Systems for and methods of simulating facilities for use in locate operations training exercises

• US 8,585,410 B2
• Filed: 06/18/2010
• Issued: 11/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Certusview Technologies LLC (Dycom Industries Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Certusview Technologies LLC (Dycom Industries Incorporated)
• Inventors: Nielsen, Steven, Chambers, Curtis, Farr, Jeffrey, Bachelder, Thomas William
• Primary Examiner(s): Thai, Xuan
• Assistant Examiner(s): CARLOS, ALVIN LEABRES
• Application Number:
  US12/818,432
• Publication Number:
  US 20100330542A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,250 Days
• Field of Search: 434/219
• US Class Current: 434/219
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/00 Teaching not covered by other main groups of this subclass teaching or practice apparatus for gun-aiming or gun-laying F41G3/26

Abstract

Systems for and methods of simulating facilities for use in locate operations training exercises are disclosed. Embodiments of the simulated facilities systems include a floor system in which one or more concealed wires may be energized to simulate underground facilities for the purpose of performing, for example, locate operations training, updating, and/or certification exercises for locate technicians. Embodiments of the simulated facilities systems include configurable pedestals by which either non-electric power line type of facilities and/or electric power line types of facility may be simulated. In some embodiments, simulated facilities systems may be configured manually and/or by use of a system controller.

Claims

1. A simulated facilities system to simulate underground facilities, comprising a physical floor system configured to define a simulated dig area, the physical floor system including a simulated marking surface to permit location and marking of simulated physical facilities, and one or more simulated physical facilities concealed in the physical floor system below the marking surface, wherein the physical floor system includes one or more of:

at least one connection pedestal having a connection to at least one of the simulated physical facilities;

at least one manhole having a connection to at least one of the simulated physical facilities;

a raised floor having the marking surface thereon; and

at least one manual pedestal configured for manual control of at least one of the simulated physical facilities; and

a system controller configured to control the physical floor system by including one or more locate routines to control configuration and operation of the simulated physical facilities, wherein the simulated physical facilities comprise a programmable wire matrix including a plurality of interconnectable wire segments.

2. A simulated facilities system as defined in claim 1, wherein the simulated physical facilities include one or more wires located in the physical floor system below the marking surface.

3. A simulated facilities system as defined in claim 1, wherein the simulated physical facilities include two or more wires at different depths.

4. A simulated facilities system as defined in claim 3, wherein at least two of the wires at different depths cross to simulate crossing underground facilities.

5. A simulated facilities system as defined in claim 1, wherein the simulated physical facilities define at least one branch.

6. A simulated facilities system as defined in claim 1, wherein the physical floor system further includes the at least one connection pedestal having the connection to at least one of the simulated physical facilities.

7. A simulated facilities system as defined in claim 6, wherein the connection pedestal permits connection of one or more of the simulated physical facilities to an AC signal or to a detection signal.

8. A simulated facilities system as defined in claim 6, wherein the connection pedestal includes a first circuit to supply a detection signal to one or more of the simulated physical facilities and a second circuit to supply an AC signal to one or more of the simulated physical facilities.

9. A simulated facilities system as defined in claim 1, wherein the physical floor system further includes the at least one manhole having the connection to at least one of the simulated physical facilities.

10. A simulated facilities system as defined in claim 1, wherein at least one of the simulated physical facilities comprises a wire including the wire segments interconnected by respective inline circuits.

11. A simulated facilities system as defined in claim 10, wherein each of the respective inline circuits includes a switch connected in series with the wire segments and an amplifier to condition a signal on the wire segments.

12. A simulated facilities system as defined in claim 1, wherein the marking surface comprises a surface of the floor system.

13. A simulated facilities system as defined in claim 1, wherein the marking surface is replaceable.

14. A simulated facilities system as defined in claim 1, wherein the simulated physical facilities include at least one wire that follows a facilities path and an embedded light generator that follows the facilities path, wherein the embedded light generator includes a plurality of illumination devices.

15. A simulated facilities system as defined in claim 1, wherein the simulated physical facilities include light elements that are energized by actuation of a marking device in proximity to the light elements.

16. A simulated facilities system as defined in claim 8, wherein the system controller is configured to enable operation of the connection pedestal.

17. A simulated facilities system as defined in claim 8, wherein the system controller is configured to set a mode of operation of the connection pedestal.

18. A simulated facilities system as defined in claim 8, wherein the system controller is configured to control one or more settings of the first and second circuits in the connection pedestal.

19. A simulated facilities system as defined in claim 11, wherein the system controller is configured to control the switch in the inline circuit.

20. A simulated facilities system as defined in claim 11, wherein the system controller is configured to control the amplifier in the inline circuit.

21. A simulated facilities system as defined in claim 1, wherein the system controller is configured to control interconnection of the wire segments of the programmable wire matrix.

22. A simulated facilities system as defined in claim 14, wherein the system controller is configured to control the illumination devices of the embedded light generator.

