VIBRATION ISOLATION MODULE FOR TOWED SEISMIC ARRAYS

Abstract

Longitudinal shocks and longitudinal emotional disturbances are reduced between members attached to opposite ends of a vibration isolation module. An elongate, essentially cylindrically shaped cord extends the length of the module and is fabricated from a compliant and dissipative material. At least one cord-like essentially nonextensible member is wound about the core in a helical fashion with at least one symmetrically located pitch reversal, and with attachment to the core at least at the ends and pitch reversal points. Longitudinal shocks and motional disturbances are translated by the essentially nonextensible cord-like member into torsional shear strains in the compliant core. The dissipative characteristics of the core material coupled with the nonlinear relationship between longitudinal and torsional strain produce a tensile shock absorber with both damping and a spring constant that increases with longitudinal strain. A flexible outer jacket covers the core and cord-like nonextensible members and help share the shocks and motional disturbances as well as containing a fill fluid that aids the core and jacket by viscously dissipating part of the shocks and motional disturbances, including a series of helical pitch reverses in the nonextensible cord-like member along a module's length and having annular spacers disposed between the core and jacket and located at nodes between successive pitch reversals helps assure the integrity of the module and presents a streamlined surface to reduce the problems associated with excessive flow noise.

Source: Google Patents

35 USC §181 Secrecy Order

Inventor

• 1DANIEL E. ANDREWS

Sensitive facility: San Diego CA (SAIC/General Dynamics)

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