Electrical conductor locating device

• US 20050264274A1
• Filed: 05/18/2005
• Published: 12/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: William Herbert Dunning
• Original Assignee: William Herbert Dunning
• Inventors: Dunning, William Herbert
• Granted Patent: US 7,145,319 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 324/66
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 3/104 using several coupled or uncoupled coils G01V3/101 takes precedence

Abstract

An electrical conductor locating device comprises a pulse generator and a detector. The pulse generator includes a transformer with outputs for connecting to two positions along the electrical conductor to define a closed loop. The current in the closed loop produces an electromagnetic field around the conductor. The detector is comprised of a magnetic field sensor connected through a filter to the input of an amplifier. The output of the amplifier is connected to an indicator, such as a LED. When the sensor is moved perpendicularly closer to the conductor, it senses an increasing magnetic field strength so the amplifier drives the indicator at greater intensity. When the sensor is directly aligned with the conductor, the sensor is inside the equipotential point of the magnetic field where the field strength approaches zero, so the amplifier drives the indicator at close to zero intensity and thus pinpoints the conductor.

Claims

1. An electrical conductor locating device, comprising:

an amplifier;

a magnetic field sensor comprising a coiled wire connected to an input of the amplifier; and

an indicator connected to an output of the amplifier, wherein

the amplifier is arranged to activate the indicator when the sensor is moved into proximity of the conductor, and to deactivate the indicator when the sensor is moved to a generally equipotential point of the electromagnetic field around the conductor.

2. The electrical conductor locating device of claim 1, wherein the amplifier comprises an op-amp.

3. The electrical conductor locating device of claim 1, wherein the indicator comprises a lamp.

4. The electrical conductor locating device of claim 1, further including a filter connected between the sensor and the input of the amplifier.

5. The electrical conductor locating device of claim 1, further including additional magnetic field sensors in a 3-axis arrangement for pinpointing the conductor in three dimensions.

6. The electrical conductor locating device of claim 1, further including a laser aligned with a through-hole in the sensor for directing a laser beam through the through-hole.

7. An electrical conductor locating device, comprising:

an electrical pulse generator for connecting to an electrical conductor, wherein the generator is arranged for delivering pulses to the conductor and producing an electromagnetic field around the conductor; and

a detector comprising a magnetic field sensor connected to an input of an amplifier, and an indicator connected to an output of the amplifier, wherein the amplifier is arranged to activate the indicator when the sensor is moved into proximity of the conductor, and to deactivate the indicator when the sensor is moved to a generally equipotential point of the electromagnetic field around the conductor.

8. The electrical conductor locating device of claim 7, wherein the pulse generator includes a transformer with outputs for connecting to the conductor to define a closed loop.

9. The electrical conductor locating device of claim 7, wherein the amplifier comprises an op-amp.

10. The electrical conductor locating device of claim 7, wherein the indicator comprises a lamp.

11. The electrical conductor locating device of claim 7, further including a filter connected between the sensor and the input of the amplifier.

12. The electrical conductor locating device of claim 7, further including additional magnetic field sensors in a 3-axis arrangement for pinpointing the conductor in three dimensions.

13. The electrical conductor locating device of claim 7, further including a laser aligned with a through-hole in the sensor for directing a laser beam through the through-hole.

14. An electrical conductor locating device, comprising:

an electrical pulse generator with a transformer with outputs for connecting to an electrical conductor to define a closed loop, wherein the generator is arranged for delivering pulses to the conductor and producing an electromagnetic field around the conductor; and

a detector comprising a coiled wire connected through a filter to an input of an amplifier, and an indicator connected to an output of the amplifier, wherein the amplifier is arranged to activate the indicator when the coiled wire is moved into proximity of the conductor, and to deactivate the indicator when the coiled wire is moved to a generally equipotential point of the electromagnetic field around the conductor.

15. The electrical conductor locating device of claim 14, further including additional magnetic field sensors in a 3-axis arrangement for pinpointing the conductor in three dimensions.

16. The electrical conductor locating device of claim 14, further including a laser aligned with a through-hole in the sensor for directing a laser beam through the through-hole.