Method and apparatus for use in location of conductors
OwnerMark Ian Howellinventor
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Abstract
Buried elongate conductors (e.g. pipes and cables) are located using an antenna assembly of ten vertical coils (A-J) arranged in two identical rows (A-E and F-J) arranged one above the other. Currents induced in the coils by alternating currents in buried conductors are fed to signal processing circuitry (12). This calculates parameters whose values can reliably indicate when a conductor is vertically beneath the antenna, and can indicate its depth.
Claims13
Apparatus for use in the location of elongate horizontally extending conductors comprising an antenna comprising a support structure and an array of five substantially identical coils (A, B, C, D, E) mounted thereto, in a horizontal row, each coil having a linear axis, the coils being arranged so that their axes are vertical and coplanar and with equal linear spacings.
A method for the location of elongate horizontally extending conductors comprising providing an antenna comprising a support structure and an array of five identical coils (A, B, C, D, E) mounted thereto, in a horizontal row, each coil having a linear axis, the coils being arranged so that their axes are vertical and coplanar and with equal linear spacings, traversing the antenna over the conductors, detecting signals induced in the antenna coils, and processing the signals to provide data indicative of conductor location.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.