The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 14, 2002
Filed:
Jun. 06, 2001
Applicant:
Inventors:
William F. Kepler, Golden, CO (US);
Fred A. Travers, Lakewood, CO (US);
Assignee:
The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Interior, Washington, DC (US);
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Assistant Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
G01N 2/900 ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
G01N 2/900 ;
Abstract
A method and system are provided for detecting a void in backfill material such as soil surrounding a buried conduit such as a pipeline. The void is detected by monitoring an acoustic response from the conduit in response to acoustic excitation of the interior of the conduit. An analysis of changes in the acoustic response is then related to the presence or absence of a void in the backfill material.