Abstract: An orientation sensor capable of generating at least one output signal indicative of a particular orientation parameter is described. The orientation sensor comprises a sensor housing defining a closed internal chamber including a first internal surface. The first internal surface supports a first electrically conductive pattern which itself forms part of a sensing arrangement. The first electrically conductive pattern includes an arrangement of electrically isolated segments in a predetermined configuration. A flowable material is contained within the internal chamber, which flowable material contacts a portion of the first internal surface dependent upon the value of the particular orientation parameter. An electrical property is measurable between the segments such that the orientation parameter can be determined using the output signal based only on the electrical property and, therefore, only on the portion of the first internal surface contacted by the flowable material.

Abstract: Establishing a location of at least a portion of a particular path taken by a boring tool uses a portable locator and information generating arrangement for generating a set of positional information characterizing a position of the boring tool relative to a locating position. A transmitter arrangement transmits an electromagnetic signal from the boring tool and a sensing arrangement including less than five spaced-apart sensors at the portable locator senses the electromagnetic signal at a series of spaced-apart reference locations along a reference path, associated one-for-one with spaced-apart measuring locations of the boring tool, for locator movement along the particular path, so each reference location is determined by an associated measuring location.

Abstract: Specific apparatus and associated methods are described for use in establishing the positions of locating field detectors and for path mapping within a region for the purpose of tracking and/or guiding the movement of an underground boring tool. In one aspect, an improvement is provided forming part of an arrangement for tracking the position and/or guiding the boring tool using an electromagnetic locating signal which is transmitted from the boring tool as the boring tool moves through the ground. At least two detectors are located at fixed positions within the region, each being operable in a transmit mode and in a receive mode such that each one of the detectors in the transmit mode is able to transmit a relative locating signal to the other detector for use in determining the relative position of one detector in relation to the other and such that both detectors receive the electromagnetic locating signal in the receive mode for use in determining the position of the boring tool within the region.

Abstract: An orientation sensor capable of generating at least one output signal indicative of a particular orientation parameter is described. The orientation sensor comprises a sensor housing defining a closed internal chamber including a first internal surface. The first internal surface supports a first electrically conductive pattern which itself forms part of a sensing arrangement. The first electrically conductive pattern includes an arrangement of electrically isolated segments in a predetermined configuration. A flowable material is contained within the internal chamber, which flowable material contacts a portion of the first internal surface dependent upon the value of the particular orientation parameter. An electrical property is measurable between the segments such that the orientation parameter can be determined using the output signal based only on the electrical property and, therefore, only on the portion of the first internal surface contacted by the flowable material.

Abstract: An above-ground portable locator is described for locating a boring tool positioned underground. The boring tool includes a transmitter arrangement which transmits an electromagnetic dipole orientation signal. The locator includes a receiver arrangement including at least first and second antennas positioned transverse to one another. These first and second antennas simultaneously sense at least respective first and second orthogonal components of the electromagnetic signal. The receiver arrangement produces respective first and second, at least substantially simultaneous, electrical signals, which are functions of the first and second orthogonal components sensed by the said first and second antennas.

Abstract: A locator is described for tracking the position of a boring tool and/or one or more buried lines within a region. A flux plane is used to establish a flux vector to guide the portable locator to locate points in a dipole field. A locate line is located in the dipole field by determining a predicted locate line angular orientation based upon horizontal flux vector determinations. The predicted angular orientation limits possible directions to and orientations of a predicted locate line relative to the portable locator. Cable line locating measures a local flux intensity of the locating signal using the portable locator. A cable line angular orientation limits the possible directions to the cable line. A display is configured for periodic updates such that displayed positional relationships are essentially continuous, including accommodation of positional and/or orientation changes seen by the portable locator in dipole or cable line tracking.

