Apparatus and method for detecting an underground cable while operating a piece of machinery
US6633163B2 · kind B2 · utility
58Cited by
10References
14Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 17, 2001 |
| Grant date | Oct 14, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 17, 2021 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01V3/15
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An excavator vehicle has sensors thereon at different heights. Each sensor may have a coil which is generally horizontal and which detects the magnetic field generated by a current in a buried conductor. By detecting the relative magnitudes of the component of the field parallel to the ground, as detected by the sensors, it is possible to determine whether or not the excavator vehicle is proximate the buried conductor. A warning may be generated, or the excavating tool of the excavator vehicle controlled, to prevent the excavating tool damaging the buried conductor.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.