Abstract: The present invention pertains to a system and method for accelerating a mass using a pressure produced by a detonation, where the mass is accelerated over a movement range using a detonation of a pressure wave generator that produces a pressure within a coupling component that is applied to a piston having a surface area that produces a resultant force, where the acceleration of the mass determines the resulting force. The resulting force may be directed vertically and perpendicular to a target media to conduct an acoustic wave into the target media. The system may be configured to direct the resulting force horizontally and parallel to a target media to conduct a plane shear wave into the target media. Two systems may be configured to direct two resulting forces horizontally and parallel to a target media to conduct a spherical shear wave into a target media, where the two resulting forces are directed in opposite directions and separated by some distance.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a system and method for accelerating a mass using a pressure produced by a detonation, where the mass is accelerated over a movement range using a detonation of a pressure wave generator that produces a pressure within a coupling component that is applied to a piston having a surface area that produces a resultant force, where the acceleration of the mass determines the resulting force. The resulting force may be directed vertically and perpendicular to a target media to conduct an acoustic wave into the target media. The system may be configured to direct the resulting force horizontally and parallel to a target media to conduct a plane shear wave into the target media. Two systems may be configured to direct two resulting forces horizontally and parallel to a target media to conduct a spherical shear wave into a target media, where the two resulting forces are directed in opposite directions and separated by some distance.

Abstract: A detonation wave pressure harnessing system includes a detonator tube that generates a detonation wave. The detonation wave produces a pressure in a coupling chamber that is substantially sealed when the detonation wave is generated. An interface between the coupling chamber and a target converts the pressure into a force that is applied to the target. The system includes an inflow valve assembly and an outflow valve assembly and a control system that controls the outflow valve assembly.

Abstract: An improved seismic impulse acquisition system involves an array of seismic sources comprising direct detonation overpressure wave generators that are geographically scattered, an array of echo detectors configured to detect said seismic impulses imparted by each seismic source of said array of seismic sources, a data recorder, said array of echo detectors being connected to said data recorder, a control system, and a network that connect the array of seismic sources and the array of echo detectors to said control system. Each seismic source imparts seismic impulses into a target media in accordance with a respective code sequence of a plurality of code sequences, wherein the location of each seismic source and each echo detector at a given time is known relative to an established coordinate system. The various coded sequences of seismic pulses are used to process the data received by the data recorder from the array of echo detectors.

Abstract: An improved seismic exploration system and method involves an overpressure wave generator for generating an overpressure wave and a coupling component for converting a pressure of said generated overpressure wave into a force that produces a conducted acoustic wave in a target media. The coupling component includes a coupling chamber, a push plate assembly including a top plate, piston rod, and an earth plate, a movement constraining vessel including a stabilizing component for constraining movement of the push plate assembly and a sealing component for substantially sealing the coupling component, and a stop component for preventing the movement constraining vessel from striking the earth plate.

Abstract: A detonation wave pressure harnessing system includes a detonator tube that generates a detonation wave. The detonation wave produces a pressure in a coupling chamber that is substantially sealed when the detonation wave is generated. An interface between the coupling chamber and a target converts the pressure into a force that is applied to the target. The system includes an inflow valve assembly and an outflow valve assembly and a control system that controls the outflow valve assembly.

Abstract: An improved system for coupling a generated overpressure wave to a target media includes a coupling chamber and an interface between the coupling chamber and a target media. Pressure produced in the coupling chamber by a generated overpressure wave is applied to the interface thereby converting the pressure in the coupling chamber into a force that produces a conducted acoustic wave in the target media.

Abstract: An improved seismic exploration system and method involves an overpressure wave generator for generating an overpressure wave and a coupling component for converting a pressure of said generated overpressure wave into a force that produces a conducted acoustic wave in a target media. The coupling component includes a coupling chamber, a push plate assembly including a top plate, piston rod, and an earth plate, a movement constraining vessel including a stabilizing component for constraining movement of the push plate assembly and a sealing component for substantially sealing the coupling component, and a stop component for preventing the movement constraining vessel from striking the earth plate.

Abstract: A system and method for zero reaction time combustion is provided where a gaseous or dispersive fuel-oxidant mixture is supplied to a fill point of a tube having a fill point and an open end. An igniter placed at an ignition point in the tube continuously ignites the gaseous or dispersive fuel-oxidant mixture while the gaseous or dispersive fuel-oxidant mixture is flowing through the tube thereby continuously producing zero reaction time combustion at that ignition point that produces exhaust and a continuous pressure. The exhaust travels from the ignition point to the open end of the tube.

Abstract: An improved system for coupling a generated overpressure wave to a target media includes a coupling chamber and an interface between the coupling chamber and a target media. Pressure produced in the coupling chamber by a generated overpressure wave is applied to the interface thereby converting the pressure in the coupling chamber into a force that produces a conducted acoustic wave in the target media.

Abstract: An improved system and method for generating and controlling conducted acoustic waves for geophysical exploration are provided. A plurality of overpressure waves are generated by at least one overpressure wave generator comprising at least one detonation tube having an open end that may be directed away from, parallel to, or towards a target media. Recoil forces of the at least one overpressure wave generator, produced shear forces, or the forces of the plurality of overpressure waves are coupled to the target media to generate conducted acoustic waves. The timing of the generation of the plurality of overpressure waves can be in accordance with a timing code and can be used to steer the conducted acoustic waves to a location of interest in the target media.

