Sonic Pipe Tracer System

Abstract

The sonic conduit tracer includes a sonic transmitter, a sonic receiver, and a spectrum analyzer. The transmitter may be configured to transmit an audio signal from a proximal end of an empty conduit along an interior length of the conduit for identification purposes. The receiver may be configured to receive an audio return signal. The spectrum analyzer may be configured to analyze the audio return signal to facilitate determining a location of a distal end of the conduit. The sonic conduit tracer may use the audio return signal to determine an estimated length of the conduit.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a sonic conduit tracer system. [Background technology]

[0002] There are commonly used electronic wire tracing tools known as "toners" that allow one to easily identify a particular wire or cable within a conduit. However, there is no simple method or device that distinguishes a particular empty conduit from another empty conduit. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0003] The present disclosure provides a sonic conduit tracer system that fills this need by using sound waves sent through a conduit to easily identify the remote or far end of a particular conduit among many similar conduits or pipes in a given area. Such sound waves may be provided as, by way of non-limiting example, an audible tone or an audible pulse. [Means for solving the problem]

[0004] While a sonic conduit tracer system can easily point to or identify a particular conduit of interest at a particular location, whether the conduit is among a group of other conduits or alone, there is still the logistical matter of first locating the general area, equipment room, or other termination location of the distant conduit end itself. Thus, a sonic conduit tracer system can also facilitate locating the distant end of a particular conduit among a group of empty or nearly empty conduits.

[0005] Disclosed herein is a sonic conduit tracer system for identifying and locating an empty conduit. The sonic conduit tracer system may utilize audio transmissions to identify and / or locate an end of a conduit among a number of empty conduits or end locations.

[0006] The sonic conduit tracer system may also operate in a "conduit length determination mode" to enable the sonic conduit tracer system to automatically calculate an estimated total length of the conduit. The sonic conduit tracer system may automatically calculate an estimated length of the conduit by transmitting an audio pulse and then listening and calculating the time delay for the transmitted pulse to return to the transmit location. In this exemplary embodiment, a measured propagation delay time for a particular inside diameter dimension is utilized to calculate the estimated conduit length.

[0007] A sonic conduit tracer system for determining the identification and location of an empty conduit by utilizing audio transmissions to identify and / or locate an end of a conduit amongst a number of empty conduit or end locations may be configured to optimize or adjust the transmitted audio frequency and / or the pulse rate of the emitted audio transmission according to the internal dimensions of the conduit being used to locate its end. According to one embodiment, the sonic conduit tracer system may automatically sense or determine that a particular size conduit adapter has been attached to the transmitting device, and the sonic conduit tracer system may use this information to optimize the transmitted signal.

[0008] According to another embodiment, a self-powered sonic conduit tracer system may be configured to attach to what is commonly known as a wire "snake" or wire fishing tool. This independent sonic conduit tracer system may be pushed into or guided through the conduit while actively emitting one or more characteristic tones and / or cadence patterns. In this embodiment, the sonic conduit tracer system emitting the identifying tone may be located closer to the termination end of the conduit.

[0009] A sonic conduit tracer system is disclosed that includes a combination of a sonic transmitter, a sonic receiver, and a spectrum analyzer. The transmitter may be an audio transmitter configured to transmit an audio signal from a proximal end of the conduit across an interior length of the empty conduit. The receiver may be an audio receiver configured to receive an audio return signal. The spectrum analyzer may be an audio spectrum analyzer configured to analyze the returned audio signal, thereby facilitating a determination of the location of the distal end of the conduit.

[0010] According to certain aspects, a spectrum analyzer of the sonic conduit tracer may be configured to use the return signal to determine an estimated length of the conduit. For example, according to one embodiment, the audio spectrum analyzer may determine the estimated length of the conduit based on one or more audio differences, such as the attenuation of certain audio frequencies between the transmitted audio signal and the returned audio signal. According to another embodiment, the spectrum analyzer may determine the estimated length of the conduit based on the delay between the time of the transmitted audio pulse and the time of the returned echo pulse, the time for the transmitted pulse to decay to a predetermined level, changes in harmonic characteristics, and / or the attenuation of a portion of the full spectrum of the transmitted signal.