Abstract: A portable mapping tool for use in a horizontal drilling system and associated methods use a boring tool configured for transmitting a locating signal. The mapping tool also includes at least one electromagnetic field detector which is configured for measuring the locating signal from a fixed position proximate to the surface of the ground in a drilling area. The mapping tool includes a housing and a transmitter arrangement supported by the housing for transmitting a setup locating signal for reception by the detector in the region for use in determining certain initial conditions at least prior to drilling. The associated mathods include the step of configuring the mapping tool for transmitting a setup locating signal for reception by the detector in the region and using the received setup locating signal in determining certain initial conditions at least prior to drilling.

Abstract: Systems and associated methods for tracking and/or guiding an underground boring tool use one or more detectors to measure the intensity of an electromagnetic field which is transmitted from an underground boring tool. The measured intensities may then be used to determine the location of the boring tool. In a dead reckoning embodiment of the invention, one detector may be employed while, in a position determination embodiment, two or more detectors may be employed. In any embodiment, physically measurable parameters may be used in addition to measured magnetic intensities. A highly advantageous mapping tool instrument for use in the position determination embodiment and a cubic antenna for use in any magnetic field detector are employed herein.

Abstract: An orientation sensor especially suitable for use in an underground device is disclosed herein. This orientation sensor includes a sensor housing defining a closed internal chamber, an arrangement of electrically conductive members in a predetermined positional relationship to one another within the chamber and a flowable material contained within the housing chamber and through which electrical connections between the electrically conductive members are made such that a comparison between an electrical property, specifically voltage, of a first combination of conductive members to the corresponding electrical property of a second combination of conductive members can be used to determine a particular orientation parameter, specifically pitch or roll of the sensor.

Abstract: An arrangement is described in which a boring tool is moved through the ground within a given region along a particular path in an orientation which includes pitch while transmitting a locating signal. A portable locator measures signal strength at an above ground location. The portable locator further determines pitch of the boring tool. The determined pitch and signal strength are used to establish the depth of the boring tool. In one aspect, the portable locator measures the locating signal from a negative locate point. In another aspect, the portable locator measures from an above ground location having a particular flux orientation. In yet another aspect, the portable locator determines a positional relationship between the portable locator and the boring tool using the determined pitch and measured locating signal.

Abstract: Specific apparatus and associated methods are described for use in establishing the positions of locating field detectors and for path mapping within a region for the purpose of tracking and/or guiding the movement of an underground boring tool. In one aspect, an improvement is provided forming part of an arrangement for tracking the position and/or guiding the boring tool using an electromagnetic locating signal which is transmitted from the boring tool as the boring tool moves through the ground. At least two detectors are located at fixed positions within the region, each being operable in a transmit mode and in a receive mode such that each one of the detectors in the transmit mode is able to transmit a relative locating signal to the other detector for use in determining the relative position of one detector in relation to the other and such that both detectors receive the electromagnetic locating signal in the receive mode for use in determining the position of the boring tool within the region.

Abstract: An orientation sensor capable of generating at least one output signal indicative of a particular orientation parameter is described. The orientation sensor comprises a sensor housing defining a closed internal chamber including a first internal surface. The first internal surface supports a first electrically conductive pattern which itself forms part of a sensing arrangement The first electrically conductive pattern includes an arrangement of electrically isolated segments in a predetermined configuration. A flowable material is contained within the internal chamber, which flowable material contacts a portion of the first internal surface dependent upon the value of the particular orientation parameter. An electrical property is measurable between the segments such that the orientation parameter can be determined using the output signal based only on the electrical property and, therefore, only on the portion of the first internal surface contacted by the flowable material.

Abstract: Arrangements, specific apparatus and associated methods for skin depth compensation in underground boring applications are described. Compensation for skin depth error is accomplished by measuring a locating signal transmitted from a boring tool such that measurements of the locating signal include skin depth error introduced as a result of the electrical conductivity characteristic of the earth. Thereafter, the measurements are used in a way which determines a skin depth corrected position of the boring tool. In one aspect, a multi-frequency approach is provided which utilizes measured intensities of the locating field at two or more frequencies to extrapolate a zero frequency value of intensity. The zero frequency value of intensity is then used in position determination.

