Boring or penetrating the earth – Automatic control – Of boring means including a below-ground drive prime mover
Patent
1999-05-13
2000-12-19
Lillis, Eileen D.
Boring or penetrating the earth
Automatic control
Of boring means including a below-ground drive prime mover
175 24, 175 40, 175 45, 324333, 324338, 3408531, 3408533, 3408534, 3408536, E21B 4400, E21B 4700, G01V 308, G01V 300
Patent
active
061616303
ABSTRACT:
An apparatus and method for determining a location and an orientation of an underground boring tool by employment of a radar-like probe and detection technique. The boring tool is provided with a device which generates a specific signature signal in response to a probe signal transmitted from above the ground. Cooperation between the probe signal transmitter at ground level and the signature signal generating device provided at the underground boring tool results in accurate detection of the boring tool location and, if desired, orientation, despite the presence of a large background signal. Precision detection of the boring tool location and orientation enables the operator to accurately locate the boring tool during operation and, if provided with a directional capacity, avoid buried obstacles such as utilities and other hazards. The signature signal produced by the boring tool may be generated either passively or actively, and may be a microwave or an acoustic signal. Further, the signature signal may be produced in a manner which differs from that used to produce the probe signal in one or more ways, including timing, frequency content, information content, or polarization.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3718930 (1973-02-01), McCullough et al.
patent: 3781879 (1973-12-01), Staras et al.
patent: 3831173 (1974-08-01), Lerner
patent: 3975735 (1976-08-01), McCullough et al.
patent: 3979724 (1976-09-01), Silverman et al.
patent: 4003017 (1977-01-01), Bailey
patent: 4016942 (1977-04-01), Wallis, Jr. et al.
patent: 4297699 (1981-10-01), Fowler et al.
patent: 4646277 (1987-02-01), Bridges et al.
patent: 4698634 (1987-10-01), Alongi et al.
patent: 4710708 (1987-12-01), Rorden et al.
patent: 4728897 (1988-03-01), Gunton
patent: 4787463 (1988-11-01), Geller et al.
patent: 4806869 (1989-02-01), Chau et al.
patent: 4814768 (1989-03-01), Chang
patent: 4843597 (1989-06-01), Gjessing et al.
patent: 4875014 (1989-10-01), Roberts et al.
patent: 4881083 (1989-11-01), Chau et al.
patent: 4905008 (1990-02-01), Kawano et al.
patent: 4907658 (1990-03-01), Stangl et al.
patent: 4912643 (1990-03-01), Beirxe
patent: 4953638 (1990-09-01), Dunn
patent: 5012248 (1991-04-01), Munro et al.
patent: 5065098 (1991-11-01), Salsman et al.
patent: 5070462 (1991-12-01), Chau
patent: 5092657 (1992-03-01), Bryan, Jr.
patent: 5155442 (1992-10-01), Mercer
patent: 5182516 (1993-01-01), Ward et al.
patent: 5220963 (1993-06-01), Patton
patent: 5264795 (1993-11-01), Rider
patent: 5325095 (1994-06-01), Vadnais et al.
patent: 5337002 (1994-08-01), Mercer
patent: 5339080 (1994-08-01), Steinway et al.
patent: 5355965 (1994-10-01), Rozendaal
patent: 5384715 (1995-01-01), Lytton
patent: 5467832 (1995-11-01), Orban et al.
patent: 5469155 (1995-11-01), Archambeault et al.
patent: 5499029 (1996-03-01), Bashforth et al.
patent: 5560437 (1996-10-01), Dickel et al.
patent: 5585726 (1996-12-01), Chau
patent: 5602541 (1997-02-01), Comeau et al.
patent: 5603386 (1997-02-01), Webster
patent: 5608162 (1997-03-01), Ho
patent: 5646611 (1997-07-01), Dailey et al.
patent: 5657826 (1997-08-01), Knuckes
Chemrad Tennessee Corporation, USRADS Series 2100, Brochure.
Fenning, et al., Geophysical Methods for the Location of Underground Storage Tanks, Article.
Geophysical Survey Systems Inc., Model 3200MLF, Multiple, Low-Frequency, Bistatic Antenna, Brochure.
Geophysical Survey Systems Inc., Radan.TM.--Radar Data Analyzer, Product Information Sheet, Jan. 1993.
Geophysical Survey Systems Inc., Sir.RTM. System Antennas, Brochure.
Geophysical Survey Systems Inc., SIR.RTM. System-2 Subsurface Interface Radar, Brochure.
Geophysical Survey Systems Inc., SIR.RTM. System-10A Subsurface Interface Radar, Brochure.
Geophysical Survey Systems Inc., Subsurface Detection Problems, Brochure.
Geophysical Survey Systems Inc., Subsurface Solutions, Winter 1995.
GeoRadar, Inc., Model 1000B, Stepped-FM Ground Penetrating Radar, Brochure.
Guenther, M. and Kathage, A. F., Proceedings of the Fifth International Conference on Ground Penetrating Radar, The Geophysical Investigation of Drilling Obstacles for Microtunneling Projects by Means of GPR, vol. 3 of 3, Jun. 1994, pp. 1151-1165.
Kathage, A.F., Proceedings of the Fourth International Conference on Ground Penetrating Radar, Geological Survey of Finland, A Challenge: GPR In Advance of Horizontal Drilling, Special Paper 16, Jun. 1992, pp. 119-124.
Pollution Engineering, Peering Beneath the Surface, Article, Oct., 1992.
Sensors & Software, Inc., Pulse Ekko.TM., Environment, Feb. 1994.
Sensors & Software, Inc., Pulse Ekko.TM. 100 Case Studies, pp.80-83, 87-94, 98, 100, 129, 131.
Sensors & Software, Inc., Pulse Ekko.TM. 100, Features, Brochure.
Sensors & Software, Inc., Pulse Ekko.TM. 100, Ground Penetrating Radar Technology, Brochure.
Sensors & Software, Inc., Pulse Ekko.TM. 1000, Brochure.
Weil et al., Investigations of Hazardous Waste Sites Using Thermal IR and Ground Penetrating Radar, Photogrammetric Engineering & Remote Sensing, vol. 60, No. 8, Aug. 1994, pp. 999-1005.
Allen Christopher T.
Stump Gregory S
Hartmann Gary S.
Lillis Eileen D.
Vermeer Manufacturing Company
LandOfFree
Apparatus and method for controlling an underground boring tool does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Apparatus and method for controlling an underground boring tool, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Apparatus and method for controlling an underground boring tool will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-264018