[0011] According to another aspect, the transmitter of the sonic conduit tracer may be configured to transmit a variety of different signals. According to one embodiment, the transmitter may be configured to pulse the audio signal at a constant pulse rate or a varying pulse rate. According to another embodiment, the transmitter may be configured to transmit the audio signal at a single frequency. Alternatively, the transmitter may be configured to transmit the audio signal with multiple audio frequency spreads. According to another embodiment, the transmitter may be configured to transmit a first audio signal having a first spectral bandwidth, a first pulse repetition rate, and / or a first pulse frequency characteristic. Furthermore, the transmitter may be configured to transmit the first audio signal having the first spectral bandwidth, the first pulse repetition rate, and / or the first pulse frequency characteristic, and may be further configured to transmit a second audio signal having a second spectral bandwidth, a second pulse repetition rate, and / or a second pulse frequency characteristic. According to yet another embodiment, the transmitter may be configured to transmit sound waves including white noise over the length of the conduit.

[0012] According to one aspect, the sonic conduit tracer may be configured to automatically determine an inner diameter of the conduit. According to one embodiment, the conduit tracer may be configured to transmit a first audio signal when the conduit has a first inner diameter and transmit a second audio signal when the conduit has a second inner diameter.

[0013] According to yet another embodiment, the sonic conduit tracer may be configured to be at least partially inserted into the proximal end of the conduit. Optionally, the sonic conduit tracer system may be configured to be fully inserted into the conduit allowing it to travel across the interior of the conduit.

[0014] According to certain aspects, a method of tracking a conduit includes transmitting a sonic signal from a proximal end of an empty conduit through an interior length of the conduit, receiving a sonic return signal at the proximal end of the conduit, and analyzing the sonic return signal to determine an estimated length of the conduit. The sonic signal may be a continuous audio signal and / or a pulsed audio signal. According to certain embodiments, the analyzing step may include determining an estimated length of the conduit based on one or more differences between the transmitted signal and the return signal. For example, the analyzing step may include determining an estimated length of the conduit based on a delay between the time of a transmitted pulse and the time of a return echo pulse, a time for the transmitted pulse to decay to a predetermined level, changes in harmonic characteristics, and / or attenuation of a portion of the full spectrum of the audio transmit signal.

[0015] According to other embodiments, the transmitting step may include transmitting a signal having a pulsed signal, transmitting a signal having a single audio frequency, transmitting a signal having a multiple audio frequency spread, transmitting a signal having a first spectral bandwidth, transmitting a signal having a first pulse repetition rate, and / or transmitting a signal having a first pulse frequency characteristic. According to another embodiment, the transmitting step may include transmitting a first signal having a first spectral bandwidth, a first pulse repetition rate, and / or a first pulse frequency characteristic, and then transmitting a second signal having a second spectral bandwidth, a second pulse repetition rate, and / or a second pulse frequency characteristic. According to yet another embodiment, the transmitting step may include transmitting a sound wave that is "white noise" over the length of the conduit.

[0016] According to another aspect, the method of tracking a conduit may further include having the audio transmitter automatically determine an inner diameter of the conduit and select an optimized audio frequency based on the detected conduit size. In another aspect, the method of determining the transmitted audio operating frequency may be manually selected based on a manual conduit diameter size determination. Additionally, the transmitting step may include transmitting a first signal when the conduit has a first inner diameter and transmitting a second signal different from the first signal when the conduit has a second inner diameter.

