Controlling an underground object

• US 6,980,123 B2
• Filed: 06/23/2003
• Issued: 12/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Radiodetection Limited
• Original Assignee: Radiodetection Limited
• Inventors: Fling, Richard William
• Primary Examiner(s): WONG, ALBERT KANG
• Application Number:
  US10/601,189
• Publication Number:
  US 20040041713A1
• Time in Patent Office: 918 Days
• Field of Search: 340/853.3, 340/853.8, 324/326, 175/57, 175/45, 175/38, 702/9
• US Class Current: 340/853.3
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 7/06 Deflecting the direction of boreholes
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 3/081 the magnetic field is produced by the objects or geological structures characterised by the method of magnetic field measurement G01R33/00

Abstract

In order to control the sonde of an underground object, such as an underground boring tool, a predetermined sequence of rotation steps is applied to the object and that sequence is detected. The detection of the appropriate sequence causes the sonde to change its function, for example by changing the carrier frequency of the signal transmitted by the sonde on to change the data output sequence or transfer rate, or to change output power. While it is possible to use a single rotation step, the use of more than one step, with each step to be carried out within a predetermined time, reduces the risk of error.

Claims

1. An underground boring apparatus, comprising:

a boring tool;

a sonde associated with the boring tool, the sonde comprising an electromagnetic transmitter that transmits electromagnetic radiation, a sensor that senses a predetermined rotation sequence of the sonde, and a processor that changes the frequency of transmission of the electromagnetic radiation in response to sensing of the predetermined rotation sequence by the sensor; and

a boring tool device that drives the boring tool and for applying the predetermined rotation sequence to the boring tool.

2. A boring apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processor is programmed to change the frequency of transmission of the electromagnetic radiation in response to sensing a predetermined sequence of rotations.

3. A boring apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the sequence is chosen so that it will not occur during the normal operation of the boring tool.

4. A boring apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the processor is programmed to change the frequency of transmission of the electromagnetic radiation in response to a specific time limit of the rotation sequence.

5. An apparatus for changing a transmission frequency of a transmitting device in an underground boring tool, comprising:

a boring tool;

a sonde associated with the boring tool, the sonde comprising a microprocessor, a rotation sensor and a transmitter; and

a drive device that drives the boring tool, the drive device configured to apply a predetermined rotation sequence for the boring tool.

6. The apparatus as in claim 5, wherein the rotation sensor detects the predetermined rotation sequence.

7. The apparatus as in claim 6, wherein the predetermined rotation sequence instructs the sonde to change a transmitting frequency of the transmitter.

8. The apparatus as in claim 5, wherein the rotation sequence is carried out for a specific period of time.

9. The apparatus as in claim 5, wherein the drive device further comprises a receiver.

10. The apparatus as in claim 9, wherein the receiver receives remote commands.

11. The apparatus as in claim 10, wherein the remote commands are transmitted by a remote control device.

12. The apparatus as in claim 11, wherein the remote control device detects the transmission frequency.

13. A method of changing an electromagnetic transmission frequency of a sonde associated with a boring tool used for locating the boring tool, the method comprising:

instructing a drive device to initiate a rotation sequence of the boring tool;

rotating the boring tool in the rotation sequence; and

changing the transmission frequency of the sonde based upon occurrence of the rotation sequence.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the rotation sequence comprises a predetermined sequence of rotations.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the rotation sequence is chosen so that it will not occur during the normal operation of the boring tool.

16. The method according to claim 14, wherein each rotation is carried out within a time limit.

17. A method according to claim 15, wherein each rotation is carried out within a time limit.

18. A system for changing an electromagnetic transmission frequency of a sonde associated with a boring tool used for locating the boring tool, the system comprising:

means for instructing a drive device to initiate a rotation sequence of the boring tool;

means for rotating the boring tool in the rotation sequence; and

means for changing the transmission frequency of the sonde based upon occurrence of the rotation sequence.

19. The system according to claim 18, wherein the rotation sequence comprises a predetermined sequence of rotations.

20. The system according to claim 19, wherein the rotation sequence is chosen so that it will not occur during the normal operation of the boring tool.

21. The system according to claim 19, wherein each rotation is carried out within a time limit.

22. The system according to claim 20, wherein each rotation is carried out within a time limit.

23. A sonde associated on a boring tool, comprising:

an electromagnetic transmitter that transmits electromagnetic radiation;

a sensor that senses a rotation sequence of the sonde; and

a processor that controls the electromagnetic transmitter in response to sensing of the rotation sequence by the sensor.

24. The sonde according to claim 23, wherein the processor is programmed to change the frequency of transmission of the electromagnetic radiation in response to the sequence of rotations.

25. The sonde according to claim 24, wherein the sequence is chosen so that it will not occur during the normal operation of the boring tool.

26. The sonde according to claim 24, the processor is programmed to change the frequency of transmission of the electromagnetic radiation in response to each rotation carried out for a time limit.

27. The sonde according to claim 25, wherein the processor is programmed to change the frequency of transmission of the electromagnetic radiation in response to each rotation carried out within a time limit.

28. A sonde associated with a boring tool for location of the boring tool underground, the sonde comprising:

means for transmitting electromagnetic radiation to a remote device at a frequency;

means for sensing a rotation sequence of the sonde; and

means for changing the frequency of the means for transmitting in response to the means for sensing when the rotation sequence of the boring tool is sensed.

