Method of locating pipelines using RFID technology

• US 7,616,119 B2
• Filed: 11/13/2006
• Issued: 11/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bradford G. Corbett Jr
• Original Assignee: Bradford G. Corbett Jr
• Inventors: Corbett, Bradford G. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAM, TOAN NGOC
• Application Number:
  US11/598,408
• Publication Number:
  US 20070057769A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,093 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572.1, 340/10.1, 340/572.8, 340/572.9, 340/539.1, 340/825.36, 340/825.49, 277/314, 277/608, 277/609, 277/625
• US Class Current: 340/572.1
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 1/11 for the detection or protection of pipes in the ground
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 15/00 Tags attached to, or associated with, an object, in order to enable detection of the object record carriers for use with machines having a detectable tag or marker G06K19/00

Abstract

A system is shown for locating hidden pipelines, particularly underground pipe used in a plastic pipeline such as for municipal water and sewer applications. An RFID tag is associated with the pipeline prior to installation of the pipeline into the ground. This can be done by associating the RFID tag with a sealing gasket which is subsequently installed at a sealing joint location of the pipeline. The tag can also be associated with the pipeline itself by installing the tag on a section of pipe. The location of the subsequently buried pipeline can be determined by interrogating the RFID tag with a suitable reader, the reader being located at an above ground location.

Claims

1. A method of locating an underground pipe, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a radio frequency identification device of a suitable size and configuration for a particular task at hand;

associating at least one such radio frequency identification device with the underground pipe to located;

subsequently interrogating the radio frequency identification device from an above ground location by means of a suitable reader to thereby obtain information identifying the location of the underground pipe; and

wherein the pipe comprises an extruded plastic body, and wherein the radio frequency identification device is associated with the underground pipe by embedding the radio frequency identification device within the body of the pipe during pipe manufacturing operations so that the radio frequency identification device is integrally located within the pipe body.

2. A method of locating an under around pipe, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a radio frequency identification device of a suitable size and configuration for a particular task at hand;

associating at least one such radio frequency identification device with the underground pipe to located;

subsequently interrogating the radio frequency identification device from an above ground location by means of a suitable reader to thereby obtain information identifying the location of the underground pipe; and

wherein the radio frequency identification device is associated with the underground pipe by installing a sealing gasket within an internal groove provided in a female section of plastic pipe, and wherein the radio frequency identification device is carried by the sealing gasket.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the radio frequency identification device is molded within the body of the sealing gasket during gasket manufacturing operations.

4. A method of locating an underground pipe, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a radio frequency identification device of a suitable size and configuration for a particular task at hand;

associating at least one such radio frequency identification device with the underground pipe to located;

subsequently interrogating the radio frequency identification device from an above ground location by means of a suitable reader to thereby obtain information identifying the location of the underground pipe;

wherein the radio frequency identification device is encapsulated in an encapsulating material which renders is impervious to normal environmental influences;

wherein the radio frequency identification device is encapsulated in a liquid resin which is subsequently cured;

wherein the radio frequency identification device is encapsulated in an epoxy resin;

wherein the radio frequency identification device is associated with the sealing gasket by attaching the radio frequency identification device to an exposed surface of the gasket with a suitable glue or adhesive.

5. A method of locating an underground pipe, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a radio frequency identification device of a suitable size and configuration for a particular task at hand;

associating at least one such radio frequency identification device with the underground pipe to located;

subsequently interrogating the radio frequency identification device from an above ground location by means of a suitable reader to thereby obtain information identifying the location of the underground pipe;

wherein the radio frequency identification device is encapsulated in an encapsulating material which renders is impervious to normal environmental influences;

wherein the radio frequency identification device is encapsulated in a liquid resin which is subsequently cured;

wherein the radio frequency identification device is encapsulated in an epoxy resin;

wherein the radio frequency identification device is associated with the sealing gasket by embedding the radio frequency identification device within the sealing gasket during a gasket molding operation.