23. A simulated facilities system as defined in claim 1, wherein the physical floor system further includes the at least one manual pedestal configured for manual control of at least one of the simulated physical facilities.

24. A simulated facilities system as defined in claim 1, wherein at least one of the simulated physical facilities is programmable.

25. A simulated facilities system as defined in claim 1, wherein the physical floor system comprises the raised floor having the marking surface thereon.

26. A simulated facilities system as defined in claim 1, wherein the marking surface is contoured to simulate the dig area.

27. A simulated facilities system as defined in claim 1, wherein the marking surface is textured to simulate the dig area.

28. A simulated facilities system as defined in claim 1, wherein one or more of the simulated physical facilities are movable within the physical floor system.

29. A simulated facilities system as defined in claim 1, wherein the floor system is configured for indoor installation.

30. A simulated facilities system as defined in claim 1, wherein the floor system is configured for outdoor installation.

31. A simulated facilities system as defined in claim 1, wherein the floor system is configured to be carried in a vehicle.

32. A simulated facilities system as defined in claim 31, wherein the floor system is dimensioned and shaped to fit within and be carried by a vehicle.

33. A simulated facilities system as defined in claim 31, wherein at least part of the floor system is extendable from the vehicle during simulation operations.

34. A simulated facilities system as defined in claim 31, wherein the floor assembly is configured to be installed in a trailer.

35. A simulated facilities system as defined in claim 34, wherein at least a section of the floor assembly slides or folds from a side or an end of the trailer.

36. A simulated facilities system as defined in claim 31, wherein the floor assembly is configured to permit location and marking of the simulated physical facilities when the physical floor system is at least partially within the vehicle.

37. A simulated facilities system as defined in claim 31, wherein the physical floor system is removable from the vehicle to permit location and marking of the simulated physical facilities.

38. A simulated facilities system as defined in claim 1, wherein the simulated physical facilities are located in the physical floor system at depths less than actual depths of underground facilities and wherein the system controller is configured to scale the locations of the simulated facilities to simulate the actual depths of underground facilities.

39. A method for simulating underground facilities, comprising:

providing a physical floor system configured to define a simulated dig area, the physical floor system including a simulated marking surface to permit location and marking of simulated physical facilities, and one or more simulated physical facilities concealed in the physical floor system below the marking surface;

wherein the physical floor system includes one or more of;

at least one connection pedestal having a connection to at least one of the simulated physical facilities;

at least one manhole having a connection to at least one of the simulated physical facilities;

a raised floor having the marking surface thereon; and

at least one manual pedestal configured for manual control of at least one of the simulated physical facilities;

controlling the configuration and operation of the simulated physical facilities to define a facility locate routine;

wherein controlling includes configuring the simulated physical facilities to simulate one or more of;

a broken tracer wire routine for location and marking of the simulated physical facilities using the physical floor system, a long run routine for location and marking of the simulated physical facilities using the physical floor system, a crossing facilities routine for location and marking of the simulated physical facilities using the physical floor system, a branch routine for location and marking of the simulated physical facilities using the physical floor system, and a manhole routine for location and marking of the simulated physical facilities using the physical floor system, and performing location and marking of the simulated physical facilities according to the defined facility locate routine.

40. A method as defined in claim 39, wherein controlling includes configuring the simulated physical facilities to simulate one or more of a beginner routine, an intermediate routine, and an expert routine.

41. A method as defined in claim 39, wherein controlling includes selecting a complexity level of the facility locate routine from two or more different complexity levels of the facility locate routine.

42. A method for facility locate training comprising:

providing a physical floor system configured to define a simulated dig area, the physical floor system including a simulated marking surface to permit location and marking of simulated facilities, and one or more simulated physical facilities concealed in the floor system below the marking surface;

wherein the physical floor system includes one or more of;

at least one connection pedestal having a connection to at least one of the simulated physical facilities;

at least one manhole having a connection to at least one of the simulated physical facilities;

a raised floor having the marking surface thereon; and

at least one manual pedestal configured for manual control of at least one of the simulated physical facilities;

configuring the simulated physical facilities to define a facility locate routine that includes one or more of;

a broken tracer wire routine for simulated location and marking operation using the physical floor system, a long run routine for simulated location and marking operation using the physical floor system, a crossing facilities routine for simulated location and marking operation using the physical floor system, a branch routine for simulated location and marking operation using the physical floor system, and a manhole routine for simulated location and marking operation using the physical floor system, performing, by a user, simulated location and marking operations in accordance with the defined facility locate routine;

evaluating the simulated location and marking operations; and

coaching the user based on the evaluation of the simulated location and marking operations.

43. A physical floor system to simulate underground facilities in a simulated dig area, comprising:

a simulated marking surface to permit location and marking of simulated physical facilities in the simulated dig area;

wherein the simulated physical facilities comprise a programmable wire matrix including a plurality of interconnectable wire segments, and one or more simulated physical facilities concealed in the physical floor system below the marking surface, wherein the physical floor system includes one or more of;

at least one connection pedestal having a connection to at least one of the simulated physical facilities;

at least one manhole having a connection to at least one of the simulated physical facilities;

a raised floor having the marking surface thereon; and

at least one manual pedestal configured for manual control of at least one of the simulated physical facilities.