[0017] According to a final aspect, the sonic conduit tracer may include an audio transmitter configured to transmit an audio signal across an interior length of the empty conduit, the audio transmitter configured to fit inside the empty electrical conduit and further configured to be attached to an end of a flexible transmitter positioning feed mechanism. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0018] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a sonic conduit tracer system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a side view of the sonic conduit tracer system of FIG. 1. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating an end view of the sonic conduit tracer system of FIG. 1. [Figure 4] FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram of a physically deployable sonic conduit tracer system according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. [Diagram 5] 1 is a flow chart illustrating a method of operating a sonic conduit tracer system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0019] Disclosed herein is a sonic conduit tracer system for determining the conduit length of an empty conduit, for locating the end (or distal end) of a conduit among a number of possible end locations, and / or for identifying the end of a particular conduit among a number of other conduits. The sonic conduit tracer system utilizes one or more sonic transmissions that travel within the conduit. As used herein, "sonic signal" means a sound wave having any or multiple simultaneous frequencies. As used herein, "audio signal" means a sound wave having a frequency within the range of human hearing, e.g., typically within the range of 20hz to 20,000hz.

[0020] 1, a sonic conduit tracer system 100 according to the present disclosure is shown. The system 100 includes a sonic transmitter 300, a sonic receiver 301, and a sonic spectrum analyzer 302. The sonic transmitter 300 is configured to transmit a sonic signal, the sonic receiver 301 is configured to receive the sonic signal, and the sonic spectrum analyzer 302 is configured to analyze the received sonic signal. The transmitter, receiver, and / or spectrum analyzer may be co-located within the sonic conduit tracer device body 101.

[0021] According to one embodiment, the sonic transmitter 300 is an audio transmitter, the sonic receiver 301 is an audio receiver, and the sonic spectrum analyzer 302 is an audio spectrum analyzer. The audio transmitter 300 may be specifically configured to transmit an audio signal into and across the interior length of the conduit. Furthermore, the audio transmitter 300 may be configured to transmit a wide variety of audio signals. For example, the audio transmitter 300 may be configured to pulse the audio transmission signal, transmit an audio signal at a single frequency, transmit an audio signal with multiple frequency spreads, transmit an audio signal in a sequentially varying single frequency manner, etc. Thus, the audio transmitter 300 may be configured to transmit an audio signal having a defined spectral bandwidth, a defined pulse repetition rate, and / or a defined pulsed audio frequency characteristic. Optionally, the audio transmitter 300 may be configured to transmit multiple audio signals, e.g., the audio transmitter 300 may be configured to transmit a first audio signal having a first defined spectral bandwidth, a first defined pulse repetition rate, and / or a first defined pulse frequency characteristic, and the audio transmitter 300 may be configured to transmit a second defined audio transmit signal having a second defined spectral bandwidth, a second defined pulse repetition rate, and / or a second defined pulse frequency characteristic. The audio transmitter 300 may be configured to combine one or more audio frequency signals, in some cases. Furthermore, the audio transmitter 300 may be configured to modulate the transmitted signal, e.g., sweep the frequency spectrum, increase or decrease the amplitude, change the pulse characteristics, etc., as known to those of skill in the art given the benefit of this disclosure.

[0022] The audio receiver 301 may be specifically configured to receive an audio return signal from the interior length of the conduit. As used herein, a "return signal" refers to a sound wave that originates as a transmitted signal from an initial location (typically the proximal end of the conduit) and then reflects off or otherwise interacts with one or more surfaces, thereby changing or distorting the spectral characteristics of the original transmitted signal. For example, the return signal may have different or inconsistent audio frequency characteristics across the frequency spectrum, a different pulse rate such as that caused by the addition of echoes, and / or one or more audio frequencies that are attenuated relative to the original transmitted signal. Additionally, the return audio signal may include multiple, possibly overlapping and / or time-shifted, distorted versions (e.g., echoes) of the original transmitted signal.

[0023] The audio spectrum analyzer 302 may be specifically configured to analyze the audio return signal to facilitate determining the location of the far end of the conduit. According to one embodiment, the audio spectrum analyzer 302 may be specifically configured to analyze the difference between the audio transmit signal and the audio return signal to facilitate determining the location of the far end of the conduit. The audio spectrum analyzer 302 may determine the time delay between the time of the transmitted pulse and the time of the return echo pulse, the time for the transmitted pulse to decay to a predetermined level, changes in harmonic characteristics, and / or the attenuation of a portion of the full spectrum of the audio transmit signal.

