Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090243583 | Compact line illuminator for locating buried pipes and cables - A compact line illuminator for applying an oscillating signal to buried or otherwise inaccessible pipes, cables and conductors so that their location can be traced by detecting an electromagnetic signal emitted by these buried objects. The illuminator includes a circuit for generating a signal suitable for tracing a buried conductor and a holder for a portable power source that can energize the circuit. First and second leads each have a first end connected to the circuit and a second end connected to a corresponding mechanism such as an alligator clip for attaching to a buried conductor. A case encloses the circuit and the portable power source holder and is configured for having the first and second leads wrapped around an exterior of the case. Mechanisms are provided for holding the leads wrapped around the exterior of the case. | 10-01-2009 |
20090292502 | DRAIN CLEANING APPARATUS WITH ELECTRONIC CABLE MONITORING SYSTEM - A drain cleaning machine with an electronic cable monitoring system is disclosed which comprises a frame supporting a rotatable drum which is driven by a motor through an endless belt. The drum contains a flexible drain cleaning cable which is rotatable with the drum and axially displaceable into and out from the drum, and the frame supports a cable feeding device through which the cable extends and by which the cable is displaced into and out of the drum. An electronic cable monitoring system is configured to assess an amount of cable payed out from and retracted into the drum. A process determines an amount and direction of relative movement between a rotatable drum and a cable follower member and generates a signal representative of an amount of cable payed out or retracted into the drum. | 11-26-2009 |
20100020547 | LED ILLUMINATION DEVICE WITH CUBIC ZIRCONIA LENS - A lens element has a curved surface mounted adjacent an LED for improving the light transmission efficiency and the dispersal pattern of radiation emitted by the LED. | 01-28-2010 |
20100101560 | Solar Reflector and Drive Control System - A planar reflector is supported on a ball-and-socket joint and can be independently pivoted about X and Y axes by magnetic drives that propel corresponding bail arms hingedly connected to the reflector. Control is achieved using the outputs of a multi-axis magnetic field sensor closely positioned adjacent a spherical magnet embedded in the ball of a ball-and-socket joint that supports the reflector for pivoting motion. | 04-29-2010 |
20100208055 | Push-Cable for Pipe Inspection System - In accordance with the present invention a push-cable comprises a central core including a least one conductor, a plurality of non-metallic resilient flexible stiffness members surrounding the core, and a layer of sheathing surrounding the stiffness members. | 08-19-2010 |
20100208056 | Pipe Inspection System with Replaceable Cable Storage Drum - A pipe inspection system includes a cable storage drum and a housing configured to removably receive and rotatably support the cable storage drum. A push-cable with a plurality of conductors is stored in the cable storage drum. A camera head is connected to a distal end of the push-cable. A slip-ring assembly has first and second mating portions that when mated provide conductive paths between the plurality of conductors at a proximal end of the push-capable and a display device. The first portion of the slip-ring assembly is mounted on the housing and the second portion of the slip-ring assembly is mounted on the removable cable storage drum. The system connection cable joining the inspection system with a display unit is removable and may be replaced with cables compatible with various alternate image display systems. | 08-19-2010 |
20100265176 | Magnetic Manual User Interface Devices - Various finger tip controlled manual interface devices that can be used as inputs to personal computers, electromechanical systems and video game consoles utilize concentrically arranged magnets. The polarities of the magnets are oriented to provide restoration forces on a one of the magnets to bias it toward a neutral position. A magnetic sensor including a plurality of sensing elements such as Hall effect devices generates output signals representative of direction and amount of movement of the magnet that is biased to the neutral position. | 10-21-2010 |
