Analyze the working principle of the Ball Marker

They are designed for permanent unambiguous marking of the selected point of the utility network. In addition to the direct sections of the underground network, the following strategic points of the network can be marked with Smart Markers:

Connection.

• Crossing with another network.

• Branch, branching network.

• Changing the direction of the network.

• Changing the depth of the network.

• Underground shaft, manholes chamber etc.

Design Principle

The Ball Marker makes the job of precisely locating underground facilities easier. Other buried markers can be disturbed by backfill dirt or installed improperly so they don’t stay positioned correctly. The ball marker’s unique self-leveling design ensures the marker is always in an accurate, horizontal position regardless of how it is placed into the ground.

The ball marker is buried over key facilities during construction or maintenance. Later, the marker is easily and accurately located using a Locator. The locator transmits a signal to the buried marker. The marker returns the signal to the locator, indicating the marker’s exact position. The compact electronic locator gives both a visual reading and an audible tone.

What could be done to “mark” such “non-conductive” buried plant? Well, the most obvious option is to add a conductive “trace” wire or like within or alongside each duct. This works well, for a time. After a while, perhaps following other excavation, trace wires alongside plastic pipes became damaged, corroded and disconnected during other maintenance and even trace wires in items like fibre optic ducts began corroding and becoming disconnected, often due to the fact that even the best ducts without ventilation will be damp.

Operating Principle

All these trace wires, being entirely passive and often not having continuity end to end of a “run” meant that disconnected sections could only be traced by remote induction, where a signal is applied to the conductor from above ground and then followed using a receiver for a few tens of metres at a time.

What was needed was a system for marking buried plant that was reliable, simple to use, both at the time of installation and when being traced and low cost. Thinking about variations upon theme of the “metal detector” mentioned above, the technology was expanded to a system where devices are buried that resonate at key electrical frequencies. By choosing a range of frequencies that are offset from each other sufficiently relatively standard electronic components can be used to create these resonant circuits leading to a relatively low-cost solution. They also contain no “active” electronics that may be more susceptible than simple “passive” components. To further protect these from environmental damage when installed they were enclosed in sealed plastic enclosures, made of the same HDPE as the ducts and pipes they are “protecting”. 

The equipment used to locate these resonant markers resembles other locating devices but differs in the fact that it both transmits and receives. First a magnetic field is set up that is at a key marker frequency for a fraction of a second, this will cause any nearby marker that is tuned to that frequency to resonate in sympathy. When the transmitter is switched off, the buried marker continues to resonate for a fraction of a second, the decaying signal from this resonance can be detected and used to indicate presence of a marker of that key frequency on a display; often accompanied with an audible warning.

Suggested Uses

Mark at regular spaces along straight runs, perhaps every 10 to 50 m.Create a scheme within your company and stick to it. When markers are spaced differently to the normal “plan” then contractors should be aware that “something is happening” underground.

Mark at splices and manholes chamber.

Optionally add a marker, perhaps a Spike Marker™ inside or above the manholes chamber too.

Marking bends Either side for smaller radius curvesFor smaller radius curves, where the change of direction should be detectable with the locator when directly above one marker; you only need to mark either side of the bend.

Follow the curve for larger servicesFor larger radius curves, where the final change of direction is not detectable with the locator when directly above one marker; you should mark at points around the bend. With each marker being detectable from the last. Perhaps no further than 1.5 m apart horizontally.

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At FCST, we manufacture top-quality microduct connectors, microduct closure, telecom manhole chambers and fiber splice boxes since 2003. Our products boast superior resistance to failure, corrosion, and deposits, and are designed for high performance in extreme temperatures. We prioritize sustainability with mechanical couplers and long-lasting durabili-ty.

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