Leak detection system for pipes

• US 20110227721A1
• Filed: 03/22/2010
• Published: 09/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: King FAHD University of Petroleum & Minerals Intellectual Assets Office Innovation Center
• Original Assignee: King FAHD University of Petroleum & Minerals Intellectual Assets Office Innovation Center
• Inventors: Ben-Mansour, Rached, Mezghani, Khaled
• Application Number:
  US12/659,807
• Publication Number:
  US 20110227721A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/539.1
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: F17D 5/06 using electric or acoustic means
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/18 for pipes, cables or tubes; for pipe joints or seals; for valves; for welds; for containers, e.g. radiators

Abstract

The leak detection system for pipes and couplings is a system for generating an alert signal when a liquid leak from the pipe joint or coupling is detected. The leak detection system includes a transmitter mounted adjacent a pipe joint formed between a first pipe and a fitting of a second pipe. A pair of contacts have first ends electrically connected to the transmitter and second ends extending into an annular recess formed in the pipe joint. The second ends have a gap formed between each other. When an electrically conductive liquid leaks from the pipe joint, the liquid fills the gap between the contacts, closing a transmitting circuit, activating the transmitter to transmit an alert signal.

Claims

1. A leak detection system, comprising:

a transmitter mounted adjacent a pipe joint formed between a first pipe and a fitting of a second pipe, the fitting having a recess defined therein adjacent the first pipe; and

a pair of contacts having first ends electrically connected to the transmitter and second ends extending into the annular recess between the first pipe and the fitting, the second ends being separated from each other by a gap, the contacts closing a transmitter circuit when an electrically conductive liquid leaks from the pipe joint into the gap between the contacts, the closed transmitter circuit activating the transmitter to transmit an alert signal to a remote receiver warning of a leak in the pipe joint.

2. The leak detection system as recited in claim 1, wherein said transmitter comprises:

a radio frequency identification chip;

a battery in electrical communication with the radio frequency identification chip; and

an antenna in electrical communication with the radio frequency identification chip.

3. The leak detection system as recited in claim 1, wherein the annular recess is adapted for accumulating the leaked electrically conductive liquid, the annular recess defining a liquid leak channel, the liquid leak channel being formed between the first pipe and the fitting of the second pipe.

4. The leak detection system as recited in claim 3, wherein the second ends of the pair of contacts extend into the liquid leak channel.

5. The leak detection system as recited in claim 1, wherein said transmitter is embedded within the fitting.

6. The leak detection system as recited in claim 5, wherein the transmitter has an antenna extending at least partially external to the fitting.

7. The leak detection system as recited in claim 6, wherein the antenna extends along a direction substantially parallel to an axis of the second pipe.

8. The leak detection system as recited in claim 6, wherein the antenna extends along a direction substantially normal to an axis of the second pipe.

9. A leak detection system, comprising:

a transmitter mounted adjacent a pipe joint formed between a first pipe and a fitting of a second pipe the fitting having an edge and defining an annular recess between the first pipe and the second pipe extending to the edge of the fitting; and

a pair of contacts mounted on the edge of the fitting, each of the contacts having a first end electrically connected to the transmitter and a second end extending to the first pipe adjacent the annular recess between the first pipe and the second pipe, the second ends being separated by a gap, the contacts closing a transmitter circuit when an electrically conductive liquid leaks from the pipe joint into the gap between the contacts, the closed transmitter circuit activating the transmitter to transmit an alert signal to a remote receiver warning of a leak in the pipe joint.

10. The leak detection system as recited in claim 9, wherein said transmitter comprises:

a radio frequency identification chip;

a battery in electrical communication with the radio frequency identification chip; and

an antenna in electrical communication with the radio frequency identification chip.

11. The leak detection system as recited in claim 10, wherein the annular recess is adapted for accumulating the leaked electrically conductive liquid, the annular recess defining a liquid leak channel, the liquid leak channel being formed between the first pipe and the fitting of the second pipe.

12. A leak detection system, comprising:

a first pipe adapted for fluid flow therein, the first pipe having an end;

a second pipe adapted for fluid flow therein, the second pipe having an end forming a fitting, the end of the first pipe being seated in the fitting and sealed thereto to form a pipe joint, the fitting having an annular recess defined therein encircling the first pipe within the pipe joint;

a transmitter having a circuit configured for transmitting an alert signal to a remote receiver when the transmitter is activated and a switch circuit for activating the transmitter;

a pair of contacts, each of the contacts having a first end electrically connected to the switch circuit for activating the transmitter and a second end extending into the annular recess, the second ends being separated by a gap, wherein the switch circuit is closed when fluid leaks from the pipe joint into the recess and the gap between the second ends of the contacts, thereby activating the transmitter to transmit the alert signal.

13. The leak detection system according to claim 12, wherein said transmitter is embedded within said fitting.

14. The leak detection system according to claim 12, wherein said transmitter is disposed external to said fitting.

15. The leak detection system according to claim 12, wherein said transmitter comprises an RFID chip.

16. The leak detection system according to claim 12, wherein said fitting has an edge, said contacts being mounted on the edge of the fitting, the annular recess extending to the edge of the fitting.