20100272885 | Marking Paint Applicator for Portable Locator - A marking paint applicator for a portable electronic locator that locates buried cables and pipes via electromagnetic emissions includes an elongated support structure and a manually moveable trigger mechanism mounted adjacent an upper end of the support structure. At least one bracket assembly is provided for removably connecting the support structure to an antenna mast of the portable locator so that the trigger mechanism will be adjacent a handle of the locator and the trigger mechanism can be squeezed by a finger of an operator's hand while grasping the handle. A receptacle is mounted to the support structure for carrying an inverted aerosol paint can and positioning a valve stem of the aerosol paint can for spraying paint onto the ground to mark the location of a buried cable or pipe. An actuating mechanism is capable of selectively deflecting the valve stem to cause the aerosol paint can to spray paint onto the ground to mark the location of a buried cable or pipe. A linkage connects the trigger mechanism to the actuating mechanism for deflecting the valve stem when the trigger mechanism is squeezed. | 10-28-2010 |
20110006772 | Tri-Pod Buried Locator System - A portable self-standing electromagnetic (EM) field sensing locator system with attachments for finding and mapping buried objects such as utilities and with intuitive graphical user interface (GUI) displays. Accessories include a ground penetrating radar (GPR) system with a rotating Tx/Rx antenna assembly, a leak detection system, a multi-probe voltage mapping system, a man-portable laser-range finder system with embedded dipole beacon and other detachable accessory sensor systems are accepted for attachment to the locator system for simultaneous operation in cooperation with the basic locator system. The integration of the locator system with one or more additional devices, such as fault-finding, geophones and conductance sensors, facilitates the rapid detection and localization of many different types of buried objects. | 01-13-2011 |
20110037472 | Omnidirectional Sonde and Line Locator - At least one antenna array including three mutually orthogonal antennas each sharing a common center point senses an electromagnetic signal emitted by a buried object such as a utility line, pipe or sonde. A circuit at least partially mounted in a housing is connected to the array and determines a location of the buried object by measuring signal strength and field angles in three dimensions without having to align the antenna array relative to the buried object while eliminating nulls and false peaks. A graphical user interface (GUI) has user-friendly icons, symbols, menus, numbers and graphical and auditory representation of signal strength. A SEARCH view indicates signal strength by showing a rotating strength indicator, a trace mode MAP view in which line location is shown by a line that moves side-to-side, and a sonde mode MAP view in which sonde location is shown by a moving line, pole and equator. | 02-17-2011 |
20110043211 | Single and Multi-Trace Omnidirectional Sonde and Line Locators and Transmitter Used Therewith - At least one antenna array including three mutually orthogonal antennas each sharing a common center point senses an electromagnetic signal emitted by a buried object such as a utility line, pipe or sonde. A circuit at least partially mounted in a housing is connected to the array and determines a location of the buried object by measuring signal strength and field angles in three dimensions without having to align the antenna array relative to the buried object while eliminating nulls and false peaks. A graphical user interface (GUI) has user-friendly icons, symbols, menus, numbers and graphical and auditory representation of signal strength. A plurality of different underground objects can be simultaneously detected and their different locations can be simultaneously indicated to a user via audible sounds and/or visual images on a display. | 02-24-2011 |
20110109437 | Smart Personal Communication Devices as User Interfaces - A personal communication device or “smart phone” is connected to a utility locator system or pipe inspection system and serves as a user interface, communication interface, and control system for such systems. | 05-12-2011 |
20120062223 | ECONOMICAL MAGNETIC LOCATOR APPARATUS AND METHOD - Magnetic locators for detection of buried objects, such as ferromagnetic objects, are disclosed. Inputs provided from one or more magnetic sensors, such as three three-axis magnetic sensors, as well as from other sensors, such as accelerometers and gyroscopic sensors, may be used to determine magnetic field distortion indicative of ferromagnetic objects and provide output information corresponding to the detected object. | 03-15-2012 |