[0024] According to one embodiment, the sonic conduit tracer system 100 may be configured to determine an estimated length of the conduit based on an analysis of the return signal by an audio spectrum analyzer 302. The estimated length of the conduit may be further determined by the spectrum analyzer 302 based on the difference between the transmitted audio signal and the audio return signal, and / or based on the difference in effect between various transmitted audio frequencies and the subsequent various audio frequencies, such as the time delay between the time of the transmitted pulse and the time of the return echo pulse, and / or based on the time for the transmitted pulse to decay to a predetermined level, and / or based on changes in harmonic characteristics, and / or based on the decay of a portion of the full spectrum of the transmitted audio signal.

[0025] As an example, the estimated length of the conduit may be determined by utilizing established formulas such as speed = distance / time. It is well established that sound travels at approximately 340 meters per second at sea level (at standard temperature and pressure), so by already knowing the speed to be approximately 340 m / s, and the time of the echo (divided by 1 / 2 to compensate for the return distance), the distance value can be easily solved for. Note that the distal end of the conduit may or may not be capped. If that distal end is indeed capped, the receiver will detect a strong echo. However, if the far end is uncapped, the spectrum analyzer will detect a distortion as the sound wave leaves the end of the conduit, and the elapsed time to this change is used as the time value. The system can distinguish whether the remote end is capped by the lack of a distinct echo and / or a much higher general attenuation. If the system determines that the conduit under test is uncapped, the detected time value will not be halved as it would be for a capped conduit.

[0026] Since different sized conduits have inherently different degrading effects on the measurement results at various audio frequencies and their attenuation, distortion, etc., it is important to optimize the audio frequency used by the audio transmitter depending on the internal size of the conduit. Thus, the size of the conduit inner diameter may be provided as an input to the sonic conduit tracer system 100 when determining the estimated length of the conduit. According to an embodiment, the sonic conduit tracer may automatically optimize, tune, and / or calibrate its circuitry for the particular conduit size being tracked. Such size-related transmitted audio characteristics may include audio spectral bandwidth, pulse repetition rate, pulse audio frequency, etc. A single transmitted frequency may be used, or multiple frequency spreads may be used to determine the estimated conduit length by analyzing the return effects of the various frequencies.

[0027] Thus, according to certain aspects, the sonic conduit tracer system 100 may be configured to determine, as a first step, the size of the conduit of interest. According to one embodiment, and with reference to FIGS. 1-3, the sonic conduit tracer system 100 may include one or more adapters 106A, 106B, 106C (collectively 106). The one or more adapters 106 may be provided in a variety of sizes configured to fit (e.g., slip fit, detent fit, snap fit, press fit, etc.) onto ends of conduits having standard inner diameters (1 inch / 2 inch / 3 inch, etc.). Thus, an adapter sized to fit one or more correspondingly sized conduits may be attached (e.g., via slip fit, detent fit, snap fit, press fit, etc.) to the end 108 or output port of the sonic conduit tracer device body 101. For example, the sonic conduit tracer device body may be provided with an index key protrusion 109 configured to engage with a recess 110 of the adapter.

[0028] According to one embodiment, the sonic conduit tracer system 100 may include a manual conduit size selection knob 103 or switch on the sonic conduit tracer device body 101. This selection knob 103, when manually set by a user, informs the sonic conduit tracer system which adapter size 106A, 106B, etc. has been attached to the sonic conduit tracer device body 101 and thus the appropriate transmitted audio characteristics for a given conduit size to be selected.