Abstract: Specific apparatus and associated methods are described for use in establishing the positions of locating field detectors and for path mapping within a region for the purpose of tracking and/or guiding the movement of an underground boring tool. In one aspect, an improvement is provided forming part of an arrangement for tracking the position and/or guiding the boring tool using an electromagnetic locating signal which is transmitted from the boring tool as the boring tool moves through the ground. At least two detectors are located at fixed positions within the region, each being operable in a transmit mode and in a receive mode such that each one of the detectors in the transmit mode is able to transmit a relative locating signal to the other detector for use in determining the relative position of one detector in relation to the other and such that both detectors receive the electromagnetic locating signal in the receive mode for use in determining the position of the boring tool within the region.

Abstract: The present invention provides a locator/monitor capable of locating a boring tool and monitoring the progress of the tool for control purposes. The locator/monitor may be used in expedited locating methodology and straightforward calibration techniques of the present invention. A durable and cost effective pitch sensor is also provided by the present invention. In addition, the present invention provides a slotted transmitter housing formed of an electrically conductive material, where the magnetic field generated by the transmitter is capable of penetrating to the surface.

Abstract: A system in which a boring tool is moved through the ground within a given region along a particular path in an orientation which includes pitch. A locating signal is transmitted from the boring tool which signal exhibits a field defined forward point within a reference surface which field defined forward point is vertically above an inground forward point on the particular path through which the boring tool is likely to pass. It establishes a predicted depth of the boring tool at the inground forward point by first identifying the field defined forward point with the use of a locator with two antennas. The signal strength of the locating signal is then measured at the field defined forward point as being representative of the depth of the boring tool at an inground upstream point which is the current location of the boring tool. With the boring tool at the upstream inground point, the pitch of the boring tool is determined.

Abstract: Systems and associated methods for tracking and/or guiding an underground boring tool are disclosed. Each system or arrangement uses one or more detectors to measure the intensity of an electromagnetic field which is transmitted from an underground boring tool. The measured intensities may then be used to determine the location of the boring tool. In a dead reckoning embodiment of the invention, one detector may be employed while, in a position determination embodiment, two or more detectors may be employed. In any embodiment, physically measurable parameters may be used in addition to measured magnetic intensities. A highly advantageous mapping tool instrument and a cubic antenna are disclosed. The former for use in the position determination embodiment and the latter for use in any magnetic field detector employed herein.

Abstract: A locator/control arrangement forms part of a drilling apparatus which also includes a boring tool that emits a locating signal. The locator/control arrangement is used for locating and controlling underground movement of a boring tool which is operated from a drill rig. The locator/control arrangement includes a portable device for generating certain information about the position of the boring tool in response to the locating signal. In addition, the portable device generates command signals based on operator input in view of the generated certain information and transmits the command signals to the drill rig. An arrangement located at the drill rig then receives the command signals so that the command signals can be used to control the boring tool. In one feature, the arrangement located at the drill rig for receiving the command signals may indicate the command signals to a drill rig operator.

Abstract: An orientation sensor especially suitable for use in an underground device is disclosed herein. This orientation sensor includes a sensor housing defining a closed internal chamber, an arrangement of electrically conductive members in a predetermined positional relationship to one another within in the chamber and a flowable material contained within the housing chamber and through which electrical connections between the electrically conductive members are made such that a comparison between an electrical property, specifically voltage, of a first combination of conductive members to the corresponding electrical property of a second combination of conductive members can be used to determine a particular orientation parameter, specifically pitch or roll of the sensor.

Abstract: A boring tool contains an arrangement for producing a dipole magnetic field. The boring tool is steered through the ground using a boring machine. The position of the boring tool, during its movement through the ground, is established by an above ground receiver in cooperation with and responsive to the magnetic field. The receiver is configured to operate alternatively in first and second modes. When operating the receiver in the first mode positioned above ground, the receiver includes an arrangement responsive to the magnetic field for determining the location of the boring tool as the boring tool moves along a path from a first point to a second point. When operating the receiver in the second mode positioned at a fixed point, the receiver includes an arrangement responsive to the magnetic field for establishing between the boring tool and the receiver a homing path along which the boring tool is steered toward the fixed point.