Method for establishing a portion of a boring tool path
First Claim
1. In an overall process in which a boring tool is moved through the ground within a given region along a particular path from a specific starting point, a method for establishing the location of at least a portion of said particular path within the given region, said method comprising:
- establishing a reference path within the region;
providing a portable locator and an information generating arrangement located partially at and forming part of said boring tool and partially at and forming part of the locator including a transmitter for transmitting an electromagnetic signal from the boring tool and a receiver in the portable locator having less than five spaced-apart sensors to receive the electromagnetic signal to generate certain information about the position of the boring tool relative to the position of the locator based on the electromagnetic signal;
moving said boring tool in cooperation with moving said portable locator to establish a series of boring tool locations of the boring tool on the particular path, based at least in part on said certain information, such that each boring tool location is associated with one of a series of associated reference points of the portable locator on the reference path;
from the series of boring tool locations and the associated series of reference points, establishing an actual path of the boring tool containing the series of boring tool locations which actual path corresponds generally to at least said portion of the particular path taken by the boring tool; and
electronically saving a record of the actual path.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A boring tool is moved through the ground within a region along a path from a starting point. A reference path is established. An information generating arrangement is located partially at the boring tool and partially at the locator including a transmitter for transmitting an electromagnetic signal from the boring tool and a receiver in the portable locator to generate certain information about the position of the boring tool relative to the position of the locator. The boring tool is moved in cooperation with the locator to establish a series of boring tool locations on the particular path such that each boring tool location is associated with one of a series of associated reference points on the reference path. An actual path of the boring tool is established which actual path corresponds to a particular path taken by the boring tool and a record is saved.
13 Citations
5 Claims
-
1. In an overall process in which a boring tool is moved through the ground within a given region along a particular path from a specific starting point, a method for establishing the location of at least a portion of said particular path within the given region, said method comprising:
-
establishing a reference path within the region; providing a portable locator and an information generating arrangement located partially at and forming part of said boring tool and partially at and forming part of the locator including a transmitter for transmitting an electromagnetic signal from the boring tool and a receiver in the portable locator having less than five spaced-apart sensors to receive the electromagnetic signal to generate certain information about the position of the boring tool relative to the position of the locator based on the electromagnetic signal; moving said boring tool in cooperation with moving said portable locator to establish a series of boring tool locations of the boring tool on the particular path, based at least in part on said certain information, such that each boring tool location is associated with one of a series of associated reference points of the portable locator on the reference path; from the series of boring tool locations and the associated series of reference points, establishing an actual path of the boring tool containing the series of boring tool locations which actual path corresponds generally to at least said portion of the particular path taken by the boring tool; and electronically saving a record of the actual path. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
-
Specification