[0029] In other embodiments, automatic conduit adapter size 106 determination may be possible. For example, conductive strips 107A, 107B, 107C, etc. (collectively 107) may be attached to the inner edge of each adapter 106. For each of the various size adapters, the location of each conductive strip 107A, 107B, etc. may be at a different offset location relative to index key 109 and adapter recess 110. As also shown in Figures 1 and 3, the body 101 of the sonic conduit tracer device may be correspondingly provided with a plurality of different sets of sizing contacts 105A, 105B, 105C, etc. (collectively 105). For any given size adapter, conductive strips 107 align with and contact the appropriate sizing contacts on device body 101. In this manner, each different conduit size adapter 106A, 106B, etc. automatically informs the sonic conduit tracer system which conduit size is being traced by electrically bridging only one pair of sizing contacts 105A, 105B, etc.

[0030] 1, when indexing key 109 on the sonic conduit tracer body mates with adapter recess 110, for example adapter 106A for a 2 inch conduit size, conductive strip 107A on that adapter 106A mates with contact 105A on the device body, for example. Thus, closing this particular electrical circuit automatically indicates to sonic conduit tracer system 100 that a 2 inch adapter is attached. A switch 104 may be provided to inform the sonic conduit tracer system whether to use the manual or automatic conduit sizing method.

[0031] In operation, at least a portion of the sonic conduit tracer system 100 (e.g., adapter 106 attached to body 101) may be configured to be inserted into the proximal end of a conduit being traced. With reference to FIG. 1, a power switch 102 may be provided for activating the sonic conduit tracer system 100. With reference to FIG. 2, a function switch 202 may be provided for selecting a particular mode of operation of the sonic conduit tracer system 100. For example, when in "length" mode 203, the sonic conduit tracer system 100 may send out a series of sonic pulses via a speaker or transducer in the transmitter 300 (see FIG. 3). The microphone in the receiver 301 may then "listen" for the returned sonic signal characteristics, such as the echo timing between the time of the transmitted pulse and the time of the pulse echo return, the length of the "trailing tail" (the length of the decay time of the pulse), and / or other altered harmonic characteristics, such as the attenuation of a portion of the total sonic spectrum, or other sonic characteristic modifications. In a preferred embodiment, the transmitted signal is an audio signal in a frequency range that is audible to humans (as opposed to an ultrasonic signal). There are several reasons for not utilizing ultrasonic frequencies. First, the disclosed conduit tracking system has the ability to track conduits that may be, for example, over 100 feet long, i.e., distances far beyond the relatively short measurement range of ultrasonic sensor-based measurement systems. Second, the disclosed system provides an audible signal that allows a person to easily determine which conduit the sound is emanating from. During the period of transmission by the transmitter 300, the microphone of the receiver 301 may be momentarily muted, and after a time interval during which sound transmission ceases, the microphone of the receiver 301 may be unmuted to receive and time the return echo.

[0032] The transmitted and received sonic (e.g., audio) signatures may be compared in a variety of commonly used ways, such as by an audio spectrum analyzer 302 (see FIGS. 1-3), which may be incorporated into the sonic conduit tracer system device body 101. For example, the spectrum analyzer 302 may use the known approx. 340 meters per second at sea level (at standard temperature and pressure) of the returned audio pulse delta (via echolocation), the timing of audio signature degradation, etc., to determine an approximate conduit length calculation for the conduit of interest, thereby determining the total trip timing interval (i.e., distance). The estimated length 201 of the conduit may be displayed on the readout 200 (see FIG. 2).

[0033] According to one embodiment, once the estimated length 201 of the conduit is determined, the resulting estimated conduit length 201 may be utilized as a tool to limit a search distance or search radius from the proximal end of the conduit, and thus the estimated conduit length 201 may be determined and displayed, and a search may be performed for conduit terminations located within that search distance from the proximal location. In other words, a search may be performed from the start of the conduit in an arc commensurate with the estimated conduit length 201 to find a suitable equipment room, cabinet, etc. in which the distal or distal end of the conduit may be found.

