CA2504393A1 - Pipeline probe - Google Patents
Pipeline probe Download PDFInfo
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- CA2504393A1 CA2504393A1 CA 2504393 CA2504393A CA2504393A1 CA 2504393 A1 CA2504393 A1 CA 2504393A1 CA 2504393 CA2504393 CA 2504393 CA 2504393 A CA2504393 A CA 2504393A CA 2504393 A1 CA2504393 A1 CA 2504393A1
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- Prior art keywords
- probe
- driven
- tether
- hammer
- driven portion
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- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01V—GEOPHYSICS; GRAVITATIONAL MEASUREMENTS; DETECTING MASSES OR OBJECTS; TAGS
- G01V9/00—Prospecting or detecting by methods not provided for in groups G01V1/00 - G01V8/00
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- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Geophysics (AREA)
- Investigation Of Foundation Soil And Reinforcement Of Foundation Soil By Compacting Or Drainage (AREA)
Abstract
A probe for pipelines includes a hammer member with an upper hammer and a hollow lower sleeve; a probe member with an upper head slidably engagable in the sleeve of the hammer member, and a lower driven portion having a rounded bottom end. A
tether is attached to the probe member and to the hammer member such that the head can slide in and out of the sleeve within a movement range, bat is prevented from moving out of engagement with the sleeve. In operation the hammer member can be lifted and accelerated down onto the probe member to drive the driven portion of the probe member into the ground to locate a buried pipeline, and can be dropped and accelerated up against the tether to pull the driven portion out of the ground. A splash guard and stake hole maker are also provided.
tether is attached to the probe member and to the hammer member such that the head can slide in and out of the sleeve within a movement range, bat is prevented from moving out of engagement with the sleeve. In operation the hammer member can be lifted and accelerated down onto the probe member to drive the driven portion of the probe member into the ground to locate a buried pipeline, and can be dropped and accelerated up against the tether to pull the driven portion out of the ground. A splash guard and stake hole maker are also provided.
Description
PIPELINE PROBE
This invention is in the field of equipment for locating underground lines and in particular such equipment for locating buried pipelines.
In oil and gas fields it is common to find a network of pipelines buried in the ground and connecting various wells with central processing and/or storage facilities.
These pipelines can be owned by different parties and often it is required to install a new pipeline though an area where there is already a significant network of pipelines.
In such cases a preliminary survey of existing lines will typically be conducted in order to generally locate existing underground pipelines and other underground utilities and the like. Based on this preliminary survey a route is selected. Enact locations of the pipelines being crossed on this route are then required in order to avoid damaging these pipelines. Electronic sensors are available that will accurately locate the lateral position of buried pipelines, however such sensors are not sufficiently accurate to determine the depth of the pipeline for the purposes of digging near the existing pipeline.
Thus while the lateral location of the intersections where the new pipeline is to cross an existing pipeline can be accurately determined, and typically will be marked by driving a stake into the ground, the depth of the pipeline must be determined accurately by other means before installation. While some pipelines are made from material that can be damaged by contact with a probe, and so a probe cannot be used, in many cases the depth of a pipeline is accurately determined with a probe. Such probes typically comprise a rigid rod with a rounded end that is manually pushed into the ground.
Typically the stake marking the intersection location will be removed and the probe pushed down into the hole made by the stake. A T-handle is provided at the top end of the probe and the operator wiggles and pushes the probe downward until it strikes the buried pipeline.
Where the soil is moist the probe will go in fairly easily however when the soil is dry or frozen considerable time and effort is required to push the probe downward the 30 inches or more that are required. A like difficulty is encountered when driving the stakes into the ground for marking intersections or other locations. In dry or frown soil conditions water is commonly added to the hole to soften the soil. A conventional hammer is sometimes used to pound the probe into the ground. Where a deeper probe is required, extensions are available to extend the length of the probe.
In addition to being difficult to push into the ground, conventional probes are often also difficult to pull out of the ground.
Y O ~ THE INVENTIO
It is an object of the present invention to provide a pipeline probe for accurately locating.
the depth of a buried pipeline that overcomes problems in the prior art.
The present invention provides in one embodiment, a probe apparatus for locating underground pipelines. The apparatus comprises an elongated hammer member comprising an upper hammer portion and a hollow lower sleeve portion; an elongated probe member comprising an upper head portion slidably engagable in the sleeve portion of the hammer member, and a lower driven portion having a rounded bottom end and adapted to be driven into the ground to contact a buried pipeline; and a probe tether attached to the probe member and the hammer member. The probe tether is configured such that the head portion of the probe member can slide in and out of the sleeve portion of the hammer member within a movement range, but is prevented from moving out of engagement with the sleeve portion of the hammer member.
