Tracer wire grounding rod
A tracer wire configured to be situated on, or adjacent to a buried utility line is provided. The tracer wire allows the hidden utility line to be quickly and accurately identified. A tracer wire grounding rod is interconnected to the tracer wire and provides a means by which electrical current used to identify utility line can travel through the earth to a ground point. The tracer wire grounding rod has a prong residing in a cavity that receives one end of the tracer wire.
1. A tracer wire grounding rod, comprising:
a first end;
a second end having a cavity that accommodates a prong adapted to selectively interconnect to a tracer wire; and
an orifice that extends from an outer surface of the grounding rod into the cavity.
2. The grounding rod of claim 1 , wherein the first end comprises a sharpened point.
3. The grounding rod of claim 1 , wherein an outer surface of the grounding rod includes a channel configured to receive a portion of a tracer wire.
4. The grounding rod of claim 3 , wherein the channel is positioned adjacent to the cavity.
5. The grounding rod of claim 1 , further comprising a cap selectively interconnected to the second end.
6. A tracer wire grounding rod, comprising:
a first end;
a second end having a cavity that accommodates a prong adapted to selectively interconnect to a tracer wire;
an orifice that extends from an outer surface of the grounding rod into the cavity; and
a cap selectively interconnected to the second end.
7. The grounding rod of claim 6 , wherein the first end comprises a sharpened point.
8. The grounding rod of claim 6 , wherein an outer surface of the grounding rod includes a channel configured to receive a portion of a tracer wire.
9. The grounding rod of claim 8 , wherein the channel is positioned adjacent to the cavity.
10. A system for identifying an underground utility line, comprising:
a tracer wire positioned adjacent to at least a portion of a utility line, the tracer wire having a first end associated with an access point and a second end associated with a transmitter;
a tracer wire grounding rod comprising a first end and a second end having a cavity that accommodates a prong adapted to selectively interconnect to a tracer wire; and
an orifice that extends from an outer surface of the grounding rod into the cavity.
11. The grounding rod of claim 10 , wherein an outer surface of the grounding rod includes a channel configured to receive a portion of a tracer wire.
12. The grounding rod of claim 11 , wherein the channel is positioned adjacent to the cavity.
13. The grounding rod of claim 10 , further comprising a cap selectively interconnected to the second end.
14. The grounding rod of claim 10 , wherein the first end comprises a sharpened point.
15. A tracer wire grounding rod, comprising:
a first end;
a second end having a cavity that accommodates a prong adapted to selectively interconnect to a tracer wire; and
wherein an outer surface of the grounding rod includes a channel configured to receive a portion of the tracer wire.
16. The grounding rod of claim 15 , wherein the channel is positioned adjacent to the cavity.
17. The grounding rod of claim 15 , further comprising a cap selectively interconnected to the second end.
18. A system for identifying an underground utility line, comprising:
a tracer wire positioned adjacent to at least a portion of a utility line, the tracer wire having a first end associated with an access point and a second end associated with a transmitter;
a tracer wire grounding rod comprising a first end and a second end having a cavity that accommodates a prong adapted to selectively interconnect to a tracer wire; and
wherein an outer surface of the grounding rod includes a channel configured to receive a portion of the tracer wire.
19. The grounding rod of claim 18 , wherein the channel is positioned adjacent to the cavity.
20. The grounding rod of claim 18 , further comprising a cap selectively interconnected to the second end.