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US 6,784,666 B2Granted
Flexible cushion probe for detecting a dielectric medium defined by a dielectric boundary surface
OwnerFrank Erik Andreaseninventor
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OwnerFrank Erik Andreaseninventor
Estimating the term…
A probe serving for detecting the structure of a dielectric medium. The probe includes at least one transmitter/receiver antenna located near a dielectric boundary surface that defines a dielectric medium, and a signal processor for receiving signals from the antenna and generating data representative of the structure of the dielectric medium. Between the antenna and the face is inserted a cushion of a material having a dielectric number higher than that of the air. In one embodiment, the probe is adapted to inspect if there is a void in the soil around a dielectric pipe, for example a sewer pipe. In this case, the probe is guided inside the pipe with the antennas located on a shaft mounted on the probe with the same axis as the axis of the pipe. Due to the presence of the cushion, an optimally good connection between the antennas and the face defining the dielectric medium is obtained. A probe arranged to detect inside for example a sewer pipe can be designed in such a way that it is possible to obtain a randomly dense measurement covering of the internal face of the pipe and the surrounding layer of soil. The measuring density is defined by changing the measuring frequency, rate of advance and the angle of the probe in relation to perpendicular.
A probe for detecting a dielectric medium defined by a dielectric boundary surface and comprising at least one transmitter/receiver antenna located near the surface, a signal processor for receiving signals from the antenna and generating data representative of the structure of the dielectric medium, and a flexible cushion which contains dielectric material and is located between the at least one transmitter/receiver antenna and the surface, wherein the flexible cushion comprises a watertight bag that contains a mixture of air and water in a proportion corresponding to a desired dielectric number and is in contact with the surface or is located near the surface while detection takes place to minimize signal reflexes from the surface.
A probe for detecting a dielectric medium defined by a dielectric boundary surface and comprising at least one transmitter/receiver antenna located near the surface, a signal processor for receiving signals from the antenna and generating data representative of the structure of the dielectric medium, and a flexible cushion which contains dielectric material and is located between the at least one transmitter/receiver antenna and the surface and is in contact with the surface or is located near the surface while detection takes place to minimize signal reflexes from the surface, wherein the dielectric medium is located in an area around a dielectric pipe having an inside face that constitutes the dielectric boundary surface, and detection takes place while the probe is guided through the pipe with the at least one transmitter/receiver antenna located on a rotating shaft mounted on the probe having an axis that is essentially the same as that of the pipe, wherein the shaft is journaled in two bearings located on each movable support, with one of the supports being an automotive tractor and the other being a carriage.
A probe for detecting a dielectric medium defined by a dielectric boundary surface and comprising at least one transmitter/receiver antenna located near the surface, a signal processor for receiving signals from the antenna and generating data representative of the structure of the dielectric medium, and a flexible cushion which contains dielectric material and is located between the at least one transmitter/receiver antenna and the surface, wherein the flexible cushion comprises a watertight bag that contains a mixture of gas and liquid in a proportion corresponding to a desired dielectric number and is in contact with the surface or is located near the surface while detection takes place to minimize signal reflexes from the surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.