Pipeline security system

• US 20090067777A1
• Filed: 09/09/2008
• Published: 03/12/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: 3-D Image Technology
• Original Assignee: Tamper Proof Container Licensing Corp.
• Inventors: Beinhocker, Gilbert D.
• Granted Patent: US 7,856,157 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 385/12
• CPC Class Codes: F17D 5/00 Protection or supervision of installations arrangements for protecting foundations E02D31/00; protecting pipes from damage or internal or external wear F16L57/00, against corrosion and scale F16L58/00; investigation of the fluid-tightness of structures G01M3/00

Abstract

The present invention provides a security system for a pipeline, such as an oil, gas or water pipeline, or other tubular, elongated or other structures used to convey various other liquid, gaseous or fluent materials. The invention is also useful in protecting a tunnel such as a vehicular tunnel. A flexible and wrappable sensor sheet is provided having an optical fiber or electrical wire disposed therein in a zigzag or other pattern which covers substantially the entire area of the sheet. The sensor sheet containing the fiber or wire is wrapped around the outer surface of a pipeline or other structure, and provides a covering of substantially the entire outer surface of a predetermined length of the pipeline. Similar sheets can be employed on adjacent pipeline sections to provide protection of any intended length of the pipeline, which may include the entire effective pipeline length. The individual sensor sheets can be interconnected to provide one continuous optical or electrical path through the adjacent sensor sections for the entire pipeline length or any part thereof. A light or current source is provided at one end of the continuous path to introduce light or current into the path. A light or current detector is coupled to the other end of the path to sense light or electrical current from the path. Alternatively each sensor section can have its own light or current source and its own light or current detector for sensing a signal from the respective paths.

Claims

1. A security system for an elongated structure, the system comprising:

a plurality of flexible and wrappable sheets each sized to cover and substantially enclose an external surface of a respective section of the structure;

each of the sheets having a signal path extending across substantially an entire area of the sheet, each signal path having a first end and a second end;

the signal paths of each of the plurality of sheets being interconnected to provide a continuous signal path through the plurality of sheets;

a detector coupled to the continuous signal path for receiving a signal from the continuous signal path; and

a circuit connected to the detector and operative to detect a change in the signal and to provide a signal indication of the detected change.

2. The security system of claim 1 further comprising:

a signal source coupled to one end of the continuous signal path in the sheets;

the detector being coupled to the other end of the continuous signal path.

3. The security system of claim 1 wherein the structure is a pipeline.

4. The security system of claim 1 wherein the structure is a tank.

5. The security system of claim 1 wherein the structure is a tunnel.

6. The security system of claim 1 wherein the signal path is comprised of an optical fiber extending across substantially the entire area of the sheet;

a light source coupled to one end of the continuous signal path for introducing a light signal into the path;

and wherein the detector is a light detector for receiving a light signal from the path.

7. The security system of claim 1 wherein the signal path is comprised of an electrical wire extending across substantially the entire area of the sheet;

a signal source coupled to one end of the continuous signal path for providing an electrical signal to the path;

and wherein the detector is operative to receive the electrical signal from the signal path.

15. The security system of claim 1, wherein each of the sheets has a first coupler connected to the first end of the signal path and a second coupler connected to the second end of the signal path;

wherein at least one of the couplers of each sheet is operative to interconnect to at least one of the couplers of another sheet to provide a continuous path through the interconnected signal paths of the interconnected sheets.

8. A security system for an elongated structure, the system comprising:

a flexible sheet configured to substantially wrap the external surface of a section of the structure;

at least one signal path disposed in the sheet and extending across substantially the entire area of the sheet, the at least one signal path having a first end and a second end;

at least one signal source coupled to the first end of the at least one signal path;

at least one detector coupled to the second end of the at least one signal path and operative to detect a signal in the signal path from the first end to the second end, and when a loss of signal is detected, output a first signal; and

a circuit coupled to the at least one detector and operative to provide an alarm indication upon the occurrence of the first signal.

9. The security system of claim 8 wherein the at least one signal path is an optical fiber.

10. The security system of claim 8 wherein the at least one signal path is an electrical wire.

11. The security system of claim 8 further comprising a plurality of flexible sheets each configured to substantially wrap the external surface of a respective section of the structure;

each of the sheets having at least one signal path disposed in the sheet and extending across substantially the entire area of the sheet, the at least one signal path having a first end and a second end; and

wherein at least one detector is coupled to the at least one signal path of respective sheets.

12. The security system of claim 8 wherein the sheet is rigidizable after being wrapped on the external surface of a section of the structure.

13. The security system of claim 8 wherein the sheet is sandwiched between two layers of protective materials.

14. The security system of claim 8 wherein the circuit is configured to activate an alarm if an optical characteristic of the signal path changes.

16. The security system of claim 11 wherein the at least one detector includes a detector for each of the sheets coupled to the at least one signal path of the respective sheet;

and wherein the circuit is coupled to each of the detectors and operative to provide an indication of the identity or location of the respective sheets.

17. The security system of claim 8 wherein the flexible sheet has a resin applied thereto after wrapping of the sheet around a section of the structure to rigidize the sheet.

18. The security system of claim 8 wherein the signal path of each sheet is woven into the respective sheet.