Open Collar Sliding Mechanism for Multi-Cable Towing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing marine geophysical surveying towing arrangements face challenges in maintaining stable lateral separation of energy sources due to restricted movement of collars, which is essential for effective energy field interaction with subsurface rock formations.
Innovation Solution
The use of open collars that can slide freely on source cables, allowing spreader lines to maintain proximity to energy sources, even when additional connection points or devices are present, ensuring stable lateral separation without movement restriction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If additional connection points or devices are included on the source cables, then the towing arrangement can handle more complex configurations, but the collars' ability to slide freely is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The collar is divided into two separate components: an inner collar that slides freely on the source cable and an outer collar that contains the connection points and devices. This segmentation allows the inner collar to maintain unrestricted sliding motion while the outer collar provides the necessary connection functionality, resolving the conflict between sliding freedom and towing arrangement complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The inner collar acts as an intermediary between the source cable and the outer collar. It transfers the sliding motion freedom from the source cable to the spreader line positioning system, while the outer collar mediates the connection points and devices. This intermediary structure enables both free sliding and complex towing configurations to coexist.
2Reliability
If collars are restricted in movement to secure additional devices, then device stability improves, but spreader lines cannot maintain sufficient proximity to energy sources
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the collar into inner and outer components, the inner collar can slide freely to maintain the spreader line's proximity to the energy source, while the outer collar provides stable mounting for additional devices. This segmentation resolves the conflict between device stability and maintaining sufficient proximity.
Solution Approach 2:
The inner collar is designed to be dynamic and movable along the source cable, allowing it to adjust its position to maintain optimal proximity between the spreader line and energy source. The outer collar remains relatively static to provide stable device mounting. This dynamic-static combination resolves the contradiction between stability and proximity requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are methods and systems for towing multiple source cables with spreader lines coupled to the source cables using open collars. An example system for multi-cable towing may comprise a plurality of source cables coupled to a survey vessel. The example system may further comprise a plurality of energy sources, wherein each o the energy sources is coupled to a respective one of the source cables. The example system may further comprise a plurality of spreader lines extending between the source cables. The example system may further comprise a plurality of open collars coupling the spreader lines to the source cables, wherein the open collars are slidably coupled to the source cables.