Sonic conduit 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 Art

[0002] There are commonly used electronic wire tracing tools known as "toners" that allow for easy identification of a particular wire or cable within a conduit. However, there is no simple method or device for identifying a particular empty conduit from another empty conduit.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0003] The present disclosure provides a sonic conduit tracer system that meets this need by using sound waves sent through a conduit to easily identify the remote or distal end of a particular conduit among a number of similar conduits or tubes in a given area. Such sound waves may be provided, as non-limiting examples, as audible tones or audible pulses.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0004] A sonic conduit tracer system can easily point to or identify a particular conduit of interest at a particular location, while there still remain logistics matters of first locating a general area, equipment room, or other termination location of the remote conduit end itself, whether the conduit is among a group of other conduits or is alone. Thus, a sonic conduit tracer system can also easily locate the distal end of a particular conduit among a group of empty or nearly empty conduits.

[0005] A sonic conduit tracer system for identifying and determining the location of empty conduits is disclosed herein. The sonic conduit tracer system may utilize audio transmissions to identify and / or locate the termination of a conduit among a number of empty conduits or termination 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 the estimated total length of the conduit. The sonic conduit tracer system may automatically calculate the estimated length of the conduit by transmitting an audio pulse and then listening to and calculating the time delay until the transmitted pulse returns to the transmission point. In this exemplary embodiment, the propagation delay time measured for a particular inner diameter dimension is used to calculate the estimated conduit length.

[0007] A sonic conduit tracer system for identifying and locating empty conduits by utilizing audio transmission to identify a conduit and / or locate its termination from among a number of empty conduit or termination locations may be configured to optimize or adjust the transmitted audio frequency and / or pulse rate of the emitted audio transmission according to the internal dimensions of the conduit used to locate its termination. According to one embodiment, the sonic conduit tracer system may automatically sense or determine that a conduit adapter of a particular size has been attached to the transmitter, and the sonic conduit tracer system may use this information to optimize the transmitted signal.

[0008] In another embodiment, the self-powered sonic conduit tracer system may be configured to be attached to a commonly used 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 sound may be positioned closer to the terminal end of the conduit.

[0009] A sonic conduit tracer system is disclosed, comprising a sonic transmitter, a sonic receiver, and a spectral analyzer. The transmitter may be an audio transmitter configured to transmit an audio signal from the proximal end of the conduit over the internal length of an empty conduit. The receiver may be an audio receiver configured to receive an audio return signal. The spectral analyzer may be an audio spectral analyzer configured to analyze the returned audio signal, thereby facilitating the determination of the location of the far end of the conduit.

[0010] In certain embodiments, the spectral analyzer of a sonic conduit tracer may be configured to use a return signal to determine the estimated length of the conduit. For example, in one embodiment, the audio spectral analyzer may determine the estimated length of the conduit based on one or more audio differences, such as specific audio frequency attenuation between the transmitted audio signal and the returned audio signal. In another embodiment, the spectral 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 it takes for the transmitted pulse to attenuate to a predetermined level, changes in harmonic characteristics, and / or attenuation of a portion of the entire spectrum of the transmitted signal.

[0011] In another embodiment, the transmitter of the sonic conduit tracer may be configured to transmit a variety of different signals. In one embodiment, the transmitter may be configured to pulse an audio signal at a constant or varying pulse rate. In another embodiment, the transmitter may be configured to transmit an audio signal at a single frequency. Alternatively, the transmitter may be configured to transmit an audio signal having multiple audio spread frequencies. In 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 a first audio signal having a first spectral bandwidth, a first pulse repetition rate, and / or a 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. In yet another embodiment, the transmitter may be configured to transmit sound waves containing white noise over the length of the conduit.

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

[0013] In 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 move throughout the interior of the conduit.

[0014] According to a particular embodiment, a method for tracking a conduit includes the steps of: transmitting a sonic signal from the proximal end of an empty conduit over its internal length; receiving a sonic return signal at the proximal end of the conduit; and analyzing the sonic return signal to determine the estimated length of the conduit. The sonic signal may be a continuous audio signal and / or a pulsed audio signal. According to a particular embodiment, the analysis step may include determining the estimated length of the conduit based on one or more differences between the transmitted signal and the return signal. For example, the analysis step may include determining the 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 it takes for the transmitted pulse to decay to a predetermined level, changes in harmonic characteristics, and / or decay of a portion of the entire spectrum of the audio transmitted signal.