In a second embodiment the invention provides a probe apparatus for locating underground pipelines. The apparatus comprises an elongated hammer member comprising an upper hammer portion and a hollow lower sleeve portion; an elongated probe member comprising an upper head portion slidably engagable in the sleeve portion of the hammer member, and a lower driven portion having a rounded bottom end and adapted to be driven into the ground to contact a buried pipeline; and a probe tether attached to the probe member and attached to the hammer member such that the head portion of the probe member can slide in and out of the sleeve portion of the hammer member within a movement range, but is prevented from moving out of engagement with the sleeve portion of the hammer member. In operation the hammer member can be lifted and accelerated down onto the probe member to drive the driven portion of the probe member into the ground, and the hammer member can be dropped and accelerated up against the probe tether to pull the driven portion of the probe member out of the ground.
In a third embodiment the invention provides a method of probing for underground pipelines. The method comprises providing an elongated hammer member comprising an upper hammer portion and a hollow lower sleeve portion; providing an elongated probe member comprising an upper head portion slidably engagable in the sleeve portion of the hammer member, and a Iower driven portion having a rounded bottom end and adapted to be driven into the ground to contact a buried pipeline; and providing a probe tether attached to the probe member and attached to the hammer member such that the head portion of the probe member can slide in and out of the sleeve portion of the hammer member within a movement range, but is prevented from moving out of engagement with the sleeve portion of the hammer member; lifting the hammer member and accelerating the hammer member down onto the probe member to drive the driven portion of the probe member into the ground until the bottom end contacts the buried pipeline;
determining a distance between the bottom end of the driven member and ground level;
dropping the hammer member and accelerating the hammer member up against the probe tether to pull the driven portion of the probe member out of the ground.
The apparatus drives the probe into hard, dry, or frozen ground much more readily than conventional probes, and also functions to pull the probe out of the ground.
When water is used to soften the ground for probing, a splash guard can be provided to prevent water and mud from splashing up on the operator. A sta&e hole maker can be provided to make holes in hard or frozen ground for survey stakes.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS:
While the invention is claimed in the concluding portions hereof, preferred embodiments are provided in the accompanying detailed description which may be best understood in conjunction with the accompanying diagrams where like parts in each of the several diagrams are labeled with likc numbers, and where:
Fig. 1 is a top view of the parts of a probe apparatus of the invention as they would appear laid out on the ground;
Fig. 2 is a schematic side view of the probe member fully inserted into the hammer member;
Fig. 3 is a schematic side view of the probe member withdrawn from the hammer member to the position permitted by the attached probe tether, Fig. 4 is a schematic side view of the probe apparatus of Fig. in use to locate the depth of a pipeline;
Fig. 5 is a top view of the splash guard of Fig. 1;
Fig. 6 is a front view of the flattened bottom end of the stake hole maker of Fig. 1.
DETAILED D SCRIPTION OF TAE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS:
Fig. 1 illustrates a top view of the parts of a probe apparatus 1 of the invention for locating underground pipelines as they would appear laid out on the ground.
The apparatus 1 comprises an elongated hammer member 3 comprising an upper hammer portion 5 and a hollow lower sleeve portion 7. The hammer portion 5 is provided by a length of solid steel shaft and the sleeve portion 7 is provided by a length of hollow pipe or the like welded to the bottom end of the solid shaft.
An elongated probe member 9 comprises an upper head portion 11 slidabIy engagable in the sleeve portion 7 of the hammer member 3, and a lower driven portion 13 having a rounded bottom end 15 and adapted to be driven into the ground to contact a buried pipeline. The head portion 11 is again provided by a length of solid steel shaft smaller than that used for the hammer portion 5 and having a cross-sectional area sized to slide into the sleeve portion 7.
The driven portion I3 is provided by a length of stainless steel rod threaded into a threaded hole in the bottom end of the solid shaft, and secured with a lock nut 17, such that the driven portion 13 is releasable from its attachment to the head portion 11 of the probe member 9. Although it is contemplated that other materials might be used for the driven portion 13, stainless steel provides the required strength and rigidity to allow the relatively thin probe to be driven into the ground. A second driven portion 19 is also provided and is longer than the driven portion 13 for deeper probing. For example the probes might be two feet long and four feet long, but could also be provided in any required length.
While it is contemplated that a circular cross-section for the shafts, pipe, and rod would be economical to produce, outer cross-sectional shapes could be used as well.
In the illustrated embodiment the rounded bottom end 15 of the driven portions 13, 19 is provided by a ball attached to their bottom ends 15. The ball has a diameter larger than a diameter of the driven portions 13, 19 in order to facilitate pulling the driven portion back out of the ground by slightly increasing the diameter of the hole made by the driven portions 13, 19 and thereby reducing friction with the ground along the length of the driven portions 13, 19. The driven portion 19 is marked with a series of gauge marks 21 to facilitate deternlining the distance between the bottom end 15 of the driven member 19 and the surface of the ground, and thus determine the depth of a probed buried pipeline.