44. A mobile simulated facilities system to simulate underground facilities, comprising:

a physical floor system configured to be carried in a vehicle and to define a simulated dig area, wherein the physical floor system includes one or more of;

at least one connection pedestal having a connection to at least one of the simulated physical facilities;

at least one manhole having a connection to at least one of the simulated physical facilities;

a raised floor having the marking surface thereon; and

at least one manual pedestal configured for manual control of at least one of the simulated physical facilities, the floor system including a simulated marking surface to permit location and marking of simulated physical facilities, wherein the simulated physical facilities comprise a programmable wire matrix including a plurality of interconnectable wire segments, and one or more simulated physical facilities concealed in the floor system below the marking surface; and

a system controller configured to control the physical floor system by including one or more locate routines to control configuration and operation of the simulated physical facilities.

45. A method for simulating underground facilities, comprising:

providing a physical floor system configured to be carried in a vehicle and to define a simulated dig area, the physical floor system including a simulated marking surface to permit location and marking of simulated physical facilities, and one or more simulated physical facilities concealed in the floor system below the marking surface;

wherein the physical floor system includes one or more of;

at least one connection pedestal having a connection to at least one of the simulated physical facilities;

at least one manhole having a connection to at least one of the simulated physical facilities;

a raised floor having the marking surface thereon; and

at least one manual pedestal configured for manual control of at least one of the simulated physical facilities;

transporting the physical floor system in the vehicle;

controlling the configuration and operation of the simulated physical facilities to define a facility locate routine;

wherein controlling includes configuring the simulated physical facilities to simulate one or more of ;

a broken tracer wire routine for simulated location and marking operation using the physical floor system, a long run routine for simulated location and marking operation using the physical floor system, a crossing facilities routine for simulated location and marking operation using the physical floor system, a branch routine for simulated location and marking operation using the physical floor system, and a manhole routine for simulated location and marking operation using the physical floor system, and performing location and marking of the simulated physical facilities according to the defined facility locate routine.

46. A method for facility locate training comprising:

providing a physical floor system configured to be carried in a vehicle and to define a simulated dig area, the physical floor system including a simulated marking surface to permit location and marking of simulated physical facilities, and one or more simulated physical facilities concealed in the physical floor system below the marking surface;

wherein the physical floor system includes one or more of;

at least one connection pedestal having a connection to at least one of the simulated physical facilities;

at least one manhole having a connection to at least one of the simulated physical facilities;

a raised floor having the marking surface thereon; and

at least one manual pedestal configured for manual control of at least one of the simulated physical facilities;

transporting the physical floor system in the vehicle;

configuring the simulated physical facilities to define a facility locate routine that includes one or more of ;

a broken tracer wire routine for simulated location and marking operation using the physical floor system, a long run routine for simulated location and marking operation using the physical floor system, a crossing facilities routine for simulated location and marking operation using the physical floor system, a branch routine for simulated location and marking operation using the physical floor system, and a manhole routine for simulated location and marking operation using the physical floor system, performing, by a user, simulated location and marking operations in accordance with the defined facility locate routine;

evaluating the simulated location and marking operations; and

coaching the user based on the evaluation of the simulated location and marking operations.

47. A mobile physical floor system to simulate underground facilities in a simulated dig area, comprising a simulated marking surface to permit location and marking of simulated physical facilities in the simulated dig area;

wherein the simulated physical facilities comprise a programmable wire matrix including a plurality of interconnectable wire segments, and one or more simulated physical facilities concealed in the mobile physical floor system below the marking surface, wherein the mobile physical floor system includes one or more of;

at least one connection pedestal having a connection to at least one of the simulated physical facilities;

at least one manhole having a connection to at least one of the simulated physical facilities;

a raised floor having the marking surface thereon; and

at least one manual pedestal configured for manual control of at least one of the simulated physical facilities;

the mobile physical floor system configured to be carried in a vehicle.

48. A mobile simulated facilities system to simulate underground facilities, comprising:

a vehicle including a trailer;

a physical floor system configured to be carried in the trailer and to define a simulated dig area, the physical floor system including a simulated marking surface to permit location and marking of simulated physical facilities, wherein the simulated physical facilities comprise a programmable wire matrix including a plurality of interconnectable wire segments, and one or more simulated physical facilities concealed in the physical floor system below the marking surface;

wherein the physical floor system includes one or more of;

at least one connection pedestal having a connection to at least one of the simulated physical facilities;

at least one manhole having a connection to at least one of the simulated physical facilities;

a raised floor having the marking surface thereon; and

at least one manual pedestal configured for manual control of at least one of the simulated physical facilities; and

a system controller configured to control the physical floor system by including one or more locate routines to control configuration and operation of the simulated physical facilities.