Underwater cable arrangements and devices

• US 20040008579A1
• Filed: 12/23/2002
• Published: 01/15/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/1995
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Input/Output Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Input/Output Incorporated
• Inventors: Olivier, Andre W., Rau, Brien G., Rouquette, Robert E.
• Granted Patent: US 7,206,254 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 367/16
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 1/201 Constructional details of seismic cables, e.g. streamers integrated optoseismic systems G01V1/226; line connectors in general H01R, transducer mountings in general G10K11/004
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 1/22 Transmitting seismic signals to recording or processing apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 1/3826 dynamic steering, e.g. by paravanes or birds
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/36 Repeater circuits H04B3/58 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/44 Arrangements for feeding power to a repeater along the transmission line

Abstract

The present invention provides an underwater cable arrangement includes an underwater cable having one or more external devices mounted on the cable. In one form of the invention, the external devices are powered primarily or entirely by inductive coupling between a coil disposed in the cable and a coil disposed in the external device. The invention also provides a variety of external devices capable of use with an underwater cable. The invention further provides a coil support arrangement for supporting a coil within an underwater cable in a manner protecting a core of the coil from damage.

Claims

1. An underwater cable arrangement comprising a cable capable of being towed through the water, an interior coil disposed within the cable, and an exterior device mounted on the exterior of the cable, the exterior device including an exterior coil inductively coupled to the interior coil, the exterior device being powered primarily or entirely by electrical power supplied from the internal coil to the external coil of the external device.

2. A device for mounting on an exterior of an underwater cable for seismic exploration, the device including a coil positioned within the device for inductive coupling with a coil disposed within the underwater cable, the device being powered primarily or entirely by electrical power supplied from the coil within the underwater cable to the coil of the device.

3. A depth control device for controlling the depth of an underwater cable, comprising a sleeve for mounting around the underwater cable, and a wing unit including a collar rotatably mounted on the sleeve and at least one wing mounted on and extending outwards from the collar.

4. A ranging device for use with an underwater cable comprising a plurality of piezoelectric elements supported so as to define a ring having an axis, the elements being disposed substantially radially with respect to the axis.

5. A cable arrangement comprising an underwater cable for seismic exploration and a ranging device disposed on the cable, the ranging device comprising a plurality of piezoelectric elements spaced around a circle surrounding a longitudinal axis of the cable, the elements being disposed substantially radially with respect to the axis.

6. A coil support arrangement for use in an underwater cable, comprising a coil support device for installation in the cable, the coil support device having an elongated pocket extending in a longitudinal direction of the coil support device, and a coil disposed in the pocket, the coil including a core spaced from the inner walls of the pocket such that the inner walls of the pocket apply substantially no stresses to the core during all operating conditions of the cable.

7. A coil for use with an underwater cable comprising a core, a winding disposed around the core, and a support member for supporting the core extending along a length of the core and having a greater bending stiffness than the core to prevent bending stresses from being applied to the core.

8. An underwater cable arrangement comprising an underwater cable capable of being towed through the water, an external device for mounting on the exterior of the cable, and a coil support device disposed inside the cable for supporting a coil, the coil support device and the external device having engaging portions capable of engagement with each other to prevent relative rotation of the coil support device and the external device about the longitudinal axis of the cable.

9. An underwater cable arrangement comprising an underwater cable capable of being towed through the water, an external device for mounting on the exterior of the cable, and a coil support device disposed inside the cable for supporting a coil, the coil support device and the external device having an interference fit with respect to each other to resist relative movement of the cable support device and the external device in the longitudinal direction of the cable.

10. An underwater cable arrangement including an underwater cable capable of being towed through the water, a coil support device disposed in the cable, and an external device fitting around the coil support device so as to maintain a constant angle between a longitudinal axis of the cable and a longitudinal axis of the coil support device

11. A depth control device for controlling a depth of an underwater cable being towed through the water, comprising an inner sleeve for attachment to the cable, a collar surrounding and rotatably mounted on the inner sleeve, and a wing attached to the exterior of the collar, the inner sleeve supporting an actuator drivingly coupled to the collar for rotating the collar around the inner sleeve to adjust an angle of the wing with respect to the horizontal.

12. A depth control device for controlling a depth of an underwater cable being towed through the water, comprising an inner sleeve for attachment to the cable, a collar surrounding and mounted on the inner sleeve for movement in a longitudinal direction of the sleeve, and a wing supported by the collar in a manner such that movement of the collar in the longitudinal direction of the inner sleeve changes an angle of attack of the wing relative to the collar.