A probe tether 23, illustrated as a length of chain, is attached to the probe member 9 and is releasably attachable to the hammer member 3 by engaging the probe tether 23 into the fastener hook 25 welded to the hammer portion 5 of the hammer member 3. When the probe tether 23 is attached, the head portion 11 of the probe member 9 can slide in and out of the sleeve portion 7 of the hammer member 3 within a movement range, but is prevented from moving out of engagement with the sleeve portion 7.
Figs. 2 and 3 illustrate the movement range using an alternate probe tether 123, illustrated as a length of cable, that is fiaced to the probe member 9 and is releasably attached by a ring 124 to the hook 25. The head portion 11 of the probe member 9 can slide in and out of the sleeve portion 7 of the hammer member 3 within a movement range from the position of Fig. 2 to the position of Fig. 3.
In the illustrated embodiment of Fig. 1, the probe tether 23 is slidably attached to the lower driven portion 13 of the probe member 9. The driven portion 13 has a diameter that is smaller than the head portion 11, and the driven portion 13 passes through rings 31 attached to ends of the chain probe tether 23. The rings 23 are sized to slide along the driven portion 13 between the bottom end 15 of the driven portion 13 and the bottom of the head portion 11. The probe tether 25 is attached to the hook 25 by looping the chain over the hook.
As illustrated in Fig. 4, when the probe tether 23 is released from the hook 25, the probe tether 23 slides down the driven portion 13 and lies on the ground while the lower driven portion 13 is being driven into the ground. Thus the probe tether 23 is not hanging and swinging during the probing operation, but simply lies out of the way on the ground. As illustrated in Fig. 4, in operation the hammer member 3 is lifted and accelerated down onto the probe member 9 to drive the driven portion 13 into the ground.
Releasing the probe tether 23 during probing increases the stroke of the hammer member 5 with respect to the probe member 9.
Once the driven portion 13 has been driven down and contacted a buried pipeline 27, the level of the ground surface 29 can be marked on the driven member 13 so that when withdrawn, the distance from the bottom end 15 of the driven member 13 to the mark can be measured, or gauge marks can be provided on the driven member 13 to allow the depth be read directly from the driven member when it contacts the pipeline 27.
To facilitate withdrawing the driven member 13 from the ground, the probe tether 23 can be re-attached to the hook 25, and then the hammer member 3 can be dropped and accelerated up against the probe tether 23 to pull the driven portion 13 of the probe member 9 out of the ground. The amount of slack in the probe tether 23 can be increased if desired to increase the stroke for this removing operation.
Figs. 1, 4 and 5 also illustrate a splash guard 33 comprising a sheet 35 defining a probe aperture 37 in a central portion thereof configured such that the driven portion 13 of the probe member 9 passes through the probe aperture 37. When pouring water on the ground to soften the soil for probing, the driven portion 13 of the pmbe member 9 is inserted through the probe aperture 37 prior to driving the driven portion 13 into the ground, and the sheet prevents water or mud from splashing up on the operator.
The sheet 35 is conveniently cut from a piece of rubber belting or like sheet material.
The probe member 9 can slide out of engagement with the hammer member 5 when the probe tether 23 is released. To provide added utility to the apparatus 1, an elongated stake hole maker 41 is also provided. The stake hole maker 41 comprises an upper head portion 43 slidably engagable in the sleeve portion 7 of the hammer member 3, and a lower hole making portion 45 having a flattened bottom end 47 adapted to be driven into the ground to create a hole into which a survey stake can be driven. Fig. 6 is a front view of the flattened bottom end 47 of the hole making portion 45 configured to about the size of the stake to be driven. Thus during the survey operation prior to probing the apparatus 1 can also be used to provide stake holes in hard or frozen ground.
The stake hole maker can further comprise a hole maker tether 49 illustrated as a chain welded at each end to a lower portion of the hole maker 41 to form a loop that can be engaged on the hook 25. The hole maker tether 49 is configured such that when attached, the head portion 43 of the hole maker 41 is prevented from moving out of engagement with the sleeve portion 7 of the hammer member 5, allowing the two parts to be carried together.
Thus the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention.
Further, since numerous changes and modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all such suitable changes or modifications in structure or operation which may be resorted to are intended to fall within the scope of the claimed invention.
This invention is in the field of equipment for locating underground lines and in particular such equipment for locating buried pipelines.
In oil and gas fields it is common to find a network of pipelines buried in the ground and connecting various wells with central processing and/or storage facilities.
These pipelines can be owned by different parties and often it is required to install a new pipeline though an area where there is already a significant network of pipelines.
In such cases a preliminary survey of existing lines will typically be conducted in order to generally locate existing underground pipelines and other underground utilities and the like. Based on this preliminary survey a route is selected. Enact locations of the pipelines being crossed on this route are then required in order to avoid damaging these pipelines. Electronic sensors are available that will accurately locate the lateral position of buried pipelines, however such sensors are not sufficiently accurate to determine the depth of the pipeline for the purposes of digging near the existing pipeline.
