Patent · US Expired

Void detector for buried pipelines and conduits using acoustic resonance

US6386037B1 · kind B1 · utility

4Cited by
8References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJun 6, 2001
Grant dateMay 14, 2002
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 6, 2021

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01N2291/2636
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A method and system are provided for detecting a void in backfill material such as soil surrounding a buried conduit such as a pipeline. The void is detected by monitoring an acoustic response from the conduit in response to acoustic excitation of the interior of the conduit. An analysis of changes in the acoustic response is then related to the presence or absence of a void in the backfill material.

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