Borehole inspecting and testing device and method of using the same

Abstract

A borehole inspection device and method of using the same to measure the condition of the bottom extent of a borehole, the system having a head unit assembly with top and bottom sides and including at least one downwardly extending force sensor configured to measure a reaction force applied to the at least one sensor as it engages a bottom extent of the borehole, the inspection device being configured to be lowered into a borehole and to bring the sensor(s) into contact with the bottom extent wherein continued downward movement of the head unit creates the reaction force on the sensor(s) to determine at least one of a location of an associated debris layer, a bearing capacity of the associated debris layer, the thickness of the associated debris layer, the location of an associated bearing layer and/or the bearing capacity of the associated bearing layer.

It is claimed: 
     
         1 . A borehole inspection device to measure the condition of a bottom extent of a borehole including measuring a debris layer depth of a debris layer on a bottom extent of a borehole and/or a bearing layer load capacity of a bearing layer of the material below the debris layer, the inspection device comprising a head unit assembly configured to be operably joined to an associated lowering unit to lower the head unit into an associated borehole, the head unit having a top side and a generally opposite bottom side, the bottom side facing a bottom extent of the associated borehole, the head unit further including at least one downwardly extending force sensor extending downwardly relatively to the bottom side and having a distal end extending toward the associated bottom extent, the at least one downwardly extending force sensor configured to measure a reaction force applied to the at least one sensor as it engages the associated bottom extent of the associated borehole, the inspection device being configured to be lowered into an associated borehole by the associated lowering unit and to bring the at least one downwardly extending sensor into contact with the associated bottom extent of the associated borehole, continued downward movement of the head unit creating the reaction force on the least one downwardly extending force sensor to determine at least one of a location of an associated debris layer, a bearing capacity of the associated debris layer, the thickness of the associated debris layer, the location of an associated bearing layer and/or the bearing capacity of the associated bearing layer. 
     
     
         2 . The borehole inspection device of  claim 1  wherein the at least one downwardly facing force sensor includes at least one of a strain sensor and a pressure sensor. 
     
     
         3 . The borehole inspection device of  claim 1  wherein each of the at least one downwardly facing force sensor includes a base end and a downwardly facing distal end, the distal end having a conical end configuration. 
     
     
         4 . The borehole inspection device of  claim 3  further including at least one displacement sensor, the at least one displacement sensor configured to move relative to the head unit and measure downward displacement of the device after the at least one displacement sensor engages the associated bottom extent of the associated borehole. 
     
     
         5 . The borehole inspection device of  claim 3  further including at least one displacement sensor, the at least one displacement sensor including an electronic sensor unit including at least one of sonar, radar, lasers and optical technologies to measure distance between the head unit and at least one surface of the associated borehole. 
     
     
         6 . The borehole inspection device of  claim 5  wherein the at least one displacement sensor includes a downwardly facing displacement sensor to measure distance between the head unit and the associated bottom extent. 
     
     
         7 . The borehole inspection device of  claim 5  wherein the at least one displacement sensor includes a laterally facing displacement sensor to measure distance between the head unit and a side wall of the associated borehole. 
     
     
         8 . The borehole inspection device of  claim 1  further including at least one displacement sensor, the at least one displacement sensor configured to move relative to the head unit and measure downward displacement of the device after the at least one displacement sensor engages the associated bottom extent of the associated borehole. 
     
     
         9 . The borehole inspection device of  claim 1  further including at least one displacement sensor, the at least one displacement sensor including an electronic sensor unit including at least one of sonar, radar, lasers and optical technologies to measure distance between the head unit and at least one surface of the associated borehole. 
     
     
         10 . The borehole inspection device of  claim 9  wherein the at least one displacement sensor includes a downwardly facing displacement sensor to measure distance between the head unit and the associated bottom extent. 
     
     
         11 . The borehole inspection device of  claim 9  wherein the at least one displacement sensor includes a laterally facing displacement sensor to measure distance between the head unit and a side wall of the associated borehole. 
     
     
         12 . The borehole inspection device of  claim 1  wherein the associated lowering unit is an associated Kelley bar and the system further including a selectively securing mounting arrangement to secure the head unit to the associated Kelley bar. 
     