Thus while the lateral location of the intersections where the new pipeline is to cross an existing pipeline can be accurately determined, and typically will be marked by driving a stake into the ground, the depth of the pipeline must be determined accurately by other means before installation. While some pipelines are made from material that can be damaged by contact with a probe, and so a probe cannot be used, in many cases the depth of a pipeline is accurately determined with a probe. Such probes typically comprise a rigid rod with a rounded end that is manually pushed into the ground.
Typically the stake marking the intersection location will be removed and the probe pushed down into the hole made by the stake. A T-handle is provided at the top end of the probe and the operator wiggles and pushes the probe downward until it strikes the buried pipeline.
Where the soil is moist the probe will go in fairly easily however when the soil is dry or frozen considerable time and effort is required to push the probe downward the 30 inches or more that are required. A like difficulty is encountered when driving the stakes into the ground for marking intersections or other locations. In dry or frown soil conditions water is commonly added to the hole to soften the soil. A conventional hammer is sometimes used to pound the probe into the ground. Where a deeper probe is required, extensions are available to extend the length of the probe.
In addition to being difficult to push into the ground, conventional probes are often also difficult to pull out of the ground.
Y O ~ THE INVENTIO
It is an object of the present invention to provide a pipeline probe for accurately locating.
the depth of a buried pipeline that overcomes problems in the prior art.
The present invention provides in one embodiment, a probe apparatus for locating underground pipelines. The apparatus comprises an elongated hammer member comprising an upper hammer portion and a hollow lower sleeve portion; an elongated probe member comprising an upper head portion slidably engagable in the sleeve portion of the hammer member, and a lower driven portion having a rounded bottom end and adapted to be driven into the ground to contact a buried pipeline; and a probe tether attached to the probe member and the hammer member. The probe tether is configured such that the head portion of the probe member can slide in and out of the sleeve portion of the hammer member within a movement range, but is prevented from moving out of engagement with the sleeve portion of the hammer member.
In a second embodiment the invention provides a probe apparatus for locating underground pipelines. The apparatus comprises an elongated hammer member comprising an upper hammer portion and a hollow lower sleeve portion; an elongated probe member comprising an upper head portion slidably engagable in the sleeve portion of the hammer member, and a lower driven portion having a rounded bottom end and adapted to be driven into the ground to contact a buried pipeline; and a probe tether attached to the probe member and attached to the hammer member such that the head portion of the probe member can slide in and out of the sleeve portion of the hammer member within a movement range, but is prevented from moving out of engagement with the sleeve portion of the hammer member. In operation the hammer member can be lifted and accelerated down onto the probe member to drive the driven portion of the probe member into the ground, and the hammer member can be dropped and accelerated up against the probe tether to pull the driven portion of the probe member out of the ground.
In a third embodiment the invention provides a method of probing for underground pipelines. The method comprises providing an elongated hammer member comprising an upper hammer portion and a hollow lower sleeve portion; providing an elongated probe member comprising an upper head portion slidably engagable in the sleeve portion of the hammer member, and a Iower driven portion having a rounded bottom end and adapted to be driven into the ground to contact a buried pipeline; and providing a probe tether attached to the probe member and attached to the hammer member such that the head portion of the probe member can slide in and out of the sleeve portion of the hammer member within a movement range, but is prevented from moving out of engagement with the sleeve portion of the hammer member; lifting the hammer member and accelerating the hammer member down onto the probe member to drive the driven portion of the probe member into the ground until the bottom end contacts the buried pipeline;
determining a distance between the bottom end of the driven member and ground level;
dropping the hammer member and accelerating the hammer member up against the probe tether to pull the driven portion of the probe member out of the ground.
The apparatus drives the probe into hard, dry, or frozen ground much more readily than conventional probes, and also functions to pull the probe out of the ground.
When water is used to soften the ground for probing, a splash guard can be provided to prevent water and mud from splashing up on the operator. A sta&e hole maker can be provided to make holes in hard or frozen ground for survey stakes.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS:
While the invention is claimed in the concluding portions hereof, preferred embodiments are provided in the accompanying detailed description which may be best understood in conjunction with the accompanying diagrams where like parts in each of the several diagrams are labeled with likc numbers, and where:
Fig. 1 is a top view of the parts of a probe apparatus of the invention as they would appear laid out on the ground;
Fig. 2 is a schematic side view of the probe member fully inserted into the hammer member;
Fig. 3 is a schematic side view of the probe member withdrawn from the hammer member to the position permitted by the attached probe tether, Fig. 4 is a schematic side view of the probe apparatus of Fig. in use to locate the depth of a pipeline;
Fig. 5 is a top view of the splash guard of Fig. 1;
Fig. 6 is a front view of the flattened bottom end of the stake hole maker of Fig. 1.
DETAILED D SCRIPTION OF TAE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS:
Fig. 1 illustrates a top view of the parts of a probe apparatus 1 of the invention for locating underground pipelines as they would appear laid out on the ground.
