measuring one or more parameters, d. means for causing said buoy to move up and down in the water along a substantially vertical line, after said buoy is moored, e. clock means adapted to sequentially initiate operation of said means for causing said buoy to move at predetermined regular times after said buoy is moored, and f. means adapted to control the operation of said means for causing said buoy to move so that in response to each initiation of the operation thereof by said clock means said buoy moves vertically up and down in the water from said predetermined depth to a second depth and back to said predetermined depth.

2. A device according to claim 1 in which the means adapted to control the operation of said means for causing said buoy to move up and down include pressure sensitive means carried by the buoy.

3. A device according to claim 1 in which said means for causing said buoy to move up and down comprises a motor carried by said buoy.

4. A device according to claim 1 including release means for allowing said buoy to rise to the surface of the water after a predetermined number of up and down movements, while still retaining said buoy attached to said mooring means.

5. A device according to claim 4 including means for disconnecting said buoy from said mooring means at a predetermined time after its normal release time, if said release means has not operated.

6. An oceanographic survey device comprising, A. a buoy, b. a cable wound on a winch, an anchor, and means for mooring said buoy at a predetermined depth to the ocean bed via said cable and said anchor, c. instruments attached to said buoy for one or more recorders carried by said buoy for measuring one or more parameters, d. a further winch, and a motor operative on said further winch for paying out and taking in said cable, after said buoy is moored, e. a clock device adapted to sequentially initiate operation of said motor at predetermined regular times after said buoy is moored, and f. pressure sensitive means carried by said buoy adapted to control the operation of said motor so that in response to each initiation of the operation of said motor by said clock device, said cable is paid out and taken in via said further winch so that said buoy moves vertically in the water from said predetermined depth to a second depth and back to said predetermined depth.