20120203501 | DRAIN CLEANING APPARATUS WITH ELECTRONIC CABLE MONITORING SYSTEM - A drain cleaning machine with an electronic cable monitoring system is disclosed which comprises a frame supporting a rotatable drum which is driven by a motor through an endless belt. The drum contains a flexible drain cleaning cable which is rotatable with the drum and axially displaceable into and out from the drum, and the frame supports a cable feeding device through which the cable extends and by which the cable is displaced into and out of the drum. An electronic cable monitoring system is configured to assess an amount of cable payed out from and retracted into the drum. A process determines an amount and direction of relative movement between a rotatable drum and a cable follower member and generates a signal representative of an amount of cable payed out or retracted into the drum. | 08-09-2012 |
20120211580 | ASYMMETRIC DRAG FORCE BEARINGS FOR USE WITH PUSH-CABLE STORAGE DRUMS - A pipe inspection system may include a cable storage drum and a length of resilient flexible push-cable. An asymmetric bearing device supports the cable storage drum for rotation about the rotational axis in a pay-out direction and an opposite pay-in direction. In one embodiment, the asymmetric bearing device automatically decreases, without the for manual adjustment, an amount of friction exerted against rotation of the cable storage drum upon reversal of the direction of rotation of the cable storage drum from the pay-out direction to the pay-in direction. | 08-23-2012 |
20120242341 | Buried locators systems and methods - Portable self-standing electromagnetic (EM) field sensing locator systems with attachments for finding and mapping buried objects such as utilities and with intuitive graphical user interface (GUI) displays are described. Accessories may include a ground penetrating radar (GPR) system with a rotating Tx/Rx antenna assembly, a leak detection system, a multi-probe voltage mapping system, a man-portable laser-range finder system with embedded dipole beacon, and other detachable accessory sensor systems are accepted for attachment to the locator system for simultaneous operation in cooperation with the basic locator system. The integration of the locator system with one or more additional devices, such as fault-finding, geophones and conductance sensors, may be used to facilitate the rapid detection and localization of many different types of buried objects. | 09-27-2012 |
20120243228 | LED SPHERICAL LIGHT FIXTURES WITH ENHANCED HEAT DISSIPATION - A deep submersible light fixture includes a substantially spherical exterior housing made of metal. The housing has a hollow interior and a first aperture extending through a front side of the housing. The first aperture communicates with the hollow interior of the housing. At least one LED is mounted inside the first aperture adjacent to the hollow interior of the housing. A transparent window extends across the first aperture. A seal is situated between a periphery of the window and the housing adjacent the first aperture for providing resistance to the entry of water into the hollow interior of the housing. An electrical connector extends through a second aperture in a rear side of the housing. | 09-27-2012 |
20120256821 | USER INTERFACE DEVICES, APPARATUS, AND METHODS - User interface devices using magnetic sensing to provide output signals associated with motion and/or deformation of an actuator element of the interface devices are described. The output signals may be provided to an electronic computing system to provide commands, controls, and/or other data or information. In one embodiment, a user interface device may include a plurality of permanent magnets and a plurality of multi-axis magnetic sensors to generate motion and/or deformation signals to be provided to a processing element to generate the output signals. | 10-11-2012 |
20120262771 | DEEP SUBMERSIBLE LIGHT WITH PRESSURE COMPENSATION - A deep submersible light may include a body defining a hollow interior and a solid state light source such as a plurality of high brightness LEDs mounted in the interior of the body. A transparent window may be mounted over the LEDs. The space between the transparent window and the LEDs may be filled with an optically transparent fluid, gel, or grease, which allows light to pass through and ambient water pressure to pass in, thus pressure compensating the LEDs by allowing them to see ambient water pressure. The transparent window may be mounted in the body for reciprocation in both a forward direction and a rearward direction to accommodate volumetric changes in the compensating fluid, gel, or grease caused by changes in temperature and water pressure as the manned or remotely piloted submarine travels from the sea surface to deep ocean depths. | 10-18-2012 |
20120268945 | LED ILLUMINATION DEVICES AND METHODS - Lens elements having a generally curved shape with a flat surfacemounted adjacent an LED for improving the light transmission efficiency and the dispersal pattern of radiation emitted by the LED are disclosed. | 10-25-2012 |
