Detecting underground objects
AssigneeRadiodetection Limited
InventorsAndrew Biggerstaff Lewis, Richard William Fling
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A monitoring device defines a boundary for movement of an underground object such as a booring tool. The underground object generates a magnetic field which is detected by the monitoring device. The monitoring device then determines the position of the underground object relative to itself, and hence to the boundary. The movement of the underground object can then be controlled so that it does not cross the boundary. The monitoring device may therefore define a protection zone so that a buried object within that protection zone will not be contacted by the moveable underground object.
Claims10
A method of detecting the movement of an underground object comprising:
- storing, in a monitoring device, data defining a boundary extending in space, the boundary extending at a position relative to said monitoring device;
- generating a magnetic field using generating means on or in the object, said generating means comprising a solenoid coil, said solenoid coil defining a dipole axis;
- and
- detecting the magnetic field at the monitoring device and determining the position of the object relative to the monitoring device, and hence the boundary, said monitoring device being spaced laterally from a vertical plane containing said dipole axis.
A method of controlling the movement of an underground object, comprising:
- storing, in a monitoring device, data defining a boundary extending in space, the boundary extending at a position relative to said monitoring device;
- generating a magnetic field using generating means on or in the object said generating means comprising a solenoid coil, said solenoid coil defining a dipole axis;
- and
- detecting the magnetic field at the monitoring device and determining the position of the object relative to the monitoring device, and hence the boundary, and controlling the movement of the object to prevent the object crossing the boundary, said monitoring device being spaced laterally from a vertical plane containing said dipole axis.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.