[0015] According to another embodiment, the transmitting step may include transmitting a signal having a pulsed signal, transmitting a signal having a single audio frequency, transmitting a signal having multiple audio spread frequencies, 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 yet 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] In another embodiment, the method for tracking a conduit may further include the step of causing an audio transmitter to automatically determine the inner diameter of the conduit and to select an optimized audio frequency based on the detected conduit size. In another embodiment, the method for determining the transmitted audio operating frequency may be manually selected based on a manual determination of the conduit diameter size. Furthermore, the transmitting step may include the step 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.

[0017] According to the last embodiment, the sonic conduit tracer may include an audio transmitter configured to transmit an audio signal over the internal length of an empty conduit, the audio transmitter being configured to fit inside an empty electrical conduit and further configured to be attached to the end of a flexible transmitter positioning and supply mechanism. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0018] [Figure 1] This figure schematically illustrates a sonic conduit tracer system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 2] This figure schematically shows a side view of the sonic conduit tracer system shown in Figure 1. [Figure 3] This figure schematically shows an end view of the sonic conduit tracer system shown in Figure 1. [Figure 4] This figure schematically illustrates a physically deployable sonic conduit tracer system according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 5] This flowchart shows a method for operating the sonic conduit tracer system according to an embodiment of the disclosure. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0019] Disclosed herein is a sonic conduit tracer system for determining the length of an empty conduit, for locating the end (or far end) of a conduit from among a number of possible end locations, and / or for identifying the end of a particular conduit from among a number of other conduits. The sonic conduit tracer system utilizes one or more sonic transmissions traveling within the conduit. As used herein, “sonic signal” means a sound wave having any or more simultaneous frequencies. As used herein, “audio signal” means a sound wave having frequencies within the range of human hearing, for example, typically in the range of 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz.

[0020] Referring to Figure 1, a sonic conduit tracer system 100 according to this 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 a 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 located in the same place within the sonic conduit tracer device body 101.

[0021] In 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 particularly configured to transmit an audio signal within and across the internal length of a 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, or transmit an audio signal in a sequentially changing single-frequency scheme. 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 defined pulse audio frequency characteristics. Optionally, the audio transmitter 300 may be configured to transmit multiple audio signals. For example, 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, or the audio transmitter 300 may be configured to transmit a second defined audio transmission 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 optionally be configured to combine one or more audio frequency signals. Furthermore, the audio transmitter 300 may be configured to modulate the transmitted signal, for example, by sweeping the frequency spectrum, increasing or decreasing the amplitude, or changing the pulse characteristics, as will be known to those skilled in the art who benefit from the present disclosure.

[0022] The audio receiver 301 may be specifically configured to receive an audio return signal from the internal length of the conduit. As used herein, a "return signal" is transmitted as a signal transmitted from an initial position (typically the proximal end of the conduit), and then reflects off one or more surfaces or otherwise interacts with one or more surfaces, thereby changing or distorting the spectral characteristics of the original transmitted signal, meaning a sound wave. For example, the return signal may have different or inconsistent audio frequency characteristics across the frequency spectrum, different pulse rates such as those caused by the addition of an echo, and / or one or more audio frequencies attenuated relative to the original transmitted signal. Further, the returned 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 determination of the position of the distal end of the conduit. According to one embodiment, the audio spectrum analyzer 302 may be specifically configured to analyze the difference between the audio transmission signal and the audio return signal to facilitate determination of the position of the distal 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 it takes for the transmitted pulse to attenuate to a predetermined level, changes in harmonic characteristics, and / or the attenuation of a portion of the entire spectrum of the audio transmission signal.

[0024] According to one aspect, the sonic conduit tracer system 100 may be configured to determine an estimated length of a conduit based on an analysis of a return signal by an audio spectrum analyzer 302. The estimated length of the conduit may be based on the difference between the transmitted audio signal and the audio return signal and / or the differential effect between various transmitted audio frequencies and 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 it takes for the transmitted pulse to decay to a predetermined level, and / or based on a change in harmonic characteristics, and / or based on the attenuation of a portion of the full spectrum of the transmitted audio signal, and may be further determined by the spectrum analyzer 302.