20120274563 | MAGNETIC THUMBSTICK USER INTERFACE DEVICES - A magnetic thumbstick device including a manual actuator assembly, a restorative element, a base assembly, one or more magnets, and one or more magnetic sensors is disclosed. The magnetic sensor is positioned to measure magnetic fields generated by movement of the magnet, which may be disposed in the manual actuator assembly, and sensed by the magnetic sensor, which may be disposed in the base assembly. These magnetic field signals may then be provided to a processing element where they may be used to determine position and/or motion of the magnet in relation to the magnetic sensor. The processing element may further generate output signals or commands usable by an electronic computing system such as personal computer, cellular phone, video game console, or other device. | 11-01-2012 |
20120306603 | MAGNETICALLY SENSED USER INTERFACE APPARATUS AND DEVICES - A user interface device including a floating actuator sub-assembly and a base assembly flexibly coupled to the floating actuator assembly is disclosed. The floating actuator assembly may include a magnet array assembly with a plurality of magnets fixed relative to each other. The user interface device may further include a deformable actuator sub-assembly, which may include a magnet array assembly with a plurality of magnets in a movable configuration relative to each other. A base assembly may include multi-axis magnetic sensors corresponding to the magnets in the magnet arrays to sense position of motion of the magnets during user displacements and/or deformation of actuator elements of the user interface device. | 12-06-2012 |
20130164567 | MODULAR BATTERY PACK APPARATUS, SYSTEMS, AND METHODS - Modular sealed battery packs configured to provide enhanced performance and safety features, along with associated apparatus, systems, and methods for monitoring and controlling operation and use of such battery packs and associated coupled devices and systems are disclosed. | 06-27-2013 |
20130200901 | PHASE SYNCHRONIZED BURIED OBJECT LOCATOR APPARATUS, SYSTEMS, AND METHODS - Buried object locator systems including transmitters and associated buried object locators using phase-synchronized signals are disclosed. A transmitter may generate output current signals that are phase-synchronized such that an associated locator may receive magnetic field signals from the output current signal and determine information about the current flow based on independent phase-synchronization timing information. | 08-08-2013 |
20140063229 | ADJUSTABLE VARIABLE RESOLUTION INSPECTION SYSTEMS AND METHODS - Camera heads configured to provide digitally articulated images or video, at adjustable resolutions and/or offsets and orientations, to a camera control unit (CCU) or other electronic computing system for display, storage, and/or transmission to other systems are disclosed. | 03-06-2014 |
20140111208 | GROUND-TRACKING SYSTEMS AND APPARATUS - A ground tracking system including a ground follower assembly for use with a locator or other device for determining position, motion, and/or orientation information is disclosed. The ground follower assembly may include a wheel assembly coupled to a locator and configured to swivel and/or pivot relative to an antenna node of the locator to generate signals for use in determining position information during a locate operation, such as from a sonde array. | 04-24-2014 |
20140111376 | DUAL ANTENNA SYSTEMS WITH VARIABLE POLARIZATION - Antenna systems for receiving transmitted signals comprising at least a first tuned antenna disposed in a known relationship spatially with a second antenna, with the first tuned antenna electrically connected to the second antenna, are disclosed. The antenna system may be configured to allow the antennas to reliably discriminate between left-hand and right-hand polarized circular signals. | 04-24-2014 |
20140132269 | MULTI-FREQUENCY LOCATING SYSTEMS AND METHODS - Multi-frequency buried object location system transmitters and locators are disclosed. A transmitter may generate and provide output signals to a buried object at a plurality of frequencies, which may be selected based on a connection type. Corresponding locators may simultaneously receive a plurality of magnetic field signals emitted from the buried object and generate visual and/or audible output information based at least in part on the plurality of received magnetic field signals. The visual and/or audible output may be further based on signals received from a quad-gradient antenna array. | 05-15-2014 |
20140132270 | QUAD-GRADIENT COILS FOR USE IN LOCATING SYSTEMS - Buried object locators including an omnidirectional antenna array and a quad gradient array are disclosed. A locator display may include information associated with a buried object based on both omnidirectional antenna array signals and quad gradient antenna array signals. | 05-15-2014 |
