Radio mode selectivity block for a detector for detecting a buried current carrying conductor

• US 7,304,480 B1
• Filed: 06/20/2006
• Issued: 12/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Radiodetection Limited
• Original Assignee: Radiodetection Limited
• Inventors: Pearson, Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): Aurora; Reena
• Assistant Examiner(s): Schindler; David M
• Application Number:
  US11/455,788
• Publication Number:
  US 20070268011A1
• Time in Patent Office: 532 Days
• Field of Search: 324/328, 324/326, 324/327, 324/329, 324/67, 331/37, 331/38, 331/39
• US Class Current: 324/328
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 29/085 for detecting presence or location of electric lines or cables fault detection G01R31/50; fault location G01R31/08

Abstract

A radio mode selectivity block 41 for a detector 1 for detecting a buried current carrying conductor comprises a plurality of beat frequency oscillators 53 to center the bandwidth of detection of the detector 1 on target very low frequency (VLF) frequency bands. The frequencies of the beat frequency oscillators are chosen to fall within the VLF frequency bands used in a number of countries, so that the detector 1 can be used in radio mode in these countries without the need for local configuration.

Claims

1. A radio mode selectivity block for a detector for detecting very low frequency magnetic emissions from a buried current carrying conductor, the detector having magnetic sensors for converting the magnetic emissions into field strength signals and an analogue to digital converter for digitising the field strength signals, the radio mode selectivity block comprising:

a plurality of beat frequency oscillators to centre the bandwidth of detection of the field strength signals of the detector on target very low frequency (VLF) frequency bands;

summing means for summing the outputs of the beat frequency oscillators; and

multiplying means for multiplying the output of the summing means with the digitised field strength signals.

2. A radio mode selectivity block as claimed in claim 1, wherein a first beat frequency oscillators oscillates at a frequency between 17536 Hz and 20992 Hz, and a second beat frequency oscillators oscillates at a frequency between 20992 Hz and 24448 Hz.

3. A radio mode selectivity block as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first beat frequency oscillators oscillates at a frequency between 18400 Hz and 20128 Hz, and the second beat frequency oscillators oscillates at a frequency between 21856 Hz and 23584 Hz.

4. A radio mode selectivity block as claimed in claim 3, wherein the first beat frequency oscillators oscillates at a frequency of 19264 Hz and the second beat frequency oscillators oscillates at a frequency of 22720 Hz.

5. A radio mode selectivity block as claimed in claim 2, wherein a third beat frequency oscillator oscillates at 24700 Hz.

6. A detector for detecting a buried current carrying conductor comprising:

magnetic sensors for converting magnetic emissions from the conductor into field strength signals;

an analogue to digital converter for digitising the field strength signals; and

a radio mode selectivity block according to any one of the preceding claims, arranged to process the field strength signals of the detector.