Patents by Inventor Mike Maples
Mike Maples has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 11385367Abstract: A section of a streamer for acoustic marine data collection, the section having a carrier for accommodating seismic sensors, wherein the carrier includes, a single body, a first particle motion sensor located on the single body, and a second particle motion sensor being located on the single body, with a 90° angular offset, about a longitudinal axis of the carrier, relative to the first particle motion sensor; and a tilt sensor coupled to the carrier and having a known direction relative to the first and second particle motion sensors so that the tilt sensor determines an angle of tilt of the carrier about a vertical. The first and second particle motion sensors measure a motion related parameter and not a pressure.Type: GrantFiled: May 13, 2019Date of Patent: July 12, 2022Assignee: SERCEL, INC.Inventors: Mike Maples, John S. Hepp
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Patent number: 10468158Abstract: An apparatus for indicating overstress in an electro-mechanical cable. The apparatus includes an overstress an overstress indicator cable including at least one non-twisted conductor disposed within a section of the electro-mechanical cable, where the non-twisted conductor is adapted to break when tension in the non-twisted conductor is greater than an allowable working load for the electro-mechanical cable.Type: GrantFiled: May 7, 2014Date of Patent: November 5, 2019Assignee: SERCEL, INC.Inventor: Mike Maples
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Publication number: 20190265372Abstract: A section of a streamer for acoustic marine data collection, the section having a carrier for accommodating seismic sensors, wherein the carrier includes, a single body, a first particle motion sensor located on the single body, and a second particle motion sensor being located on the single body, with a 90° angular offset, about a longitudinal axis of the carrier, relative to the first particle motion sensor; and a tilt sensor coupled to the carrier and having a known direction relative to the first and second particle motion sensors so that the tilt sensor determines an angle of tilt of the carrier about a vertical. The first and second particle motion sensors measure a motion related parameter and not a pressure.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 13, 2019Publication date: August 29, 2019Inventors: Mike MAPLES, John S. HEPP
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Patent number: 10330806Abstract: A section of a streamer for acoustic marine data collection, the section comprising a carrier for accommodating seismic sensors, wherein the carrier includes, a single body, a first particle motion sensor located on the single body, and a second particle motion sensor being located on the single body, with a 90° angular offset, about a longitudinal axis of the carrier, relative to the first particle motion sensor; and a tilt sensor coupled to the carrier and having a known direction relative to the first and second particle motion sensors so that the tilt sensor determines an angle of tilt of the carrier about a vertical, wherein the first and second particle motion sensors measure a motion related parameter and not a pressure.Type: GrantFiled: July 10, 2017Date of Patent: June 25, 2019Assignee: SERCEL, INC.Inventors: Mike Maples, John S. Hepp
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Publication number: 20170315246Abstract: A section of a streamer for acoustic marine data collection, the section comprising a carrier for accommodating seismic sensors, wherein the carrier includes, a single body, a first particle motion sensor located on the single body, and a second particle motion sensor being located on the single body, with a 90° angular offset, about a longitudinal axis of the carrier, relative to the first particle motion sensor; and a tilt sensor coupled to the carrier and having a known direction relative to the first and second particle motion sensors so that the tilt sensor determines an angle of tilt of the carrier about a vertical, wherein the first and second particle motion sensors measure a motion related parameter and not a pressure.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 10, 2017Publication date: November 2, 2017Inventors: Mike MAPLES, John S. HEPP
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Patent number: 9791579Abstract: A seismic streamer includes a sensor comprises an axially oriented body including a plurality of axially oriented channels arranged in opposing pairs; a plurality of hydrophones arranged in opposing pairs in the channels; a pair of orthogonally oriented acoustic particle motion sensors; and a tilt sensor adjacent or associated with the particle motion sensors. The streamer has a plurality of hydrophones, as previously described, aligned with a plurality of accelerometers which detect movement of the streamer in the horizontal and vertical directions, all coupled with a tilt sensor, so that the marine seismic system can detect whether a detected seismic signal is a reflection from a geologic structure beneath the streamer or a downward traveling reflection from the air/seawater interface.Type: GrantFiled: June 11, 2012Date of Patent: October 17, 2017Assignee: SERCEL, INC.Inventors: Mike Maples, John S. Hepp
