Inductive clamp devices, systems, and methods

• US 9,632,199 B2
• Filed: 07/29/2014
• Issued: 04/25/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seescan, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Seescan, Inc.
• Inventors: Olsson, Mark S., Brown, Hunter, Bench, Stephanie M., Taylor, Justin W., Soukup, Jan
• Primary Examiner(s): Assouad, Patrick
• Assistant Examiner(s): PRETLOW, DEMETRIUS R
• Application Number:
  US14/446,279
• Publication Number:
  US 20150204995A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,001 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/13 Receivers
• 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 3/104 using several coupled or uncoupled coils G01V3/101 takes precedence
• 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

Abstract

Inductive clamps for use in utility locate operations are disclosed. In one embodiment, an inductive clamp includes a head assembly including a base element and a plurality of arm elements coupled to the base element, a handle assembly including a utility selector element coupled to the head assembly, and a magnetic core subassembly for generating a magnetic field for coupling to a targeted utility, the magnetic core subassembly including a plurality of ferrite elements and wire winding wrapped about one or more of the ferrite elements.

Claims

1. An inductive clamp for use in utility locate operations, comprising:

a head assembly including a base element and a plurality of arm elements coupled to the base element;

wherein the arm elements are movably closable in response to contact with a utility line and the arm elements are further movably openeable and closable with information about a selected utility type displayed on the inductive clamp;

a handle assembly including a utility selector element, including a magnetic sensor switch to detect a position of the selector and provide a corresponding output signal to a coupled utility locator transmitter, coupled to the head assembly; and

a magnetic core subassembly disposed on or in the head assembly for generating a magnetic field for coupling to a targeted utility, the magnetic core subassembly including a plurality of ferrite elements and wire winding wrapped about one or more of the ferrite elements.

2. The inductive clamp of claim 1, wherein the arm elements are retained in an open or closed configuration by a plurality of permanent magnets disposed in an orientation to provide an attractive force between them.

3. The inductive clamp of claim 2, wherein the plurality of magnets includes back arm magnets, base element magnets, and front arm magnets.

4. The inductive clamp of claim 1, further including a tensioning element for holding the arm elements in a selected position.

5. The inductive clamp of claim 1, further comprising an integrated GPS receiver module.

6. The inductive clamp of claim 1, further comprising an integrated camera module.

11. The inductive clamp of claim 1, further comprising an integrated transmitter module for generating a current signal that is coupled to the magnetic core subassembly to generate the magnetic field for coupling to a targeted utility.

12. The inductive clamp of claim 11, wherein the integrated transmitter module is configured to generate an output current signal at a plurality of frequencies.

13. The inductive clamp of claim 12, wherein the plurality of frequencies of the output current signal are time multiplexed on a single current output signal.

14. The inductive clamp of claim 12, wherein the output current signal comprises a plurality of separate output current signals, and ones of the plurality of frequencies are provided on different ones of the separate current signals.

15. The inductive claim of claim 11, further comprising an intelligent battery coupled to the inductive clamp.

16. The inductive clamp of claim 1, further comprising one or more ports for coupling other clamps or accessories.

17. The inductive clamp of claim 1, further comprising a data communications module disposed in the inductive clamp.

18. The inductive clamp of claim 17, wherein the data communications module is a wireless data communications module.

19. The inductive clamp of claim 17, wherein the data communications module is a wired data communications module.

20. The inductive clamp of claim 1, further comprising an LCD display for providing an indication of a utility selector element state.

21. The indicator clamp of claim 1, further comprising a microphone.

22. The inductive clamp of claim 1, further comprising a USB port.

23. The inductive clamp of claim 1, further comprising an audio output element.

7. An inductive clamp for use in utility locate operations, comprising:

a head assembly including a base element and a plurality of arm elements coupled to the base element;

a handle assembly including a utility selector element coupled to the head assembly; and

a magnetic core subassembly disposed on or in the head assembly for generating a magnetic field for coupling to a targeted utility, the magnetic core subassembly including a plurality of ferrite elements and wire winding wrapped about one or more of the ferrite elements;

wherein the utility selector element includes a sensor assembly and electronics to sense a position or orientation of the utility selector element and provide an output signal corresponding to the selected position or orientation to a utility locator transmitter remotely coupled to the inductive clamp.

8. The inductive clamp of claim 7 further comprising a communications module, wherein the output signal is provided as a wired or wireless output signal from the communications module.

9. The inductive clamp of claim 7, wherein the position or orientation of the utility selector element is stored in a non-transitory memory in the inductive clamp and the utility selector element includes an off mode switch to power the clamp device on or off from a coupled remotely located utility locator transmitter.

10. The inductive clamp of claim 7, wherein the utility selector element includes text or an icon to represent a selected utility type.