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US 4,600,356 AGranted
Underground pipeline and cable detector and process
AssigneeGas Research Institute
InventorsJack E. Bridges, Robert J. Sutkowski, Kenneth E. Hofer, Jr.
Life of this patent
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AssigneeGas Research Institute
InventorsJack E. Bridges, Robert J. Sutkowski, Kenneth E. Hofer, Jr.
Estimating the term…
An apparatus and process combining an excavation apparatus with a fully contained underground elongated conductive object detector capable of selectively detecting underground objects such as water pipes and electrical cables. The combination of this invention may be advantageously used in trenching to prevent damage to underground water pipes and electrical cables by detecting their presence before the digging implement damages them. An audible or visual signal may be activated and/or the excavation apparatus may be automatically shut down upon detection of an underground pipe or cable a few feet below the excavation. The detector may be incorporated in the digging shovel of a backhoe or maintained in position adjacent the digging implement by a boom extending from the excavation apparatus. Simple and sturdy time gated electronics is advantageously used to differentiate underground pipes and cables from other underground metal debris and to provide range and direction information.
An apparatus capable of making excavation in the ground in combination with a fully contained underground elongated conductive object detector comprising:
An apparatus capable of making excavation in the ground in combination with a fully contained underground elongated conductive object detector comprising:
A process for detection of underground elongated conductive objects during excavation with an excavation apparatus having a fully contained underground elongated conductive object detector, said process comprising the sequential steps:
A process for detection of underground elongated conductive objects during excavation with an excavation apparatus having a fully contained underground elongated conductive object detector, said process comprising the sequential steps:
An apparatus capable of making excavation in the ground in combination with a fully contained underground elongated conductive object detector comprising:
A process for detection of underground elongated conductive objects during excavation with an excavation apparatus having a fully contained underground elongated conductive object detector, said process comprising the sequential steps:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.