20140139223 | GRADIENT ANTENNA COILS AND ARRAYS FOR USE IN LOCATING SYSTEMS - Buried object locators including an omnidirectional antenna array and a gradient array are disclosed. A locator display may include information associated with a buried object based on both omnidirectional antenna array signals and gradient antenna array signals. | 05-22-2014 |
20140147086 | HIGH BANDWIDTH PUSH CABLES FOR VIDEO PIPE INSPECTION SYSTEMS - High-bandwidth push cables configured for high speed data communication, such as that used in video signal transmission between a camera head and a cable reel or other device, are disclosed. | 05-29-2014 |
20140152802 | MULTI-CAMERA PIPE INSPECTION APPARATUS, SYSTEMS AND METHODS - A camera head for inspecting pipes or cavities including an array of two or more imaging elements with overlapping Fields of View (FOV) is disclosed. The camera head may include one or more light source elements, such as LEDs, for providing illumination in dimly lit inspection sites, such as the interior of underground pipes. The imaging elements and LEDs may be used in conjunction with a remote display device, such as an LCD panel of a camera control unit (CCU) or monitor in proximity to an operator, to display the interior of a pipe or other cavity. | 06-05-2014 |
20140154535 | MODULAR BATTERY PACK APPARATUS, SYSTEMS, AND METHODS INCLUDING VIRAL DATA AND/OR CODE TRANSFER - Intelligent modular battery pack assemblies and associated charging and docking systems are disclosed. In one embodiment a modular battery pack assembly may include an outer casing assembly, a thermally conductive structural housing element configured to house a battery assembly in an interior volume, a lid element configured to cover the opening in the thermally conductive structural housing element and mechanically strengthen the thermally conductive structural housing element, and a circuit element disposed to electrically couple the battery cell to a battery-powered device and provide viral data transfer between the battery and a coupled device. | 06-05-2014 |
20140159729 | OMNI-INDUCER TRANSMITTING DEVICES AND METHODS - Omnidirectional electromagnetic signal inducer (omni-inducer) devices are disclosed. The omni-inducer device may include a housing, which may include a conductive base for coupling signals to ground, and an omnidirectional antenna node including a plurality of antenna coil assemblies, where the node may be disposed on or within the housing. The omni-inducer device may further include one or more transmitter modules for generating ones of a plurality of output signals, which may be generated at ones of a plurality of different frequencies, and one or more control circuits configured to control the transmitters and/or other circuits to selectively switch the ones of the plurality of output signals between ones of the plurality of antenna coil assemblies. | 06-12-2014 |
20140167765 | USER INTERFACES FOR UTILITY LOCATORS - The present disclosure relates to user interfaces for enhanced utility locators. Such enhanced utility locators may include a variety of sensors and other such technologies for determining information regarding a buried or otherwise inaccessible utility line. Such information may be displayed in various ways to convey relative characteristics among multiple utilities, or to convey relative characteristics of one or more utilities with respect to a locator. | 06-19-2014 |
20140167766 | SONDE DEVICES INCLUDING A SECTIONAL FERRITE CORE STRUCTURE - Sonde devices for providing magnetic field signals for use with utility locators or other devices are disclosed. In one embodiment a sonde device includes a housing, a core comprising a plurality of core sections, and one or more support structures, which may include windings. Circuit and/or power supply elements may be disposed fully or partially within the core to control generation of predefined magnetic field frequencies and waveforms. | 06-19-2014 |
20140168406 | SELF-LEVELING CAMERA HEADS - In one embodiment, a self-leveling camera head may include an eccentric leveling weight assembly that is supported inside an outer housing for free rotation about an axis. The leveling weight assembly may be removably coupled to a separate camera module assembly supported inside the outer housing for rotation about the axis so that its images will be “upright,” i.e. earth normal. | 06-19-2014 |
20140168407 | PIPE INSPECTION SYSTEMS WITH SNAP-ON PIPE GUIDES - A video pipe inspection system may include a push-cable, camera head, and pipe guide having a pair of cylindrical shells, with each shell having a plurality of radially extending circumferentially spaced vanes and structure for holding the shells together when the shells are axially mated end-to-end. A pair of curved tab arms may extend circumferentially about corresponding ones of the cylindrical shells. A pair of slide-locks may be configured to slide over corresponding ones of the tab arms to move them into a locking position in which keys on the tab arms extend between adjacent coils of a coil spring surrounded by the shells. | 06-19-2014 |
