An open, elongated, marked sheath for fiber optic cable protection is disclosed which permits a length of fiber optic cable to be installed within the sheath. The sheath is marked to indicate that the sheath contents are fiber optic cable and not copper so that the sheath assembly with the fiber optic cable installed may be safely laid out on the ground surface before final burial. The open, elongated, marked sheath is also provided with a remote locating device so that the buried sheath/fiber optic cable assembly can be remotely detected and mapped from the surface after burial underground.
An elongated, marked protective sheath is disclosed which is closed along each side and open at each end and which has an elongated and flexible core material contained within the entire length of the elongated, marked protective sheath and extending from each open end. The elongated, marked protective sheath may be imprinted with anti-theft indicia indicating that elongated, marked protective sheath contains only fiber optic cable and does not contain copper. The core material extending from one end of the sheath may be tied to the front end of a fiber optic cable and then pulled into the sheath—thus pulling the fiber optic cable into the sheath. In this manner, the fiber optic cable will be almost completely contained within the elongated sheath which has the aforementioned markings thereon to alert individuals that the sheath only contains fiber optic cable and does not contain copper.
09 - Scientific and electric apparatus and instruments
Goods & Services
Safety devices, namely, ribbon-like devices buried near pipelines or other buried infrastructure which are capable of being pulled from the ground by an excavator so as to be seen for the purpose of warning of imminent danger
09 - Scientific and electric apparatus and instruments
Goods & Services
Safety devices, namely, ribbon-like devices buried near pipelines or other buried infrastructure which are capable of being pulled from the ground by an excavator so as to be seen for the purpose of warning of imminent danger
09 - Scientific and electric apparatus and instruments
Goods & Services
Location devices, namely, ribbon-like devices buried near pipelines or other buried infrastructure which are capable of being located by electronic devices using radio waves
09 - Scientific and electric apparatus and instruments
Goods & Services
Location devices, namely, ribbon-like devices buried near pipelines or other buried infrastructure which are capable of being located by electronic devices using radio waves
7.
DETECTABLE MARKER TAPE FOR HORIZONTAL DRILLING AND BORING APPLICATIONS
A detectable marker tape is disclosed for locating buried infrastructure. The detectable marker tape comprises a strong, elongated, non-stretchable core material and at least one remote locating device contained within an envelope of protective material. This envelope encloses and protects the elongated, non-stretchable core material and remote locating device(s). The detectable marker tape is capable of being reliably emplaced during a conventional Horizontal Drilling Machine pullback operation, because it is the strong, elongated, non-stretchable core material which is fastened to the Horizontal Drilling Machine drill string for the pullback operation. The detectable marker tape also comprises any known type of remote locating device which will allow the marker tape to be detected [from the surface] once the detectable marker tape has been buried underground.
The invention apparatus for and a method of creating a localized warning to prevent damage to buried pipeline and other buried infrastructure using a new type of marker tape with the trade name signal tape® [hereinafter referred to as “Signal Tape”]. The disclosed Signal Tape may incorporate tracer wire and RFID technology to aid in the remote location of the Signal Tape and, thus, the buried infrastructure. Signal Tape may also incorporate Litz wire for use as tracer wire within the Signal Tape. The Signal Tape is designed to be buried just below the surface of the ground and directly over a buried infrastructure such as a pipeline. The Signal Tape incorporates a strong core material which permits the Signal Tape to be bodily removed from the soil when it is struck by excavation equipment.
F16L 1/11 - Accessories therefor, e.g. anchors for the detection or protection of pipes in the ground
G01V 15/00 - Tags attached to, or associated with, an object, in order to enable detection of the object
G09F 19/22 - Advertising or display means on roads, walls or similar surfaces, e.g. illuminated
G06K 19/07 - Record carriers with conductive marks, printed circuits or semiconductor circuit elements, e.g. credit or identity cards with integrated circuit chips
The invention apparatus for and a method of creating a localized warning to prevent damage to buried pipeline and other buried infrastructure using a new type of marker tape with the trade name signal tape® [hereinafter referred to as "Signal Tape"]. The disclosed Signal Tape may incorporate tracer wire and RFID technology to aid in the remote location of the Signal Tape and, thus, the buried infrastructure. Signal Tape may also incorporate Litz wire for use as tracer wire within the Signal Tape. The Signal Tape is designed to be buried just below the surface of the ground and directly over a buried infrastructure such as a pipeline. The Signal Tape incorporates a strong core material which permits the Signal Tape to be bodily removed from the soil when it is struck by excavation equipment.
