Patents

US 11619763 B2: Identifying subterranean structures using amorphous metal markers

Granted
2023-04-04
Filed
2021-04-05 application 17301487
Type
Utility · 21 claims
Elsewhere
Google Patents ↗ · USPTO patent document ↗ · USPTO Patent Center record ↗

Abstract

Disclosed are methods and apparatus for identifying non-metallic subterranean structures using amorphous metal markers associated with the structures. Some examples will include the amorphous metal in the form of one or more sections of an amorphous metal foil within a protective enclosure sufficient to physically isolate the amorphous metal foil from the surrounding Earth. The amorphous metal foil and enclosure may be in the form of a tape which either will be secured to, or placed proximate the subterranean structure, which may be, for example, a pipe or conduit, or other non-metallic structure.

Source: PVGPATDIS, file of 2026-04-10 (ipg230404_r1.xml).

Assignees

AssigneeTypePlaceAlso on furp.orgSource
Energy & Environmental Research Center 68 patentsUS company or organizationPortland, NDPVGPATDIS, file of 2026-04-10

Inventors

InventorPlacePatentsPerson pageSource
Christopher Lee MartinPortland, ND17PVGPATDIS, file of 2026-04-10

CPC categories

SubclassCategoryFirst groupSource
G01VGeophysics; gravitational measurements; detecting masses or objects; tagsG01V15/00PVGPATDIS, file of 2026-04-10
E02FDredging; soil-shiftingE02F5/00PVGPATDIS, file of 2026-04-10
F16LPipes; joints or fittings for pipes; supports for pipes, cables or protective tubing; means for thermal insulation in generalF16L1/11PVGPATDIS, file of 2026-04-10

Cooperative Patent Classification, as currently assigned (one row per subclass).

Assignments and security interests

RecordedWhatFromToReel/frameSource
2021-04-05Assignment
Assignment of assignor's interest
MARTIN, CHRISTOPHER LEE signed 2017-10-27ENERGY & ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH CENTER FOUNDATION GRAND FORKS, ND55825/358ECORSEXC, file of 2026-09-25

Documents recorded with the USPTO Assignment Recordation Branch that list this patent. A security interest is a lender’s claim on the patent as collateral; a release ends it.

USPTO bulk data: PatentsView granted patents, disambiguated (PVGPATDIS) for patents, assignees, inventors, places and CPC categories; the USPTO Patent Assignment Dataset (ECORSEXC) for assignments and security interests. Patents filed in the last 20 years. No claims or full text. Links to other records are by name (and state): EXACT means the identical full name and state; FUZZY means a looser name match, with the confidence shown.