Seismic triggered seismograph

• US 4,227,198 A
• Filed: 01/02/1979
• Issued: 10/07/1980
• Est. Priority Date: 01/02/1979
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Dallas Instruments
• Original Assignee: Dallas Instruments
• Inventors: Preskitt, Stanley V., Cornelius, Larry R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Miller, Jr., George H.
• Application Number:
  US06/000,271
• Time in Patent Office: 644 Days
• Field of Search: 346/7, 346/44, 346/112, 346/115, 346/1, 346/33 C, 367/68
• US Class Current: 346/33.00C
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 1/242 Seismographs

Abstract

A seismic triggered seismograph (10) has a transducer (12) that measures particle vibration along three orthogonal axes and a microphone (14) which measures atmospheric overpressure. The four parameters measured produce signals which are passed through delay circuits (58, 60, 62, 90) and then connected for recording on magnetic tape (21). The seismic signals are examined before being input to the delay circuits (58, 60, 62) and when any of the signals exceeds a predetermined threshold, a tape transport (154) and recording mechanism are activated so that the signals are recorded when they emerge from the delay circuits. Both the delay circuits (58, 60, 62, 90) and the magnetic recording are implemented with analog format. At the end of a predetermined time interval following a seismic event, a calibration signal is applied to the magnetic recording. Following the calibration signal, the transducer (12) is activated by a standard amplitude signal for indicating calibration of the transducer (12). The atmospheric overpressure signal channel has written thereon following the calibration signals a digital summary of data related to the triggering signal, including the peak seismic event detected by the transducer (12) and the maximum atmospheric overpressure measured by the microphone (14).

Claims

1. A seismic triggered seismograph comprising in combination:

(a) means responsive to onset of earth vibrations to record three orthogonal components of earth movement on analog side-by-side magnetic traces, and simultaneously to record an analog representation of concomitant sound traveling through the air as an additional trace, and

(b) means operable upon cessation of said earth vibrations to record at least one of said traces a sequence of numerical data values related to said earth vibrations.

2. A seismic triggered seismograph as recited in claim 1 wherein said numerical data values include the peak value of said earth vibrations and of said sound.

3. A recording system triggered by the start of an event measured by a transducer which produces an electrical signal in response to the event comprising in combination:

(a) means for recording said electrical signal and at least one additional signal related to said event, said signals recorded in analog form on side-by-side magnetic traces, and

(b) means operable upon cessation of said event to record on at least one of said traces a numerical summary of values of said signals measured during said event.

4. A seismic triggered seismograph comprising in combination:

(a) means for generating seismic signals in response to earth vibrations,

(b) analog means for time delaying said seismic signals,

(c) means responsive to said seismic signals for activating an analog recorder to record said time delayed seismic signals when at least one of said seismic signals exceeds a preset threshold amplitude,

(d) means for terminating records of said seismic signals by said analog recorder after a predetermined time interval has elapsed following the last seismic signal which exceeds said threshold amplitude,

(e) means for generating a set of numerical data values related to said earth vibrations including the peak value of said seismic signals, and

(f) means for recording said numerical data values by said analog data recorder.

5. A seismic triggered seismograph according to claim 4 wherein said analog means for time delaying said seismic signals is a charge coupled device.

6. A seismic triggered seismograph according to claim 4 further including clock means for generating a time of occurrance signal for said earth vibrations.

7. A seismic triggered seismograph according to claim 4 further including means responsive to said seismic signals for automatically selecting one of a plurality of range scales for the recording of said seismic signals.

8. A seismic triggered seismograph according to claim 4 further including means for automatically generating a signal to calibrate said analog recorder after recording said seismic signals.

9. A seismic triggered seismograph according to claim 4 wherein said means for generating seismic signals comprises three transducer sensors aligned on orthogonal axes.

10. A seismic triggered seismograph according to claim 9 further including means for automatically checking the calibration of said transducer sensors after recording the seismic signals.

11. A seismic triggered seismograph comprising in combination:

(a) means for generating seismic signals in response to earth vibrations,

(b) analog means for time delaying said seismic signals,

(c) means responsive to said seismic signals for activating an analog recorder to record said time delayed seismic signals when at least one of said seismic signals exceeds a preset threshold amplitude,

(d) means for terminating recording of said seismic signals by said analog recorder after a predetermined time interval has elapsed following the last seismic signal which exceeds said threshold amplitude,

(e) means for generating a set of numerical data values related to said earth vibrations including the peak value of said seismic signals,

(f) means for recording said numerical data values by said analog data recorder,

(g) means for generating a pressure signal in response to air pressure, and

(h) means for recording said pressure signal by said analog recorder.

12. A method for monitoring earth and air vibrations generated by events such as explosive blasts, construction or transportation activity comprising the steps of:

(a) detecting earth vibrations in three dimensions,

(b) detecting air vibrations,

(c) recording waveforms representing said earth and air vibrations after one of said earth vibrations exceeds a preset threshold,

(d) measuring the amplitude of said earth and air vibrations and storing the maximum values thereof,

(e) terminating recording of said waveforms after the amplitude of said earth vibrations becomes less than said preset threshold, and

(f) recording said stored maximum values after said waveform recording has terminated.

13. A method for monitoring earth and air vibrations as recited in claim 12 further including the step of time delaying said waveforms before recording thereof.

14. A method for monitoring earth and air vibrations as recited in claim 12 further including the step of recording the time of occurrence of each of said events.

15. A method for monitoring earth and air vibrations as recited in claim 12 further including the step of recording a waveform to indicate the calibration condition of sensors used for detecting earth vibrations.

16. A method for monitoring earth and air vibrations as recited in claim 12 further including the step of selecting one of a plurality of range scales for recording of said waveforms.