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 locator for use in a system in which an inground tool is moved through the ground within a given region along a path while transmitting a locating signal such that the locating signal exhibits locate points at the surface of the ground, both ahead of and to the rear of the inground tool, said portable locator comprising:
an antenna configured for measuring a local flux intensity of the locating signal for at least one above ground point; a processor configured to establish a horizontal flux vector at the above ground point based on the local flux intensity such that the horizontal flux vector is at least generally oriented in a horizontal plane; and a display for displaying an orientation of the horizontal flux vector to serve in guiding an operator of the portable locator toward at least one of the locate points.