Underground utility locator with a transmitter, a pair of upwardly opening pockets and helical coil type electrical cords

• US 7,830,149 B1
• Filed: 10/15/2009
• Issued: 11/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Seektech Inc.
• Original Assignee: Seektech Inc.
• Inventors: Olsson, Mark S., Shaffer, Dawn E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Patidar; Jay M
• Application Number:
  US12/579,539
• Time in Patent Office: 390 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 324/326
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/88 Radar or analogous systems specially adapted for specific applications electromagnetic prospecting or detecting of objects, e.g. near-field detection, G01V3/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/885 for ground probing prospecting or detecting using electromagnetic waves G01V3/12
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/03 Details of HF subsystems specially adapted therefor, e.g. common to transmitter and receiver
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 3/08 operating with magnetic or electric fields produced or modified by objects or geological structures or by detecting devices with electromagnetic waves G01V3/12
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 3/15 specially adapted for use during transport, e.g. by a person, vehicle or boat
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0346 with detection of the device orientation or free movement in a 3D space, e.g. 3D mice, 6-DOF [six degrees of freedom] pointers using gyroscopes, accelerometers or tilt-sensors

Abstract

A transmitter for use with an underground utilities locator including a portable elongate housing; an electronic circuit mounted in the housing and configured to generate an electrical output signal at a frequency suitable for tracing an underground utility; a pair of springy helical coil type electrical cords each having an inner end connected to the circuit; means electrically connected to an outer end of each of the electrical cords for coupling the predetermined electrical output signal across the underground utility; and the housing having a pair of upwardly opening pockets formed on opposite ends of the elongate housing and each sized to permit the electrical cords to be wrapped into loops and stowed into corresponding ones of the pockets.

Claims

1. A transmitter for use with an underground utilities locator, comprising:

a portable elongate housing;

an electronic circuit mounted in the housing and configured to generate an electrical output signal at a frequency suitable for tracing an underground utility;

a pair of springy helical coil type electrical cords each having an inner end connected to the circuit;

means electrically connected to an outer end of each of the electrical cords for coupling the predetermined electrical output signal across the underground utility; and

the housing having a pair of upwardly opening pockets formed on opposite ends of the elongate housing and each sized to permit the electrical cords to be wrapped into loops and stowed into corresponding ones of the pockets.

2. The transmitter of claim 1 wherein the electrical cords each have an inner steel conductor.

3. The transmitter of claim 1 and further comprising a control panel located between the pockets.

4. The transmitter of claim 1 wherein the control panel includes a keypad.

5. The transmitter of claim 3 wherein the control panel includes a display and the electronic circuit is further configured so that it can cause the display to indicate alphanumeric and graphic information in response to an entered command.

6. The transmitter of claim 3 wherein the electronic circuit is further configured to allow a user to select via the control panel one of a plurality of predetermined electrical output signals at frequencies suitable for tracing different types of underground utilities.

7. The transmitter of claim 6 wherein the control panel indicates a predetermined color uniquely associated with the type of underground utility when a predetermined command has been entered selecting a frequency for tracing that particular type of underground utility.

8. The transmitter of claim 1 wherein the coupling means is selected from the group consisting of an alligator clip, an inductive antenna and an inductive clamp.

9. The transmitter of claim 1 and further comprising a ground spike and means on the housing for removably receiving the ground spike.

10. The transmitter of claim 1 and further comprising a plurality of batteries mounted in the housing between the pockets and connected to the electronic circuit for powering the same.