Signal tape (790) is disclosed which helps to prevents damage to buried infrastructure such as a natural gas pipeline. The invention provides an immediate and forceful warning to excavation equipment operators of the proximity of and of impending damage to buried infrastructure. The signal tape (790) comprises a strong core material (793) which may be a woven aramid fiber tape firmly attached to a series of spaced smoke generators (792, 792'). The core material and smoke generators are sealed within thermoplastic layers (796, 796') of thin tape for environmental protection. A strike by excavation equipment, for example a backhoe bucket will cause the core material to come to the surface where it can be seen. As the core material (793) moves, it ignites at least one smoke generator (792, 792') which is then pulled to the surface emitting a dense cloud of colored [and odorous] smoke. Portions of the protective tape are also pulled to the surface.
09 - Scientific and electric apparatus and instruments
Goods & Services
Safety devices, namely, ribbon-like devices buried near pipelines or other buried infrastructure which are capable of being pulled from the ground by an excavator so as to be seen for the purpose of warning of imminent danger
09 - Scientific and electric apparatus and instruments
Goods & Services
Safety devices, namely, ribbon-like mechanical devices buried near pipelines which are capable of detecting disturbances during excavation and triggering the release of visible gas for the purpose of signaling imminent danger
13.
Passive alarm to prevent buried infrastructure damage
A method and apparatus are disclosed for preventing excavation damage to buried infrastructure. A plurality of excavation-sensing modules is buried near the buried infrastructure. The buried infrastructure excavation-sensing modules protect and detect buried infrastructure by emitting dense clouds of visible gas when the excavation-sensing modules are activated by impact with excavation equipment. In most instances, the visible gas will be brightly colored and it may also have a strong odor. In addition to the gas released by the modules, a loud sound may also be produced by the activated excavation-sensing module. This alerts construction crews or other workers that their excavation is nearing a protected underground structure. Once installed, no maintenance or active monitoring is required.
F16L 1/11 - Accessories therefor, e.g. anchors for the detection or protection of pipes in the ground
F42B 12/48 - Projectiles, missiles or mines characterised by the warhead, the intended effect, or the material characterised by the warhead or the intended effect for dispensing materialsProjectiles, missiles or mines characterised by the warhead, the intended effect, or the material characterised by the warhead or the intended effect for producing chemical or physical reactionProjectiles, missiles or mines characterised by the warhead, the intended effect, or the material characterised by the warhead or the intended effect for signalling for dispensing gases, vapours, powders or chemically-reactive substances smoke-producing
A method and apparatus are disclosed for preventing excavation damage to buried infrastructure. A plurality of excavation-sensing modules is buried near the buried infrastructure. The modules protect buried infrastructure by emitting dense clouds of highly visible gas when the modules are activated by impact with excavation equipment. In most cases the visible gas will be brightly colored and it may also have a strong odor and may produce a loud sound when the module is activated. The dense clouds of highly visible gas, the optional odor and loud sound alert construction crews or other workers that their excavation is nearing a protected underground structure. Once installed, no maintenance or active monitoring is required. In a preferred embodiment of the excavation-sensing module, the dense cloud of highly visible gas is produced by ignition of a smoke grenade within the module. In the preferred embodiment, the smoke grenade is ignited by the interaction of the excavator striking and breaking the buried module. Also in the preferred embodiment, the excavator will normally pull the ignited smoke grenade out of the buried module and to the surface increasing the visibility of the gas. Also in the preferred embodiment, a more reliable design for ignition of the smoke grenade is disclosed.
F42B 12/48 - Projectiles, missiles or mines characterised by the warhead, the intended effect, or the material characterised by the warhead or the intended effect for dispensing materialsProjectiles, missiles or mines characterised by the warhead, the intended effect, or the material characterised by the warhead or the intended effect for producing chemical or physical reactionProjectiles, missiles or mines characterised by the warhead, the intended effect, or the material characterised by the warhead or the intended effect for signalling for dispensing gases, vapours, powders or chemically-reactive substances smoke-producing
F16L 1/11 - Accessories therefor, e.g. anchors for the detection or protection of pipes in the ground
