Patent ID: 9244187
Filing Date: 2016-01-26
CPC Classification: B63B,G01V

Claim Text:
1. A towable and steerable elongated float for a marine seismic source arrangement for use in making a seismic survey at sea, the float comprising: a float body, having a first attachment at a lower or bottom part of the float body for allowing at least one seismic source to be suspended from the float, and a second attachment located on a fore part of the float body in a first longitudinal position in a direction along a longitudinal axis of float body, for attachment of a strength taking source towing member or umbilical; first and second elongated steering foils being attached to and spaced from respective port and starboard sides of the fore part of the float body by respective port and starboard sides support arrangements, the elongated steering foils having respective steering foil longitudinal axes being held substantially unrotatable with respect to the longitudinal axis of the float body and oriented in a direction substantially perpendicular relative to the float body longitudinal axis, so as to be positioned substantially perpendicular to a sea surface by the float body when in use, the elongated steering foils having respective first and second chord axes that are perpendicular to the respective steering foil longitudinal axes; and a foil direction controlling unit for controlling a direction angle of at least one of the first and second chord axis with respect to the longitudinal axis of the float body, wherein the first and second foils, or at least substantial parts of the first and second foils, are at all times located in a longitudinal position aft of the first longitudinal position of the second attachment.