Boring technique using locate point measurements for boring tool depth prediction
US6160401A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 24, 1999 |
| Grant date | Dec 12, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 24, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01V3/26
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A system in which a boring tool is moved through the ground within a given region along a particular path in an orientation which includes pitch. A locating signal is transmitted from the boring tool which signal exhibits a field defined forward point within a reference surface which field defined forward point is vertically above an inground forward point on the particular path through which the boring tool is likely to pass. It establishes a predicted depth of the boring tool at the inground forward point by first identifying the field defined forward point with the use of a locator with two antennas. The signal strength of the locating signal is then measured at the field defined forward point as being representative of the depth of the boring tool at an inground upstream point which is the current location of the boring tool. With the boring tool at the upstream inground point, the pitch of the boring tool is determined. Using the measured signal strength and the determined pitch, the predicted depth of the boring tool is determined for the inground forward point based on the boring tool moving along an approximately straight path to the inground forward point.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.