Method and apparatus for underground line crossing detection
AssigneeGas Technology Institute
InventorsDaniel Allen Ersoy, Christopher Ziolkowski
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for detecting contact between an underground electric wire conduit and an underground utility pipeline in which a detectable signal is applied to an electric line wire disposed within the underground electric wire conduit and the underground utility pipeline is monitored for a presence of the detectable signal. When there is a contact between the underground electric wire conduit and the underground utility pipeline, the signal applied to the electric line wire is detected by a suitable signal detector disposed on the surface of the utility pipeline and/or within the utility pipeline.
Claims15
A method for detecting contact between an underground electric wire conduit and an underground utility pipeline comprising the steps of:
- imparting a detectable signal onto an electric line wire disposed within said underground electric wire conduit, wherein the detectable signal is a vibratory signal;
- monitoring said underground utility pipeline for a presence of said detectable signal;
- and
- detecting said detectable signal when there is a contact between said underground electric wire conduit and said underground utility pipeline.
A system for detecting contact between an underground electric wire conduit and an underground utility pipeline comprising:
- electronic signal generation means comprising a sound generation means for generating a vibratory signal and imparting a detectable vibratory signal onto an electric line wire disposed within said underground electric wire conduit;
- and
- electronic signal detector means for electronically receiving and identifying said detectable vibratory signal at least one of connected with an exterior of said underground utility pipeline or disposed within said underground utility pipeline.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.