Method and apparatus for precisely locating a buried utility conveyance

• US 5,644,237 A
• Filed: 09/27/1995
• Issued: 07/01/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T, Inc.
• Inventors: Huffman, John Sinclair, Eslambolchi, Hossein
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Shea, Sandra L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PATIDAR, JAY M
• Application Number:
  US08/534,750
• Time in Patent Office: 643 Days
• Field of Search: 324/66, 324/67, 324/326, 324/228, 324/232, 324/327, 324/329, 324/539, 324/541, 324/543, 324/544
• US Class Current: 324/326
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 3/02 operating with propagation of electric current

Abstract

An underground utility conveyance (10) may be precisely located by impressing both a locating tone and a confirmation tone on the conveyance. The locating tone is an RF signal that produces a first field that radiates above the earth that is sensed by a first, above-ground signal detector (22) to establish the general location of the conveyance. The confirmation tone is a near-DC signal that produces a second, field having a relatively limited radiation path. A second detector (24) is inserted into the earth at successive places in the region where the conveyance is located to establish its precise location.

Claims

1. A method for precisely locating a utility conveyance buried a prescribed depth below the earth, comprising the steps of:

impressing a conveyance-locating tone on the conveyance so that the conveyance radiates a first electromagnetic field within a first proximity zone that has a radius about the conveyance at least as great the depth of burial of the conveyance;

impressing on the conveyance a low frequency conveyance-confirmation tone that is pulsed in a particular pattern unique to the conveyance to be located so that the conveyance radiates a second electromagnetic field unique to the conveyance within a second proximity zone that has a radius about the conveyance less than the depth below which the conveyance is buried;

sensing, via a first signal detector located above the earth, where the first electromagnetic field has its greatest strength to establish a region where the conveyance is generally located;

inserting into the earth, within the region where the conveyance is generally located, a second signal detector to detect whether the second field is present, and if the second field is not present then;

inserting the second signal detector in the earth at successive positions within the region where the conveyance is generally located until the second field has been detected.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the second field is detected as being present only if the field has a strength above a predetermined level and the prescribed pattern of pulses is found.

3. The method according to claim 1 further including the step of transmitting information from the second detector to the first detector indicating the presence of the second field.

4. The method according to claim 1 wherein the conveyance-locating tone and the conveyance-confirmation tone are impressed simultaneously on the conveyance.

5. Apparatus for precisely locating a utility conveyance buried a prescribed depth below the earth comprising:

means for impressing a conveyance-locating tone on the conveyance so that the conveyance radiates a first electromagnetic field within a first proximity zone that has a radius about the conveyance at least as great the depth of burial of the conveyance, and for impressing a low frequency conveyance-confirmation tone that is pulsed in a particular pattern unique to the conveyance to be located so that the conveyance radiates a second electromagnetic field unique to the conveyance within a second proximity zone that has a radius about the conveyance less than the depth below which the conveyance is buried;

a first signal detector located above the earth for sensing where the first field has its greatest strength to establish a region where the conveyance is generally located; and

a second signal detector that is insertable within the earth to detect if the second field is present.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the second signal detector comprises:

a least one magnetometer sensor for sensing the second field;

a shaft for carrying the sensor;

a pair of handles extending out from the shaft in opposite directions to enable an operator to drive the shaft into the earth to insert the sensor therein;

a head carried by the shaft above the handles; and

a detector circuit situated within the head and responsive to the sensor for indicating if the second field is present.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the detector circuit includes a transmitter for transmitting a signal indicative of the presence of the second field to the first detector.

8. The apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the second detector further includes a display for indicating the strength of the second field.