Patent ID: 9180936
Filing Date: 2015-11-10
Classification: B63B,B63G,G01V

Abstract:
1. A control device for controlling the position of an instrumented cable towed in water, such as a marine seismic streamer, and/or an instrumented towed cable array with the possibility of controlling the individual instrumented cables both in shape and position in relation to other instrumented cables and, by that, counteract cross currents and/or other dynamic forces which affect a towed array behind a seismic survey vessel, the control device comprising: a main body, wings connected to the main body, a connection means for mechanical and electrical connection of the control device in series between two adjacent sections of an instrumented cable, and a drive means for controlling the respective angular position of the wings to control the lateral and vertical position of the instrumented cable, wherein at least one of said wings comprises an acoustic transmitter and receiver element configured for direction controlled measurement of distances between adjacent control devices on parallel towed cables, wherein the transmitter and receiver element is symmetrical about a horizontal plane of the wing for transmitting two acoustic beams/signals in the same plane, but in an opposite direction, and wherein the transmitter and receiver element has a focused sensitivity in a transverse direction of the instrumented cable, and wherein the direction of the transmitting two acoustic beams/signals is controllable by the rotational position of the control device.