[0034] According to one embodiment, the sonic conduit tracer system 100 may be switched between an audible presence or "tracking" mode 204 or a "length determination" mode 203 by a switch 202 (see FIG. 2). Operationally, the search mode 204 may utilize a combination of sonic / audio frequencies (or alternating audio frequencies), pulse repetition rates, and audio cadences designed to be highly distinctive and different from sounds typically experienced in daily life. Sounds such as "white noise" may be utilized in either the "length" mode 203 or the "tracking" mode 204. Audio frequency and / or characteristic selection may also be automatically selected based on a particular conduit size and / or determined estimated conduit length to maximize the audio level perceived at the opposite or far end of the conduit.

[0035] Because conduits of different diameters have different resonance lengths and subsequent effects on audio characteristics, further embodiments of the sonic conduit tracer system 100 may feature adjustable spectral ranges and pulse repetition rates to optimize its use for a particular conduit size, similar to the way organ pipes are tuned to allow the pipe to "sound" (resonate) properly. Because the sonic conduit tracer 100 always has access to one end of the conduit, the conduit size can be easily determined as described above, and the appropriate transmitted sonic tuning settings can be made automatically or manually.

[0036] Once the search radius arc is known, one need only visit locations within the search arc that are covered by the search arc and listen for the characteristic transmitted sound. If a particular location is quiet (yet the system has determined that the distal end is open), the person searching can proceed immediately to the next location rather than wasting time at that location by further checking the conduit to identify the particular conduit at that location that does not present the characteristic signature sound. Furthermore, conduits often begin at a common starting point but may end, for example, on different floors of a building. By knowing the approximate or estimated length of the conduit, if all of the matching arc search locations on one floor have been searched without the presence of sound, at that point a new smaller arc can be determined and searched in the same manner as before on an adjacent floor by subtracting the floor-to-floor measurements from the total estimated conduit length. This length subtraction process may then be repeated until the distal end of the conduit is found.

[0037] It is anticipated that sonic conduit tracers will be particularly advantageous and provide labor savings in several ways. First, the sonic conduit tracer and location process can be accomplished, optionally with only one person, as compared to the traditional two-person requirement (although more than two people would certainly also speed up the sonic conduit tracer process). Second, the task of locating conduits within an identified area becomes much easier to accomplish, as the need to further search entire sections of a room, area, etc. can be immediately eliminated.

[0038] According to another aspect, as shown in FIG. 4, a sonic conduit tracer system 400 may be provided. The system 400 may be sized to loosely "slip-fit" an appropriately sized unit 400 inside an empty electrical conduit or tube. Additionally, the system 400 may be configured to be attached to a flexible conduit feeder 401, such as a common wire conduit "snake" tool. The snake tool 401 may be used to force an appropriately sized sonic conduit tracer system 400 into the conduit 404 so that the sonic conduit tracer system 400 can be positioned closer to the distal or terminal end of the conduit. Once inside the conduit, the sonic conduit tracer system 400 may actively transmit or emit a characteristic tone 402. According to certain embodiments, the system 400 may include only a sonic transmitter sized to fit inside the conduit. The system 400 is particularly suited for use with vertical conduits where gravity assists the conduit feeding process.

[0039] According to certain aspects, a method of tracking a conduit includes transmitting a sonic signal from a proximal end of an empty conduit through an interior length of the conduit, receiving a sonic return signal at the proximal end of the conduit, and analyzing the sonic return signal to determine an estimated length of the conduit. The sonic signal may be an audio frequency signal and / or a near-audio frequency signal. According to certain embodiments, the analyzing step may include determining an estimated length of the conduit based on one or more differences between the transmitted signal and the return signal. For example, the analyzing step may include determining an estimated length of the conduit based on a delay between the time of a transmitted pulse and the time of a return echo pulse, a time for the transmitted pulse to decay to a predetermined level, changes in harmonic characteristics, and / or decay of a portion of the full spectrum of the audio transmit signal.

