Soil Penetrating Lance With Integrated Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing soil penetrating devices lack clarity in distinguishing between submerged objects of interest and other underground features like tree roots or rocks, leading to unnecessary work and inefficiency.
Innovation Solution
A soil penetrating device equipped with a hollow cylinder for pressurized liquid ejection and an imaging device within the lance, allowing users to visualize the environment and identify objects, along with optional features like a detachable nozzle and gas pipe for enhanced soil loosening and inspection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a soil penetrating device is driven into the ground to detect submerged objects, then the location of objects can be determined, but it is unclear whether the device hit an object of interest or other underground features like tree roots or rocks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the purely mechanical soil penetrating device with a hybrid system that incorporates optical imaging technology. The imaging device captures visual information of the underground environment, allowing users to identify object types (pipes, cables, tree roots, rocks) without relying solely on mechanical feedback. This substitution of mechanical detection with optical detection resolves the contradiction by providing both location and identification information simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The imaging device acts as an intermediary between the soil penetrating device and the user. Instead of directly interpreting mechanical resistance or depth information, users observe visual images captured by the imaging device. This intermediary provides detailed information about the underground environment, enabling accurate identification of object types while maintaining the simplicity of the penetration operation.
2Reliability
If the soil penetrating device is driven deep into the ground to locate submerged objects, then detection capability is improved, but the device becomes difficult to retrieve and operation becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The hollow cylinder structure serves multiple functions: it contains and directs the pressurized liquid jet for soil loosening, houses the imaging device for visualization, and acts as the penetrating lance itself. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate retrieval mechanisms while maintaining deep detection capability, as the same structure used for penetration and imaging also facilitates recovery through the liquid jet system.
3Ease of operation
If pressurized liquid is ejected from the liquid outlet to loosen soil, then penetration ease is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the liquid ejection system with the hollow cylinder structure of the penetrating device. The liquid inlet and outlet are integrated into the cylinder walls, and the imaging device is positioned within the same hollow space. This merging eliminates the need for separate external liquid delivery systems and reduces overall device complexity while maintaining the soil-loosening function.
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 identification of submerged objects, prevents unnecessary work, and allows for efficient soil inspection and analysis, reducing time and effort in locating and replacing underground infrastructure.
Implementation Method 1
the soil penetrating lance is configured for transporting pressurized liquid from the first end to the second end and for ejecting pressurized liquid from the liquid outlet as the soil penetrating lance is inserted in the soil by penetration
Implementation Method 2
the soil at or near the second end of and around the soil penetrating lance becomes liquefied and/or is flushed away
Implementation Method 3
By illuminating the soil by the light source and subsequently collecting reflected light for generating an image of the soil
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 2A
AI summary
The invention relates to a soil penetrating device, comprising: a liquid feed line configured for feeding a pressurized liquid, and a soil penetrating lance comprising a substantially straight hollow cylinder having a first end with an liquid inlet and a second end with an liquid outlet, wherein the first end is in fluid communication with the liquid reservoir, wherein the soil penetrating lance is configured for transporting the pressurized liquid from the first end to the second end and for ejecting pressurized liquid supplied by the liquid reservoir from the liquid outlet as the soil penetrating lance is inserted in the soil by penetration, the soil penetrating device further comprising an imaging device which is provided within the soil penetrating lance, wherein the imaging device faces the liquid outlet and is configured for imaging the environment adjacent to the second end of the soil penetrating lance.