Electronic time stamping apparatus for use with an inground transmitter

• US 8,710,844 B2
• Filed: 05/01/2012
• Issued: 04/29/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Merlin Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Merlin Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Mercer, John E.
• Primary Examiner(s): PATIDAR, JAY M
• Application Number:
  US13/461,120
• Publication Number:
  US 20120290207A1
• Time in Patent Office: 728 Days
• Field of Search: 324/329
• US Class Current: 324/329
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/0232 at least one of the energy sources or one of the detectors being located on or above the ground surface
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 3/12 operating with electromagnetic waves operating with millimetre waves G01V8/005
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 3/15 specially adapted for use during transport, e.g. by a person, vehicle or boat
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 3/165 operating with magnetic or electric fields produced or modified by the object or by the detecting device with electromagnetic waves G01V3/17
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 3/26 operating with magnetic or electric fields produced or modified either by the surrounding earth formation or by the detecting device with electromagnetic waves G01V3/30

Abstract

A device is described for use as part of a system in which a transmitter is moved through the ground while transmitting a signal that can be used to locate the transmitter. The device includes a receiver for receiving the signal to generate certain information about the position of the transmitter relative to the position of the device based on the signal. A processor establishes a current location of the transmitter and records the current location as one of a series of recorded locations of the transmitter based on the certain information and, at a time of recording the current location, electronically records a time stamp that designates at least the time at which the current location was recorded as part of the series of recorded locations of the transmitter.

Claims

1. An apparatus for use as part of a system in which a transmitter is moved through the ground within a region while transmitting a signal for locating the transmitter, said apparatus comprising:

a receiver for receiving the signal to generate certain information about the position of the transmitter relative to the position of the apparatus based on the signal; and

a processor that is configured for establishing a current location of the transmitter and for electronically recording the current location as one of a series of recorded locations of the transmitter based on the certain information and, at a time of recording the current location, electronically recording a time stamp that designates at least the time at which the current location was recorded as part of the series of recorded locations of the transmitter.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 including a user input for receiving a user interaction which causes the processor to record said current location.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 further configured for generating a graph based on the series of recorded locations.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said transmitter is moved by a length of drill pipe that is let out from a drill rig and said apparatus is configured to generate said graph based at least in part on the length of drill pipe.

5. The apparatus of claim 2 further configured for transferring all recorded information to a personal computer.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said transmitter is moved by a length of drill pipe that is let out from a drill rig and said apparatus is configured to generate said graph based at least in part on the length of drill pipe.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the series of recorded locations represent an actual path taken by the transmitter.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said transmitter is moved by a length of drill pipe that is let out from a drill rig and the transmitter is backtracked by pulling rearward on the length of drill pipe and said apparatus is configured to time and date stamp recorded locations during backtracking.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the actual path is recorded relative to a reference path.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 including establishing the actual path and the reference path relative to a vertical survey reference path.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 including a display that displays the actual path, reference path and vertical survey reference line.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 configured to store the series of recorded positions in an E²PROM.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the E²PROM forms part of a data logger module.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 including a data logger module that includes a memory that stores the series of recorded positions, a clock and a keypad.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the data logger module is configured to output values including pitch of the transmitter, magnetic range and signal strength ratio.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the data logger module is configured for later recall of the values.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the data logger module is configured to receive a set of coded data.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the coded data at least includes the roll and pitch of the transmitter.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the coded data further includes battery status and temperature of the transmitter.