GEODEVICE PIKE-12 User manual

Operation Manual
PIKE-12 seismic source

1
Seismic pulse source PIKE-12
Contents
Description and operation...........................................................................................................................................2
Designation ..............................................................................................................................................................2
Specifications ...........................................................................................................................................................2
Delivery set...................................................................................................................................................................3
Source structure.......................................................................................................................................................3
Safety requirements ....................................................................................................................................................4
Operation with the equipment ...................................................................................................................................5
Borehole preparation ..............................................................................................................................................5
Loading .....................................................................................................................................................................5
Shot...........................................................................................................................................................................5
Maintenance and care.............................................................................................................................................6
Cartridges for the PIKE-12 seismic source...............................................................................................................9
Repair service.............................................................................................................................................................10
Utilization...................................................................................................................................................................10

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Seismic pulse source PIKE-12
Description and operation
Designation
PIKE-12 seismic source is designed for near-surface high-resolution seismic surveys. To generate seismic
signal, energy of gunpowder from a 12-gauge blank cartridge is used. Burning of hunting powder is
performed in a closed volume formed between the chamber of the tool and the bottom of a shallow
borehole drilled in the ground.
Specifications
Table 1 Technical data, parameters and dimensions
Parameter
Value
Weight
≤7.5 kg
Overall dimensions of the assembled
source with a protective disk
1320*370*165 mm
Charge type
12-gauge blank cartridges
Actuation
manually with a rubber or plastic hammer
Diameter of a borehole
from 60 mm
Borehole depth*
0.4-1 m
* For operation in boreholes more than 1 m depths, Pike can be equipped with an optional rod extension.

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Seismic pulse source PIKE-12
Delivery set
Figure 1. PIKE-12 source
1 –source head
2 –gasket
3 –protective disk
4 –rod
5 –crossbar
Source structure
The source head (1) consists of the cartridge chamber with protective bracket, receiver, adapter, and firing
pin housing. Inside the receiver and firing pin housing are the firing pin, recoil spring, thrust washers and
PTFE tube guide.
Gasket (2) is designed to seal the borehole. It prevents the release of gases and soil from it and increases
source power.
The protective disk (3) is made of rubber or plastic. It moves freely on the rod (4).
The rod (4) is designed to put the source head into a borehole. Inside it there is a striker shaft.
The crossbar (5) with two rubber handles ensures comfortable holding of the source during operation.
For transportation PIKE-12 can be disassembled into 5 parts and packed in compact transport case.
Assembly of device takes no more than 5 minutes.
Figure 2. Disassembled device for transportation

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Seismic pulse source PIKE-12
Safety requirements
The PIKE-12 must be used only with specially loaded 12-gauge blank cartridges. The cartridges must have
a clear (semi-transparent) plastic cartridge casing loaded with up to 5.2 g of smokeless powder.
TO USE SHOTGUN CARTRIDGE CONTAINING BIRDSHOT, BUCKSHOT, OR BULLETS, AND ANY CARTRIDGES
OF UNKNOWN ORIGIN ARE ABSOLUTELY FORBIDDEN!
Before loading the device, make sure that the firing pin has returned to its original position after the
previous shot or source head assembly and is not stuck in the receiver hole. If the firing pin is stuck in the
receiver hole, it is a malfunction and further use of the device is strictly prohibited until the source is fixed.
When working with a seismic source, the operator and his assistant should wear eye protection - safety
glasses or masks. Shoes should be made of dense material, have toe protection and fully cover the feet.
The design of the source completely excludes the possibility of powder gases bursting through the rod, but
some surges of soil, dirt and water at the edges of the borehole and under the protective disk are possible.
The presence of unauthorized persons in the working area within a radius of 10 m from the borehole is not
allowed.
While operating outside the borehole aiming the device at people closer than 10 meters away is not
allowed.
The safety lock must be used when moving with a loaded source. The source should be lowered into the
borehole only with the safety lock in order to prevent the device from accidentally triggering when hitting
the bottom of the borehole. Set the safety lock immediately after firing without pulling the device out of
the borehole. The safety lock should be removed only before the next shot. Operation of the safety lock is
shown in Figs. 3a and 3b.
Figure 3. a) Safety-lock set up b) Safety-lock remove
When the PIKE-12 is activated, the operator must hold the cross bar by the handle with one hand and
stand on the protective disk with the foot. It is forbidden to lean over the source placed in the borehole.
During shooting, the powder gases tend to push the source out of the borehole. If it is not held firmly
enough, injury can result.

