Segmented-foil divertor

Abstract

A segmented-foil divertor for marine towed application, such as marine seismic exploration, having a plurality of longitudinally stackable foil segments with an internal conduit extending along the span of each segment to receive a cable passing therethrough.

Description

technical field [0001] The present invention relates to divertors and methods of utilizing divertors for achieving desired locations of various marine towed seismic devices. Background technique [0002] When towing underwater equipment behind a vessel, such as when conducting a seismic survey, it is desirable that the towed equipment be positioned at some lateral offset from the ship's track, either to port or to starboard. In order to position the equipment being towed, or to transfer it to one side or the other of the vessel, devices capable of generating hydrodynamic lift in a direction perpendicular to the direction of travel of the vessel are usually deployed in the water. A number of such devices are known and are variously referred to as "collectors", "deflectors", "paravanes", "vanes" and "trawl gates" or simply "gates". As used herein, the term "collector" or "collectors" refers to all such devices. [0003] The collector relies on wings or airfoils to generate t...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

This results in a bulky collector which places additional demands on the ship's steering gear

For those applications where the collector is expected to operate near the water surface, the bulky collector also requires a large surface reference buoy, which increases the resistance of the collector, as well as the requirements for handling and storage

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