The apparatus 1 comprises an elongated hammer member 3 comprising an upper hammer portion 5 and a hollow lower sleeve portion 7. The hammer portion 5 is provided by a length of solid steel shaft and the sleeve portion 7 is provided by a length of hollow pipe or the like welded to the bottom end of the solid shaft.
An elongated probe member 9 comprises an upper head portion 11 slidabIy engagable in the sleeve portion 7 of the hammer member 3, and a lower driven portion 13 having a rounded bottom end 15 and adapted to be driven into the ground to contact a buried pipeline. The head portion 11 is again provided by a length of solid steel shaft smaller than that used for the hammer portion 5 and having a cross-sectional area sized to slide into the sleeve portion 7.
The driven portion I3 is provided by a length of stainless steel rod threaded into a threaded hole in the bottom end of the solid shaft, and secured with a lock nut 17, such that the driven portion 13 is releasable from its attachment to the head portion 11 of the probe member 9. Although it is contemplated that other materials might be used for the driven portion 13, stainless steel provides the required strength and rigidity to allow the relatively thin probe to be driven into the ground. A second driven portion 19 is also provided and is longer than the driven portion 13 for deeper probing. For example the probes might be two feet long and four feet long, but could also be provided in any required length.
While it is contemplated that a circular cross-section for the shafts, pipe, and rod would be economical to produce, outer cross-sectional shapes could be used as well.
In the illustrated embodiment the rounded bottom end 15 of the driven portions 13, 19 is provided by a ball attached to their bottom ends 15. The ball has a diameter larger than a diameter of the driven portions 13, 19 in order to facilitate pulling the driven portion back out of the ground by slightly increasing the diameter of the hole made by the driven portions 13, 19 and thereby reducing friction with the ground along the length of the driven portions 13, 19. The driven portion 19 is marked with a series of gauge marks 21 to facilitate deternlining the distance between the bottom end 15 of the driven member 19 and the surface of the ground, and thus determine the depth of a probed buried pipeline.
A probe tether 23, illustrated as a length of chain, is attached to the probe member 9 and is releasably attachable to the hammer member 3 by engaging the probe tether 23 into the fastener hook 25 welded to the hammer portion 5 of the hammer member 3. When the probe tether 23 is attached, the head portion 11 of the probe member 9 can slide in and out of the sleeve portion 7 of the hammer member 3 within a movement range, but is prevented from moving out of engagement with the sleeve portion 7.
Figs. 2 and 3 illustrate the movement range using an alternate probe tether 123, illustrated as a length of cable, that is fiaced to the probe member 9 and is releasably attached by a ring 124 to the hook 25. The head portion 11 of the probe member 9 can slide in and out of the sleeve portion 7 of the hammer member 3 within a movement range from the position of Fig. 2 to the position of Fig. 3.
In the illustrated embodiment of Fig. 1, the probe tether 23 is slidably attached to the lower driven portion 13 of the probe member 9. The driven portion 13 has a diameter that is smaller than the head portion 11, and the driven portion 13 passes through rings 31 attached to ends of the chain probe tether 23. The rings 23 are sized to slide along the driven portion 13 between the bottom end 15 of the driven portion 13 and the bottom of the head portion 11. The probe tether 25 is attached to the hook 25 by looping the chain over the hook.
As illustrated in Fig. 4, when the probe tether 23 is released from the hook 25, the probe tether 23 slides down the driven portion 13 and lies on the ground while the lower driven portion 13 is being driven into the ground. Thus the probe tether 23 is not hanging and swinging during the probing operation, but simply lies out of the way on the ground. As illustrated in Fig. 4, in operation the hammer member 3 is lifted and accelerated down onto the probe member 9 to drive the driven portion 13 into the ground.
Releasing the probe tether 23 during probing increases the stroke of the hammer member 5 with respect to the probe member 9.
Once the driven portion 13 has been driven down and contacted a buried pipeline 27, the level of the ground surface 29 can be marked on the driven member 13 so that when withdrawn, the distance from the bottom end 15 of the driven member 13 to the mark can be measured, or gauge marks can be provided on the driven member 13 to allow the depth be read directly from the driven member when it contacts the pipeline 27.
To facilitate withdrawing the driven member 13 from the ground, the probe tether 23 can be re-attached to the hook 25, and then the hammer member 3 can be dropped and accelerated up against the probe tether 23 to pull the driven portion 13 of the probe member 9 out of the ground. The amount of slack in the probe tether 23 can be increased if desired to increase the stroke for this removing operation.
Figs. 1, 4 and 5 also illustrate a splash guard 33 comprising a sheet 35 defining a probe aperture 37 in a central portion thereof configured such that the driven portion 13 of the probe member 9 passes through the probe aperture 37. When pouring water on the ground to soften the soil for probing, the driven portion 13 of the pmbe member 9 is inserted through the probe aperture 37 prior to driving the driven portion 13 into the ground, and the sheet prevents water or mud from splashing up on the operator.
The sheet 35 is conveniently cut from a piece of rubber belting or like sheet material.
