Plunger Bar With Detachable Plug For Persistent Buried Object Marking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for marking the location of buried objects, such as in-ground pipelines, are ineffective as they become lost or displaced due to excavation and ground shifting, leading to potential damage from third-party contacts and leaks.
Innovation Solution
A barhole driver or plunger bar with a detachable plug element and visible marking means, such as brightly colored granular material or RFID devices, is driven into the ground to create a persistent and visible marker that remains above the buried object, even during excavation or ground disturbances.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional plunger bars are used to create holes in the ground, then the location of buried objects can be detected, but the hole closes up quickly after the bar is withdrawn, making the marking ineffective
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the marking function from the temporary hole creation. A detachable marking element is separated from the plunger bar, allowing the bar to be withdrawn while leaving the marking element in place to provide persistent visibility without requiring the hole to remain open.
Solution Approach 2:
The marking element is designed as a disposable component that is inexpensive and intended for single use. After driving the plunger bar and attaching the marking element, the system is withdrawn and the marking element remains in the ground as a permanent marker, sacrificing the temporary hole for a lasting mark.
2Ease of manufacture
If small flags or paint are used to mark the pipeline location, then the marking is simple and visible, but the markings become lost when excavation begins
Solution Approach 1:
The marking transitions from surface-level markers (flags, paint) to subsurface embedding. The marking element is driven into the ground at the pipeline location, creating a three-dimensional marker that extends below the surface, making it resistant to removal by surface excavation activities.
Solution Approach 2:
The marking element is installed in advance at the pipeline location before excavation begins. This preliminary placement ensures the marker is already in place and protected by being embedded in the ground, preventing loss during subsequent excavation operations.
3Reliability
If RFID devices are placed in the ground proximate the pipeline, then the location can be detected from above ground, but placement requires excavation or drilling
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the plunger bar driving function with the marking element attachment function. The marking element is attached to the plunger bar and driven into the ground simultaneously with the hole creation, eliminating the need for separate placement operations or pre-excavation activities.
Solution Approach 2:
The plunger bar system serves multiple functions: creating the hole, attaching the marking element, and embedding the marker in the ground. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate operations to place RFID devices or other marking materials, simplifying the overall process.
4Measurement precision
If highly sensitive acoustic sensors are used to detect third-party contact, then pipeline contact can be detected at substantial distances, but false alarms increase due to sources other than pipeline contact
Solution Approach 1:
The invention creates a physical copy or representation of the pipeline location through the embedded marking element. This visual marker provides direct, unambiguous information about pipeline presence and location, eliminating the need for acoustic detection and its associated false alarms from environmental sources.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus for marking the location of a buried object in which the location of the buried object is determined and a barhole driver or plunger bar having a detachable plug element and a marking material for marking the location of the buried object is driven into the ground proximate the location of the buried object. The detachable plug element detaches from the plunger bar as the plunger bar is removed from the ground, leaving a substantially continuous path of the marking material in the ground extending substantially continuously from proximate the detachable plug element to the ground surface.