Patent · US Expired

Dual antenna radio frequency locating apparatus and method

US5320180A · kind A · utility

33Cited by
13References
19Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 8, 1992
Grant dateJun 14, 1994
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 8, 2012

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC E)Fixed Constructions
  • CPC primaryE21B47/0232
  • WIPO fieldCivil engineering
  • WIPO sectorOther fields

Abstract

The present method and apparatus are directed to river crossings and the like. A horizontal drilling rig is set up and drills under a body of water or the like. Angular measurement sensors carried at the drill bit provide data periodically which is transmitted from a transmitter at the end of the drill string. Two antennas are deployed, the two being parallel strips spaced equally on the left and right of the right of way. They connect with two receivers. The transmitted angular data is used to determine the location of the drill bit. Progressive determinations of the transmitter enable determination of the trajectory during drilling. The two antennas are used to provide redundant reception of the transmitted signal. In addition to that, a quick reading of lateral drift is obtained by measuring the ratio of the received signals. The two antennas have the form of flat strips which can be deployed across the terrain, over a river, and the like.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.