Assembly and Method for Identifying a Ferrous Material
In one aspect of the present invention, a system assembly for identifying a ferrous material comprises a plurality of magnetometers spaced at varying distances from a ferrous material. Each of the plurality of magnetometers may comprise a sensor reading of a magnitude of an absolute magnetic field, which comprises a magnetic field created by the ferrous material and an ambient magnetic field. One of the plurality of magnetometers may be designated as a primary magnetometer. A distance to the ferrous material from the primary magnetometer may be determined by forming a ratio of the differences in the sensor reading of the primary magnetometer and the sensor readings of the other magnetometers set equal to a ratio of the differences in the distance to the ferrous material from the primary magnetometer inversely cubed and the distances to the ferrous material from the other magnetometers inversely cubed. The system assembly may also comprise a picture taking device that may provide an image of a surface viewable from above the ferrous material and a global positioning system device that may provide a map of a geographical region.
1 . A system assembly for identifying a ferrous material comprising:
a plurality of magnetometers spaced at varying distances from a ferrous material each comprising a sensor reading of a magnitude of an absolute magnetic field;
wherein one of the plurality of magnetometers is designated as a primary magnetometer and a distance to the ferrous material from the primary magnetometer is given by a ratio of the differences in the sensor reading of the primary magnetometer and the sensor readings of the other magnetometers set equal to a ratio of the differences in the distance to the ferrous material from the primary magnetometer inversely cubed and the distances to the ferrous material from the other magnetometers inversely cubed;
a picture taking device providing an image of a surface viewable from above the ferrous material; and
a global positioning system device providing a map of a geographical region.
2 . The system assembly of claim 1 , wherein the plurality magnetometers comprises at least three vertically spaced magnetometers.
3 . The system assembly of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of magnetometers comprises a horizontal array of magnetometers.
4 . The system assembly of claim 3 , wherein the differences in sensor readings of the horizontal array of magnetometers determines the size of the ferrous material.
5 . The system assembly of claim 3 , wherein the differences in sensor readings of the horizontal array of magnetometers determines the shape of the ferrous material.
6 . The system assembly of claim 1 , further comprising an information processor in communication with the plurality of magnetometers, picture taking device and global positioning system device wherein the information processor receives a signal from the plurality of magnetometers and sends a signal to the picture taking device and the global positioning system device.
7 . The system assembly of claim 1 , further comprising an interface wherein the interface displays a representation of magnetic fields, the image of the surface, and the map of the surface.
8 . The system assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a marking mechanism to apply a marker to the surface viewable from above the ferrous material.
9 . The system assembly of claim 8 , wherein the marking mechanism is a paintball gun or a paint sprayer.
10 . The system assembly of claim 1 , wherein the image comprises an infrared image.
11 . The system assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a very low frequency metal detector to confirm a signal from the plurality of magnetometers.
12 . The system assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a pulse induction metal detector to confirm a signal from the plurality of magnetometers.
13 . The system assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a ground penetrating radar system to confirm a signal from the plurality of magnetometers.
14 . The system assembly of claim 1 , wherein the assembly is disposed on a milling machine or utility vehicle by parallel linkages allowing for vertical movement.
15 . A method for identifying a ferrous material, comprising:
providing a plurality of magnetometers, a picture taking device, and a global positioning system device wherein the global positioning system device provides a map of a geographical region comprising a ferrous material;
passing the plurality of magnetometers, picture taking device and global positioning system device over the geographical region;
detecting the ferrous material from the plurality of magnetometers;
capturing an image with the picture taking device of a surface viewable from above the ferrous material; and
positioning a symbol on the map at a location of the ferrous material.
16 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising providing an information processor and receiving a signal with the information processor from the plurality of magnetometers and sending with the information processor a signal to a picture taking device to capture an image and global positioning system device to position a symbol on the map in response to the received signal.
17 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising determining a distance to the ferrous material from the plurality of magnetometers.
18 . The method of claim 17 , further comprising uploading the distance, location, and image of the ferrous material to a database.
19 . The method of claim 15 , wherein detecting the ferrous material comprises obtaining sensor readings from the plurality of magnetometers such that each magnetometer detects a magnetic field of the ferrous material at a different time interval.
20 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising inputting an exact location of the plurality of magnetometers and picture taking device into the global positioning system device before passing the plurality of magnetometers, picture taking device and global positioning system device over the geographical region.