Acoustic system for measuring the location and depth of underground pipe
First Claim
1. A method for determining the horizontal position of an underground pipe comprising the steps of:
- (a) transmitting a periodic acoustic signal along the pipe;
(b) receiving the acoustic signal at at least three receiving locations, at least two of the locations on opposite sides of the pipe, and determining the relative phase of the acoustic signal received at each of the receiving locations; and
(c) calculating the horizontal position of the pipe from the phase measurements, whereby the horizontal position is determined whether or not the pipe has leaked.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An acoustic method and apparatus for measuring the horizontal surface location and depth of any type of underground pipe or conduit, including nonmetallic or nonconductive pipe, such as sewer, gas, and water pipes, which cannot be detected with electromagnetic locators. A continuous-wave (CW) acoustic signal is injected into and transmitted through the fluid (liquid or gas) in the pipe. The horizontal surface location and depth of the pipe are determined from an analysis of the phase measurements derived from an array of acoustic measurements, which are made at the surface and approximately perpendicular to the direction of the underground pipe.
88 Citations
50 Claims
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1. A method for determining the horizontal position of an underground pipe comprising the steps of:
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(a) transmitting a periodic acoustic signal along the pipe; (b) receiving the acoustic signal at at least three receiving locations, at least two of the locations on opposite sides of the pipe, and determining the relative phase of the acoustic signal received at each of the receiving locations; and (c) calculating the horizontal position of the pipe from the phase measurements, whereby the horizontal position is determined whether or not the pipe has leaked. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for determining the horizontal position of an underground pipe comprising the steps of:
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(a) transmitting a periodic signal along the pipe; (b) receiving the acoustic signal at at least two receiving locations, and determining the relative phase of the acoustic signal received at each of the receiving locations; and (c) calculating the horizontal position of the pipe from the phase measurements, whereby the horizontal position is determined whether or not the pipe has leaked.
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15. A method for determining the depth of an underground pipe comprising the steps of:
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(a) transmitting a periodic acoustic signal along the pipe; (b) receiving the acoustic signal at at least three receiving locations, at least two of the locations on opposite sides of the pipe, and determining the relative phase of the acoustic signal received at each of the receiving locations; and (c) calculating the depth of the pipe from the phase measurements. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A method for determining the depth of an underground pipe comprising the steps of:
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(a) transmitting a periodic acoustic signal along the pipe; (b) receiving the acoustic signal at at least two receiving locations, and determining the relative phase of the acoustic signal received at each of the receiving locations; and (c) calculating the depth of the pipe from the phase measurements.
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30. An apparatus for determining the horizontal position and depth of an underground pipe, comprising:
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(a) an acoustic transmitter for transmitting a periodic signal along the pipe; (b) at least two acoustic receivers for receiving the acoustic signal, the receivers mounted in an array, where the array includes a mechanism for positioning the receivers on an uneven surface; and (c) a processor for determining the relative phase of the acoustic signal received at at least two receiving locations, and for calculating the location of the pipe from the phase measurements. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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41. An apparatus for determining the horizontal position and depth of an underground pipe, comprising:
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(a) an acoustic transmitter for transmitting a periodic acoustic signal along the pipe; (b) at least two acoustic receivers for receiving the acoustic signal; (c) a positioning system for determining the horizontal position and elevation of at least two of the receivers in the array; and (d) a processor for determining the relative phase of the acoustic signal received at at least two receiving locations, and for calculating the location of the pipe from the phase measurements. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49)
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50. An apparatus for determining the horizontal position and depth of an underground pipe, comprising:
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(a) an acoustic transmitter for transmitting a periodic signal along the pipe; (b) an acoustic receiver for receiving the acoustic signal; and (c) a processor for determining the relative phase of the acoustic signal received at at least two receiving locations, and for calculating the horizontal position and depth of the pipe from the phase measurements.
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Specification