HOMING SYSTEM FOR DIRECTING AN IN-GROUND BORING DEVICE

摘要

In a homing system (10) for directing an in-ground boring device (12) through the ground from its particular location (14) to a specific target point (16), an electromagnetic dipole field containing a predetermined homing signal is generated at the boring device (12) and detected by a receiving antenna (30) at the target point (16) or in a preferred embodiment where the target point (16) is below ground, at a ground level point (28) directly above or beyond the target point (16). Means are provided for producing in response to detection of the homing signal an internal electrical signal containing certain information relating to the actual path taken by the boring device (12) as compared to the path or course leading to the target point (16). The information from this latter signal is then transmitted by means of electromagnetic waves to a remote location (18) where it is used to steer the boring device (12) on a course toward the target point (16).