Method and apparatus using acoustic sensor for sub-surface object detection and visualization

An apparatus for detecting an underground object, comprising:

• a roller container having a generally cylindrical shape being in contact with a ground surface, wherein at least a portion of said roller container that contacts the ground is substantially acoustically transparent and made of a substantially flexible material of one of rubber, polyethylene, polyvinylchloride, vinyl and a plastic material, such that the portion of the roller container that contacts the ground surface substantially conforms to a contour of the ground surface;
• a medium of at least one liquid and one gel disposed in the roller container;
• a shaft that passes through the roller container;
• a handle attached to the shaft for moving the roller across the ground surface;
• a rear wheel assembly attached to the handle, for decreasing loading of the roller on the ground surface;
• at least one acoustic sensor disposed in the medium in the roller container, for detecting acoustic noise roller wherein the at least one acoustic sensor is mounted on the shaft;
• at least one acoustic source that emits acoustic noise wherein the at least one acoustic source is mounted on the shaft;
• and
• an output device connected to the plurality of acoustic sensors.

An apparatus for detecting an underground object, comprising:

• a roller container having a generally cylindrical shape being in contact with a ground surface, wherein at least a portion of said roller container that contacts the ground is substantially acoustically transparent and made of a substantially flexible material of one of rubber, polyethylene, polyvinylchloride, vinyl and a plastic material, such that the portion of the roller container that contacts the ground surface substantially conforms to a contour of the ground surface;
• a medium of at least one liquid and one gel disposed in the roller container;
• a shaft that passes through the roller container;
• at least one acoustic sensor disposed in the medium in the roller container, for detecting acoustic noise roller wherein the at least one acoustic sensor is mounted on the shaft;
• at least one acoustic sensor disposed outside of the roller;
• a frame attached to the shaft of the roller for supporting the at least one acoustic sensor disposed outside of the roller;
• and
• an output device connected to the acoustic sensor.

An apparatus for detecting an underground object, comprising:

• a roller container having a generally cylindrical shape being in contact with a ground surface, wherein at least a portion of said roller container that contacts the ground is substantially acoustically transparent and made of a substantially flexible material of one of rubber, polyethylene, polyvinylchloride, vinyl and a plastic material, such that the portion of the roller container that contacts the ground surface substantially conforms to a contour of the ground surface;
• a medium of at least one liquid and one gel disposed in the roller container;
• a shaft that passes through the roller container;
• at least one acoustic sensor disposed in the medium in the roller container, for detecting acoustic noise roller wherein the at least one acoustic sensor is mounted on the shaft;
• a second roller container located in front of the roller container and a frame attached to the shaft of the roller container for supporting the second roller;
• and
• an output device connected to the acoustic sensor.

An apparatus for detecting an underground object, comprising:

• a roller container having a generally cylindrical shape being in contact with a ground surface, wherein at least a portion of said roller container that contacts the ground is substantially acoustically transparent and made of a substantially flexible material of one of rubber, polyethylene, polyvinylchloride, vinyl and a plastic material, such that the portion of the roller container that contacts the ground surface substantially conforms to a contour of the ground surface;
• a medium of at least one liquid and one gel disposed in the roller container;
• a shaft that passes through the roller container;
• at least one acoustic sensor disposed in the medium in the roller container, for detecting acoustic noise roller wherein the at least one acoustic sensor is mounted on the shaft;
• a collection chamber assembly mounted on the shaft inside the roller container at one end thereof, the collection chamber assembly comprising a chamber with openings formed therein for collecting and releasing higher density medium;
• and an output device connected an output device connected to the acoustic sensor.

An apparatus for detecting an underground object, comprising:

• a roller container having a generally cylindrical shape being in contact with a ground surface, wherein at least a portion of said roller container that contacts the ground is substantially acoustically transparent and made of a substantially flexible material of one of rubber, polyethylene, polyvinylchloride, vinyl and a plastic material, such that the portion of the roller container that contacts the ground surface substantially conforms to a contour of the ground surface;
• a medium of at least one liquid and one gel disposed in the roller container;
• at least one acoustic sensor disposed in the medium in the roller container, for detecting acoustic noise roller;
• at least one acoustic source that emits acoustic noise;
• a shaft that passes through the roller container wherein the shaft includes a bearing portion and a shroud portion, the at least one acoustic sensor and the at least one acoustic source being mounted on the shroud portion;
• and an output device connected to the acoustic sensor.

An apparatus for detecting an underground object, comprising:

• a container having a rigid top plate, said container being in contact with a ground surface wherein at least a portion of said container is substantially acoustically transparent;
• a medium of at least one liquid and one gel disposed in the container;
• at least one acoustic sensor for detecting acoustic noise mounted on the bottom of the rigid top plate and disposed in the medium in the container;
• and an output device connected to the acoustic sensor.

A method of detecting an underground object, comprising:

• emitting acoustic noise toward the underground object using at least one acoustic source and receiving the acoustic noise from the underground object with at least one acoustic sensor immersed in a medium, the medium being disposed in a container in contact with a ground surface;
• focusing the emitted acoustic noise using one of a shroud and a baffle.
• converting the received acoustic noise to electrical signals;
• and using an output device, converting the electrical signals to a form that can be sensed by a human to determine if the underground object has been detected.

A method of detecting an underground object, comprising:

• receiving at least one of acoustic noise emanating from and acoustic noise reflected from the underground object with at least one acoustic sensor immersed in a medium, the medium being disposed in a container in contact with a ground surface;
• imparting directional sensitivity to the at least one acoustic sensor using one of a shroud and a baffle.
• converting the received acoustic noise to electrical signals;
• using an output device, converting the electrical signals to a form that can be sensed by a human to determine if the underground object has been detected.

An apparatus for detecting an underground object, comprising:

• a plurality of the following device:
• a container in contact with a ground surface, wherein at least a portion of the container that contacts the ground surface is substantially acoustically transparent, and wherein the container comprises a rigid top plate;
• a medium disposed in the container, wherein the medium is at least one of liquid and gel;
• at least one acoustic sensor disposed in the medium in the container, for detecting acoustic noise, the at least one acoustic sensor comprising a single acoustic sensor mounted on a bottom of the rigid top plate;
• an output device connected to the acoustic sensor:
• a frame;
• and
• a plurality of elastic members for connecting the plurality of said devices to said frame and to each other.