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Seismic pulse source PIKE-12
Operation with the equipment
Borehole preparation
The size of the source head requires a borehole with a diameter of 60-70 mm. Its depth should be more
than 350 mm to ensure a tight fit of the protective disk to the ground. The maximum depth of the borehole
without the use of an extension rods is 1 m.
PIKE-12 can be used without restrictions in any soil, as well as in waterfilled and contaminated boreholes.
Loading
Before loading, ensure that the firing pin has returned to its original position after the previous shot or
source head assembly and is not stuck in the receiver hole. If the firing pin is stuck, remove the receiver,
remove the firing pin (fig. 5) and eliminate the nature of the failure (it may be dirt or soot).
Insert a blank cartridge in cartridge chamber.
The cartridge chamber is secured by a four-way thread. The cartridge chamber must be screwed in 1.5
turns to be fully engaged. Always tighten the cartridge chamber as far as it will go. Failure to do so may
result in a misfire or the case bottom may burst and cause difficulty in extracting the cartridge case.
During the loading process, tighten the cartridge chamber by hand, without the use of tools. Do not use
any tool to tighten the cartridge chamber with the cartridge loaded. If the cartridge chamber is difficult to
rotate, clean and lubricate the four-way threads.
Protective bracket can be used as a support for tommy bar in case of difficulty in unscrewing the cartridge
chamber and ONLY AFTER THE SHOT.
Shot
Lower the loaded source into a borehole until the bracket stops in the bottom.
Lower the protective disk (3 in Figure 1) onto ground in order to block the top of a borehole.
Place one foot on the protective disc.
Remove a safety-lock.
Hold the handle of the cross-bar with one hand.
Upon the seismograph operator's command, strike the end cap lightly with a hammer (Fig. 4).
Set a safety-lock.
Remove the source from a borehole. When removing PIKE-12 do not rotate it counterclockwise, as this will
lead to unscrewing the cartridge chamber.
Unscrew the cartridge chamber. In case of difficulty, use a tommy bar and pipe wrench.
Push out the used cartridge case with a 250-300 mm long pin.
If necessary, clean the threads of the cartridge chamber with a stiff brush and lubricate it with liquid mineral
oil or silicone grease.

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Seismic pulse source PIKE-12
Figure 4. Shot in a contaminated pit
Maintenance and care
At the end of operation, disassemble the source. Remove the source head from the rod. Extract the striker
shaft. Wash parts with water, dry and lubricate with liquid mineral oil or silicone grease.
After working in waterfilled or contaminated wells, completely disassemble the source head for cleaning
and lubrication. The external view of the source head and the sequence of installation of the parts are
shown in Fig. 5.
Figure 5. The parts of source head
1. Cartridge chamber with protective bracket
2. Receiver
3. Striking pin assembly (Figures 6 and 7)
4. Socket
5. Striker shaft
6. Washer
7. Shaft’s tube
8. Recoil spring with centering washer
9. Guide tube

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Seismic pulse source PIKE-12
The assembly sequence of parts is shown in Figures 6 - 11.
Figure 6. Firing pin parts
Figure 7. Firing pin assembly
Figure 8. Receiver with firing pin and socket
Figure 9. Shaft’s tube and guide tube assembly

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Seismic pulse source PIKE-12
Figure 10. Source head with the cartridge chamber
Figure 11. Crossbar assembling diagram
1. End cap
2. Lock nut
3. Plug with hole for shaft
4. Crossbar
5. Shaft with safety spring and centering washers
6. Rod with the lock nut
7. Safety-lock (secured by spring 5).

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Seismic pulse source PIKE-12
Cartridges for the PIKE-12 seismic source
The PIKE-12 must be used only with specially loaded 12-gauge blank cartridges. The cartridges must have
a clear (semi-transparent) plastic cartridge casing loaded with up to 5.2 g of smokeless powder.
Figure 12. Cartridges