Geophysical Sensor Cable Clip for Twisted Pair Coupling
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Solution Overview
Problem
In marine geophysical surveying, the electrical conductors in twisted pairs often short at exposed insulation windows, requiring manual untwisting and increasing the manual intensity of coupling seismic sensor leads, which can be inefficient and prone to errors.
Innovation Solution
The use of a wire clip to hold the twisted pair in a specific orientation, preventing electrical shorts and allowing for easier, potentially automated coupling of seismic sensor leads to the twisted pair, while maintaining the twisted configuration to reduce manual intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the electrical conductors are twisted to form a twisted pair, then the cable structure is compact and flexible, but the exposed insulation windows cause electrical shorts requiring manual untwisting
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-positioning clips at specific locations along the twisted pair conductors before the coupling operation. These clips are strategically placed to hold the conductors in an untwisted state at the exact locations where sensor leads need to be coupled, eliminating the need for manual untwisting during the coupling process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces clips as intermediary elements between the twisted pair conductors and the sensor leads. These clips serve as mediators that temporarily hold the conductors in a controlled, untwisted configuration at specific points, enabling easy coupling without compromising the overall twisted pair structure for noise cancellation.
2Ease of manufacture
If manual untwisting is performed to access exposed insulation windows, then coupling can be completed, but the process becomes highly manual intensive and error-prone
Solution Approach 1:
The clips are pre-installed on the twisted pair conductors during manufacturing, performing the untwisting preparation work in advance. This preliminary action allows the coupling process to proceed without manual untwisting operations, significantly reducing labor intensity and improving productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The clips are designed to automatically maintain the untwisted state of the conductors at the coupling locations without requiring continuous manual intervention. Once the clips are in place, they self-service by holding the conductors in the correct configuration throughout the coupling process, reducing human effort and potential for errors.
3Reliability
If the twisted pair configuration is maintained throughout, then electrical noise is reduced, but exposed insulation windows create short circuit risks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by maintaining the twisted configuration throughout most of the conductor length for noise cancellation, while creating localized untwisted sections at specific points where clips are positioned. These local modifications allow for safe electrical coupling without compromising the overall twisted pair structure and its noise-rejection properties.
Solution Approach 2:
The clips act as intermediary elements that locally modify the twisted pair structure at specific points. They create controlled untwisted sections that serve as safe coupling points, mediating between the need for maintained twisting (for noise reduction) and the need for exposed insulation windows (for coupling).
Data Source
AI summary
Geophysical sensor cable. At least some of the example embodiments are methods including creating a geophysical sensor cable by: creating a first window through the insulation of a first electrical conductor; creating a second window through the insulation of a second electrical conductor; placing the first and second electrical conductors in a clip; twisting the first and second electrical conductors to create a twisted pair; electrically coupling a first lead of a seismic sensor to the first electrical conductor through a first window; electrically coupling a second lead of the seismic sensor to the second electrical conductor through a second window; encapsulating at least a portion of an internal volume of the clip; and placing the twisted pair and the seismic sensor within an outer jacket of a geophysical sensor cable.