The probe member 9 can slide out of engagement with the hammer member 5 when the probe tether 23 is released. To provide added utility to the apparatus 1, an elongated stake hole maker 41 is also provided. The stake hole maker 41 comprises an upper head portion 43 slidably engagable in the sleeve portion 7 of the hammer member 3, and a lower hole making portion 45 having a flattened bottom end 47 adapted to be driven into the ground to create a hole into which a survey stake can be driven. Fig. 6 is a front view of the flattened bottom end 47 of the hole making portion 45 configured to about the size of the stake to be driven. Thus during the survey operation prior to probing the apparatus 1 can also be used to provide stake holes in hard or frozen ground.
The stake hole maker can further comprise a hole maker tether 49 illustrated as a chain welded at each end to a lower portion of the hole maker 41 to form a loop that can be engaged on the hook 25. The hole maker tether 49 is configured such that when attached, the head portion 43 of the hole maker 41 is prevented from moving out of engagement with the sleeve portion 7 of the hammer member 5, allowing the two parts to be carried together.
Thus the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention.
Further, since numerous changes and modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all such suitable changes or modifications in structure or operation which may be resorted to are intended to fall within the scope of the claimed invention.
Claims (31)
1. A probe apparatus for locating underground pipelines, the apparatus comprising:
an elongated hammer member comprising an upper hammer portion and a hollow lower sleeve portion;
an elongated probe member comprising an upper head portion slidably engagable in the sleeve portion of the hammer member, and a lower driven portion having a rounded bottom end and adapted to be driven into the ground to contact a buried pipeline; and a probe tether attached to the probe member and the hammer member;
wherein the probe tether is configured such that the bead portion of the probe member can slide in and out of the sleeve portion of the hammer member within a movement range, but is prevented from moving out of engagement with the sleeve portion of the hammer member.
an elongated hammer member comprising an upper hammer portion and a hollow lower sleeve portion;
an elongated probe member comprising an upper head portion slidably engagable in the sleeve portion of the hammer member, and a lower driven portion having a rounded bottom end and adapted to be driven into the ground to contact a buried pipeline; and a probe tether attached to the probe member and the hammer member;
wherein the probe tether is configured such that the bead portion of the probe member can slide in and out of the sleeve portion of the hammer member within a movement range, but is prevented from moving out of engagement with the sleeve portion of the hammer member.
2. The apparatus of Claim 1 wherein the probe tether is releasably attached to the probe member and the hammer member, and wherein the probe member can slide out of engagement with the hammer member when the probe tether is released.
3. The apparatus of Claim 2 comprising a fastener attached to the hammer member, and wherein the probe tether is attached to the probe member, and is releasably attachable to the fastener.
4. The apparatus of Claim 3 wherein the probe tether is slidably attached to the lower driven portion of the probe member such that when the probe tether is released, the probe tether slides down the driven portion and lies on the ground when the lower driven portion is being driven into the ground.
5. The apparatus of Claim 4 wherein the lower driven portion of the probe member has a diameter that is smaller than the upper head portion, and wherein the driven portion passes through a ring attached to an end of the probe tether, the ring sized to slide along the driven portion between the bottom end of the driven portion and a top end of the driven portion.
6. The apparatus of Claim 5 wherein the driven portion passes through a ring attached to each end of the probe tether, the rings sized to slide along the driven portion between the bottom end of the driven portion and a top end of the driven portion, such that the tether forms a loop, and wherein the fastener comprises a snap hook oriented such that the loop of the probe tether can be engaged in the snap hook.
7. The apparatus of any one of Claims 5 and b wherein the rounded bottom end of the driven portion is provided by a ball attached to the bottom end of the driven portion, and wherein the ball has a diameter larger than a diameter of the driven portion.
8. The apparatus of any one of Claims 2 - 7 wherein the probe member comprises a first driven portion releasably attachable to the head portion of the probe member, and a second driven portion releasably attachable to the head portion of the probe member, and wherein the second driven portion is longer than the first driven portion.
9. The apparatus of Claim 8 wherein a top end of the first and second driven portions of the probe member are threaded into a bottom end of the head portion of the probe member.
10. The apparatus of any one of Claims 2 -9 further comprising an elongated stake hole maker comprising an upper head portion slidably engagable in the sleeve portion of the hammer member, and a lower hole making portion portion having a flattened bottom end adapted to be driven into the ground to create a hole into which a survey stake can be driven.
11. The apparatus of Claim 10 further comprising a hole maker tether releasably attachable between the stake hole maker and the hammer member, wherein the hole maker tether is configured such that when attached, the head portion of the stake hole maker is prevented from moving out of engagement with the sleeve portion of the hammer member.
12. The apparatus of any one of Claims 1 - 11 wherein the driven portion of the probe member is marked to facilitate determining a distance between the bottom end of the driven member and a surface of the ground.