[0025] As an example, the estimated length of the conduit may be determined by utilizing established equations such as velocity = distance / time. Since it is well established that sound travels at approximately 340 meters per second at the sea surface (at standard temperature and pressure), by already knowing that the velocity is approximately 340 m / s and the time of the echo (divided by 2 to account for the return distance), the distance value can be easily solved. Note that the distal end of the conduit may or may not be capped. If its distal end is actually capped, the receiver will detect a strong echo. However, if the distal end is not capped, the spectrum analyzer will detect distortion as the sound wave exits 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 absence of a distinct echo and / or much higher general attenuation. If the system determines that the conduit under test is not capped, the detected time value will not be halved as in the case of a capped conduit.

[0026] Since conduits of different sizes have inherently different degradation effects on measurement results in various audio frequencies and their attenuation, distortion, etc., it is important to optimize the audio frequencies used by the audio transmitter according to the internal size of the conduit. Therefore, the size of the conduit's inner diameter may be provided as input to the sonic conduit tracer system 100 when determining the estimated length of the conduit. According to one embodiment, the sonic conduit tracer may automatically optimize, adjust, and / or calibrate its circuit for the specific 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 various frequencies.

[0027] Therefore, according to a particular embodiment, the sonic conduit tracer system 100 may be configured to determine the size of the conduit in question as a first step. According to one embodiment, referring to Figures 1 to 3, the sonic conduit tracer system 100 may include one or more adapters 106A, 106B, 106C (collectively 106). One or more adapters 106 can provide various sizes configured to fit (e.g., slip fit, lock fit, snap fit, press fit, etc.) to the end of a conduit having a standard inner diameter (e.g., 1 inch / 2 inch / 3 inch). Therefore, adapters of sizes to fit one or more conduits of corresponding sizes may be attached (e.g., via slip fit, lock 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 projection 109 configured to engage with a recess 110 of the adapter.

[0028] According to one embodiment, the sonic conduit tracer system 100 may be equipped with a manual conduit size selection knob 103 or a switch on the main body 101 of the sonic conduit tracer device. When manually set by the user, this selection knob 103 notifies the sonic conduit tracer system of which adapter size 106A, 106B, etc., is attached to the main body 101 of the sonic conduit tracer device, and consequently, the transmitted audio characteristics suitable for a given conduit size to be selected.

[0029] In other embodiments, automatic determination of the conduit adapter size 106 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 sizes of adapters, the position of each conductive strip 107A, 107B, etc. may be at a different offset position relative to the index key 109 and the adapter recess 110. As also shown in Figures 1 and 3, the body 101 of the sonic conduit tracer device may be provided with a number of different sets of sizing contacts 105A, 105B, 105C, etc. (collectively 105). For any given size adapter, the conductive strip 107 aligns and contacts the appropriate sizing contact on the device body 101. In this way, adapters 106A, 106B, etc., for each different conduit size automatically notify the sonic conduit tracer system of which conduit size is being tracked by electrically bridging only one pair of sizing contacts 105A, 105B, etc.

[0030] As shown in Figure 1, when the index key 109 of the sonic conduit tracer body is fitted into the adapter recess 110, for example, with a 2-inch conduit size adapter 106A, the conductive strip 107A of the adapter 106A coincides with, for example, the contact 105A on the device body. Therefore, closing this particular electrical circuit automatically indicates to the sonic conduit tracer system 100 that a 2-inch adapter is installed. A switch 104 may be provided to inform the sonic conduit tracer system whether to use a manual conduit sizing method or an automatic conduit sizing method.

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

[0032] The transmitted and received sonic characteristics (e.g., audio characteristics) may be compared in various commonly used ways, such as by an audio spectrum analyzer 302 (see Figures 1-3) which may be incorporated into the sonic conduit tracer system device body 101. For example, the spectrum analyzer 302 may determine the total trip (round trip) timing interval (i.e., distance) by determining the approximate conduit length calculation of the conduit in question, using the known audio pulse delta of approximately 340 meters per second at sea surface (at typical temperature and pressure) (via echolocation), and the timing of audio characteristic degradation, etc. The estimated conduit length 201 may be displayed on the readout unit 200 (see Figure 2).

