Oceanographic sensor system

• US 4,406,242 A
• Filed: 03/11/1981
• Issued: 09/27/1983
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/1981
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Colin G. Weeks
• Original Assignee: Colin G. Weeks
• Inventors: Weeks, Colin G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Blix, Trygve M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sotelo, Jesus D.
• Application Number:
  US06/242,449
• Time in Patent Office: 930 Days
• Field of Search: 114/270, 114/244, 114/242, 114/240 R, 114/240 A, 367/88, 367/91, 367/106, 367/110, 367/112, 367/130
• US Class Current: 114/242
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 11/006 Transducer mounting in underwater equipment, e.g. sonobuoys

Abstract

An apparatus and method for supporting an oceanographic sensor system employing a frame indirectly attached to a vessel so as to follow the forward motion of the vessel, one or more floats independently supporting the frame, and one or more sensors mounted on the frame. In one embodiment the apparatus is used as a hydrographic survey system and includes an A-frame attached to and projecting over the bow of a vessel, a boom, two or more catamarans rotatably attached to the boom, two or more Kevlar lines extending from the apex of the A-frame to tow points above the point where the catamarans are attached, two or more nylon lines attached at one end to the tow points and at the other end to the side of the vessel such that the Kevlar and nylon lines act in conjunction to pull the boom along the vessels path and one or more transducers rotatably mounted on said boom. In another embodiment, a data processor and a computer are linked to the transducers of a hydrographic survey system so as to produce a sounding including a depth measurement for each position on the bottom and a display linked to the data processor and computer such that the depth of each position is identified by a unique color.

Claims

1. A hydrographic swath surveying system comprising:

(a) an A-frame attached and projecting over the bow of a vessel;

(b) a boom;

(c) two or more catamarans for rotatably mounting the boom for rotation about an axis vertical to the boom;

(d) two or more Kevlar lines extending from the apex of the A-frame to tow points on the boom above the point where the catamarans are attached;

(e) two or more nylon lines attached at one end to the tow points of the boom and on the other end to the side of the vessel such that the Kevlar and nylon lines act in conjunction to pull the boom along the vessels path; and

(f) one or more transducers mounted on the boom so as to rotate about an axis parallel to the water surface.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the A-frame is supported by a line extending from the superstructure of the vessel.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the A-frame is supported by heel fittings attached to both sides of the vessel at a point forward of the midsection of the vessel where the beam of the vessel is close to its maximum.

4. A method of deploying a hydrographic swath surveying system for use with an attendant vessel such that the sensing elements are independent of the roll, pitch and magnetic effects of the vessel yet can remain in a fixed relation to the vessel, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) rotatably attaching two or more catamarans to a boom for rotation about an axis vertical to the boom;

(b) rotatably mounting one or more transducers on the boom for rotation about an axis parallel to the surface of the water;

(c) attaching an A-frame to the sides of a vessel at a point where the beam of the vessel is close to its maximum and so that the A-frame projects over the bow of the vessel;

(d) towing the boom to a survey site by attaching at least one catamaran to side of the vessel;

(e) releasing the boom from the vessel at the survey site;

(f) attaching two or more Kevlar lines from the apex of the A-frame to tow points on the boom above the points where the catamarans are attached; and

(g) attaching two or more nylon lines at one end to the tow points on the boom and at the other end to the sides of the vessel such that the Kevlar and nylon lines act in conjunction to pull the boom along the vessel'"'"'s path.

5. An oceanographic sensor system for use with an attendant vessel such that the sensing elements are independent of the roll, pitch and magnetic effects of the vessel yet can remain in a fixed relation to the vessel, said sensor system comprising:

(a) a frame attached to and projecting over the bow of the vessel;

(b) a boom supported by two or more floats, the floats being mounted for rotation about an axis perpendicular to the boom, the axis being substantially vertical in calm water;

(c) at least two primary flexible lines extending from the frame to tow points on the boom;

(d) two secondary flexible lines attached at one end to the tow points of the boom and at the other end to the vessel, the primary and secondary lines being adjusted to tow the boom ahead of the vessel at a preset angle to the fore and aft line of the vessel; and

(e) one or more sensing elements pivotally mounted on the boom for rotation about the horizontal axis of the boom.