[0040] According to other embodiments, the transmitting step may include transmitting an audio signal having a pulsed signal, transmitting a continuous audio signal having a single frequency, transmitting a continuous audio signal having a multiple frequency spread, transmitting an audio signal having a first spectral bandwidth, transmitting an audio signal having a first pulse repetition rate, and / or transmitting a signal having a first pulse frequency characteristic. According to another embodiment, the transmitting step may include transmitting a first signal having a first spectral bandwidth, a first pulse repetition rate, and / or a first pulse frequency characteristic, and then transmitting a second signal having a second spectral bandwidth, a second pulse repetition rate, and / or a second pulse frequency characteristic. According to yet another embodiment, the transmitting step may include transmitting a sound audio "white noise" over the length of the conduit. "White noise" encompasses a wide audio frequency range at a uniform intensity, e.g., all frequencies at the same intensity, and is therefore particularly well suited to determining specific frequency audio attenuation over the length of the conduit.

[0041] According to another aspect, the method of tracking a conduit may further include automatically determining an inner diameter of the conduit. Additionally, the transmitting step may include transmitting a first signal when the conduit has a first inner diameter and transmitting a second signal, different from the first signal, when the conduit has a second inner diameter.

[0042] 5, a flow chart illustrating an exemplary method of using the sonic conduit tracer system 100 is shown. In step 501, the sonic conduit tracer system 100 is associated with a conduit, for example, by inserting the adapter 106 into the proximal end of the empty conduit. In step 501, the sonic conduit tracer system 100 is activated via the switch 102. In step 502, a mode of the sonic conduit tracer system 100 is selected. The mode can be selected via the switch 202 as either "track" or "length."

[0043] If the "Length" mode is selected, the sonic conduit tracer system 100 proceeds to step 503. In steps 505 and 506, the size of the conduit is determined (either by a user or automatically as disclosed above). In step 504, switch 104 is used to select whether the size of the conduit is determined manually in step 506 or automatically in step 505. Once the size of the conduit is determined, the transmitter 300 can emit an audio signal, the receiver 301 can receive an audio return signal, and the spectrum analyzer 302 can determine the estimated length 201 of the conduit in step 507 or step 508.

[0044] After the length of the conduit has been determined, the mode of the sonic conduit tracer system 100 may be switched (via switch 202) to a "tracking" or "locating" mode in step 502. In step 510, the transmitter 300 may transmit a signal distinct from any background noise to facilitate a user locating the far end of the conduit by auditory means.

[0045] While the present disclosure has been illustrated and described with respect to specific embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications can be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure.

Claims

1. 1. A sonic conduit tracer system, comprising: an audio transmitter configured to transmit an audio transmission signal from a proximal end of the empty conduit along an interior length of the conduit; an audio receiver configured to receive an audio return signal at the proximal end of the conduit; an audio spectrum analyzer configured to analyze the audio return signal to facilitate determining the location of the far end of the conduit; A sonic conduit tracer system comprising:

2. The sonic conduit tracer system of claim 1 , wherein the audio spectrum analyzer is configured to use the audio return signal to determine an estimated length of the conduit.

3. The sonic conduit tracer system of claim 1 , wherein the audio spectrum analyzer determines an estimated length of the conduit based on one or more differences between the audio transmit signal and the audio return signal.

4. 2. The sonic conduit tracer system of claim 1, wherein the audio spectrum analyzer determines an estimated length of the conduit based on the delay between the time of the transmitted pulse and the time of the return echo pulse, the time for the transmitted pulse to decay to a predetermined level, changes in harmonic characteristics, and / or the attenuation of a portion of the full spectrum of the audio transmission signal.

5. The sonic conduit tracer system of claim 1 , wherein the audio transmitter is configured to pulse the audio transmission signal.

6. The sonic conduit tracer system of claim 1 , wherein the audio transmitter is configured to continuously transmit the audio transmission signal at a single frequency.

7. The sonic conduit tracer system of claim 1 , wherein the audio transmitter is configured to transmit the audio transmission signal including a plurality of frequency spreads.

