Patent ID: 7466624

Claim:
A seismic cable comprising: a housing having a shape generally characterized by a cylinder of a nominal cylinder diameter axially connected at the first and second cylinder ends to first and second conical frustums, respectively, that define first and second housing ends of diameters less than said nominal cylinder diameter; an elongate first cable section including a conductor for transmitting a signal, said first cable section connected to said housing at said first housing end; an elongate second cable section connected to said housing at said second housing end; a sensor disposed in said housing and operatively coupled to said conductor; a first plurality of guides spaced about the circumference of said housing along a first axial length of said housing near said first cylinder end, said first plurality of guides defining a first plurality of channels ( 110 ) interposed between said first plurality of guides; a second plurality of guides spaced about the circumference of said housing along a second axial length of said housing near said second cylinder end, said second plurality of guides defining a second plurality of channels interposed between said second plurality of guides; and a first armor layer formed by a first plurality of metal wires laid parallel and helically in a first direction around said first cable section, said housing and said second cable section, each of said first and second pluralities of channels receiving at least one of said first plurality of metal wires.