Underground locating using a locating signal transmitter configured with a single antenna

• US 6,232,780 B1
• Filed: 03/03/2000
• Issued: 05/15/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Merlin Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Digital Control Incorporated
• Inventors: Mercer, John E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Snow, Walter E.
• Application Number:
  US09/518,905
• Time in Patent Office: 438 Days
• Field of Search: 324/326, 324/327, 324/328, 324/329, 324/226, 324/247, 175/40, 175/45
• US Class Current: 324/326
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/0228 using electromagnetic energy or detectors therefor
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/0232 at least one of the energy sources or one of the detectors being located on or above the ground surface
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/024 of devices in the borehole determining slope or direction of the borehole E21B47/022
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 9/06 Electric or photoelectric indication or reading means
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 9/20 the indication being based on the inclination of the surface of a liquid relative to its container
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 3/165 operating with magnetic or electric fields produced or modified by the object or by the detecting device with electromagnetic waves G01V3/17

Abstract

The present invention provides a locator/monitor capable of locating a boring tool and monitoring the progress of the tool for control purposes. The locator/monitor may be used in expedited locating methodology and straightforward calibration techniques of the present invention. A durable and cost effective pitch sensor is also provided by the present invention. In addition, the present invention provides a slotted transmitter housing formed of an electrically conductive material, where the magnetic field generated by the transmitter is capable of penetrating to the surface.

Claims

1. In a technique for locating a boring tool which is disposed within the ground, a method of monitoring the orientation of the boring tool, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) providing the boring tool including a sensor arrangement having an orientation sensor which senses at least one particular component of the orientation of the boring tool and transmitter means having one and only one antenna for transmitting a corresponding orientation electromagnetic signal from the boring tool;

(b) providing an above-ground locator with a visual orientation display and with a receiver arrangement which receives said electromagnetic orientation signal and which converts it to a corresponding orientation display driving electric signal;

(c) with the boring tool in the ground at a specific orientation and the locator above receiver arrangement which receives said transmitter means to transmit electromagnetic orientation signals corresponding to the particular orientation component of the boring tool'"'"'s specific orientation;

(d) thereafter causing said receiver arrangement to produce in response to said last-mentioned electromagnetic signal a corresponding orientation display driving electric signal; and

(e) using said visual orientation display, visually displaying at the above-ground locator the particular orientation component of the boring tool'"'"'s specific orientation in response to said last-mentioned orientation display driving electric signal.

2. In a technique for locating a boring tool which is disposed within the ground, a system for monitoring the orientation of the boring tool, said system comprising:

(a) a sensor and transmitter arrangement carried by said boring tool and including an orientation sensor means for sensing at least one particular component of the orientation of the boring tool and including transmitter means having one and only one antenna for transmitting corresponding orientation electromagnetic signals from the boring tool;

(b) an above-ground locator including receiver means for receiving and converting said electromagnetic orientation signal and converting it to a corresponding orientation display driving electric signal; and

(c) means including a visual orientation display also forming part of said above-ground locator for visually displaying at the above-ground locator the particular orientation component of the boring tool'"'"'s specific orientation in response to said last-mentioned orientation display driving electric signal.