Ultrasonic mine survey probe

Abstract

An ultrasonic mine survey probe is disclosed for providing quantitative profile data in cylindrical coordinates of mine stopes, caves and other underground openings. The probe comprises a probe body adapted to be lowered at several vertical positions in an underground opening and containing a non-rotating transducer assembly adapted to generate a beam of ultrasonic energy longitudinally in the probe body, a beam focussing assembly for focussing the beam of ultrasonic energy generated by the transducer assembly, a beam reflecting device for directing the focussed beam of ultrasonic energy radially outward from the probe body toward the wall of the underground opening during transmission and to redirect the echo signals from the wall of the underground opening toward the transducer assembly. The probe body further contains means for moving the beam deflecting device at predetermined angular positions over a 360° scan range at each vertical position of the probe body, and a north orientation seeker for starting all measurement scans at the same angular direction at all vertical positions of the probe body.