Abstract: An improved system and method for generating and controlling conducted acoustic waves for geophysical exploration are provided. A plurality of overpressure waves are generated by at least one overpressure wave generator comprising at least one detonation tube having an open end. The at least one overpressure wave generator is oriented so the plurality of overpressure waves are not directed directly towards a target media. The recoil force of the at least one overpressure wave generator occurring during generation of the plurality of overpressure waves is coupled to the target media to generate conducted acoustic waves. The timing of the generation of the plurality of overpressure waves can be in accordance with a timing code and can be used to steer the conducted acoustic waves to a location of interest in the target media.

Abstract: An improved system and method for generating and controlling conducted acoustic waves for geophysical exploration are provided. A plurality of overpressure waves are generated by at least one overpressure wave generator comprising at least one detonation tube having an open end that may be directed away from, parallel to, or towards a target media. Recoil forces of the at least one overpressure wave generator, produced shear forces, or the forces of the plurality of overpressure waves are coupled to the target media to generate conducted acoustic waves. The timing of the generation of the plurality of overpressure waves can be in accordance with a timing code and can be used to steer the conducted acoustic waves to a location of interest in the target media.

Abstract: An improved system and method for generating and controlling conducted acoustic waves for geophysical exploration are provided. A plurality of overpressure waves are generated by at least one overpressure wave generator comprising at least one detonation tube having an open end. The at least one overpressure wave generator is oriented so the plurality of overpressure waves are not directed directly towards a target media. The recoil force of the at least one overpressure wave generator occurring during generation of the plurality of overpressure waves is coupled to the target media to generate conducted acoustic waves. The timing of the generation of the plurality of overpressure waves can be in accordance with a timing code and can be used to steer the conducted acoustic waves to a location of interest in the target media.

Abstract: An improved system and method for controlling and directing sound waves is provided. A fuel-oxidant mixture is supplied to at least one detonator having at least one spark initiator. The fuel-oxidant mixture flows through the at least one detonator and into the closed end of at least one detonation tube also having an open end. The timing at least one spark initiator is controlled to initiate at least one spark within the at least one detonator while the fuel-oxidant mixture is flowing through the at least one detonator thereby initiating a detonation wave at the closed end of the at least one detonation tube. The detonation wave propagates the length of the at least one detonation tube and exits the open end of the at least one detonation tube as a sound wave. When multiple detonation tubes are detonated with controlled timing, the resulting sound waves are directed to a desired location. Sound waves can be directed from groups of detonation tubes and from a sparse array of detonation tubes.

Abstract: An improved system and method for ignition of a gaseous or dispersive fuel-oxidant mixture is provided where a gaseous or dispersive fuel-oxidant mixture is supplied to a detonator tube having a fill point and an open end and an igniter placed at an ignition point within the detonator tube is ignited while the gaseous or dispersive fuel-oxidant mixture is flowing through the detonator tube. A detonation impulse is produced at the ignition point that propagates to the open end of said detonator tube where it can be supplied to a detonation tube having an open end, to an internal combustion engine, a combustion chamber, and to a pulse detonation engine.

Abstract: An improved system and method for ignition of a gaseous or dispersive fuel-oxidant mixture is provided where a gaseous or dispersive fuel-oxidant mixture is supplied to a detonator tube having a fill point and an open end and an igniter placed at an ignition point within the detonator tube is ignited while the gaseous or dispersive fuel-oxidant mixture is flowing through the detonator tube. A detonation impulse is produced at the ignition point that propagates to the open end of said detonator tube where it can be supplied to a detonation tube having an open end, to an internal combustion engine, a combustion chamber, and to a pulse detonation engine.

Abstract: An improved system and method for controlling and directing sound waves is provided. A fuel-oxidant mixture is supplied to at least one detonator having at least one spark initiator. The fuel-oxidant mixture flows through the at least one detonator and into the closed end of at least one detonation tube also having an open end. The timing at least one spark initiator is controlled to initiate at least one spark within the at least one detonator while the fuel-oxidant mixture is flowing through the at least one detonator thereby initiating a detonation wave at the closed end of the at least one detonation tube. The detonation wave propagates the length of the at least one detonation tube and exits the open end of the at least one detonation tube as a sound wave. When multiple detonation tubes are detonated with controlled timing, the resulting sound waves are directed to a desired location. Sound waves can be directed from groups of detonation tubes and from a sparse array of detonation tubes.

Abstract: An improved system and method for ignition of a gaseous or dispersive fuel-oxidant mixture is provided where a gaseous or dispersive fuel-oxidant mixture is supplied to a detonator tube having a fill point and an open end and an igniter placed at an ignition point within the detonator tube is ignited while the gaseous or dispersive fuel-oxidant mixture is flowing through the detonator tube. A detonation impulse is produced at the ignition point that propagates to the open end of said detonator tube where it can be supplied to a detonation tube having an open end, to an internal combustion engine, a combustion chamber, and to a pulse detonation engine.

Abstract: An improved system and method for controlling and directing sound waves is provided. A fuel-oxidant mixture is supplied to at least one detonator having at least one spark initiator. The fuel-oxidant mixture flows through the at least one detonator and into the closed end of at least one detonation tube also having an open end. The timing at least one spark initiator is controlled to initiate at least one spark within the at least one detonator while the fuel-oxidant mixture is flowing through the at least one detonator thereby initiating a detonation wave at the closed end of the at least one detonation tube. The detonation wave propagates the length of the at least one detonation tube and exits the open end of the at least one detonation tube as a sound wave. When multiple detonation tubes are detonated with controlled timing, the resulting sound waves are directed to a desired location. Sound waves can be directed from groups of detonation tubes and from a sparse array of detonation tubes.