     
         13 . The borehole inspection device of  claim 1  further including a computer system having a data input, the data input being operably connected to the head unit to collect sensor data produced by the head unit. 
     
     
         14 . The borehole inspection device of  claim 13  wherein the computer system is spaced from the head unit. 
     
     
         15 . The borehole inspection device of  claim 13  further including at least one displacement sensor, the at least one displacement sensor configured to measure the distance between the head unit and the associated bottom extent. 
     
     
         16 . The borehole inspection device of  claim 1  further including at least one laterally facing force sensor that is selectively laterally extendable from the head unit assembly, the at least one laterally extending force sensor configured to measure a reaction force applied to the at least one lateral sensor as it engages an associated side wall of the associated borehole. 
     
     
         17 . The borehole inspection device of  claim 16  wherein the at least one laterally facing force sensor includes at least one of a strain sensor and a pressure sensor. 
     
     
         18 . The borehole inspection device of  claim 17  wherein each of the at least one laterally facing force sensor includes a base end and a downwardly facing distal end, the distal end having a conical end configuration. 
     
     
         19 . A method of inspecting a condition of a bottom extent of a borehole including measuring a debris layer depth of a debris layer on a bottom extent of a borehole and/or a bearing layer load capacity of a bearing layer of the material below the debris layer, the method including the steps of:
 providing an inspection device comprising a head unit assembly configured to be operably joined to an associated lowering unit to lower the head unit into an associated borehole, the head unit having a top side and a generally opposite bottom side, the bottom side facing a bottom extent of the borehole, the head unit further including at least one downwardly extending force sensor extending downwardly relatively to the bottom side and having a distal end extending toward the bottom extent, the at least one downwardly extending force sensor configured to measure a reaction force applied to the at least one force sensor as it engages the associated bottom extent of the associated borehole;   operably joining the head assembly to a lowering device;   lowering the head assembly into the borehole by way of the lowering unit;   continuing the lowering step until the at least one downwardly extending force sensor contacts the bottom extent of the borehole;   continuing the lowering step to force the at least one downwardly extending force sensor into the bottom extent of the borehole;   measuring the reaction load to determine at least one of a location of a borehole debris layer, a bearing capacity of the borehole debris layer, the thickness of the borehole debris layer, the location of a borehole bearing layer and/or the bearing capacity of the borehole bearing layer.   
     
     
         20 . The method of inspecting a condition of borehole of  claim 16  wherein inspection device further comprises at least one displacement sensor, the method further including the step of measuring the displacement of the at least one displacement sensor to track the penetration of the least one downwardly extending force sensor into the bottom of the borehole, 
     
     
         21 . A method of inspecting a condition of a bottom extent of a borehole including measuring a debris layer depth of a debris layer on a bottom extent of a borehole and/or a bearing layer load capacity of a bearing layer of the material below the debris layer, the method including the steps of:
 providing an inspection device comprising a head unit assembly configured to be operably joined to an associated lowering unit to lower the head unit into an associated borehole, the head unit having a top side and a generally opposite bottom side, the bottom side facing a bottom extent of the borehole, the head unit further including at least one downwardly extending force sensor extending downwardly relatively to the bottom side and having a distal end extending toward the bottom extent, the at least one downwardly extending force sensor configured to measure a reaction force applied to the at least one force sensor as it engages the associated bottom extent of the associated borehole, the inspection device further including at least one displacement sensor, the at least one displacement sensor configured to measure the distance between the head unit and the associated bottom extent;   operably joining the head assembly to a lowering device;   lowering the head assembly into the borehole by way of the lowering unit;   continuing the lowering step until the at least one downwardly extending force sensor contacts the bottom extent of the borehole;   continuing the lowering step to force the at least one displacement sensor engages the bottom extent of the borehole;   marking the top surface of the bottom extent of the borehole with the at least one displacement sensor;   continuing the lower step to urge the at least one force sensor into the bottom extent; and,   measuring the reaction load on the at least one force sensor to determine at least one of a bearing capacity of the borehole debris layer, the thickness of the borehole debris layer, the location of a borehole bearing layer and/or the bearing capacity of the borehole bearing layer.