Abstract: The exact position of a work location (24) is mapped by the aid of at least three differential Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) receivers (12, 14, and 16) situated proximate the work location. Each of the differential Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) receivers establishes its own exact position and transmits that information to a spatial positioning system receiver (18) at the work location that determines its position from the position of the individual differential Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) receivers.

Abstract: A cutting tool (10) for making precise circumferential and longitudinal cuts in an fiber optic cable (12) includes a rotary-driven cutting wheel (18) that extends partially into the top of a housing (24) having an open bottom. The housing receives a pair of upper and lower cable guides that have opposed longitudinal and transverse channels (36 and 42) and 38 and 44) for retaining the cable in a longitudinal and transverse relationship, respectively with the cutting wheel. A cable lock guide (48) attaches to the bottom of the housing to maintain the guides in a fixed relationship while an adjustment mechanism (52) extends through the guide lock to displace the guides (and the cable retained therebetween) towards the cutting wheel to control the depth of cut. By placing the cable in the longitudinal channels in the guides, the tool can make a longitudinal cut when displaced along the axis of the cable.

Abstract: A system (18 ) for warning workers in the vicinity of a transportation pathway (10 ), such as a railroad track, of the presence of an oncoming vehicle, includes a detector/transmitter assembly (20 ) for detecting the presence of an oncoming vehicle by sensing vibrations generated thereby. Upon detecting an oncoming vehicle, the detector/transmitter assembly broadcasts an RF signal to individual receivers (22 ). Each worker carries a receivers that receive the signal and generate an alert, in the form of a vibration and/or audible tone, to alert the worker of the approaching vehicle.

Abstract: To more accurately detect the position of a boring head (16) relative to a utility conveyance (22) during a boring operation, the conveyance carries a low power, pulsed signal. The signal is detectable only with a limited distance from the conveyance corresponding to a minimum allowable distance between the boring head and the conveyance. The boring head (16) carries at least one detector (28) for detecting the signal radiated by the cable. If the detector (28) detects the signal, then the boring head is too close and boring operation is interrupted.

Abstract: A warning tape (10) burial above an underground conveyance (13) includes a sacrificial fiber (12). A monitoring device, such as an AOTDR (25) monitors the sacrificial fiber (12) for damage caused by excavation. Upon detecting such damage, the monitoring indicates both the existence and location of such excavation by triggering a warning (26) to generate an alert, and by providing location information to a display device (32).

Abstract: Lightning strikes on or proximate to an optical fiber cable may be detected via a lightning detector (18) that monitors the characteristics of voltage present on a metallic sheath (12) associated with the cable. The lightning detector (18) detects excessive voltage levels, spikes and/or frequency variations associated with a lightning strike and generates an alarm signal communicated to a central monitoring facility.

Abstract: A device (10) for marking the ground above a buried conveyance includes an upper and lower shells (12, 14) of a fracturable material joined at their edges to form a sealed body. A separator layer (16) devises the void between the two shells into an upper and lower regions (18, 20). The lower region contains a paint-adhesive mixture (22), whereas the upper region contains an indicia-bearing member (26) that identifies the entity responsible for the buried conveyance. To mark the buried conveyance, a technician deposits the marking device (10) on the ground and then steps on it, thereby fracturing the upper and lower shells to release the paint-adhesive mixture and the indicia-bearing member for adherence to the ground by the adhesive.

Abstract: Repair of a damaged portion of a cable sheath may be effected with the aid of a sheath repair kit comprised of an enclosure (10) and a volume of encapsulant (36). The enclosure (10) includes first and second members (12), both having an interior axially extending channel in communication with openings (20.sub.1 and 20.sub.2) in ends of the respective member to receive the damaged cable portion in the channel. The second member is shorter than the first member and has a cross-section smaller in area than that of the channel in the first member to enable receipt of the second member in the channel of the first member. In this way, the first and second members will capture the damaged portion of the cable, as well as a volume of the encapsulant (36) added to the channel of the first member to immerse the damaged cable portion.

Abstract: As an utility conveyance (12), such as a pipe or cable is buried, its location is accurately determined by a Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) Reading device (32) at the initial point of burial, and preferably, at successive lengths of the conveyance. A data logger (34) records the GPS location coordinates, as well as length measurement of the conveyance, to provide a permanent record of the location of the conveyance that is not require reference to any physical landmarks to enable re-location.

Abstract: The position of a boring head (16) during boring operation in the vicinity of an existing utility conveyance (22) that radiates a locating signal can be determined by establishing the ratio of the strength of the locating signal of the cable induced in the boring head to the strength of the locating signal on the conveyance. Should the ratio exceed a prescribed value, indicating that the boring head is too close to the existing conveyance, then an alert is generated. Advantageously, the position of the boring head during a boring operation may be controlled in feed-back loop fashion in accordance with the ratio to maintain the boring head substantially parallel to the existing conveyance.

