Patent ID: 7658161

Claim:
A system, comprising: a deflector body disposed inside a body of water characterized by a tilt angle relative to vertical, wherein the tilt angle controls a depth in which the deflector body is disposed inside the body of water; a bridle connected to a seismic cable, the bridle having a first upper segment secured to a first upper connection point on the deflector body and a first lower segment secured to a first lower connection point on the deflector body, wherein a length of the first upper segment and a length of the first lower segment is used to define a ratio, and wherein the first upper segment, the first lower segment and the deflector body form a geometry and the geometry is manipulated when the ratio is adjusted; and an actuator coupled to the bridle, wherein the actuator is configured to adjust the ratio of the length of the first upper segment to the length of the first lower segment to vary the tilt angle of the deflector body, thereby controlling the depth of the deflector body as the deflector body is being towed inside the body of water by the vessel.