Patent ID: 9146328
Filing Date: 2015-09-29
Classification: G01V

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for generating seismic waves, the apparatus comprising: a housing; a strike surface within the housing; a hammer movably disposed within the housing; a pair of rails extending along a direction of movement of the hammer within the housing and being symmetrically offset from a center of the hammer for guiding movement of the hammer within the housing, the hammer being slidably mounted on the pair of rails; an actuator for inducing a striking motion in the hammer wherein the hammer impacts the strike surface as part of the striking motion, the actuator being selectively adjustable to change characteristics of the striking motion and characteristics of seismic waves generated by the impact; and a mounting assembly configured to couple the apparatus to a hitch receiver of a vehicle in a manner similar to a standard tow hitch so that the apparatus may be completely supported by the vehicle when the apparatus is not deployed.