Communications: radio wave antennas – Antennas – Waterborne
Patent
1998-08-13
2000-11-07
Ho, Tan
Communications: radio wave antennas
Antennas
Waterborne
343719, 114244, H01Q 104, H01Q 134
Patent
active
061443425
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to methods which allow the navigation of a linear acoustic antenna towed behind a naval vessel to be controlled. It also relates to the devices which allow this method to be implemented, more particularly to the members known as "birds" placed on this antenna and to the members allowing the said antenna to be deployed and raised by fitting and removing these "birds".
2. Discussion of the Background
It is known that in order to receive acoustic waves propagated through the water, particularly with the purpose of carrying out seismic oil exploration of the sea bed, a series of hydrophones in line one behind the other are towed along behind a towing boat. These hydrophones are usually contained in a pipe which both allows them to be kept in the desired position and allows the signals received by these hydrophones to be transmitted to the towing boat electrically along a series of connecting cables. The acoustic signals received by the hydrophones are converted into electrical signals which are then processed on board the towing boat in order to determine the characteristics of the marine environment and of the sea bed which have just had an influence on these acoustic signals. To facilitate operations, it is desirable for this antenna to remain as straight as possible, at a well-determined and constant depth of immersion. For that, it is known practice for devices in the form of small planes, known in English as "diving planes" or "paravanes" to be fixed to the antenna at various points. These devices are generally fixed to particular lengths of the antenna which comprise appropriate attachment means. The antenna is generally of a large diameter and is therefore relatively rigid, something which facilitates the task of these devices, which can thus be passive and not contain any remotely-controlled adjustment members. Furthermore, to raise this antenna back onto the boat, it often has to be stored on the deck of the boat, possibly disconnecting each of the lengths, something which makes it possible not to have to remove the devices in question.
By way of an example of a purely passive device of this kind, mention may be made of U.S. Pat. No. 5,443,027, in which devices mounted to rotate freely on a towed acoustic linear antenna are described. These devices are kept vertical by a system of flyweights and therefore essentially allow a lateral directional force, and secondarily, a vertical directional force, to be obtained.
Current changes to antennas of this type are tending to minimize their diameter, so that, among other things, they can be wound onto a drum to facilitate the operations of deployment into water and raising. They are also tending to standardize the length portions, so as to have, if possible, no special-purpose length portions, except perhaps at the ends of the antenna. Such an antenna is therefore particularly flexible and the problem of stabilizing it tends to become critical. It is therefore desirable to fit to this antenna devices which will allow this antenna to be stabilized, preferably using active controls, but without placing electromechanical components in the actual antenna itself. Furthermore, in order to be able to wind the antenna onto the raising drum, it is necessary for these devices to be readily detachable and attachable to the lengths of antenna.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In order to obtain these results, the invention proposes a method for controlling the navigation of a towed linear acoustic antenna, in which method "birds", intended to experience a hydrodynamic force which is transmitted to the antenna in order to control its deformation, its immersion and its heading are fixed to such an antenna, mainly characterized in that control signals are transmitted without electrical contact to the birds in order to make them turn freely about the axis of the antenna so as to orientate the said hydrodynamic force in any given direction about the longitudinal axis of the antenna.
According to a
REFERENCES:
patent: 3435407 (1969-03-01), Bertheas
patent: 3639695 (1972-02-01), Bertheas
patent: 3745956 (1973-07-01), Bertheas
patent: 3761821 (1973-09-01), Bertheas
patent: 3835448 (1974-09-01), Bertheas
patent: 4029141 (1977-06-01), Ferrari et al.
patent: 4279025 (1981-07-01), Suppa
patent: 4295211 (1981-10-01), Suppa et al.
patent: 4313392 (1982-02-01), Guenther
patent: 4380440 (1983-04-01), Suppa
patent: 4480322 (1984-10-01), Orieux et al.
patent: 4762208 (1988-08-01), Reynier et al.
patent: 4766441 (1988-08-01), Phillips et al.
patent: 5058082 (1991-10-01), Bertheas et al.
patent: 5517202 (1996-05-01), Patel et al.
patent: 5795203 (1998-08-01), Suppa et al.
Bertheas Jean
Huc Bernard
Moresco Gilles
Soreau Didier
Suppa Vito
"Thomson-CSF"
Ho Tan
LandOfFree
Method for controlling the navigation of a towed linear acoustic does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Method for controlling the navigation of a towed linear acoustic, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Method for controlling the navigation of a towed linear acoustic will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-1645961