US 12,436,308 B2
Moving velocity profiler for vessel-based underwater sensing
Chad Pastor, Lafayette, LA (US)
Assigned to FNV IP B.V., Leidschendam (NL)
Filed by FNV IP B.V., Leidschendam (NL)
Filed on Dec. 21, 2022, as Appl. No. 18/086,604.
Prior Publication US 2024/0210588 A1, Jun. 27, 2024
Int. Cl. G01V 1/38 (2006.01); B63B 21/66 (2006.01)
CPC G01V 1/3843 (2013.01) [B63B 21/66 (2013.01); B63B 2211/02 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A towed sensing apparatus for underwater profiling, comprising:
a sensor array, the sensor array including one or more sound velocity sensors for determining vertical water column profile information and one or more depth sensors for determining one or more depths of the towed sensing apparatus;
a sensor housing portion including a receptacle for receiving the sensor array, wherein the receptacle includes one or more apertures for providing water flow to the sensor array during a subsurface deployment of the towed sensing apparatus;
a coupling mechanism for removably coupling the sensor array within the receptacle, wherein the coupling mechanism couples the sensor array to an inner surface of the receptacle;
a weighted nose portion coupled to the sensor housing portion, wherein a first end of the towed sensing apparatus that includes at least the weighted nose portion has a greater mass than a second end of the towed sensing apparatus opposite from the first end, wherein the weighted nose portion is configured to cause the towed sensing apparatus to be lowered, substantially vertically, through a body of water; and
one or more of hydrodynamic surfaces extending radially from the towed sensing apparatus, each hydrodynamic surface of the one or more hydrodynamic surfaces arranged to exert a respective force during subsurface deployment of the towed sensing apparatus,
wherein the towed sensing apparatus is configured to collect the vertical water column profile information in a plurality of cycles, each cycle including:
the towed sensing apparatus is lowered, substantially vertically, through a water column downwards towards a floor of the body of water, and
in response to the one or more depths of the towed sensing apparatus being at a threshold depth, the towed sensing apparatus is pulled back to a surface of the body of water by a winch attached to a vessel towing the towed sensing apparatus.