Tension monitoring arrangement and method
First Claim
1. In a system for installing an underground utility by retraction that is applied to a leading end of the utility to draw the utility through the ground such that the utility is subjected to a tension force during an installation time period, a tension monitoring apparatus, comprising:
- a sensor for inground sensing of the tension force that is applied to the leading end of the utility to produce a sensor signal during said installation time period;
a processor configured at least for storing an original digital data set responsive to said sensor signal during the installation time period and for copying the original data set to a different location to create a copied data set after said installation time period; and
a user interface, in communication with the processor, to permit a user to instruct the processor to erase the original data set only after the original data set has been copied to the different location.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Tension monitoring is described using a sensor which may exhibit an offset for which compensation may be provided to produce a zero voltage amplified output or to increase dynamic range. An arrangement determines whether a power reset is responsive to a battery bounce such that an initially-measured system start-up parameter can be retained. The start-up parameter is automatically saved at start-up if the power reset is responsive to a start-up from a shut-down condition. The start-up parameter may be a zero tension amplified output responsive to the sensor offset at zero tension. Protection of a tension data set is provided such that no opportunity for altering the data set is presented prior to transfer of the data set. A housing configuration forms part of an electrical power circuit for providing electrical power to an electronics package from a battery.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. In a system for installing an underground utility by retraction that is applied to a leading end of the utility to draw the utility through the ground such that the utility is subjected to a tension force during an installation time period, a tension monitoring apparatus, comprising:
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a sensor for inground sensing of the tension force that is applied to the leading end of the utility to produce a sensor signal during said installation time period; a processor configured at least for storing an original digital data set responsive to said sensor signal during the installation time period and for copying the original data set to a different location to create a copied data set after said installation time period; and a user interface, in communication with the processor, to permit a user to instruct the processor to erase the original data set only after the original data set has been copied to the different location. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. In a system for installing an underground utility by retraction that is applied to a leading end of the utility to draw the utility through the ground such that the utility is subjected to a tension force during an installation time period, a method comprising:
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sensing the tension force inground that is applied to the leading end of the utility to produce a sensor signal during said installation time period; storing an original digital data set, responsive to said sensor signal during said installation time period; copying the original data set to a different location to create a copied data set after said installation time period; and permitting a user to instruct the processor to erase the original data set only after the original data set has been copied to the different location. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification