Granted Patent B2

US 10,048,397 · App. 15/216,085 · Granted Aug 14, 2018

Abstract

Claims (73)

1. A system to acquire seismic data from a seabed, comprising:

a case;

a cap positioned adjacent to a first end of the case;

a first conveyor having a first helix structure and provided within the case to receive an ocean bottom seismometer (“OBS”) unit at a first end of the first conveyer and transport the OBS unit via the first helix structure to a second end of the first conveyor to provide the OBS unit on the seabed to acquire the seismic data, a first distance between the first end of the first conveyor and the cap less than a second distance between the second end of the first conveyor and the cap, the OBS unit comprising a geophone;

a second conveyor having a second helix structure provided within the case, the second conveyor configured to support a second one or more OBS units;

a support structure configured to extend through a central axis of the first helix structure of the first conveyor and the second helix structure of the second conveyor; and

a propulsion system comprising a propeller, the propulsion system to receive an instruction and, responsive to the instruction, facilitate movement of the case.

2. The system of claim 1 , comprising:

a control unit having one or more processors to provide the instruction to the propulsion system.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the propulsion system comprises the control unit.

4. The system of claim 2 , comprising:

the control unit external to, and remote from, the case.

5. The system of claim 4 , comprising:

the control unit to transmit a wired or wireless transmission comprising the instruction to the propulsion system.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the instruction comprises an instruction to follow an object moving through an aqueous medium.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the instruction comprises an instruction to follow a vessel towing the case through an aqueous medium.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the propulsion system comprises:

an energy source to provide energy; and

an engine to convert the provided energy to mechanical energy to move the case in a chosen direction.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the propulsion system comprises:

a means to generate force to push surrounding water away from the case in a direction opposite a direction of movement of the case.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the propulsion system comprises at least one of:

a thruster;

a paddle;

an oar;

a waterwheel;

a screw propeller;

a fixed pitch propeller;

a variable pitch propeller;

a ducted propeller;

an azimuth propeller;

a water jet;

a fan; or

a pump.

11. The system of claim 1 , comprising:

a steering device to control a direction of the movement of the case.

12. The system of claim 1 , wherein the case has a cylindrical shape.

13. The system of claim 1 , comprising:

a first fin extending from at least one of the cap or the case; and

a second fin extending from at least one of the cap or the case, the first fin separated from the second fin by a predetermined angle to control rotation of the case through an aqueous medium.

14. The system of claim 13 , comprising:

a control unit having one or more processors to adjust at least one of the first fin or the second fin to control a direction of the movement of the case.

15. The system of claim 14 , comprising:

the control unit configured to adjust the predetermined angle separating the first fin from the second fin.

16. The system of claim 13 , comprising:

a control unit having one or more processors to adjust at least one of the first fin or the second fin to reduce drag generated in the aqueous medium.

17. A method for delivering a payload towards an ocean bottom, comprising:

providing a case;

providing a cap positioned adjacent to a first end of the case;

providing a first conveyor having a first helix structure and provided within the case to receive an ocean bottom seismometer (“OBS”) unit at a first end of the first conveyer and transport the OBS unit via the first helix structure to a second end of the first conveyor to provide the OBS unit on the seabed to acquire the seismic data, a first distance between the first end of the first conveyor and the cap less than a second distance between the second end of the first conveyor and the cap, the OBS unit comprising a geophone;

providing a second conveyor having a second helix structure within the case, the second conveyor to support a second one or more OBS units;

providing a support structure that extends through a central axis of the first helix structure of the first conveyor and the second helix structure of the second conveyor;

receiving, by a propulsion system of the case, an instruction to move the case, the propulsion system including a propeller; and

moving, by the propulsion system responsive to the instruction, the case.

18. The method of claim 17 , comprising:

providing, by a control unit having one or more processors, via a wired or wireless transmission, the instruction to the propulsion system.

19. The method of claim 17 , comprising:

providing, by a control unit having one or more processors, the instruction to follow a position of an object through an aqueous medium.

20. The method of claim 17 , wherein the propulsion system comprises at least one of:

a thruster;

a paddle;

an oar;

a waterwheel;

a screw propeller;

a fixed pitch propeller;

a variable pitch propeller;

a ducted propeller;

an azimuth propeller;

a water jet;

a fan; or

a centrifugal pump.

21. The method of claim 17 , comprising:

adjusting a fin of the case to control a direction of the movement of the case.

Assignments (6)