Abstract: The level of moisture in a buried splice case (14) is provided by a transmitter (26) that is energized from a power circuit (24) via a moisture detector (22) when the moisture detector detects a prescribed level of moisture in the splice case. Once erergized, the transmitter (26) transmits a coded word indicative of the prescribed moisture level for receipt by a receiver (30) located above ground. In this way, a technician, using the receiver (30) can directly determine the moisture level in the buried splice case without the necessity to excavate the case or to contact a member of the On-site Work Force at a communications facility.

Abstract: A selected one of a plurality of underground utility conveyances(14--14) may be located in an enclosure (10) by providing each conveyance with an electronic marker (18). Each marker is responsive to a first RF signal from an electronic marker locator (32) operated by a utility worker. Upon receipt of the first RF signal, the electronic marker associated with the conveyance of interest responds by broadcasting a second RF signal containing information indicative of the conveyance. The second RF signal is received and processed by the electronic locator marker to locate the conveyance and ascertain information related thereto.

Abstract: Optical signals that would otherwise transit a first fiber (12), but for a break therein, may be cut-over to a second fiber (16) by clamping the first fiber at first and second spaced locations thereon upstream and downstream, respectively, of the break. Clamping the first fiber creates a microbend at each of the first and second locations at which optical signals exit from, and may be injected into, respectively, the first fiber. The second fiber is likewise clamped at first and second spaced locations thereon to create a pair of microbends at which optical signals may be injected into, and extracted from the second fiber, respectively. Once the first and second fibers are clamped in this fashion, the optical signals extracted from the first fiber at the first location are coupled into the second fiber and then extracted therefrom for injection into the first fiber at the second location thereon.

Abstract: Precise location of a buried utility conveyance (10) is achieved by impressing on the conveyance low frequency conveyance-locating and conveyance confirmation signals, the later being pulsed in a particular pattern unique to the conveyance to be located. A first sensor (22) detects a first magnetic field radiated by the conveyance upon receipt of the conveyance-locating signal. An array (24) of sensors (26.sub.1 -26.sub.5) detects the second magnetic field radiated by the conveyance upon receipt of the conveyance-confirmation signal. A processor (32) coupled to the sensors (26.sub.1 -26.sub.5) precisely vectors the location of the conveyance from the second magnetic field strength sensed by each sensor (26.sub.1 -26.sub.5).

Abstract: A Fiber Analysis System (10) detects threats to a buried underground fiber (10) by delivering two optical sub-signals, split from a single beam, into opposite ends of the fiber so the sub-signals traverse the fiber in opposite directions. The sub-signals are recombined into a beam whose characteristics are detected by a detector (24). The output signal of the detector (24) is compared by a processor (26) to different reference values stored in a data base (28) representing different detector output signals corresponding to different fiber conditions. By matching the detector output signal to a reference value associated with a particular fiber condition, the processor can determine whether a potential threat exists.

Abstract: Automatic measurement of the quality of each splice (17) in an optical fiber (12) is accomplished by a combination Automatic Time Domain Reflectometer and Optical Switch unit (18) situated at one of the fiber remote from the location (16) where the splice is made. Technicians at the splice location (16) control the combination Automatic Time Domain Reflectometer and Optical Switch unit (18) by launching commands thereto via a laptop computer (32) that are communicated across a wireless communication channel via a wireless transceiver (30). Fiber loss measurements made by the combination Automatic Time Domain Reflectometer and Optical Switch unit (18) are relayed to the technicians at the remote splice location across the wireless channel for processing on the computer (32) to determine the splice quality.

Abstract: An underground utility conveyance (10) may be precisely located by impressing both a locating tone and a confirmation tone on the conveyance. The locating tone is an RF signal that produces a first field that radiates above the earth that is sensed by a first, above-ground signal detector (22) to establish the general location of the conveyance. The confirmation tone is a near-DC signal that produces a second, field having a relatively limited radiation path. A second detector (24) is inserted into the earth at successive places in the region where the conveyance is located to establish its precise location.

Abstract: An aspartic acid rich protein isolated from human urine, as well as proteins having substantial homology thereto and active portions of the foregoing are effective modulators of mineralization in mammals. These proteins and peptides are useful as therapeutic agents, such as in the treatment of kidney stone disease. Hybridoma cell lines capable of producing monoclonal antibodies to these proteins and peptides and monoclonal antibodies produced by these hybridomas are disclosed. These monoclonal antibodies are also useful as therapeutic agents, such as in the treatment of osteoporosis, and further have utility as diagnostic agents. Other uses are also described.

Abstract: A waste water treatment and disposal system for further treating waste water effluent from a primary treatment system in which a system controller controls the operation of the system. A dosing tank accepts effluent from a primary treatment system and is evacuated on demand by a pump which is energized in response to a fluid level switch in the dosing tank. The pump forces the effluent through a filtering system to remove solid waste therefrom, and then forces a portion of the filtered effluent into a hydro-pneumatic pressure tank which, upon call, will backflush the filter to remove the trapped solids therein. The system controller will monitor the system to operate the level of the dosing tank, the operation of the pump and the various valves which control the flow throughout the system. The filtered effluent will ultimately be discharged into a disposal area by any number of well known methods.