公开(公告)号：US08047154B1

公开(公告)日：2011-11-01

申请号：US12506313

申请日：2009-07-21

Applicant: James Buescher ,  V. Keyko McDonald ,  Peter Sullivan ,  Brian J. Granger ,  David A. Bultman ,  Peter Smith ,  Aaron Bratten

Inventor： James Buescher ,  V. Keyko McDonald ,  Peter Sullivan ,  Brian J. Granger ,  David A. Bultman ,  Peter Smith ,  Aaron Bratten

IPC: B63G8/14

CPC classification number: B63G8/14 ,  B63G8/42

Abstract: The attitude of a submerged array of sensing elements can be changed using a fixed quantity of transferable ballast fluid having density different than water. In one embodiment, a non-rigid array of sensor elements is equipped with two expandable reservoirs connected between a flexible conduit which allows the ballast fluid to be transferred back and forth. Pumping fluid between the two reservoirs causes one reservoir to expand while the other contracts. Due to the density difference between the pumped fluid and water, the difference in volume between the two expandable reservoirs causes a shift in the center of buoyancy of the array system. The center of buoyancy in this way becomes offset from the center of gravity of the array system, causing a shift in the attitude of the array. The array can be trimmed, using positively or negatively buoyant static elements, to achieve a specific orientation for given volume ratios between the two expandable reservoirs, and so by controlling the volume ratio, multiple orientations can be selected.

Abstract translation: 可以使用固定量的具有不同于水的密度的可转移压载流体来改变浸没的感测元件阵列的姿态。 在一个实施例中，传感器元件的非刚性阵列装备有连接在柔性导管之间的两个可扩展的储存器，其允许压载流体来回传递。 两个水库之间的泵送液体导致一个水库膨胀，而另一个储层膨胀。 由于泵送流体和水之间的密度差异，两个可膨胀储层之间的体积差异导致阵列系统浮力中心的偏移。 以这种方式浮力的中心偏离阵列系统的重心，导致阵列姿态的变化。 可以使用正或负浮力静态元件来修整阵列，以实现两个可扩展储存器之间的给定体积比的特定取向，因此通过控制体积比，可以选择多个取向。