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Patent number: 9733370Abstract: A seismic streamer includes a sensor comprises an axially oriented body including a plurality of axially oriented channels arranged in opposing pairs; a plurality of hydrophones arranged in opposing pairs in the channels; a pair of orthogonally oriented acoustic particle motion sensors; and a tilt sensor adjacent or associated with the particle motion sensors. The streamer has a plurality of hydrophones, as previously described, aligned with a plurality of accelerometers which detect movement of the streamer in the horizontal and vertical directions, all coupled with a tilt sensor, so that the marine seismic system can detect whether a detected seismic signal is a reflection from a geologic structure beneath the streamer or a downward traveling reflection from the air/seawater interface.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 2012Date of Patent: August 15, 2017Assignee: SERCEL, INC.Inventors: Mike Maples, John S. Hepp
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Patent number: 9322942Abstract: A streamer for seismic prospection comprising directional sensors (20), such as geophones or accelerometers, distributed along the streamer, characterized in that said streamer comprises at least two tilt sensors (30, 40) located in remote positions and in locations distant from the directional sensors (20) and means which determined the effective orientation of each directional sensor (20) by interpolating along the streamer the tilt detected by the two tilt sensors (30, 40).Type: GrantFiled: July 24, 2013Date of Patent: April 26, 2016Assignee: SERCELInventors: Gaetan Mellier, John Hepp, Mike Maples, Simon Leboeuf, Isabelle Sellin
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Publication number: 20150325336Abstract: An apparatus for indicating overstress in an electro-mechanical cable. The apparatus includes an overstress an overstress indicator cable including at least one non-twisted conductor disposed within a section of the electro-mechanical cable, where the non-twisted conductor is adapted to break when tension in the non-twisted conductor is greater than an allowable working load for the electro-mechanical cable.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 7, 2014Publication date: November 12, 2015Applicant: SERCEL INC.Inventor: Mike MAPLES
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Publication number: 20140029377Abstract: A streamer for seismic prospection comprising directional sensors (20), such as geophones or accelerometers, distributed along the streamer, characterized in that said streamer comprises at least two tilt sensors (30, 40) located in remote positions and in locations distant from the directional sensors (20) and means which determined the effective orientation of each directional sensor (20) by interpolating along the streamer the tilt detected by the two tilt sensors (30, 40).Type: ApplicationFiled: July 24, 2013Publication date: January 30, 2014Applicant: SERCELInventors: Gaetan Mellier, John Hepp, Mike Maples, Simon Leboeuf, Isabelle Sellin
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Publication number: 20120269033Abstract: A seismic streamer includes a sensor comprises an axially oriented body including a plurality of axially oriented channels arranged in opposing pairs; a plurality of hydrophones arranged in opposing pairs in the channels; a pair of orthogonally oriented acoustic particle motion sensors; and a tilt sensor adjacent or associated with the particle motion sensors. The streamer has a plurality of hydrophones, as previously described, aligned with a plurality of accelerometers which detect movement of the streamer in the horizontal and vertical directions, all coupled with a tilt sensor, so that the marine seismic system can detect whether a detected seismic signal is a reflection from a geologic structure beneath the streamer or a downward traveling reflection from the air/seawater interface.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 11, 2012Publication date: October 25, 2012Applicant: SERCEL, INC.Inventors: Mike MAPLES, John S. HEPP
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Publication number: 20110310698Abstract: A seismic streamer includes a sensor comprises an axially oriented body including a plurality of axially oriented channels arranged in opposing pairs; a plurality of hydrophones arranged in opposing pairs in the channels; a pair of orthogonally oriented acoustic particle motion sensors; and a tilt sensor adjacent or associated with the particle motion sensors. The streamer has a plurality of hydrophones, as previously described, aligned with a plurality of accelerometers which detect movement of the streamer in the horizontal and vertical directions, all coupled with a tilt sensor, so that the marine seismic system can detect whether a detected seismic signal is a reflection from a geologic structure beneath the streamer or a downward traveling reflection from the air/seawater interface.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 16, 2011Publication date: December 22, 2011Applicant: SERCEL, INC.Inventors: Mike Maples, John S. Hepp