20140176696 | ROTATING CONTACT ASSEMBLIES FOR SELF-LEVELING CAMERA HEADS - Camera heads and associated rotating contact assemblies are disclosed. In one embodiment a slip-ring assembly includes a rotating contact assembly including slip rings having a cylindrical ring assembly and a flexible or bendable brush assembly. Brush elements may flexed to remain in contact with corresponding ring assembly electrical contacts. Bush contacts may be coated or have attached contact assemblies to increase hardness and oxide resistance with materials such as palladium nickel, rhodium, or hard gold, though a variety of other materials may be used as a suitable coating. | 06-26-2014 |
20140191759 | MULTI-FREQUENCY LOCATING SYSTEMS AND METHODS - Multi-frequency buried object location system transmitters and locators are disclosed. A transmitter may generate and provide output signals to a buried object at a plurality of frequencies, which may be selected based on a connection type. Corresponding locators may simultaneously receive a plurality of magnetic field signals emitted from the buried object and generate visual and/or audible output information based at least in part on the plurality of received magnetic field signals. The visual and/or audible output may be further based on signals received from a quad-gradient antenna array. | 07-10-2014 |
20140204197 | SELF-GROUNDING TRANSMITTING PORTABLE CAMERA CONTROLLER FOR USE WITH PIPE INSPECTION SYSTEM - A portable camera controller for use with a pipe inspection system is disclosed. The controller may include an onboard display, USB ports, wireless capability, and a built-in transmitter for energizing a pipe-inspection cable for tracing purposes. The camera controller may be configured to support auto-logging and automatic report generation of pipe inspection operations and associated locating operations. The camera controller may be self-grounding using conductive and/or capacitive grounding circuits and an associated transmitter may be used without a separate grounding stake through use of the conductive and/or capacitive grounding circuits. | 07-24-2014 |
20140210989 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS INVOLVING A SMART CABLE STORAGE DRUM AND NETWORK NODE FOR TRANSMISSION OF DATA - Among other things, techniques, systems, methods and computer readable storage medium with executable instructions relating to the viewing of data from and the controlling of the operation of an inspection camera at a remote computing device that is connected to the inspection camera via a network are described. Various features may be realized by using an installable software application or a web browser at the remote computing device. Features of the invention also pertain to a smart cable storage drum comprising a push cable, an inspection camera, and a network transceiver configured to communicate with a remote computer. | 07-31-2014 |
20140233247 | SEMICONDUCTOR LIGHTING DEVICES AND METHODS - Lighting device embodiments having a housing enclosing one or more interior volumes, along with a serviceable port in the housing to allow venting of one or more of the interior volumes, are disclosed. The lighting devices may further include internal venting paths to allow transfer of contaminating gases to the serviceable port, and a gas permeable pressure valve to allow transfer of contaminants from the interior of the lighting device. The pressure valve may be selectively permeable as a function of applied exterior pressure. The lighting device may also include one or more electronic circuit elements disposed in the one or more interior volumes, and a selectively permeable barrier element disposed in the housing having a first area exposed to one of the interior volumes and a second area exposed to a gas or liquid volume exterior to the housing to allow diffusion of browning contaminants from the one of the interior volumes to the gas or liquid volume exterior to the housing. | 08-21-2014 |
20140266213 | OMNI-INDUCER TRANSMITTING DEVICES AND METHODS - Omnidirectional electromagnetic signal inducer (omni-inducer) devices are disclosed. The omni-inducer device may include a housing, which may include a conductive base for coupling signals to ground, and an omnidirectional antenna node including a plurality of antenna coil assemblies, where the node may be disposed on or within the housing. The omni-inducer device may further include one or more transmitter modules for generating ones of a plurality of output signals, which may be generated at ones of a plurality of different frequencies, and one or more control circuits configured to control the transmitters and/or other circuits to selectively switch the ones of the plurality of output signals between ones of the plurality of antenna coil assemblies. | 09-18-2014 |
