Paravane system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9880308-B2
Application number	US-201514918801-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 21, 2015
Priority date	Apr 20, 2015
Publication date	Jan 30, 2018
Grant date	Jan 30, 2018

Abstract

A paravane is described that includes a float member; a baffle coupled to the float member, the baffle comprising one or more fluid ports disposed at a flow-facing side of the baffle; and a fluid source coupled to the baffle by a conduit. The fluid is a drag-reducing fluid, which may be a gas. The fluid is flowed to the flow-facing side of the baffle to reduce towing force.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A paravane, comprising:
a float member;
a baffle coupled to the float member, the baffle comprising one or more fluid ports disposed at a flow-facing side of the baffle; and
a fluid source coupled to the baffle by a conduit, wherein at least a portion of the fluid ports are nozzles attached to the baffle.

2. The paravane of claim 1 , wherein the fluid ports are disposed through a portion of the baffle.

3. The paravane of claim 1 , wherein the fluid ports are disposed through a portion of the baffle and distributed along a length of the baffle.

4. The paravane of claim 1 , wherein one or more of the fluid ports are aligned at an angle with respect to a flotation plane of the float member.

5. The paravane of claim 1 , wherein the fluid ports are distributed unevenly along the baffle.

6. A paravane, comprising:
a float member;
a baffle coupled to the float member, the baffle comprising one or more fluid ports disposed at a flow-facing side of the baffle; and
a fluid source coupled to the baffle by a conduit, wherein the fluid ports are a grill.

7. A paravane, comprising:
a float member;
a baffle coupled to the float member, the baffle comprising one or more fluid ports disposed at a flow-facing side of the baffle; and
a fluid source coupled to the baffle by a conduit, wherein the fluid source comprises a reservoir inside the float member.

8. The paravane of claim 7 , wherein the conduit is disposed through the baffle.

9. The paravane of claim 7 , further comprising a support extending from the float member and coupled to the baffle, where the conduit is disposed through the support.

10. A paravane, comprising:
a float member having a gas reservoir in an interior portion of the float member;
a baffle coupled to the float member, the baffle comprising one or more gas ports disposed at a flow-facing side of the baffle; and
a conduit coupling the gas reservoir to the gas ports.

11. The paravane of claim 10 , wherein the gas ports are distributed along a length of the baffle.

12. The paravane of claim 10 , wherein the gas ports are a grill.

13. The paravane of claim 10 , wherein the conduit is a plenum inside the baffle.

14. The paravane of claim 13 , further comprising a control valve disposed in the conduit and a controller coupled to the control valve.

15. The paravane of claim 10 , wherein the gas ports are a plurality of nozzles.

16. The paravane of claim 15 , further comprising a support extending from the float member and coupled to the baffle, where the conduit is disposed through the support.

17. The paravane of claim 16 , further comprising a control valve disposed in the conduit and a controller coupled to the control valve.

18. A paravane, comprising:
a float member having a gas reservoir in an interior portion of the float member;
a baffle coupled to the float member, the baffle comprising one or more gas ports disposed at a flow-facing side of the baffle;
a conduit coupling the gas reservoir to the gas ports;
a control valve disposed in the conduit; and
a controller coupled to the control valve.

19. The paravane of claim 18 , wherein the conduit is a plenum inside the baffle.

20. A paravane system, comprising:
a first paravane having a plurality of foils and at least two fastening points, at least one foil having a plurality of gas openings at a flow-facing side of the foil;
a second paravane having a plurality of foils and at least two fastening points, at least one foil having a plurality of gas openings at a flow-facing side of the foil;
a tow line coupled to each of the first and second paravanes;
a first harness fastened to the fastening points of the first paravane;
a second harness fastened to the fastening points of the second paravane; and
a spreader cable attached between the first and second harnesses.

21. The paravane system of claim 20 , wherein each of the first and second paravanes includes a gas source coupled to the gas openings by a conduit routed through each foil.

22. The paravane system of claim 21 , wherein each gas source includes a control valve disposed in a conduit of the gas source.

23. The paravane system of claim 22 , further comprising a controller coupled to each control valve.

24. The paravane system of claim 21 , wherein each of the first and second paravanes comprises a float member coupled to the plurality of foils, and each gas source comprises a reservoir disposed inside the respective float members.

Assignees

• Pgs Geophysical As

Inventors

• Steinsland Tore

Classifications

• B63B21/56

  Towing or pushing equipment (tugs B63B35/66; towing arrangements for water sports use B63B34/60) · CPC title

• G01V3/15 Primary

  specially adapted for use during transport, e.g. by a person, vehicle or boat · CPC title

• B63B1/38

  using air bubbles or air layers {gas filled volumes (waterborne vessels travelling on air cushions B60V3/06)} · CPC title

• B63G8/42

  Towed underwater vessels · CPC title