Method for timestamping boring tool locations
First Claim
Patent Images
1. In an overall process in which a boring tool is moved through the ground within a given region along a particular path, a method comprising:
- 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 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; and
as at least one location of said series of locations is established, electronically recording the location and a time stamp that designates at least a time at which the location was recorded.
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Abstract
A boring tool is moved through the ground within a given region along a particular path. The boring tool is moved in cooperation with moving a portable locator to establish a series of boring tool locations of the boring tool on the particular path. As at least one location of the series of locations is established, the location and a time stamp are electronically recorded to designate at least a time at which the location was recorded.
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Citations
11 Claims
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1. In an overall process in which a boring tool is moved through the ground within a given region along a particular path, a method comprising:
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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 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; and as at least one location of said series of locations is established, electronically recording the location and a time stamp that designates at least a time at which the location was recorded. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. In an overall process in which a boring tool is moved through the ground within a given region along a particular path, a method comprising:
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establishing a reference path within the given 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 to receive the electromagnetic signal with less than five spaced-apart antennas 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 to establish said series of locations 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; as each location of said series of locations is established, electronically recording the location and a time stamp that designates at least a time at which the location was recorded; and 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 a portion of the particular path taken by the boring tool; and electronically saving a record of the actual path.
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Specification