Radiodetection Limited

Other

Jeff Thompson

Richard D Pearson

John Mark Royle

Mark Marsden

Peter Mann

Charles Alexander

Robert Worsley

Mark Royle

Robert White

Robert Ashworth Worsley

Methods, systems and locators for detecting faults in an insulation layer of an insulated conductor buried beneath a ground surface are described. The locator comprises a magnetometer arranged to detect a magnetic field generated by the alternating current and to generate a current signal on the basis of the detected magnetic field, and an Alternating Voltage Gradient receiver comprising a pair of probes arranged to make electrical contact with the ground surface, which is arranged to generate a voltage signal indicative of a voltage between the pair of probes. A processor is configured to substantially synchronously sample the current signal and the voltage signal. This enables improved detection of faults in the insulation layer of the insulated conductor.

System and apparatus for detecting faults in an insulation layer of a buried conductor

A system for detecting a buried conductor comprises a transmitter for producing an alternating test current in the buried conductor and a receiver for detecting an electromagnetic field produced by the test current in the buried conductor. A communication link is provided between the receiver and the transmitter. The receiver measures the signal to noise ratio, SNR, of the electromagnetic field produced by the test current and if the SNR is below a threshold then the receiver controls the transmitter to set frequency and/or power characteristics of the test current.

System for and method of detecting a buried conductor

A detector for detecting a buried current carrying conductor includes a digital signal processor, magnetic sensors, and a power supply unit. The power supply unit is a switched mode power supply which incorporates a proportional integral differential controller feedback algorithm and which is managed by the digital signal processor. The load and source voltage are monitored by the digital signal processor and a look-up table is used to control a pulse width modulator, which drives a single ended primary induction controller. The digital signal processor processes and compares signals received from the sensors to calculate a depth of a buried conductor. The self-generated noise of the power supply unit does not interfere with the frequency bands of detection of the detector.

Detector for detecting a buried current carrying conductor using electromagnetic radiation of predetermined frequencies

A detectorfor detecting a current carrying conductor has a pair of vertically spaced antennaeto detect the magnetic radiation produced by a current carrying conductor as a result of one or both of the mains power supply or an electromagnetic signal which is induced in the conductor by a dedicated signal transmitter. The detectorcontinuously calculates the depth of a buried conductor and if the buried conductor is above a predetermined minimum depth then the detectortriggers an audio and/or visual alarm. By reducing the sensitivity of the antennae, the lateral offset range for which the alarm sounds is reduced and the location of a buried conductor can be determined.

Method of and apparatus for determining if a buried current carrying conductor is buried above predetermined minimum depth

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Cheltenham, United Kingdom

Jeff Thompson