13. A probe apparatus for locating underground pipelines, the apparatus comprising:
an elongated hammer member comprising an upper hammer portion and a hollow lower sleeve portion;
an elongated probe member comprising an upper head portion slidably engagable in the sleeve portion of the hammer member, and a lower driven portion having a rounded bottom end and adapted to be driven into the ground to contact a buried pipeline; and a probe tether attached to the probe member and attached to the hammer member such that the head portion of the probe member can slide in and out of the sleeve portion of the hammer member within a movement range, but is prevented from moving out of engagement with the sleeve portion of the hammer member;
where in operation the hammer member can be lifted and accelerated down onto the probe member to drive the driven portion of the probe member into the ground, and the hammer member can be dropped and accelerated up against the probe tether to pull the driven portion of the probe member out of the ground.
an elongated hammer member comprising an upper hammer portion and a hollow lower sleeve portion;
an elongated probe member comprising an upper head portion slidably engagable in the sleeve portion of the hammer member, and a lower driven portion having a rounded bottom end and adapted to be driven into the ground to contact a buried pipeline; and a probe tether attached to the probe member and attached to the hammer member such that the head portion of the probe member can slide in and out of the sleeve portion of the hammer member within a movement range, but is prevented from moving out of engagement with the sleeve portion of the hammer member;
where in operation the hammer member can be lifted and accelerated down onto the probe member to drive the driven portion of the probe member into the ground, and the hammer member can be dropped and accelerated up against the probe tether to pull the driven portion of the probe member out of the ground.
14. The apparatus of Claim 13 wherein the probe tether is releasable such that the tether can be released to increase a stroke of the hammer member with respect to the probe member when driving the probe member into the ground, and wherein the probe member can slide out of engagement with the hammer member when the probe tether is released.
15. The apparatus of Claim 14 comprising a fastener attached to the hammer member, and wherein the probe tether is attached to the probe member, and is releasably attachable to the fastener.
16. The apparatus of Claim 15 wherein the probe tether is slidably attached to the lower driven portion of the probe member such that when the probe tether is released, the probe tether slides down the driven portion and lies on the ground when the lower driven portion is being driven into the ground.
17. The apparatus of Claim 16 wherein the lower driven portion of the probe member has a diameter that is smaller than the upper head portion, and wherein the driven portion passes through a ring attached to an end of the probe tether, the ring sized to slide along the driven portion between the bottom end of the driven portion and a top end of the driven portion.
18. The apparatus of Claim 17 wherein the rounded bottom end of the driven portion is provided by a ball attached to the bottom end of the driven portion, and wherein the ball has a diameter larger than a diameter of the driven portion.
19. The apparatus of any one of Claims 14 - 18 wherein the probe member comprises a first driven portion releasably attachable to the head portion of the probe member, and a second driven portion releasably attachable to the head portion of the probe member, and wherein the second driven portion is longer than the first driven portion.
20. The apparatus of any one of Claims 14 -19 further comprising an elongated stake hole maker comprising an upper head portion slidably engagable in the sleeve portion of the hammer member, and a lower hole making portion having a flattened bottom end adapted to be driven into the ground to create a hole into which a survey stake can be driven.
21. The apparatus of Claim 20 further comprising a hole maker tether releasably attachable between the stake hole maker and the hammer member, wherein the hole maker tether is configured such that when attached, the head portion of the stake hole maker is prevented from moving out of engagement with the sleeve portion of the hammer member.
22. The apparatus of any one of Claims 13 - 21 wherein the driven portion of the probe member is marked to facilitate determining a distance between the bottom end of the driven member and a surface of the ground.
23. The apparatus of any one of Claims 1 - 22 further comprising a splash guard comprising a sheet defining a probe aperture in a central portion thereof configured such that the driven portion of the probe member passes through the probe aperture.
24. A method of probing for underground pipelines, the method comprising:
providing an elongated hammer member comprising an upper hammer portion and a hollow lower sleeve portion;
providing an elongated probe member comprising an upper head portion slidably engagable in the sleeve portion of the hammer member, and a lower driven portion having a rounded bottom end and adapted to be driven into the ground to contact a buried pipeline; and providing a probe tether attached to the probe member and attached to the hammer member such that the head portion of the probe member can slide in and out of the sleeve portion of the hammer member within a movement range, but is prevented from moving out of engagement with the sleeve portion of the hammer member;
lifting the hammer member and accelerating the hammer member down onto the probe member to drive the driven portion of the probe member into the ground until the bottom end contacts the buried pipeline;
determining a distance between the bottom end of the driven member and ground level;
dropping the hammer member and accelerating the hammer member up against the probe tether to pull the driven portion of the probe member out of the ground.
providing an elongated hammer member comprising an upper hammer portion and a hollow lower sleeve portion;
providing an elongated probe member comprising an upper head portion slidably engagable in the sleeve portion of the hammer member, and a lower driven portion having a rounded bottom end and adapted to be driven into the ground to contact a buried pipeline; and providing a probe tether attached to the probe member and attached to the hammer member such that the head portion of the probe member can slide in and out of the sleeve portion of the hammer member within a movement range, but is prevented from moving out of engagement with the sleeve portion of the hammer member;
lifting the hammer member and accelerating the hammer member down onto the probe member to drive the driven portion of the probe member into the ground until the bottom end contacts the buried pipeline;
determining a distance between the bottom end of the driven member and ground level;
dropping the hammer member and accelerating the hammer member up against the probe tether to pull the driven portion of the probe member out of the ground.
