Patent ID: 8662200

Claim:
A sonde for use in an inground tool having an inground tool housing that defines an inground tool cavity such that the inground tool cavity is exposed to an ambient pressure environment which surrounds the inground tool during an inground operation, said sonde comprising: a pressure sensor having a pressure sensor body; a sonde housing assembly including an at least generally cylindrical and elongated main body having first and second opposing ends and an exterior configuration that is receivable within said inground tool cavity and said sonde housing assembly at least partially defines a sonde interior and is further configured for receiving the pressure sensor body of the pressure sensor in a pressure sealed engagement such that the sonde interior is pressure sealed from the ambient pressure environment and the pressure sensor produces a pressure signal responsive to said ambient pressure environment outside of the sonde housing assembly, said main body including a first main body portion that is configured for supporting a sonde electronics package and a second main body portion that is configured for receiving a battery with the first main body portion and the second main body portion in pressure sealing engagement; and said sonde electronics package supported within the sonde interior and at least configured to receive said pressure signal and transfer a corresponding pressure signal from the sonde.