Orientation sensor arrangement and method for use in a system for monitoring the orientation of an underground boring tool
First Claim
1. In producing an underground boring tool having a drill head configured for allowing the transmission of a ground penetrating locating signal, a method comprising the steps of:
- providing an elongated electrically conductive wall arrangement, as part of said drill head for direct contact with the ground, including a pair of opposing ends to at least partially bound an interior chamber formed between said opposing ends, said wall arrangement further extending in an elongation direction between the opposing ends;
positioning a transmitter in said interior chamber for originating said locating signal such that transmission of the locating signal by the transmitter induces a current flow in said wall arrangement, resulting in a counter magnetic field originating from the wall arrangement, upon transmission of the locating signal; and
forming at least two elongated slots in said wall arrangement which are arranged at least generally in said elongation direction and spaced apart about said wall arrangement, each slot having a width that is just wide enough to disrupt said current flow, thereby reducing the counter magnetic field.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides a locator/monitor capable of locating a boring tool and monitoring the progress of the tool for control purposes. The locator/monitor may be used in expedited locating methodology and straightforward calibration techniques of the present invention. A durable and cost effective pitch sensor is also provided by the present invention. In addition, the present invention provides a slotted transmitter housing formed of an electrically conductive material, where the magnetic field generated by the transmitter is capable of penetrating to the surface.
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Citations
82 Claims
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1. In producing an underground boring tool having a drill head configured for allowing the transmission of a ground penetrating locating signal, a method comprising the steps of:
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providing an elongated electrically conductive wall arrangement, as part of said drill head for direct contact with the ground, including a pair of opposing ends to at least partially bound an interior chamber formed between said opposing ends, said wall arrangement further extending in an elongation direction between the opposing ends;
positioning a transmitter in said interior chamber for originating said locating signal such that transmission of the locating signal by the transmitter induces a current flow in said wall arrangement, resulting in a counter magnetic field originating from the wall arrangement, upon transmission of the locating signal; and
forming at least two elongated slots in said wall arrangement which are arranged at least generally in said elongation direction and spaced apart about said wall arrangement, each slot having a width that is just wide enough to disrupt said current flow, thereby reducing the counter magnetic field. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. In the fabrication of a drill head for supporting a transmitter as part of an underground boring tool configured for allowing the transmission of a ground penetrating locating signal, a method comprising the steps of:
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providing an elongated electrically conductive wall arrangement, as part of said drill head for direct contact with the ground, including a pair of opposing ends to at least partially bound an interior chamber formed between said opposing ends, said wall arrangement further extending in an elongation direction between the opposing ends; and
forming a first elongated slot in said wall arrangement which is arranged at least generally in said elongation direction, said first elongated slot having a width that is just wide enough to disrupt a current flow in said housing induced by said transmitter when transmitting from within the housing so as to reduce a counter magnetic field that is induced in said wall arrangement by said current; and
forming a second elongated slot in said wall arrangement which is arranged at least generally in said elongation direction and spaced apart from said first elongated slot about said wall arrangement, said first elongated slot having said width that is just wide enough to disrupt said current flow in said housing induced by said transmitter so as to further reduce said counter magnetic field. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. In the fabrication of a drill head housing, as part of an underground boring tool configured for allowing transmission of a ground penetrating locating signal from a transmitter, a method comprising the steps of:
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providing an elongated drill head housing member for direct contact with the ground, serving as at least one part of said drill head housing, and defining an interior between opposing ends of the housing member for receiving said transmitter to isolate the transmitter from ground contact during drilling;
forming a first elongated slot in the wall of said elongated drill head housing, said slot having a width that is just wide enough to disrupt a current flow in said elongated housing induced by said transmitter when transmitting from within the housing which thereby reduces a counter magnetic field in the housing; and
forming a second elongated slot having said width to further disrupt the current flow induced in said housing such that a radiated signal strength from said transmitter around said drill head is substantially independent of boring tool roll orientation. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. In an underground boring tool having a drill head configured for allowing the transmission of a ground penetrating locating signal, an assembly comprising:
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a transmitter for originating said locating signal; and
an elongated electrically conductive wall arrangement, as part of said drill head for direct contact with the ground, including a pair of opposing ends to at least partially bound an interior chamber formed between said opposing ends, said wall arrangement further extending in an elongation direction between the opposing ends and said transmitter being positioned in said interior chamber such that transmission of the locating signal by the transmitter induces a current flow in said wall arrangement, resulting in a counter magnetic field originating from the wall arrangement, upon transmission of the locating signal, said electrically conductive wall arrangement defining at least two elongated slots which are arranged at least generally in said elongation direction and spaced apart about said wall arrangement, each slot having a width that is just wide enough to disrupt said current flow, thereby reducing the counter magnetic field. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51)
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52. In an underground boring tool configured for transmitting a ground penetrating locating signal, a method comprising the steps of:
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providing an electrically conductive housing having an exterior surface for direct contact with the ground as part of an exterior outline of the boring tool, said housing defining an interior having an interior housing diameter;
positioning a transmitter, including an antenna coil having an antenna outer diameter and an antenna length, in said housing interior for emanating said locating signal such that a ratio of the interior housing diameter to the antenna outer diameter is approximately 2.5 or more; and
forming a number of elongated narrow slots in the housing proximate to said antenna coil based, at least in part, on structural integrity of said housing and having a minimum slot length of approximately 1.5 times the antenna length. - View Dependent Claims (53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66)
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67. In an underground boring tool configured for transmitting a ground penetrating locating signal, a drill head for transmitting said locating signal and for forming a borehole, said drill head comprising:
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a transmitter including an antenna coil having an antenna outer diameter and an antenna length for emanating said locating signal;
an electrically conductive housing having an exterior surface for direct contact with the ground as part of an exterior outline of the boring tool, said housing defining an interior having an interior housing diameter for receiving said transmitter, said housing further defining a number of elongated narrow slots proximate to said antenna coil, when received in the housing, with the number of slots based, at least in part, on structural integrity of said housing and having a minimum slot length of approximately 1.5 times the antenna length and such that a ratio of the interior housing diameter to the antenna outer diameter is approximately 2.5 or more. - View Dependent Claims (68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82)
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Specification