Self-dispensing spaced electronic markers
First Claim
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1. An article for supplying an underground utility which may be electronically detected from above ground, comprising:
- a plurality of passive electronic markers, each having a coil of wire connected in parallel with a capacitor, forming a resonant circuit; and
a hollow conduit member having a wall, an outer surface, and an inner surface, said markers being attached to said conduit member at predetermined intervals, said predetermined intervals forming a pattern which encodes information about the underground utility.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A marked conduit allowing electronic location of the conduit after burial, having a plurality of electronic markers spaced thereon at predetermined intervals. The distance between the markers encodes information about the buried conduit. The markers are preferably passive circuits tuned to a specific frequency. The markers may be oriented in a predetermined pattern to encode additional information, and may be attached to the outer or inner surface of the conduit, or imbedded in the wall of the conduit.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. An article for supplying an underground utility which may be electronically detected from above ground, comprising:
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a plurality of passive electronic markers, each having a coil of wire connected in parallel with a capacitor, forming a resonant circuit; and a hollow conduit member having a wall, an outer surface, and an inner surface, said markers being attached to said conduit member at predetermined intervals, said predetermined intervals forming a pattern which encodes information about the underground utility. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An article for supplying natural gas underground, which may be electronically detected from above ground, comprising:
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a plurality of passive electronic markers; and a tubular pipe formed of polyethylene, having a wall, an outer surface, and an inner surface, said markers being imbedded in said wall at predetermined intervals, said predetermined intervals forming a pattern which encodes information about the underground utility. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of manufacturing an article for supplying an underground utility, the article being electronically locatable from above ground, comprising the steps of:
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obtaining a plurality of electronic markers; constructing a hollow conduit, having a wall, an inner surface, and an outer surface; and attaching said electronic markers to said inner surface of said conduit at predetermined intervals, said predetermined intervals forming a pattern which encodes information about the underground utility. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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Specification