Utility locators with retractable support structures and applications thereof

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10162074-B2
Application number	US-201715457897-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 13, 2017
Priority date	Mar 11, 2016
Publication date	Dec 25, 2018
Grant date	Dec 25, 2018

Abstract

The disclosure is directed to utility locators and associated antenna node support structure devices for allowing a utility locator to self-stand in an upright position without being held or otherwise supported by a user.

First claim

We claim:

1. A utility locator, comprising:
a mast having a proximal end and a distal end;
a locator housing disposed at or near the proximal end of the mast;
an antenna node including a housing and an antenna array within the housing, coupled at or near the distal end of the mast; and
an antenna node support structure comprising an attachment mechanism for coupling the antenna node support structure to the locator, a collar assembly secured to the mast, a plurality of legs, and a plurality of spaced apart leg retainer assemblies extending downwardly from the collar assembly with their ends secured to the antenna node for positioning the locator in:
a deployed state below the antenna node and above a surface in a fixed operating position and;
in a retracted state for storage or transportation with the legs retracted and/or positioned above the bottom of the antenna node.

2. The utility locator of claim 1 , wherein the antenna node support structure is removably coupled to the antenna node through the attachment mechanism.

3. The locator of claim 2 , wherein the antenna node housing is spherical having a diameter of approximately eight inches or more.

4. The utility locator of claim 1 , wherein the antenna node support structure is removably coupled to the mast through the attachment mechanism.

5. The locator of claim 1 , wherein the antenna node housing is in a substantially spherical shape having a diameter of approximately eight inches or more.

6. The locator of claim 5 , wherein the antenna node housing has a diameter of approximately 10 inches or more.

7. The locator of claim 5 , wherein the antenna array comprises 8 or more antenna coils.

8. The locator of claim 5 , wherein the antenna array comprises 12 antenna coils in a dodecahedral array.

9. The locator of claim 1 , wherein the antenna array comprises an omnidirectional antenna array for sensing magnetic fields in three orthogonal axes.

10. The locator of claim 9 , wherein the omnidirectional antenna array comprises a three-dimensional antenna array including three substantially orthogonally oriented antenna coils.

11. The locator of claim 10 , wherein the antenna array includes twelve or more antenna coils in a dodecahedral array.

12. The locator of claim 11 , wherein the antenna array includes eight or more antenna coils in an octahedral array.

13. The locator of claim 1 , wherein the antenna node support structure includes a plurality of ports comprising cavities and the legs conform in shape to the cavities and are removably coupled to the antenna node support structure through a frictional fit with the ports.

14. The locator of claim 1 , wherein the legs are coupled to the antenna node support structure with hinges.

15. The locator of claim 1 , wherein the legs are retractable.

16. The locator of claim 1 , wherein the legs are foldable for positioning in a deployed state, and foldable in a retracted state for storage or transportation.

17. The locator of claim 1 , wherein the collar assembly comprises a plurality of collar segments to receive and snap fit the plurality of spaced apart leg retainer assemblies.

18. A utility locator, comprising:
a mast having a proximal end and a distal end;
a locator housing disposed at or near the proximal end of the mast;
an antenna node including a housing and an antenna array within the housing, coupled at or near the distal end of the mast; and
an antenna node support structure comprising:
an attachment mechanism for coupling the antenna node support structure to the locator and a plurality of legs for positioning the locator in:
a deployed state below the antenna node and above a surface in a fixed operating position and;
in a retracted state for storage or transportation with the legs retracted and/or positioned above the bottom of the antenna node; and

a plurality of ports comprising cavities and the legs conform in shape to the cavities and are removably coupled to the antenna node support structure through a frictional fit with the ports;
wherein the legs have ends that are symmetric so as to couple to the ports from either end.

19. A utility locator, comprising:
a mast having a proximal end and a distal end;
a locator housing disposed at or near the proximal end of the mast;
an antenna node including a substantially spherical housing and an antenna array within the housing comprising twelve magnetic field antenna coils arranged in a dodecahedron configuration, the antenna node coupled at or near the distal end of the mast; and
an antenna node support structure comprising an attachment mechanism for coupling to the locator, and three or more legs for positioning the locator in:
a deployed state below the antenna node and above a surface in a fixed operating position and;
in a retracted state for storage or transportation with the legs retracted and/or positioned above the bottom of the antenna node.

Assignees

• Olsson Mark S
• Kleyn James F
• Seescan Inc

Inventors

• Olsson Mark S
• Kleyn James F

Classifications

• G01V3/08

  operating with magnetic or electric fields produced or modified by objects or geological structures or by detecting devices (with electromagnetic waves G01V3/12) · CPC title

• F16M11/22

  with approximately constant height, e.g. with constant length of column or of legs (F16M11/42 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H01Q21/29

  Combinations of different interacting antenna units for giving a desired directional characteristic (H01Q25/00 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H01Q1/1235

  Collapsible supports; Means for erecting a rigid antenna · CPC title

• G01V3/108

  the emitter and the receiver coils or loops being uncoupled by positioning them perpendicularly to each other · CPC title