Method and Device for Localizing Anomalies Located Inside a Hollow Structure Located on Bare Ground and/or Buried

• US 20080129534A1
• Filed: 01/18/2006
• Published: 06/05/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Enertag
• Original Assignee: Enertag
• Inventors: Blanche, Thierry, Charles, Robert, Satre, Jean-Yves
• Application Number:
  US11/814,376
• Publication Number:
  US 20080129534A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/854.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 15/00 Tags attached to, or associated with, an object, in order to enable detection of the object record carriers for use with machines having a detectable tag or marker G06K19/00

Abstract

The invention relates to a method of externally locating anomalies inside a hollow structure which is positioned on and/or below the ground (PL), wherein said anomalies have been previously detected by a device (R_TE) moving inside the hollow structure and positioned by counting a series of reference marks from an origin, said reference marks being located at regular intervals and being accessible from the inside and outside of the hollow structure (PL). The inventive method comprises the following steps consisting in: a. defining by means of courting a reference mark, starting from said origin, which is accessible from outside of the hollow structure; b. positioning a transponder module (T) on said reference mark; c. identifying the transponder module (T) by an I.D. code; and d. determining the number of reference marks separating the anomalies and the identified transponder module (T).

Claims

1. A method for externally localizing anomalies located in a hollow structure laid on bare ground and/or buried, which anomalies have already been detected beforehand by a device moving inside said hollow structure, and positioned by counting, from an origin, marks located at regular intervals, accessible from the inside and from the outside of said hollow structure,

said method consisting of:

a. defining by counting from the same aforesaid origin, a mark accessible from the outside of the hollow structure,

b. positioning a transponder module on the aforesaid mark,

c. identifying the transponder module by an identification code,

d. determining the number of marks separating said anomalies and said identified transponder module.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the hollow structure is a pipeline laid on bare ground and/or buried.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the marks located at regular intervals accessible from the inside and from the outside of said hollow structure are welds connecting the metal sections forming the casing of the hollow structure.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein a transponder is localized in proximity to a aforesaid weld.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the identification of the transponder module by an identification code is carried out via a reading and writing device.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the identification of the transponder module by an identification code is carried out at a frequency equal to 125 kHz or equal to 134.2 kHz and with a power between 1 W and 100 W, preferably between 4 W and 20 W.

7. The method according to claim 5, wherein the identification of the transponder module by an identification code is carried at a frequency less than 125 kHz and with a power between 1 W and 100 W, preferably between 4 W and 20 W.

8. The method according to claim 5, wherein the reading and writing device comprises memory storage means and remote transmission means.

9. A device for applying the method according to claim 1, intended for externally localizing anomalies located in a hollow structure laid on bare ground and/or buried, which anomalies have been detected beforehand by a device moving inside said hollow structure, and positioned by counting from an origin, marks located at regular intervals, accessible from the inside and from the outside of said hollow structure, said device comprising:

a. means for defining by counting, from the same aforesaid origin, a mark accessible from the outside of the hollow structure,

b. means for positioning a transponder module on the aforesaid mark,

c. means for identifying the transponder module by an identification code,

d. means for determining the number of marks separating said anomalies and said identified transponder module.

10. The device according to claim 9, wherein the means for positioning the transponder module on the aforesaid mark comprises an open collar made in a flexible and permanent material.

11. The device according to claim 9, wherein the means for positioning the transponder module on the aforesaid mark comprise a strap made in a flexible and permanent material.

12. The device according to claim 9, wherein the means for positioning the transponder module on the aforesaid mark consist in adhesive bonding.

13. The device according to claim 9, wherein the means for positioning the transponder module on the aforesaid mark comprise a sealing member in the coating concrete or resin of said hollow structure.

14. The device according to claim 9, wherein the means for identifying the transponder module by an identification code comprise a reading and writing device.

15. The device according to claim 14, wherein the aforesaid reading and writing device may write initial data into the transponder module before burial.

16. The device according to claim 9, wherein the hollow structure s a flexible or rigid pipeline laid on bare ground or buried.