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Patent number: 6853604Abstract: A support structure for piezoelectric elements in a marine seismic cable is provided. The support structure comprises upper and lower cylindrical halves, each with channels formed therein. Two axial channels are adapted to retain three piezoelectric elements each. A third axial channel, positioned between the sensor element channels, is adapted to retain a flexible circuit. Transverse channels between the sensor element channels and the circuit channels accommodate extension from the flexible circuit. The piezoelectric elements are mounted within their respective channels with a resilient pad with adhesive on both sides. The piezoelectric elements are graded so that any group of three piezoelectric elements exhibits approximately the same sensitivity as any of the other three groups of piezoelectric elements on the support structure.Type: GrantFiled: April 23, 2002Date of Patent: February 8, 2005Inventors: James Spackman, Mike Maples, Gary Craig, Louis W. Erath, John Luscombe
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Publication number: 20030198133Abstract: A support structure for piezoelectric elements in a marine seismic cable is provided. The support structure comprises upper and lower cylindrical halves, each with channels formed therein. Two axial channels are adapted to retain three piezoelectric elements each. A third axial channel, positioned between the sensor element channels, is adapted to retain a flexible circuit. Transverse channels between the sensor element channels and the circuit channels accommodate extension from the flexible circuit. The piezoelectric elements are mounted within their respective channels with a resilient pad with adhesive on both sides. The piezoelectric elements are graded so that any group of three piezoelectric elements exhibits approximately the same sensitivity as any of the other three groups of piezoelectric elements on the support structure.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 23, 2002Publication date: October 23, 2003Inventors: James Spackman, Mike Maples, Gary Craig, Louis W. Erath, John Luscombe
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Publication number: 20020181327Abstract: A communication housing for devices external to a solid marine seismic cable, especially for level control devices, comprises an upper housing half and a lower housing half, coupled together around the cable. The upper housing half includes a plurality of wells, for example three wells, each adapted to receive a communication coil. The lower housing half has no such wells. The communication coils are wound in series to reinforce the signal strength of the communication signal. The communication coils are preferably formed to two segments, joined together at a flexible joint to reduce the likelihood of breakage of the coil core as the cable is wound onto a takeup reel aboard the exploration vessel.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 4, 2001Publication date: December 5, 2002Inventors: James Spackman, Mike Maples, John Hepp
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Patent number: 6483775Abstract: A communication housing for devices external to a solid marine seismic cable, especially for level control devices, comprises an upper housing half and a lower housing half, coupled together around the cable. The upper housing half includes a plurality of wells, for example three wells, each adapted to receive a communication coil. The lower housing half has no such wells. The communication coils are wound in series to reinforce the signal strength of the communication signal. The communication coils are preferably formed to two segments, joined together at a flexible joint to reduce the likelihood of breakage of the coil core as the cable is wound onto a take up reel aboard the exploration vessel.Type: GrantFiled: June 4, 2001Date of Patent: November 19, 2002Assignee: Sercel Inc.Inventors: James Spackman, Mike Maples, John Hepp
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Patent number: 6079895Abstract: A device for joining the parted ends of a rope member is provided. The device comprises blocks that are epoxied to the ends of the rope member and a threaded sleeve to thread onto one of the blocks. The invention also provides a method of joining the parted ends of a rope member including the steps of epoxying a block to each end to be joined to form a splice and coupling a threaded sleeve to one of the blocks while securing the other block within the sleeve.Type: GrantFiled: September 18, 1998Date of Patent: June 27, 2000Assignee: Syntron, Inc.Inventors: Christopher Alan Neighbors, Mike Maples