Method and apparatus locating a cable in a pipe

• US 6,373,252 B1
• Filed: 04/28/2000
• Issued: 04/16/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Huffman, John Sinclair, Eslambolchi, Hossein
• Primary Examiner(s): PATIDAR, JAY M
• Application Number:
  US09/562,222
• Time in Patent Office: 718 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

The relative position of a cable (10) within a pipe (16) is obtained by first applying a locating signal to a metallic part (12) of the cable so that the locating signal radiates beyond the pipe. The strength of the locating signal is measured at two separate distances from the cable via a pair of signal detectors (24, 26). By comparing the difference in the locating signal strengths to a predicted differential locating signal strength for a given cable depth within a pipe of known parameters, the actual cable depth can be detected.

Claims

1. A method for locating a cable within a pipe relative to a normal parallel to a pipe radius and perpendicular to the pipe longitudinal axis, comprising the steps of:

applying a locating signal to the cable to cause the cable to radiate the locating signal beyond the pipe;

detecting the locating signal strength at a first prescribed distance from the pipe, as measured along the normal;

detecting the locating signal strength at a second prescribed distance from the pipe, as measured along the normal;

establishing a differential locating signal strength in accordance with a difference between the locating signal strengths measured at the first and second distances; and

determining the relative position of the cable in the pipe in accordance with the differential locating signal strength.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the determining step comprises the step of comparing the differential locating signal strength to a predicted locating signal strength at different locations of the cable within a pipe of known density and diameter.

3. The method according to claim 2 wherein the predicted locating signal strength varies logarithmically with the cable position in the pipe.

4. The method according to claim 1 further including the step of providing a visual indication of the relative location of the cable in the pipe.

5. The method according to claim 1 further including the step of providing an aural indication of the relative location of the cable in the pipe.

6. Apparatus for locating a cable within a pipe relative to a normal parallel to a pipe radius and perpendicular to the pipe longitudinal axis, comprising the steps of:

a cable-locating signal generator for applying a locating signal to the cable to cause the cable to radiate the locating signal beyond the pipe;

a detector head having first and second detectors for detecting the locating signal strength at first and second prescribed distances from the pipe, as measured along the normal; and

a cable locating signal processor for establishing a differential locating signal strength in accordance with a difference between the locating signal strengths measured at the first and second distances and for determining the relative position of the cable in the pipe in accordance with the differential locating signal strength.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the cable locating signal processor comprises:

a summing amplifier having an invert and non-invert inputs supplied with the output signal of the first and second detectors, respectively, for yielding a differential locating signal strength in accordance with the difference between the locating signal strengths measured by the first and second detectors,

a comparison unit for producing an output signal indicative of the cable location in the pipe by comparing the differential cable-locating signal strength to a predicted cable-locating signal strength relationship for a particular pipe having prescribed characteristics; and

an output device for providing an indication of the relative cable location in accordance with the comparison unit output signal.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the output device comprises a meter having a graduated scale that displays the cable depth.

9. The apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the output device comprises a liquid crystal screen that numerically displays the depth measurement.

10. The apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the output device comprises a liquid crystal screen that provides a graphical display showing the relative position of the cable within the pipe.

11. The apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the output device comprises the combination of a text-to-speech device and an audio reproduction device for aurally announcing the cable location within the pipe.