公开(公告)号：US20030174583A1

公开(公告)日：2003-09-18

申请号：US10325640

申请日：2002-12-20

Applicant: Input/Output, Inc.

Inventor： Richard Pearce

IPC: H04R001/02

CPC classification number: G01V1/201 ,  G01V2001/204 ,  G01V2001/207

Abstract: An structure and method for constructing a non-oil-filled towed array providing a single cable entry point for each channel regardless of the number of hydrophones used to make up a hydrophone group or array. The method and apparatus enables uniform buoyancy of the hydrophone array and the primary cable around which the hydrophone array is wound. Uniform buoyancy is achieved through the selective addition of hollow micro-spheres into a Reaction Injection Molded (RIM) polyurethane material used to mold the hydrophones. For example, additional buoyancy may be desired adjacent heavier cable sections where connectors and telemetry modules are located. The preferred method and apparatus enables precise adjustment of hydrophone cable buoyancy by providing precise adjustment of the concentration of hollow glass microspheres in areas where more or less buoyancy is desired. Use of the preferred Reaction Injection Molding (RIM) method and apparatus of the present invention, results in significant reductions in cost and time in the construction of solid towed arrays. The RIM material enables use of a softer, lower durometer matrix in which the micro-spheres reside resulting in a hydrophone cable that is more flexible than prior known construction methods. For example, the prior known methods provide a minimum bending radius of 6 feet, whereas the method and apparatus of the present invention provide a minimum bending radius of 18 inches, which enables wrapping of the preferred hydrophone cable around a primary towing cable.

Abstract translation: 用于构造非油填充牵引阵列的结构和方法，其为每个通道提供单个电缆入口点，而不管用于组成水听器组或阵列的水听器的数量。 该方法和装置能够使水听器阵列和水听器阵列缠绕的主电缆均匀地浮起。 通过将空心微球选择性地添加到用于模制水听器的反应注射模塑（RIM）聚氨酯材料中来实现均匀的浮力。 例如，可能需要在连接器和遥测模块所在的较重的电缆部分附近附加浮力。 优选的方法和装置能够通过在需要或多或少的浮力的区域中精确调整中空玻璃微球的浓度来精确调节水听器电缆浮力。 使用本发明优选的反应注射成型（RIM）方法和设备，导致固体拖链阵列的构造中的成本和时间的显着降低。 RIM材料使得能够使用更柔软的较低硬度的基体，其中微球驻留，导致比现有已知的构造方法更灵活的水听器电缆。 例如，现有的已知方法提供了6英尺的最小弯曲半径，而本发明的方法和设备提供了18英寸的最小弯曲半径，这使得优选的水听器电缆围绕主牵引缆线进行包裹。