| 摘要 |
A marine cable system including one or more elongated cable sections whose buoyancy may be independently controlled. Each section is associated with a pump and a variable volume, elongated bladder. In one embodiment, one reservoir containing buoyant fluid is included, and fluid from the reservoir is pumped between adjacent sections to inflate or deflate the associated bladders. In another embodiment, a rigid reservoir containing compressed gas is included in each section. The associated pump releases gas from the reservoir to inflate the bladder, or pumps gas from the bladder into the reservoir when desired. The pumps are operated in response to control signals from a remote control unit, such as one aboard a vessel towing the cable. One or more depth sensors may be attached in or near each section. Depth information from the sensors may be supplied to the control unit for use in generating the pump control signals. The buoyant fluid is entirely contained within the cable. No buoyant fluid is transferred between the cable interior and the medium surrounding the cable.
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