Sonde locator
US6459266B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 26, 2000 |
| Grant date | Oct 1, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 26, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01V3/081
- WIPO fieldCivil engineering
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
In order to locate an inaccessible object such as an underground boring tool, the inaccessible object having means, for example a solenoid, to generate a magnetic field, a locator is provided with a detector for detecting the generated magnetic field. The detector may be an aerial array of three mutually perpendicular coils. When the locator is moved from a first position to a second position errors may arise in the measurements due to misalignment of the locator. In order to minimise such errors, a magnetic compass is provided on the locator to ensure that the locator can be maintained in the same position relative to the Earth's magnetic field. The magnetic compass is not affected by the magnetic field generated by the solenoid as this magnetic field is an A.C. magnetic field.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.