25. The method of Claim 23 wherein the probe tether is releasable such that the tether can be released to increase a stroke of the hammer member with respect to the probe member when driving the probe member into the ground, and wherein the probe member can slide out of engagement with the hammer member when the probe tether is released.
26. The method of Claim 24 wherein the probe tether is slidably attached to the lower driven portion of the probe member and releasably attached to the hammer member such that when the probe tether is released, the probe tether slides down the driven portion and lies on the ground when the lower driven portion is being driven into the ground.
27. The method of Claim 25 wherein the lower driven portion of the probe member has a diameter that is smaller than the upper head portion, and wherein the driven portion passes through a ring attached to an end of the probe tether, the ring sized to slide along the driven portion between a ball attached on the bottom end of the driven portion and a top end of the driven portion.
28. The method of any one of Claims 24 -26 further comprising a method of making a hole for a survey stake, the method comprising:
providing an elongated stake hole maker comprising an upper head portion slidably engagable in the sleeve portion of the hammer member, and a lower hole making portion having a flattened bottom end adapted to be driven into the ground to create a hole into which a survey stake can be driven;
releasing the probe tether and removing the probe member from engagement with the hammer member, and engaging the upper head portion of the stake hole maker into the sleeve portion of the hammer member;
lifting the hammer member and accelerating the hammer member down onto the stake hole maker to drive the hole making portion thereof into the ground.
providing an elongated stake hole maker comprising an upper head portion slidably engagable in the sleeve portion of the hammer member, and a lower hole making portion having a flattened bottom end adapted to be driven into the ground to create a hole into which a survey stake can be driven;
releasing the probe tether and removing the probe member from engagement with the hammer member, and engaging the upper head portion of the stake hole maker into the sleeve portion of the hammer member;
lifting the hammer member and accelerating the hammer member down onto the stake hole maker to drive the hole making portion thereof into the ground.
29. The method of Claim 27 further comprising providing a hole maker tether releasably attachable between the stake hole maker and the hammer member, wherein the hole maker tether is configured such that when attached, the head portion of the stake hole maker is prevented from moving out of engagement with the sleeve portion of the hammer member, such that the hammer member and stake hole maker can be carried together.
30. The method of any one of Claims 23 - 28 wherein the driven portion of the probe member is marked to facilitate determining the distance between the bottom end of the driven member and ground level.
31. The method of any one of Claims 23 - 30 further comprising providing a splash guard comprising a sheet defining a probe aperture in a central portion thereof configured such that the driven portion of the probe member passes through the probe aperture, and further comprising pouring water on the ground and inserting the driven portion of the probe member through the probe aperture prior to driving the driven portion into the ground.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2504393 CA2504393A1 (en) | 2005-04-12 | 2005-04-12 | Pipeline probe |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2504393 CA2504393A1 (en) | 2005-04-12 | 2005-04-12 | Pipeline probe |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2504393A1 true CA2504393A1 (en) | 2006-10-12 |
Family
ID=37101444
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2504393 Abandoned CA2504393A1 (en) | 2005-04-12 | 2005-04-12 | Pipeline probe |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA2504393A1 (en) |
Cited By (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN101493185B (en) * | 2009-03-04 | 2012-09-26 | 黄少波 | Underground buried object indicator |
| CN107576262A (en) * | 2017-09-29 | 2018-01-12 | 风帆有限责任公司 | A kind of high-precision detection device for the detection of accumulator terminal taper |
| CN116296151A (en) * | 2023-05-24 | 2023-06-23 | 淄博市特种设备检验研究院 | Weld joint inspection device for pressure vessel inspection and use method |
-
2005
- 2005-04-12 CA CA 2504393 patent/CA2504393A1/en not_active Abandoned
Cited By (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN101493185B (en) * | 2009-03-04 | 2012-09-26 | 黄少波 | Underground buried object indicator |
| CN107576262A (en) * | 2017-09-29 | 2018-01-12 | 风帆有限责任公司 | A kind of high-precision detection device for the detection of accumulator terminal taper |
| CN107576262B (en) * | 2017-09-29 | 2024-05-17 | 风帆有限责任公司 | High-precision detection device for detecting taper of storage battery terminal |
| CN116296151A (en) * | 2023-05-24 | 2023-06-23 | 淄博市特种设备检验研究院 | Weld joint inspection device for pressure vessel inspection and use method |
| CN116296151B (en) * | 2023-05-24 | 2023-07-25 | 淄博市特种设备检验研究院 | Weld joint inspection device for pressure vessel inspection and use method |
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