RU2559864C2 - Method and apparatus for locating pipeline manholes - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: physics.

SUBSTANCE: method includes using a generator in an unfilled pipeline, which is a waveguide, to transmit a signal at a certain frequency, receiving the signal with an acoustic signal emitter, converting to an acoustic signal which is further transmitted through the waveguide, reaches the closed volume of the manhole and propagates through the ground. Presence of a rapture in the pipeline at the point of linking with the manhole and the smaller thickness of the ground over the manhole than over the pipeline enables strength of the acoustic signal over the manhole to be greater than over the pipeline. The location of the manhole is determined from the high strength of the acoustic signal received by an acoustic sensor connected to a receiver tuned to the frequency of the generator. Said method and apparatus can be used in public utilities when searching for manholes hidden under a layer of soil, asphalt, snow etc.

EFFECT: detecting manholes hidden under a layer of soil, asphalt or snow, regardless of the material of the manhole covers or communications themselves, longer range of detecting manholes from a signal source, low cost of equipment needed to detect manholes, low cost of training personnel owing to a simple search method, safer operation for personnel.

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Description

The invention relates to a technique using radiation and reflection of acoustic waves to search for viewing wells of pipelines hidden under a layer of earth, asphalt, snow, etc.

There is a method of detecting manhole covers for manholes located under a layer of earth, asphalt, snow, etc., using metal detectors (detector), such as the SPHINX VM-911, IEM-300 lyukoiskateli (site www.technoac.ru).

The disadvantages of the method:

- for its implementation, it is necessary that the manhole covers are metal or reinforced with metal;

- the presence of metallic construction debris in the ground may interfere with the correct location of manhole covers;

There is a known remote method for detecting underground non-metallic (plastic, concrete, etc.) communications and devices for its implementation - route finders (sites www.technoac.ru. Www.//radiodetection.ru).

The principle of operation of the track detectors S.A.T4, RD2000, RD7000 in the location of the plastic pipeline is to determine the location of the probe as it is pushed through the pipe.

The disadvantages of this method and device for its implementation are:

- the distance the probe advances is limited by the length of the flexible rod on the drum;

- almost the same signal level above the well and above the pipeline does not allow to locate the viewing well.

The principle of operation of the locator locator in the location of the plastic pipeline RD500, which is the closest analogue of the claimed method and device, is based on the creation of a pressure wave generator in a pipe filled with water, and subsequent determination of the location of the pipe by the receiver using sound and visual indications. The pressure wave generator allows you to enter a pressure wave through communication leads, for example, a fire hydrant, a spray head of a fire extinguishing system, etc.

The disadvantages of the method for determining the location of the pipeline using this device: is that:

- the method is used for filled pipelines, for example with water;

- to trace the passage of the pressure wave in such pipelines is possible at a distance of not more than 152 m;

- to work with the device, it is necessary to have communication leads for connecting a pressure wave generator, which are often absent.

The technical result of the invention is the detection of manholes covered with a layer of earth, asphalt, snow, etc., regardless of the material from which manhole covers for manholes or the communications themselves are made; increasing the detection range of wells from the signal source (it is assumed that an empty pipeline will allow transmitting an acoustic signal without strong attenuation over a distance of up to 300 m); reducing the cost of equipment needed to detect manholes; reduction in staff training costs due to the simplification of the search method; increase the safety of staff.

The specified technical result is achieved by the fact that a signal of a certain frequency, which is acoustic, is supplied to an unfilled pipeline, which is a waveguide and having a gap in the place of communication with the inspection well, and in the place of communication of the pipeline with the inspection well, the level of the acoustic signal at the frequency of the supplied signal is determined location of the manhole.

A device for implementing a method for detecting manholes, consisting of a signal generator including a frequency control unit, an acoustic sensor connected to a receiver tuned in frequency with the generator frequency and containing a filtering unit, a processing unit and an indicator, comprises an acoustic signal emitter connected to a generator and the converting signal supplied by the generator into an acoustic signal, which is transmitted further along the waveguide, which is an unfilled pipeline, falls into mknuty volume of the manhole extends over the ground and recorded acoustic sensor mounted on the ground surface.

The invention is illustrated by drawings.

Figure 1 shows a diagram of a device for implementing a method for detecting manholes.

Figure 2 presents a block diagram of a device for detecting manholes.

An acoustic signal emitter 2 is located in the pipeline 1 (Fig. 1). The signal from the generator 3 to the acoustic signal emitter 2 is converted by the acoustic signal emitter 2 into an acoustic signal that propagates through the waveguide, which is an unfilled pipeline 1. systems in the place of communication of the pipeline 1 with the inspection well 4, the pipeline 1 has a gap. The acoustic signal enters the closed volume of the inspection well 4 and, passing through the ground, is recorded by an acoustic sensor 7 installed on the surface of the ground 5, is processed by the receiver 6, tuned in frequency with the frequency of the generator 3. The location of the observation well is determined by increasing the level of the acoustic signal.

A device for detecting wells is presented in a block diagram (figure 2). A signal of a certain frequency (the frequency is set by the frequency control unit) is supplied by the generator to the acoustic signal emitter. After passing through the pipeline, which is the waveguide, and the desired manhole, the acoustic signal propagates through the ground and is received by an acoustic sensor connected to the acoustic signal receiver, in which the useful signal is allocated by the filtering unit, amplified and measured by the signal processing unit, the result of the converted signal is displayed on the indicator.

The location of wells located under a layer of earth, asphalt, snow, etc., by the indicated method and device is as follows.

The route of underground communication is previously determined. Then, an acoustic signal emitter is arranged in the pipeline. A signal of a certain frequency coming from the generator to the emitter of the acoustic signal is converted by the emitter of the acoustic signal into an acoustic signal that propagates through the waveguide, which is an unfilled pipeline. In sewer systems, in the place where the pipeline (waveguide) communicates with the well, the pipeline has a gap. The presence of a rupture of the pipeline and a smaller thickness of soil above the well than above the pipeline, contributes to the fact that the level of the acoustic signal above the well is greater than above the pipeline. The increased level of the acoustic signal recorded by the acoustic sensor and processed by the receiver determines the location of the viewing well.

The specified method and device can find application in the work of public utilities when it is necessary to search and find manholes hidden under a layer of earth, asphalt, snow, etc.

Claims (2)

1. The method of determining the location of the wells of pipelines under a layer of earth, asphalt or snow, which consists in the fact that an unfilled pipeline, which is a waveguide and has a gap in the place of communication with the inspection well, is fed a signal of a certain frequency, characterized in that the signal is acoustic, and in the place of communication between the pipeline and the inspection well, the location of the observation well is determined by increasing the level of the acoustic signal at the frequency of the supplied signal. 2. A device for implementing the method for detecting manholes according to claim 1, consisting of a signal generator including a frequency adjustment unit, an acoustic sensor connected to a receiver tuned in frequency with the generator frequency, containing a filtering unit, a processing unit and an indicator, characterized in that contains the emitter of the acoustic signal connected to the generator and converting the signal supplied by the generator into an acoustic signal, which is transmitted further along the waveguide, which is unfilled second conduit enters the enclosed volume of the manhole extends over the ground and recorded acoustic sensor mounted on the ground surface.

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