20140268822 | SEMICONDUCTOR LIGHTING DEVICES AND METHODS - Lighting device embodiments having a housing enclosing one or more interior volumes, along with a serviceable port in the housing to allow venting of one or more of the interior volumes, are disclosed. The lighting devices may further include internal venting paths to allow transfer of contaminating gases to the serviceable port, and a gas permeable pressure valve to allow transfer of contaminants from the interior of the lighting device. The pressure valve may be selectively permeable as a function of applied exterior pressure. The lighting device may also include one or more electronic circuit elements disposed in the one or more interior volumes, and a selectively permeable barrier element disposed in the housing having a first area exposed to one of the interior volumes and a second area exposed to a gas or liquid volume exterior to the housing to allow diffusion of browning contaminants from the one of the interior volumes to the gas or liquid volume exterior to the housing. | 09-18-2014 |
20140285203 | GROUND-TRACKING SYSTEMS AND APPARATUS - A ground tracking system including a ground follower assembly for use with a locator or other device for determining position, motion, and/or orientation information is disclosed. The ground follower assembly may include a wheel assembly coupled to a locator and configured to swivel and/or pivot relative to an antenna node of the locator to generate signals for use in determining position information during a locate operation, such as from a sonde array. | 09-25-2014 |
20140311795 | HIGH BANDWIDTH PUSH CABLES FOR VIDEO PIPE INSPECTION SYSTEMS - High-bandwidth push cables configured for high speed data communication, such as that used in video signal transmission between a camera head and a cable reel or other device, are disclosed. | 10-23-2014 |
20140312903 | MULTI-FREQUENCY LOCATING SYSTEMS AND METHODS - Multi-frequency buried object location system transmitters and locators are disclosed. A transmitter may generate and provide output signals to a buried object at a plurality of frequencies, which may be selected based on a connection type. Corresponding locators may simultaneously receive a plurality of magnetic field signals emitted from the buried object and generate visual and/or audible output information based at least in part on the plurality of received magnetic field signals. The visual and/or audible output may be further based on signals received from a quad-gradient antenna array. | 10-23-2014 |
20140313316 | ADJUSTABLE VARIABLE RESOLUTION INSPECTION SYSTEMS AND METHODS USING MULTIPLE IMAGE SENSORS - Camera heads having multiple image sensors, configured to provide digitally articulated images or video, at adjustable resolutions and/or offsets and orientations, to a camera control unit (CCU) or other electronic computing system for display, storage, and/or transmission to other systems are disclosed. | 10-23-2014 |
20140313321 | OPTICAL GROUND TRACKING APPARATUS, SYSTEMS, AND METHODS - Optical ground tracking apparatus for use with buried object locators or other instruments or devices are disclosed. In one embodiment, a ground tracking apparatus integral with or coupled to a buried object locator includes a housing, a plurality of camera modules, a distance measurement module, and a processing element to generate tracking information based on images or video streams from the camera modules in combination with distance data generated from the distance measurement module. | 10-23-2014 |
20140320133 | SONDE DEVICES INCLUDING A SECTIONAL FERRITE CORE - Sonde devices for providing magnetic field signals for use with utility locators or other devices are disclosed. In one embodiment a sonde device includes a housing, a core comprising a plurality of core sections, and one or more support structures, which may include windings. Circuit and/or power supply elements may be disposed fully or partially within the core to control generation of predefined magnetic field frequencies and waveforms. | 10-30-2014 |
20140320631 | MULTI-CAMERA PIPE INSPECTION APPARATUS, SYSTEMS AND METHODS - Systems for inspecting pipes or cavities including a camera head having an array of two or more imaging elements with overlapping Fields of View (FOV) are disclosed. The camera head may include one or more light source elements, such as LEDs, for providing illumination in dimly lit inspection sites, such as the interior of underground pipes. The imaging elements and LEDs may be used in conjunction with a remote display device, such as an LCD panel of a camera control unit (CCU) or monitor in proximity to an operator, to display the interior of a pipe or other cavity. | 10-30-2014 |