[0033] According to one embodiment, once the estimated length 201 of the conduit is determined, the resulting estimated conduit length 201 may be used as a tool to limit the search distance or search radius from the proximal end of the conduit. Therefore, the estimated conduit length 201 may be determined and displayed, and a search for the conduit terminus located within that search distance from the proximal position may be performed. In other words, a search may be performed from the starting point of the conduit in an arc corresponding to the estimated conduit length 201 in order to find a suitable equipment room or cabinet, etc., from which the far end or terminus of the conduit can be found.

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

[0035] Since conduits of different diameters have different resonant 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 their use for a particular conduit size, similar to how organ tubes are tuned to allow the tubes to properly "sound" (resonate). Since 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, a person only needs to visit locations within the search arc that are covered by it and listen for characteristic transmitted sounds. If a particular location is quiet (and the system still determines that the distal end is open), the person searching can move on to the next location immediately instead of wasting time there by further checking the conduit and identifying the specific conduit at that location that does not present a characteristic indicative sound. Furthermore, conduits often begin at a common starting point but may end, for example, on different floors of a building. Knowing the approximate or estimated length of the conduit, if all matching arc search locations on a given floor have been explored without the presence of sound, then a new, smaller arc can be determined and explored on an adjacent floor in the same way as before by subtracting the inter-floor measurement from the total estimated conduit length. This length subtraction process may then be repeated until the distal end of the conduit is found.

[0037] Sonic conduit tracers offer particular advantages and are expected to provide labor savings in several ways. Firstly, the sonic conduit tracer and location process can be optionally accomplished by only one person compared to the traditional requirement of two people (although the sonic conduit tracer process will certainly be faster with two or more people). Secondly, it immediately eliminates the need to further explore all sections such as rooms and areas, making it much easier to accomplish the task of locating conduits within an identified area.

[0038] In another embodiment, a sonic conduit tracer system 400 may be provided, as shown in Figure 4. The system 400 may be sized to loosely “slip into” a suitably sized unit 400 inside an empty electrical conduit or tube. Furthermore, the system 400 may be configured to be attached to a flexible conduit feeder 401, such as a general wire conduit “snake” tool. The snake tool 401 may be used to push a suitably sized sonic conduit tracer system 400 into the conduit 404, so that the sonic conduit tracer system 400 can be positioned closer to the far end or terminal end of the conduit. Inside the conduit, the sonic conduit tracer system 400 may actively transmit or emit a characteristic tone 402. According to a particular embodiment, the system 400 may include only a sonic transmitter sized to fit inside the conduit. The system 400 is particularly suitable for use with vertical conduits where gravity assists the conduit feeding process.

[0039] According to a particular embodiment, a method for tracking a conduit includes the steps of: transmitting a sonic signal from the proximal end of an empty conduit over its internal length; receiving a sonic return signal at the proximal end of the conduit; and analyzing the sonic return signal to determine the estimated length of the conduit. The sonic signal may be an audio frequency signal and / or a near-audio frequency signal. According to a particular embodiment, the analysis step may include determining the estimated length of the conduit based on one or more differences between the transmitted signal and the return signal. For example, the analysis step may include determining the 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 it takes for the transmitted pulse to decay to a predetermined level, changes in harmonic characteristics, and / or decay of a portion of the entire spectrum of the audio transmitted signal.

[0040] According to another embodiment, the step of transmitting a signal 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 multiple frequency spreads, 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 yet 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 sound audio "white noise" over the length of the conduit. "White noise" is particularly well suited for determining a specific frequency audio attenuation with respect to the length of the conduit because it covers a wide audio frequency range with uniform intensity, for example, all frequencies at the same intensity.

[0041] In another embodiment, the method for tracking a conduit may further include a step of automatically determining the inner diameter of the conduit. Furthermore, the transmitting step may include a step of transmitting a first signal when the conduit has a first inner diameter and a second signal different from the first signal when the conduit has a second inner diameter.

