Composite Signal Tape That Pulls to Surface Without Breaking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current marker tapes for buried infrastructure are unreliable in being consistently pulled from the ground without breaking, making it difficult for excavation crews to visually detect them and prevent damage to pipelines and other buried infrastructure.
Innovation Solution
Development of Signal Tape with a strong core material, such as metallic cable, woven fabric, or polyester rope, laminated within a protective film to withstand excavation machinery and ensure visible indication of buried infrastructure, potentially incorporating RFID tags for remote location.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If conventional marker tape is used, then it can be easily laid over buried infrastructure, but it breaks when struck by excavation machinery and cannot be reliably pulled to the surface
Solution Approach 1:
The marker tape uses a composite structure combining a high-strength core material (metallic cable, woven fabric, or polyester rope) with a protective film layer. This composite construction provides both the ease of installation of conventional tape and the reliability needed to withstand excavation forces and be pulled to the surface without breaking.
Solution Approach 2:
The protective film layer acts as a flexible shell that encases the strong core material. This thin film provides protection while maintaining flexibility, allowing the tape to be easily laid during installation yet remain intact when struck by excavation machinery.
2Strength
If the marker tape is made stronger to prevent breaking, then it can withstand excavation machinery, but it becomes more difficult to pull from the ground
Solution Approach 1:
The composite structure with a strong core material provides the necessary strength to resist breaking when struck by excavation machinery, while the protective film layer maintains flexibility and reduces friction with the soil, enabling the tape to be pulled from the ground when contacted by excavation equipment.
Solution Approach 2:
The protective film layer changes the friction parameters between the core material and the surrounding soil. By providing a smooth, low-friction outer surface, the film allows the strong core to be pulled from the ground more easily despite its high strength.
3Ease of manufacture
If the marker tape is made visible through stretching, then it can be seen by excavation crews, but it breaks before reaching the surface
Solution Approach 1:
The high-strength core material provides the mechanical integrity needed to reach the surface without breaking, while the protective film layer can be designed with visual indicators such as contrasting colors or reflective elements. This composite approach maintains visibility functions while ensuring the tape reaches the surface intact.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention apparatus for and a method of creating a localized warning to prevent damage to buried pipeline and other buried infrastructure using a new type of marker tape with the trade name signal tape® [hereinafter referred to as “Signal Tape”]. The disclosed Signal Tape may incorporate tracer wire and RFID technology to aid in the remote location of the Signal Tape and, thus, the buried infrastructure. Signal Tape may also incorporate Litz wire for use as tracer wire within the Signal Tape. The Signal Tape is designed to be buried just below the surface of the ground and directly over a buried infrastructure such as a pipeline. The Signal Tape incorporates a strong core material which permits the Signal Tape to be bodily removed from the soil when it is struck by excavation equipment.