8. 2. The sonic conduit tracer system of claim 1, wherein the audio transmitter is configured to transmit a first audio transmission signal having a first spectral bandwidth, a first pulse repetition rate, and / or a first pulse frequency characteristic.

9. 2. The sonic conduit tracer system of claim 1, wherein the audio transmitter is configured to transmit a first audio transmission signal having a first spectral bandwidth, a first pulse repetition rate, and / or a first pulse frequency characteristic, and wherein the audio transmitter is configured to transmit a second audio transmission signal having a second spectral bandwidth, a second pulse repetition rate, and / or a second pulse frequency characteristic.

10. The sonic conduit tracer system of claim 1 , wherein the sonic conduit tracer system is configured to be at least partially inserted into the proximal end of the conduit.

11. The sonic conduit tracer system of claim 1 , wherein the sonic conduit tracer system is configured to automatically determine an inner diameter of the conduit.

12. 2. The sonic conduit tracer system of claim 1, wherein the sonic conduit tracer system is configured to transmit a first audio transmission signal when the conduit has a first inner diameter and to transmit a second audio transmission signal when the conduit has a second inner diameter.

13. 10. The sonic conduit tracer system of claim 1, wherein the sonic conduit tracer system is configured to operate in a search mode, where sound waves distinguishable from white noise are transmitted along a length of the conduit for purposes of manual detection by a human.

14. 10. The sonic conduit tracer system of claim 1, wherein the sonic conduit tracer system is configured to be inserted partially or completely within the conduit, thereby enabling it to travel across an interior of the conduit toward a distal end.

15. 1. A method for tracking a conduit, comprising: transmitting a sonic signal from a proximal end of an empty conduit along an interior length of said conduit; receiving a sonic return signal at the proximal end of the conduit; analyzing the sonic return signal to determine an estimated length of the conduit; A method for tracking a conduit, comprising:

16. 16. The method of tracking a conduit as described in claim 15, wherein the analyzing step includes determining the estimated length of the conduit based on one or more differences between the transmitted sonic signal and the return signal.

17. 16. The method of tracking a conduit of claim 15, wherein the analyzing step includes determining the estimated length of the conduit based on a delay between the time of a transmitted pulse and the time of a return echo pulse, the time for a transmitted pulse to decay to a predetermined level, changes in harmonic characteristics, and / or attenuation of a portion of the full spectrum of an audio transmission signal.

18. 16. The method of tracking a conduit of claim 15, wherein the transmitting step includes transmitting a signal having a pulsed signal.

19. 16. The method of tracking a conduit of claim 15, wherein said transmitting step includes transmitting a continuous audio signal having a single frequency.

20. 16. The method of tracking a conduit of claim 15, wherein said transmitting step comprises transmitting a continuous audio signal having a plurality of frequency spreads.

21. 16. The method of tracking a conduit of claim 15, wherein the transmitting step includes transmitting a signal having a first spectral bandwidth, a first pulse repetition rate, and / or a first pulse frequency characteristic.

22. 16. The method of tracking a conduit of claim 15, wherein the transmitting step includes the steps of transmitting a signal having a first spectral bandwidth, a first pulse repetition rate, and / or a first pulse frequency characteristic, and transmitting a second signal having a second spectral bandwidth, a second pulse repetition rate, and / or a second pulse frequency characteristic.

23. The method of tracking a conduit of claim 15 further comprising automatically determining an inner diameter of the conduit.

24. 16. The method of tracking a conduit as described in claim 15, wherein the transmitting step includes the steps of transmitting a first signal when the conduit has a first inner diameter and transmitting a second signal different from the first signal when the conduit has a second inner diameter.

25. The method of tracking a conduit of claim 15 further comprising transmitting white noise over a length of the conduit.

26. 1. A sonic conduit tracer system comprising an audio transmitter configured to transmit an audio signal along an interior length of an empty conduit, the audio transmitter is configured to fit within the empty conduit and is further configured to be attached to an end of a flexible conduit feeder. Sonic conduit tracer system.

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