[0042] Referring to Figure 5, a flowchart 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 an empty conduit. In step 501, the sonic conduit tracer system 100 is activated via switch 102. In step 502, the mode of the sonic conduit tracer system 100 is selected. The mode can be selected via switch 202 as either "Tracking" 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 (by the user or automatically as disclosed above). In step 504, switch 104 is used to select whether to manually determine the conduit size in step 506 or automatically determine it in step 505. Once the conduit size 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 in step 502 (via switch 202) to "tracking" or "positioning" mode. In step 510, the transmitter 300 may transmit a signal different from any background noise to facilitate the user in locating the far end of the conduit by auditory means.

[0045] While this disclosure has been illustrated and described in relation to its specific embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that various modifications to this disclosure can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of this disclosure.

Claims

1. It is a sonic conduit tracer system, An audio transmitter configured to transmit an audio transmission signal from the proximal end of an empty conduit over the internal 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 in order to facilitate the determination of the position of the far end of the conduit, Equipped with, 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. 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. 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. The sonic conduit tracer system is configured to determine the inner diameter of the conduit based on an adapter attached to the main body of the sonic conduit tracer system.

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

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

4. The sonic conduit tracer system according to claim 1, wherein the audio spectrum analyzer determines the 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 it takes for the transmitted pulse to decay to a predetermined level, changes in harmonic characteristics, and / or decay of a portion of the entire spectrum of the audio transmitted signal.

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

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

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

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

11. The sonic conduit tracer system according to claim 1, wherein the sonic conduit tracer system is configured to operate in search mode, and sound waves indistinguishable from white noise are transmitted over the length of the conduit for the purpose of manual detection by a person.

12. The sonic conduit tracer system according to claim 1, wherein the sonic conduit tracer system is configured to be partially or completely inserted into the conduit, thereby enabling it to move toward the distal end within the conduit.

13. A method for tracking conduits, The steps include transmitting a first sonic signal and a second sonic signal from the proximal end of an empty conduit across the internal length of the conduit, A step of determining the inner diameter of the conduit based on an adapter attached to the main body of the sonic conduit tracer system, The steps include transmitting the first sonic signal when the conduit has a first inner diameter, and transmitting the second sonic signal when the conduit has a second inner diameter, The steps include receiving a sonic return signal at the proximal end of the conduit, The steps include analyzing the sonic return signal to determine the estimated length of the conduit, and A method for tracking conduits, including those mentioned above.

14. A method for tracking a conduit according to claim 13, wherein the analysis step includes determining the estimated length of the conduit based on one or more differences between the transmitted sonic signal and the sonic return signal.

15. A method for tracking a conduit according to claim 13, wherein the analysis step includes determining the 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 it takes for the transmitted pulse to decay to a predetermined level, changes in harmonic characteristics, and / or decay of a portion of the entire spectrum of the audio transmission signal.

16. The method for tracking a conduit according to claim 13, wherein the transmitting step includes the step of transmitting a signal having a pulsed signal.

17. The method for tracking a conduit according to claim 13, wherein the transmitting step includes the step of transmitting a continuous audio signal having a single frequency.

18. The method for tracking a conduit according to claim 13, wherein the transmitting step includes the step of transmitting a continuous audio signal having a plurality of spread frequencies.

19. The method for tracking a conduit according to claim 13, 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.

20. A method for tracking a conduit according to claim 13, 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, and transmitting a second signal having a second spectral bandwidth, a second pulse repetition rate, and / or a second pulse frequency characteristic.

21. A method for tracking a conduit according to claim 13, further comprising the step of automatically determining the inner diameter of the conduit.

22. A method for tracking a conduit according to claim 13, wherein the transmitting step includes 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.

23. A method for tracking a conduit according to claim 13, further comprising the step of transmitting white noise over the length of the conduit.

24. A sonic conduit tracer system comprising an audio transmitter configured to transmit an audio signal over the internal length of an empty conduit, The audio transmitter is configured to fit inside the empty conduit and to be attached to the end of the flexible conduit feeder. 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. 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. 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. The sonic conduit tracer system is configured to determine the inner diameter of the conduit based on an adapter attached to the main body of the sonic conduit tracer system. Sonic conduit tracer system.

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