Magnetic Coupler for Inducing a Signal on a Utility Line

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2021011188-A1
Application number	US-202016926346-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 10, 2020
Priority date	Jul 11, 2019
Publication date	Jan 14, 2021
Grant date	—

Abstract

A magnetic coupler for inducing a signal on a buried utility wire. The coupler has two elongated jaws, each extending along a separate longitudinal axis. The jaws are attached at a hinge. The jaws may be placed about an exposed portion of the utility wire. A signal generate provides a signal which is emitted from a transmitter in each of the jaws. The signals emitted from each jaw are antiphase to one another, such that they are additive to a utility wire disposed between the jaws but out of phase with respect to any utility not between the jaws. The signal is thus induced on the utility wire and can be detected as emitted from its below ground length by a conventional locator.

First claim

1 . An apparatus comprising:
a first frame comprising:
a first jaw having a first substantially planar surface; and
a first electromagnetic transmitter capable of generating a first magnetic field;
a second frame comprising:
a second jaw having a second substantially planar surface; and
a second electromagnetic transmitter capable of generating a second magnetic field, in which the second magnetic field is antiphase to the first magnetic field; and
a hinged connection between the first frame and the second frame, such that adjustment of the hinged connection modifies an orientation between the first substantially planar surface and the second substantially planar surface.

2 . The apparatus of claim 1 in which each of the first electromagnetic transmitter and the second electromagnetic transmitter comprise:
a magnetic base; and
a conductive winding disposed about the magnetic base.

3 . The apparatus of claim 2 in which the magnetic base comprises a plurality of steel strips.

4 . The apparatus of claim 1 in which the apparatus is movable between an open position and a closed position, in which:
the closed position is characterized by the first substantially planar surface and the second substantially planar surface being parallel; and
the open position is characterized by the first substantially planar surface and second substantially planar surface being disposed such that the distance between the surfaces increases with the distance from the hinge.

5 . A system comprising:
a signal generator; the apparatus of claim 1 ; and a cable interconnecting the transmitter and the apparatus.

6 . A system comprising:
the apparatus of claim 1 ; and a utility line disposed between the first frame and the second frame, such that the substantially planar surface of the first frame and the substantially planar surface of the second frame contact the utility line.

7 . The system of claim 6 in which the first and second magnetic fields are configured to induce a signal on the utility line.

8 . The system of claim 6 further comprising:
a line locator having a receiving antenna, the line locator configured to:
detect the signal induced on the utility line; and

using the detected signal to determine a depth of the utility line.

9 . An apparatus comprising:
a first and second elongate jaw, each elongate jaw defining a longitudinal axis extending along a length of its respective jaw; a hinge connecting the first jaw and the second jaw about a pivot axis extending through the hinge, in which the pivot axis is orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of both the first and second elongate jaw; a handle configured to cause relative rotation of the jaws about the hinge; a first transmitter disposed in the first elongate jaw, configured to emit a first signal; and a second transmitter disposed in the second elongate jaw, configured to emit a second signal.

10 . The apparatus of claim 9 in which the first signal is antiphase to the second signal.

11 . The apparatus of claim 9 in which the first transmitter comprises:
a ferromagnetic base; and
a winding disposed about the ferromagnetic base.

12 . The apparatus of claim 9 in which the first transmitter is connected, in series, to the second transmitter.

13 . The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising:
a signal generator in electromagnetic communication with the first transmitter and the second transmitter, such that electromagnetic signals generated by the signal generator are emitted by the first transmitter as the first signal, and are emitted by the second transmitter as the second signal.

14 . The apparatus of claim 13 in which the first signal and second signal are emitted at a frequency of less than 8 Hz.

15 . A method of using the apparatus of claim 9 , comprising:
placing the first and second elongate jaws on opposite sides of a utility wire at an above-ground location, wherein at least part of the utility wire is disposed at a below-ground location; with a signal generator, generating a signal at a preselected frequency; emitting the signal from the first transmitter as the first signal; simultaneously, emitting the signal from the second transmitter as the second signal; and at an above-ground location, detecting an induced magnetic field to determine a below-ground location of the utility wire.

16 . The method of claim 15 , in which the utility wire is characterized as a first utility wire, and further comprising:
removing the first and second elongate jaws from the first utility wire; and placing the first and second elongate jaws on opposite sides of a second utility wire at an above-ground location, wherein at least part of the second utility wire is disposed at a below-ground location; while placed about the second utility wire, emitting the signal from the first transmitter as the first signal; simultaneously, emitting the signal from the second transmitter as the second signal; and at an above-ground location, detecting an induced magnetic field to determine a below-ground location of the second utility wire.

17 . The method of claim 16 in which the angle between the longitudinal axis of the first and second jaw is larger when the first and second jaws are placed about the second utility wire than when the first and second jaws are placed about the first utility wire.

18 . The method of claim 15 in which the first signal is antiphase to the second signal.

19 . The method of claim 15 in which the first signal is at a frequency below 8 hertz.

20 . The method of claim 15 in which the longitudinal axis of the first jaw and the second jaw are oriented orthogonally to the utility wire when placed about the utility wire at the above-ground location.

Assignees

• Charles Machine Works

Inventors

• Fling Richard William
• Bailey Brian K

Classifications

• G01V3/081 Primary

  the magnetic field is produced by the objects or geological structures (characterised by the method of magnetic field measurement G01R33/00) · CPC title

• G01V3/10 Primary

  using induction coils · CPC title