ELVIS - Electrodynamic Vibrator System

For very shallow seismic surveys (< 200 m) an electrodynamic vibrator source with very small dimensions for both P-wave and S-wave generation was developed. It can be mounted under a wheelbarrow, the battery supply and the control electronic is installed on top, which serves as additional load. The load can be further enhanced by a person sitting on the barrow, which also improves the coupling to the subsurface. The decoupling of vibrator and the wheelbarrow is achived by air bellows.

By using a direct current power supply electrical disturbances, sound waves and surface waves (otherwise often produced by a generator) are largely avoided. Control is attained by a self-developed sweep generator, which is fed by EPROMs with the desired sweep parameter. Sweep frequencies up to 500 Hz can be used. The actual version ELVIS 5.0 is the result of several years of development. The antecessor ELVIS 3 is built and distributed under license by the firm GEOSYSM.

Technical data:

Weight: 95 kg	Batteries 2 x 12 v / 65 Ah
Mass: ca. 3.5 kg	Patents: DE- 102 35 126
Base plate, casing and frame ca 11 kg	DE 103 27 757 A1
Output ca. 600-800 W	US-2008/0123471A1
Frequency range 20 to 500 Hz