Flux Plane Locating in an Underground Drilling System

摘要

A portable locator and method for establishing the location of the cable line in a region which includes at least one generally straight electrically conductive cable line extending across the region from which cable line a locating signal includes a first arrangement for measuring a local flux intensity of the locating signal at a first above ground point within the region with the portable locator in a particular orientation at the first above ground point. A second arrangement uses the local flux intensity to establish a cable line angular orientation which limits the possible directions to the cable line relative to the particular orientation of the portable locator at the above ground point. A third arrangement uses the measured local flux intensity to establish an actual direction of the cable line that is selected from the possible directions based on certain characteristics of the locating signal.

主权项

1. A portable device for guiding an operator in a system in which an inground tool is moved through the ground within a given region along a path while transmitting a dipole locating signal, said portable device comprising:
an antenna for measuring a local flux intensity of the locating signal; a tilt sensor for measuring gravitational angles relating to the portable device; and a processor that is configured for determining components of the local flux intensity in a level coordinate system based on the gravitational angles and to present a directional indication to an operator based on the components of the local flux intensity in the level coordinate system to guide the operator.