Importance

Loading Importance Indicators...

Abstract

A land seismic energy source is provided having a rigid dome-shaped bell containing a substantially imcompressible liquid and an airgun for abruptly releasing pressurized gas into the liquid for generating powerful seismic impulses. The bell has a lower rim with a metal pan positioned below the rim for engaging the surface of the earth below the bell, and it is mounted for upward and downward movement relative to the bell. A resilient, flexible elastomeric diaphragm is mounted on the rim of the bell and extends across the bottom of the bell for retaining the liquid in the bell. The pan is provided with a rising, generally convex, upwardly extending surface on the bottom of the pan with the diaphragm initially resting on the upwardly extending surface on the bottom of the pan thereby assuming a generally concave configuration across the bottom of the bell, which results when the airgun is fired in reducing the amount of downward deflection of the diaphragm thereby reducing the amount of stretching of the diaphragm and increasing the life of the diaphragm. The rising, upwardly extending surface may be integrally formed on the pan or may comprise a steel hump which is welded to the pan using peripheral as well as plugged welds. The top surface of the hump is smooth all of the way to the bottom of the pan.

Loading the Abstract Image...

First Claim