Patent ID: 6326790
Filing Date: 2001-12-04
Classification: G01V

Abstract:
An improved hand tool for detecting buried metal objects, the tool having a hand grip attached to a ground piercing probe which is manually insertable into soil to displace the soil radially outwardly from the probe, wherein the improvement comprises:(a) the probe having a chamber spaced from the hand grip for being positioned within the soil; and(b) a metal detection circuit comprising:(i) a signal generator connected to an inductor in the chamber and generating a time varying current through the inductor for inducing eddy currents in the buried object when the probe is inserted in the soil,(ii) a detector circuit connected to an inductor in the chamber for detecting current induced in the inductor by the eddy currents, and(iii) a signaling circuit connected to the detector circuit for signaling detection of current induced in the inductor connected to the detector circuit by the eddy currents.