Abstract: A system for maintaining a spaced relationship between two energetic sources is disclosed, which system including in a preferred embodiment a clamping means securable to the energetic sources, spacing means disposed between these sources, a pivot mechanism coupled to the spacing means and pivotally engageable to the clamping means, and a shock absorption mechanism coupled to the spacing mechanism and adapted to resiliently deform.

Abstract: A valving system is disclosed which generally comprises a body including an inlet and an outlet where the inlet is disposed in fluid communication with a fluid flow passage and the outlet is disposed in fluid communication with a pressurized fluid member, the body further defining an internal bore in which is slidably disposed a piston moveable between a first and a second position such that fluid communication between the fluid flow passage and the fluid flow member is established when the piston is disposed in the first position but not in the second position, an apparatus and to move the piston from the first position to the second position so as to interrupt fluid flow from the fluid flow passage to the fluid member.

Abstract: A system for maintaining a spaced relationship between two energetic sources is disclosed, which system including in a preferred embodiment a clamping mechanism securable to the energetic sources, a spacing system disposed between these sources, a pivot mechanism coupled to the spacing system and pivotally engageable to the clamping mechanism, and a shock absorption system coupled to the spacing mechanism and adapted to resiliently deform.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for substantially suppressing the undesired recoil derivative from the explosive discharge of high pressure gas from an airgun while still providing for useful optimized pressure pulses.

Abstract: A compact, marine acoustical source is disclosed. More specifically, the present invention relates to a marine acoustical source capable of producing a strong primary pulse while substantially suppressing or eliminating undesired secondary pulses derivative from said primary pulse.

Abstract: A compact, marine acoustical source is disclosed. More specifically, the present invention relates to a marine acoustical source capable of producing a strong primary pulse while substantially suppressing or eliminating undesired secondary pulses derivative from said primary pulse.

Abstract: A compact, marine acoustical source is disclosed. More specifically, the present invention relates to a marine acoustical source capable of producing a strong primary pulse while substantially suppressing or eliminating undesired secondary pulses derivative from said primary pulse.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of modifying or reshaping the acoustical signature created by the explosive, underwater release of a highly pressurized gas. More specifically, the present invention is directed at a method for modifying the asymmetric and cuspate nature of the acoustical signature derivative from the generation of a primary pulse so as to allow for the beneficial superimposition of a second wavelet of opposite phase.

Abstract: The novel method substantially reduces the pressure pulse, generated by a first radial motion of a body of water, by changing the radial motion into axial motion. The change from radial motion into axial motion is produced by generating a second radial motion of opposite phase within the body of water.The method can be used to substantially reduce the pressure pulse, generated by the implosion of a body of water, by generating an explosion in the body of water. It can also substantially reduce the pressure pulse generated by an explosion within a body of water, by generating an implosion of the body of water. The method can further be used to generate within a body of water an impulsive acoustic signal by sequentially generating within the body of water a first explosion and a second explosion. The apparatus comprises a signal chamber which contains a first charge of gas. A normally-closed valve maintains the signal chamber closed and has a discharge port into the water.

Abstract: The present invention comprises an apparatus and method for producing a high resolution acoustic signal from a single point source while achieving a commercially acceptable secondary bubble suppression. More specifically, the present invention comprises first and second explosive generators which sequentially create two explosions or one explosion and injection, within the body of water; said first explosion producing within the body of water a powerful acoustic pulse in an expanding cavity of very low pressure, said second explosion or injection establishing hydrostatic pressure within the cavity about the same time the volume of the cavity reaches its maximum volume, thereby substantially reducing the secondary pressure pulses.

Abstract: The novel method substantially reduces the pressure pulse, generated by a first radial motion of a body of water, by changing the radial motion into axial action. The change from radial motion into axial motion is produced by generating a second radial motion of opposite phase within the body of water.The method can be used to substantially reduce the pressure pulse, generated by the implosion of a body of water, by generating an explosion in the body of water. It can also substantially reduce the pressure pulse generated by an explosion within a body of water, by generating an implosion of the body of water. The method can further be used to generate within a body of water an impulsive acoustic signal by sequentially generating within the body of water a first explosion and a second explosion. The apparatus comprises a signal chamber which contains a first charge of gas. A normally-closed valve maintains the signal chamber closed and has a discharge port into the water.

Abstract: The novel method substantially reduces the pressure pulse generated by an implosion of a cavity within a body of water by aborting the implosion. The abortion of the implosion is produced by generating within the cavity an explosion at the instant that this cavity attains its maximum volume.The method can also be used to generate within a body of water an impulsive acoustic signal by generating a first explosion within the body of water to produce therein a powerful pressure pulse and a cavity of very low pressure, and then generating a second explosion within the cavity so as to establish hydrostatic pressure inside the cavity while the volume of the cavity remains within a few percent of its maximum volume.

Abstract: The liquid slug projector apparatus is entirely pneumatically operated. It comprises a generator having a main housing whose main port fluidly communicates with a liquid body. A first shuttle and a second shuttle are slidably mounted inside the main housing. The first shuttle forms with the main housing a slug chamber for confining therein a liquid slug. A pneumatic source together with a pneumatically-operated valve cyclically cause the shuttles to move relative to or in locked condition with each other, thereby applying during each cycle of operation an abrupt propulsion force to the confined liquid slug which becomes expelled as a very high-velocity liquid jet through the main port.

Abstract: The liquid slug projector apparatus is entirely pneumatically operated. It comprises a generator having a main housing whose main port fluidly communicates with a liquid body. A first shuttle and a second shuttle are slidably mounted inside the main housing. The first shuttle forms with the main housing a slug chamber for confining therein a liquid slug. A pneumatic source together with a pneumatically-operated valve cyclically cause the shuttles to move relative to or in locked condition with each other, thereby applying during each cycle of operation an abrupt propulsion force to the confined liquid slug which becomes expelled as a very high-velocity liquid jet through the main port.

Abstract: The liquid slug projector apparatus (9) comprises a generator (10) having a main housing (13) whose main port (17b) fluidly communicates with a liquid body (12). A first shuttle (26) and a second shuttle (61a) are slidably mounted inside the main housing. The first shuttle forms with the main housing a slug chamber (23) for confining therein a liquid slug (22). Force-producing means (8) cyclically cause the shuttles (26, 61a) to move relative to or in locked condition with each other, thereby applying during each cycle of operation an abrupt propulsion force to the confined liquid slug which becomes expelled as a very high-velocity liquid jet (22a) through the main port.

Abstract: The invention has application to an implosive sound generator which produces in a body of water a cavity that implodes resulting in a large acoustic impulse. The invention provides means for eliminating or substantially reducing the bubble effect by providing means for absorbing the rebound of the implosion of the cavity and preferably also for cancelling the recoil of the generator. A preferred embodiment of the generator comprises a slug chamber having a primary port. The slug chamber entraps a liquid slug therein when the generator is submerged in a liquid body. Force means propel the liquid slug with sufficient kinetic energy to create in the liquid body a main cavity which is imploded by the hydrostatic pressure head. To reduce or eliminate the rebound of the implosion, there is provided a suction chamber having at least one secondary port communicating with the liquid body near the site of the main cavity.