Magnetomechanical markers for marking stationary assets

• US 9,013,274 B2
• Filed: 09/22/2010
• Issued: 04/21/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Doany, Ziyad H., Dowdle, Dean M., Hamerly, Michael E., Egbert, William C., Joyce, Terrence H. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): GIRMA, FEKADESELASS
• Application Number:
  US12/888,272
• Publication Number:
  US 20120068823A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,672 Days
• Field of Search: 340/8.1, 340/572.6, 340/551, 324/326, 324/26, 324/329, 148/304, 148/311, 148/108, 148/307, 148/310, 148/403
• US Class Current: 340/8.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 15/00 Tags attached to, or associated with, an object, in order to enable detection of the object record carriers for use with machines having a detectable tag or marker G06K19/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 3/081 the magnetic field is produced by the objects or geological structures characterised by the method of magnetic field measurement G01R33/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 3/38 Processing data, e.g. for analysis, for interpretation, for correction
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0672 with resonating marks
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2437 Tag layered structure, processes for making layered tags

Abstract

An article, system and method related to a magnetomechanical marker used to mark stationary assets. Magnetomechanical markers can be arranged in clusters and associated with stationary assets, including assets buried underground. Markers can be associated with an asset by being attached to the asset, arranged in a particular spatial relationship with the asset, or in any other appropriate way. A portable locating device can be used to generate an alternating magnetic field to activate the magnetomechanical marker and thus locate the asset.

Claims

1. A system for locating an asset buried underground, the system comprising:

a first cluster of magnetomechanical markers disposed on a carrier;

a second cluster of magnetomechanical markers disposed on the carrier, wherein each cluster comprises at least two magnetomechanical markers, wherein an intervening space is disposed on the carrier between the first cluster and the second cluster, wherein a distance separating the first cluster from the second cluster is greater than a distance separating each magnetomechanical marker within the first cluster; and

a portable locating device, wherein the locating device includes at least a single antenna and a battery.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the magnetomechanical markers of each cluster are arranged in a parallel array.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the magnetic bias layer polarity of each magnetomechanical marker within the cluster is the same.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the carrier is arranged so that it is in a planar or a curved configuration.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein a first magnetomechanical marker is tuned to a first frequency and a second magnetomechanical marker is tuned to a second frequency, wherein the first frequency is different from the second frequency.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one magnetomechanical marker is tuned to a resonant frequency within the range of 57 kHz to 59 kHz.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the locator provides information regarding a path of the asset.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the distance separating the first cluster from the second cluster is a fixed distance.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein each marker of the first cluster of magnetomechanical markers is arranged in a side-by-side parallel array.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein each marker of the first cluster of magnetomechanical markers is arranged in an end-to-end parallel array.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the asset comprises a pipe.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the locator provides information regarding a path of the pipe.

13. The system of claim 1, further comprising a third cluster of magnetomechanical markers disposed on the carrier, wherein the distance separating the each cluster is a fixed distance.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the carrier is associated with the buried asset.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the carrier is placed underground within 1 meter of the asset.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the carrier comprises a generally non-conductive substrate.

17. A system for locating an asset buried underground, the system comprising:

a first cluster of magnetomechanical markers disposed on a carrier;

a second cluster of magnetomechanical markers disposed on the carrier, wherein each cluster comprises at least two magnetomechanical markers, wherein a distance separating the first cluster from the second cluster is greater than a distance separating each magnetomechanical marker within the first cluster; and

a portable locating device, wherein the locating device includes at least a single antenna and a battery wherein the carrier is placed underground within 1 meter of the asset.

18. A system for locating the path of a pipe or cable buried underground, the system comprising:

a first cluster of magnetomechanical markers disposed on a carrier;

a second cluster of magnetomechanical markers disposed on the carrier, wherein each cluster comprises at least two magnetomechanical markers, wherein an intervening space is disposed on the carrier between the first cluster and the second cluster, wherein a distance separating the first cluster from the second cluster is greater than a distance separating each magnetomechanical marker within the first cluster; and

a portable locating device, wherein the locating device includes at least a single antenna and a battery, wherein the carrier is associated with the buried pipe or cable.