Underwater cable locating device

• US 7,030,616 B1
• Filed: 06/30/2004
• Issued: 04/18/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Huffman, John Sinclair, Eslambolchi, Hossein, Boland, John K. II
• Primary Examiner(s): Ledynh, Bot
• Assistant Examiner(s): Aurora, Reena
• Application Number:
  US10/881,631
• Time in Patent Office: 657 Days
• Field of Search: 324 66- 67, 324/228, 324/232, 324326-327, 324/329, 324/539, 324/541, 324/543, 324/544
• US Class Current: 324/329
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 3/06754 Fibre amplifiers H01S3/06708 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 3/2383 Parallel arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 5/4012 Beam combining, e.g. by the use of fibres, gratings, polarisers, prisms
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 5/4025 Array arrangements, e.g. constituted by discrete laser diodes or laser bar H01S5/42 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 5/50 Amplifier structures not provided for in groups H01S5/02 - H01S5/30
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/118 specially adapted for satellite communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18521 Systems of inter linked satellites, i.e. inter satellite service for optical links between satellites H04B10/118

Abstract

An apparatus for locating a buried utility conveyance, such as an undersea cable, beneath a body of water. The apparatus generally comprises a submersible housing that contains a variable ballast system for selectively controlling the buoyancy of the apparatus, operator-controlled maneuvering apparatus, and a detector assembly for locating the conveyance. The detector assembly includes first and second signal generators and first and second signal detectors for vectoring the location of the conveyance. An operator guides the detector relative to a target search location through cables attached to the housing and the variable ballast system. A camera generates images of the target search location for use by the operator to control the apparatus through an umbilical cable connected to the housing.

Claims

1. An apparatus under the control of a surface operator for locating a utility conveyance beneath a body of water, comprising:

a submersible housing having a detector including;

a first signal generator for impressing a conveyance-locating signal on the conveyance so that the conveyance radiates a first electromagnetic field;

a second signal generator for impressing a conveyance-confirmation signal 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;

a first signal detector for sensing where the first field is strongest to establish a region where the conveyance is generally located;

a plurality of second detectors, each of the second detectors being capable of detecting the presence of the second field;

the submersible housing further including;

ballast means for selectively controlling its buoyancy;

means to maneuver the housing relative to a target search location; and

a camera associated with the housing to capture images of a target search location; and

a surface control unit connected to the submersible housing detector, ballast means, maneuvering means and camera, including;

processor means connected to the plurality of second detectors for vectoring the location of the conveyance in response to the presence of the second field detected at each of the second detectors;

display means for displaying to the operator the images of the target search area captured by the camera and the location of the conveyance as determined by the processor means;

means under the control of the operator to cause the submersible housing to be maneuvered relative to a target search area; and

means under the control of the operator to change the buoyancy of the ballast means.

2. The apparatus recited in claim 1, wherein the surface control unit is connected to the submersible housing detector, ballast means and camera through an umbilical cable.

3. The apparatus recited in claim 1, wherein the means to maneuver the housing comprises a plurality of control cables attached to the housing to enable an operator to maneuver the housing relative to a target search location from the surface.

4. The apparatus recited in claim 1, further comprising a illuminating means for the camera to illuminate images of a target search location for capture by the camera.

5. The apparatus recited in claim 1, wherein the housing includes a plurality of legs.

6. The apparatus recited in claim 5, further comprising at least one weight attached to each leg.

7. An apparatus for locating a utility conveyance beneath a body of water, comprising:

a submersible housing including;

ballast means associated with the housing for selectively controlling the buoyancy of the apparatus;

a plurality of control cables attached to the housing to enable an operator to maneuver the housing relative to a target search location;

a camera associated with the housing to direct images of a target search location to a remote operator; and

a detector assembly including;

a first signal generator for impressing a conveyance-locating signal on the conveyance so that the conveyance radiates a first electromagnetic field;

a second signal generator for impressing a conveyance-confirmation signal 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;

a first signal detector for sensing where the first field is strongest to establish a region where the conveyance is generally located;

a plurality of second detectors, each of the second detectors being capable of detecting the presence of the second field; and

means connected to the plurality of second detectors for vectoring the location of the conveyance in response to the presence of the second field detected at each of the second detectors; and

a surface control unit at the location of the remote operator and connected to the submersible housing including;

a status indicator for indicating to the operator the location of the conveyance as determined by the detector assembly;

a video display for displaying to the operator images of a target search location;

means tinder the control of the operator for controlling the ballast means; and

means for positioning the control cables.

8. The apparatus recited in claim 7 wherein the surface control unit is connected to the submersible housing through an umbilical cable arranged to transmit air to or from the submersible housing to control buoyancy.