System and method for detecting an underground object using magnetic field sensing
First Claim
1. A control system for use in boring comprising:
- a detection module comprising;
a magnetic sensor assembly adapted to detect magnetic field components generated at a filamentary object; and
a processor adapted to receive the magnetic field components from the magnetic sensor assembly, to process the magnetic field components for amplitude and phase relationships at a single location to determine orientation of the magnetic sensor assembly relative to the object, and to communicate orientation information; and
a steering system adapted to receive the orientation information from the processor and to maneuver a boring tool in response to the orientation information from the processor.
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Abstract
A system and method use magnetic field sensing to detect underground objects for strike avoidance. The system detects magnetic field components for both passive distortions in the magnetic field indicative of a ferromagnetic object and active magnetic fields that are impressed on an object by a signal generator. A detection module has a magnetic sensor assembly that detects the magnetic field components. The magnetic field component data is transferred through a multiplexer to an analog/digital converter to a processor. Pitch angle data from a pitch sensor and roll angle data from a roll sensor also may be transferred to the processor. The data is processed by the processor to determine the orientation of the detection module with respect to the object. The detection module may be installed in an underground boring tool or a trenching assembly.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. A control system for use in boring comprising:
a detection module comprising; a magnetic sensor assembly adapted to detect magnetic field components generated at a filamentary object; and a processor adapted to receive the magnetic field components from the magnetic sensor assembly, to process the magnetic field components for amplitude and phase relationships at a single location to determine orientation of the magnetic sensor assembly relative to the object, and to communicate orientation information; and a steering system adapted to receive the orientation information from the processor and to maneuver a boring tool in response to the orientation information from the processor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for maintaining a detection module in a known orientation with an object comprising:
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measuring magnetic field components from a filamentary object; processing the magnetic field components for magnitude and phase relationships at a single location to determine an orientation of the detection module relative to the filamentary object; communicating orientation information to a steering system; and maneuvering a boring tool in response to the orientation information. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification