Earth penetrating apparatus and method employing radar imaging ...

US 20070240903Al

(12) Patent Application Publication (10) Pub. No.: US 2007/0240903 A1 (19) United States

Alft et al. (43) Pub. Date: Oct. 18, 2007

(54) EARTH PENETRATING APPARATUS AND METHOD EMPLOYING RADAR IMAGING AND RATE SENSING

(75) Inventors: Kevin L. Alft, Pella, IA (US); Gregory W. Draper, Pella, IA (US); Hans Kelpe, Pella, IA (US)

Correspondence Address: Attention of: Mark A. HollingsWorth HOLLINGSWORTH & FUNK, LLC Attorney at Law 8009 34th Avenue South, Suite 125 Minneapolis, MN 55425 (US)

(73) Assignee: Vermeer Manufacturing Company, Pella, IA

(21) Appl. No.: 11/634,334

(22) Filed: Dec. 5, 2006

Related US. Application Data

(60) Continuation of application No. 11/037,318, ?led on Jan. 18, 2005, noW Pat. No. 7,143,844, Which is a continuation of application No. 10/817,202, ?led on Apr. 2, 2004, noW abandoned, Which is a division of application No. 10/304,185, ?led on Nov. 25, 2002, noW Pat. No. 6,719,069, Which is a division of

application No. 09/867,952, ?led on May 30, 2001, noW Pat. No. 6,484,818, Which is a division of application No. 09/405,890, ?led on Sep. 24, 1999, noW Pat. No. 6,315,062.

Publication Classi?cation

(51) Int. Cl. E21B 47/026 (2006.01)

(52) U.S. c1. .............................................................. .. 175/50

(57) ABSTRACT

An earth penetrating apparatus includes a cutting tool and a sensor housing. A radar unit, rate sensor unit, processor, and transmitter are provided in the sensor housing. An antenna arrangement is coupled to the radar unit and con?gured for transmitting and receiving electromagnetic signals in a rela tively forWard and/or lateral looking direction relative to a distal end of the cutting tool. The rate sensor unit may include one or both of a gyroscope and an accelerometer. The processor receives radar data from the radar unit indica tive of subsurface strata and obstacles respectively located generally forWard and/or lateral of the cutting tool, and receives displacement data from the rate sensor unit indica tive of one or both of longitudinal and rotational displace ment of the cutting tool. The transmitter is con?gured for transmitting one or both of the radar data and the displace ment data to an aboveground location.

21 22 26

Patent Application Publication Oct. 18, 2007 Sheet 1 0f 24 US 2007/0240903 A1


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Patent Application Publication Oct. 18, 2007 Sheet 3 of 24

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Patent Application Publication Oct. 18, 2007


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Patent Application Publication Oct. 18, 2007 Sheet 10 of 24 US 2007/0240903 A1

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Patent Application Publication Oct. 18, 2007 Sheet 16 0f 24 US 2007/0240903 Al

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Earth penetrating apparatus and method employing radar imaging ...

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