20140333753 | SPRING ASSEMBLIES WITH VARIABLE FLEXILIBILITY FOR USE WITH PUSH-CABLES AND PIPE INSPECTION SYSTEMS - Push-cables and associated apparatus and systems are disclosed. In one embodiment, a push-cable assembly for use with a pipe inspection system may include a push-cable element having a proximal end and a distal end, with a spring assembly having varying flexibility coupled to or near the distal end. The spring assembly may include an outer coiled spring having a proximal and a distal end, and an inner coiled spring nested at least partially within the outer coiled spring. A camera head and/or other elements such as a cutting or jetting apparatus may be coupled at or near the distal end. | 11-13-2014 |
20140340086 | USER INTERFACES FOR UTILITY LOCATORS - The present disclosure relates to user interfaces for enhanced utility locators. Such enhanced utility locators may include a myriad of sensors and other such technologies for determining information regarding the buried or otherwise inaccessible utility line. Such information may be displayed in a myriad of ways to convey relative characteristics among multiple utilities, or to convey relative characteristics of one or more utilities with respect to a locator. | 11-20-2014 |
20140340372 | USER INTERFACE DEVICES - User interface devices (UIDs) for sensing position or motion of an actuator assembly in multiple degrees of freedom are disclosed. In one embodiment a UID includes a frame having a top and bottom assembly, an actuator assembly disposed within a volume between the top and bottom of the frame having magnets disposed therein, a sensor array for sensing magnetic fields from the magnets in multiple axes, and a processing element for receiving the sensed magnet fields and generating a UID output signal corresponding to a position, translation, rotation, deformation, or other action of the actuator assembly. | 11-20-2014 |
20140340505 | SELF-GROUNDING TRANSMITTING PORTABLE CAMERA CONTROLLER FOR USE WITH PIPE INSPECTION SYSTEM - A portable camera controller for use with a pipe inspection system is disclosed. The controller may include an onboard display, USB ports, wireless capability, and a built-in transmitter for energizing a pipe-inspection cable for tracing purposes. The camera controller may be configured to support auto-logging and automatic report generation of pipe inspection operations and associated locating operations. The camera controller may be self-grounding using conductive and/or capacitive grounding circuits and an associated transmitter may be used without a separate grounding stake through use of the conductive and/or capacitive grounding circuits. | 11-20-2014 |
20140347867 | PRESSURE RELIEF VALVE DEVICES AND METHODS - Pressure relief valves for use in high pressure applications that may include a conical shaped plunger, a body with a conical shaped mating surface corresponding to the shape of the conical shaped plunger, and one or more sealing elements, such as a pair of O-rings, are disclosed. | 11-27-2014 |
20150009127 | DEFORMABLE USER INTERFACE DEVICES, APPARATUS, AND METHODS - User interface devices using magnetic sensing to provide output signals associated with motion and/or deformation of an actuator element of the interface devices are described. The output signals may be provided to an electronic computing system to provide commands, controls, and/or other data or information. In one embodiment, a user interface device may include a plurality of permanent magnets and a plurality of multi-axis magnetic sensors to generate motion and/or deformation signals to be provided to a processing element to generate the output signals. | 01-08-2015 |
20150055005 | CABLE STORAGE DRUM WITH MOVEABLE CCU DOCKING APPARATUS - Embodiments of video inspection systems with moveably dockable CCUs are disclosed. In one embodiment a video inspection system includes a frame element, a camera control unit (CCU), and a docking apparatus mechanically coupled to the frame element and/or the CCU so as to allow the CCU to rotate relative to the frame, about a rotational axis, responsive to a user action. | 02-26-2015 |
20150077120 | UTILITY LOCATOR TRANSMITTER DEVICES, SYSTEMS, AND METHODS WITH DOCKABLE APPARATUS - Buried utility transmitters and associated locator devices, systems, and methods used for locating utility lines, pipes, and/or other conductors that are obscured from view are disclosed. In one embodiment a buried utility transmitter includes a module generating an output current for provision to the utility so as to generate a magnetic field for detection by a utility locator, with the output current signal having modulated signaling. The transmitter system may include a tray apparatus configured to be removably dockable to the transmitter module or element or a body or frame of the transmitter system. | 03-19-2015 |