29. The sonde according to claim 28, wherein the means for changing is adapted to change the frequency of transmission of the electromagnetic radiation in response to the sequence of rotations.

30. The sonde according to claim 29, wherein the rotation sequence is chosen so that it will not occur during the normal operation of the boring tool.

31. The sonde according to claim 29, wherein the means for changing is adapted to change the frequency of transmission of the electromagnetic radiation in response to the rotation sequence carried out for a specific time limit.

32. A method for using a sonde associated with a boring tool for location of the boring tool underground, the sonde comprising:

transmitting electromagnetic radiation to a remote device at a frequency;

sensing a rotation sequence of the sonde; and

changing the frequency of the transmitting in response to the means for sensing detecting the rotation sequence of the boring tool.

33. The sonde according to claim 32, wherein the means for changing is adapted to change the frequency of transmission of the electromagnetic radiation in response to the rotation sequence.

34. The sonde according to claim 33, wherein the sequence is chosen so that it will not occur during the normal operation of the boring tool.

35. The sonde according to claim 33, wherein the means for changing is adapted to change the frequency of transmission of the electromagnetic radiation in response to the rotation sequence carried out for a specific time limit.

36. A locator apparatus for locating an underground boring tool, comprising:

a sonde attached to the boring tool, the sonde comprising an electromagnetic transmitter that transmits electromagnetic radiation at a frequency, a sensor that senses predetermined rotation of the sonde, and a processor that changes the frequency of transmission of the electromagnetic radiation in response to sensing of the predetermined rotation by the sensor; and

a locator that receives the electromagnetic radiation transmitted by the sonde to identify the location of the boring tool.

37. The locator apparatus according to claim 36, wherein the processor is programmed to change the frequency of transmission of the electromagnetic radiation in response to a predetermined sequence of rotations.

38. The locator apparatus according to claim 37, wherein the sequence is chosen so that it will not occur during the normal operation of the boring tool.

39. The locator apparatus according to claim 38, wherein the processor is programmed to change the frequency of transmission of the electromagnetic radiation in response to the rotation sequence carried out for a specific time limit.

40. A system for locating an underground boring tool, comprising:

means for determining the location of the boring tools comprising means for transmitting electromagnetic radiation at a frequency, means for sensing a predetermined rotation of the sonde, and means for changing the frequency of transmission of the electromagnetic radiation in response to the means for sensing the predetermined rotation by the sensor; and

means for locating the boring comprising means for receiving the electromagnetic radiation transmitted by the means for determining to identify the location of the boring tool.

41. The system apparatus according to claim 40, wherein the means for changing is programmed to change the frequency of transmission of the electromagnetic radiation in response to sensing of a predetermined sequence of rotations.

42. The system according to claim 41, wherein the sequence is chosen so that it will not occur during the normal operation of the boring tool.

43. The system according to claim 42, wherein the means for changing is programmed to change the frequency of transmission of the electromagnetic radiation in response to each rotation carried out for a time limit.

44. A method for locating an underground boring tool, comprising:

determining the location of the boring tool with a sonde that comprises a transmitter that transmits electromagnetic radiation at a frequency, a sensor that senses a predetermined rotation of the sonde, and a processor that changes the frequency of transmission of the electromagnetic radiation in response to the sensor sensing the predetermined rotation by the sensor; and

locating the boring tools with a locator that comprises a receiver that receives the electromagnetic radiation transmitted by the sonde to identify the location of the boring tool.

45. The method according to claim 44, wherein the processor is programmed to change the frequency of transmission of the electromagnetic radiation in response to a predetermined sequence of rotations.

46. The method according to claim 45, wherein the sequence is chosen so that it will not occur during the normal operation of the boring tool.

47. The method according to claim 46, wherein the to the means for changing is programmed to change the frequency of transmission of the electromagnetic radiation in response to each rotation carried out for a time limit.

48. A method of determining information related to a state of an underground boring tool using a sonde associated with the boring tool, the method comprising:

transmitting electromagnetic radiation at a transmission frequency from the sonde;

sensing a rotation of the sonde; and

changing the transmission frequency upon detection of the rotation.

49. The method according to claim 48, wherein comprising detecting the transmitted electromagnetic radiation at a surface above the boring tool.

50. The method according to claim 49, further comprising determining the information related to the state of the boring tool using the detected electromagnetic radiation.

51. A method according to claim 49, wherein the rotation comprises a predetermined sequence of rotations.

52. A method according to claim 51, wherein the sequence of rotating is chosen so that it will not occur during the normal operation of the boring tool.

53. A method according to claim 52, wherein each rotation is carried out for a specific time limit.

54. A method for changing the transmission frequency of a sonde below a ground surface, comprising:

initiating a predetermined rotation of a boring tool;

detecting the predetermined rotation of the boring tool by the sonde; and

changing the transmission frequency of the sonde in response to the predetermined rotation.

55. A system for changing the transmission frequency of a sonde below a ground surface, comprising:

means for initiating a predetermined rotation of a boring tool;

means for detecting the predetermined rotation of the boring tool by the sonde;

means for changing the transmission frequency of the sonde in response to the predetermined rotation.