Self-dispensing spaced electronic markers
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An article for supplying an underground utility which may be electronically detected from above ground, comprising:
- a plurality of passive electronic markers, each having a coil of wire connected in parallel with a capacitor, forming a resonant circuit; and
a hollow conduit member having a wall, an outer surface, and an inner surface, said markers being attached to said conduit member at predetermined intervals, said predetermined intervals forming a pattern which encodes information about the underground utility.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A marked conduit allowing electronic location of the conduit after burial, having a plurality of electronic markers spaced thereon at predetermined intervals. The distance between the markers encodes information about the buried conduit. The markers are preferably passive circuits tuned to a specific frequency. The markers may be oriented in a predetermined pattern to encode additional information, and may be attached to the outer or inner surface of the conduit, or imbedded in the wall of the conduit.
87 Citations
15 Claims
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1. An article for supplying an underground utility which may be electronically detected from above ground, comprising:
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a plurality of passive electronic markers, each having a coil of wire connected in parallel with a capacitor, forming a resonant circuit; and a hollow conduit member having a wall, an outer surface, and an inner surface, said markers being attached to said conduit member at predetermined intervals, said predetermined intervals forming a pattern which encodes information about the underground utility. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An article for supplying natural gas underground, which may be electronically detected from above ground, comprising:
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a plurality of passive electronic markers; and a tubular pipe formed of polyethylene, having a wall, an outer surface, and an inner surface, said markers being imbedded in said wall at predetermined intervals, said predetermined intervals forming a pattern which encodes information about the underground utility. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of manufacturing an article for supplying an underground utility, the article being electronically locatable from above ground, comprising the steps of:
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obtaining a plurality of electronic markers; constructing a hollow conduit, having a wall, an inner surface, and an outer surface; and attaching said electronic markers to said inner surface of said conduit at predetermined intervals, said predetermined intervals forming a pattern which encodes information about the underground utility. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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Specification