Pressure activated linear locking mechanisms and related methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9599732-B2
Application number	US-201514838923-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 28, 2015
Priority date	Nov 13, 2013
Publication date	Mar 21, 2017
Grant date	Mar 21, 2017

Abstract

Pressure activated linear locking mechanisms and related methods. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are systems including: a cover member defining an inner surface, an outer surface, a length, and a first locking portion; a first hollow defined in the locking portion, the first hollow extending along the length of the cover member; a locking member defining a first appendage extending along a first side, the first appendage defines a cross-section and an internal volume; said first appendage disposed within the first hollow, and when the releasable cover is exposed to atmospheric pressure, the first appendage in an inflated condition; and the first appendage is configured to transition to a deflated condition in response to a predetermined pressure greater than the initial pressure.

First claim

We claim:

1. A method comprising:
placing a releasable cover around an object, the placing comprising
wrapping the object with the releasable cover, the wrapping aligns a first locking portion of the releasable cover with a second locking portion of the releasable cover; and
sliding a locking member between the first locking portion and the second locking portion, the sliding engages a first appendage of the locking member into a first hollow defined on the first locking portion.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
releasing the releasable cover comprising
exposing the releasable cover to pressures greater than atmospheric pressure; and thereby
causing the first appendage to transition to a deflated condition; and
separating the first appendage from the first hollow, a direction of separation perpendicular to a direction of movement of the locking member during the sliding.

3. The method of claim 1 :
wherein wrapping the object further comprises wrapping portions of a retriever system of a sensor streamer for a marine geophysical survey; and
wherein exposing the releasable cover further comprises submerging the releasable cover below a predetermined depth.

4. A method comprising:
placing a releasable cover around an object, the placing comprising
wrapping the object with the releasable cover, the wrapping aligns a first locking portion of the releasable cover with a second locking portion of the releasable cover; and
sliding a locking member between the first locking portion and the second locking portion, the sliding engages a first hollow of the locking member onto a first appendage defined by the first locking portion.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising:
releasing the releasable cover by
exposing the releasable cover to pressures greater than atmospheric pressure; and thereby
causing the first appendage to transition to a deflated condition; and
separating the first appendage from the first hollow, a direction of separation perpendicular to a direction of movement of the locking member during the sliding.

6. The method of claim 4 :
wherein wrapping the object further comprises wrapping a retriever system of marine geophysical survey streamer; and
wherein exposing the releasable cover further comprises submerging the releasable cover below a predetermined depth.

7. A releasable cover comprising:
a cover member that defines an inner surface, an outer surface, a length, and a first locking portion;
a first hollow defined in the first locking portion, the first hollow extending along the length of the first cover member;
a locking member that defines a first appendage extending along a first side of the locking member, the first appendage defines a cross-sectional shape and an internal volume;
said first appendage disposed within the first hollow, and when the releasable cover is exposed to an initial pressure, the first appendage in an inflated condition; and
wherein the first appendage is configured to transition to a deflated condition in response to a predetermined pressure greater than the initial pressure.

8. The releasable cover of claim 7 wherein when the releasable cover is exposed to the initial pressure being atmospheric pressure, the first appendage in an inflated condition.

9. The releasable cover of claim 7 wherein the predetermined pressure is about fifty times atmospheric pressure.

10. The releasable cover of claim 7 wherein each appendage defines a sealed internal volume.

11. The releasable cover of claim 10 wherein when the releasable cover is exposed to the initial pressure, a first pressure within the sealed internal volume of the first appendage holds the first appendage in the inflated condition.

12. The releasable cover of claim 10 wherein the first appendage further comprises a first valve fluidically coupled to the sealed internal volume of the first appendage.

13. The releasable cover of claim 7 disposed around portions of a retriever system of a sensor streamer for a marine geophysical survey.

14. The releasable cover of the claim 7 wherein the cross-sectional shape of the first appendage is at least one selected from the group consisting of: circular; and triangular.

15. The releasable cover of claim 7 wherein the first appendage is made of at least one selected from the group consisting of: polyurethane; and nylon.

16. The releasable cover of claim 7 further comprising a puller member disposed within and along a length of the locking member parallel to the first appendage, and the puller member exposed on at least one end of the locking member.

17. A releasable cover comprising:
a cover member that defines an inner surface, an outer surface, a length, and a first locking portion;
a first appendage defined by the first locking portion and extending along the length, the first appendage defines a cross-sectional shape and an internal volume;
a locking member that defines a first hollow on a first side, the first hollow defines a cross-sectional shape and the first hollow extends along the length of the locking member;
said first appendage disposed within the first hollow, and when the releasable cover is exposed to an initial pressure, the first appendage in an inflated condition; and
wherein the first appendage is configured to transition to a deflated condition in response to a predetermined pressure greater than the initial pressure.

18. The releasable cover of claim 17 wherein when the releasable cover is exposed to the initial pressure being atmospheric pressure, the first appendage in an inflated condition.

19. The releasable cover of claim 17 disposed around portions of a retriever system of a sensor streamer for a marine geophysical survey.

20. The releasable cover of claim 17 wherein the internal volume of first appendage is a sealed internal volume.

21. The releasable cover of claim 20 wherein when the releasable cover is exposed to the initial pressure, a first pressure within the sealed internal volume of the first appendage holds the first appendage in the inflated condition.

22. The releasable cover of claim 20 wherein the first appendage further comprises a first valve, wherein manipulation of the first valve changes the volume of gas within the first appendage.

23. The releasable cover of claim 17 further comprising material of a closed-cell structure disposed within the internal volume of the first appendage.

24. The releasable cover of the claim 17 wherein the cross-sectional shape of the first appendage is at least one selected from the group consisting of: circular; and triangular.

25. The releasable cover of claim 17 wherein the cross-sectional shape of the first hollow is a negative image of the cross-sectional shape of the first appendage.

26. The releasable cover of claim 17 wherein the first appendage is made of at least one selected from the group consisting of: polyurethane and nylon.

27. The releasable cover of claim 17 further comprising a puller member disposed within and along the length of the locking member, the puller member parallel to the first hollow, and the puller member exposed on at least one end of the locking member.

Assignees

• Pgs Geophysical As

Inventors

• Stenzel Andre
• Finnoen Bengt
• Hu Youlin

Classifications

• G01V1/201 Primary

  Constructional details of seismic cables, e.g. streamers (integrated optoseismic systems G01V1/226; line connectors in general H01R, transducer mountings in general G10K11/004) · CPC title

• G01V1/38

  specially adapted for water-covered areas (G01V1/28 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G01V2001/207

  Buoyancy · CPC title

• B63C7/26

  Means for indicating the location of underwater objects, e.g. sunken vessels (means for searching for underwater objects B63C11/48; buoys in general B63B22/00) · CPC title

• G01V1/3843

  Deployment of seismic devices, e.g. of streamers (equipment for marine deployment in general B63B) · CPC title