Resonant Coil Apparatus for Underground Cast Iron Pipe Joint Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing technologies are unable to accurately locate underground cast iron pipe joints without excavation, leading to inefficiencies and increased costs in repairs, as they are sensitive to soil variations and require precise coil placement, making them inaccurate and prone to false positives.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus with an electrically driven resonant coil generating an alternating magnetic field and two independent resonant sensor coils with magnetic reluctance circuits, which measure changes in magnetic reluctance to detect ferromagnetic materials, allowing for the accurate location of underground cast iron pipe joints and other ferromagnetic objects.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If continuous electromagnetic wave detectors with mutually coupled coils are used, then detection capability is provided, but the device becomes sensitive to coil movement and soil variations causing false positives
Solution Approach 1:
The device segments the detection function into separate transmit and receive coils that are electrically coupled through a capacitor rather than magnetically coupled. This segmentation allows the coils to be positioned more flexibly and reduces sensitivity to relative coil movement while maintaining detection capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operating parameters by using a resonant frequency system with capacitive coupling instead of continuous electromagnetic waves. This parameter change makes the system less sensitive to soil variations and coil positioning errors, reducing false positives.
2Measurement precision
If rigid coil structures are used to maintain precise relative placement, then detection accuracy is improved, but the device becomes vulnerable to jarring and impact
Solution Approach 1:
The device segments the coil assembly into separately mounted transmit and receive coils connected through capacitive coupling. This segmentation eliminates the need for rigid structural coupling between coils, making the device more robust to impact and jarring while maintaining detection precision.
3Reliability
If multiple holes are drilled to locate pipe joints, then detection coverage is improved, but excavation costs and time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical drilling and excavation process with an electromagnetic detection system. This substitution allows for non-invasive detection of pipe joints, eliminating the need for multiple trial holes and reducing both time and cost while maintaining detection coverage.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables precise detection of underground ferromagnetic objects, including cast iron pipe joints, by measuring changes in magnetic reluctance, reducing the need for unnecessary excavation and improving the accuracy of pipe joint location, while being robust against soil variations and coil movement.
Implementation Method 1
an electrically driven resonant coil generating an alternating magnetic field
Implementation Method 2
two resonant sensor coils with magnetic reluctance circuits, which measure changes in magnetic reluctance to detect ferromagnetic materials
Implementation Method 3
electrically driven resonant coil generating an alternating magnetic field and two resonant sensor coils
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for locating underground cast iron pipe joints having an electrically driven resonant coil generating an alternating magnetic field and two resonant sensor coils disposed within the alternating magnetic field, each of the resonant sensor coils having an independent magnetic reluctance circuit. A device is provided for comparing electrical currents induced in each of the resonant sensor coils and a device is provided for indicating a relative magnitude of the electrical currents.