PIPE SYSTEM, AND PIPE FLOW MONITORING AND ALERTING SYSTEMS AND METHODS

• US 20150348395A1
• Filed: 05/31/2014
• Published: 12/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Steelhead Innovations, LLC
• Original Assignee: William G. Trout
• Inventors: Trout, William G.
• Granted Patent: US 9,324,228 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/28 for pipes, cables or tubes; for pipe joints or seals; for valves ; for welds
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/2807 for pipes G01M3/2892, G01M3/30 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/2815 using pressure measurements
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 19/02 Alarm responsive to formation or anticipated formation of ice
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/20 responsive to moisture
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0318 Processes

Abstract

A pipe system includes a pipe for containing a pipe flow therethrough having a first flow rate, a sampling tube coupled in fluid communication to the pipe for receiving and containing a portion of the pipe flow therethrough, for interacting with the portion of the pipe flow therethrough so as to form a second flow rate of the portion of the pipe flow being an amplification of the first flow rate, and for returning the portion of the pipe flow to the pipe, and a sensor for sensing the second flow rate and for transmitting a signal being a function of the second flow rate.

Claims

1. A pipe system, comprising:

a pipe for containing a pipe flow therethrough having a first flow rate;

a sampling tube coupled in fluid communication to the pipe for receiving and containing a portion of the pipe flow therethrough, for interacting with the portion of the pipe flow therethrough so as to form a second flow rate of the portion of the pipe flow being an amplification of the first flow rate, and for returning the portion of the pipe flow to the pipe;

the pipe has a first valve and the sampling tube has a second valve; and

a sensor for sensing the second flow rate and for transmitting a signal being a function of the second flow rate;

the first valve of the pipe is operatively coupled to the sensor for halting the pipe flow through the pipe in response to the signal from the sensor; and

the second valve of the sampling tube is operatively coupled to the sensor for halting the portion of the pipe flow through the sampling tube in response to the signal from the sensor.

3. The pipe system according to claim 1, wherein a signal device is operatively coupled to the sensor for issuing an alert in response to the signal from the sensor.

4. The pipe system according to claim 3, wherein the signal device is an aural signal device, and the alert is an audible alert.

5. The pipe system according to claim 4, wherein the audible alert is a pre-recorded audible verbal message.

6. The pipe system according to claim 3, wherein the signal device is a visual signal device, and the alert is a visual alert.

7. The pipe system according to claim 6, wherein the visual alert is a pre-recorded text message.

2. (canceled)

8. (canceled)

9. (canceled)

10. A pipe system, comprising:

a pipe for containing a pipe flow therethrough having a first flow rate;

a sampling tube includes an upstream end coupled in fluid communication to an upstream portion of the pipe, and a downstream end coupled in fluid communication to a downstream portion of the pipe;

the pipe has a first valve between the upstream end of the sampling tube and the downstream end of the sampling tube;

the sampling tube has a second valve between the upstream end of the sampling tube and the downstream end of the sampling tube;

a first sensor for sensing the first flow rate and for transmitting a first signal, being a function of the first flow rate;

the first valve of the pipe is operatively coupled to the first sensor for halting the pipe flow through the pipe between the upstream and downstream ends of the sampling tube in response to the first signal from the first sensor for diverting a portion of the pipe flow to the sampling tube through the upstream end thereof;

the sampling tube for containing the portion of the pipe flow therethrough from the upstream end to the downstream end, for interacting with the portion of the pipe flow therethrough so as to form a second flow rate of the portion of the pipe flow being an amplification of the first flow rate, and for returning the portion of the pipe flow to the pipe through the downstream end; and

a second sensor for sensing the second flow rate and for transmitting a second signal being a function of the second flow rate;

the first valve of the pipe is operatively coupled to the second sensor for halting the pipe flow through the pipe between the upstream and downstream ends of the sampling tube in response to the second signal from the second sensor; and

the second valve of the sampling tube is operatively coupled to the second sensor for halting the portion of the pipe flow through the sampling tube between the upstream and downstream ends of the sampling tube in response to the second signal from the second sensor.

12. The pipe system according to claim 10, wherein a signal device is operatively coupled to the second sensor for issuing an alert in response to the second signal from the second sensor.

13. The pipe system according to claim 12, wherein the signal device is an aural signal device, and the alert is an audible alert.

14. The pipe system according to claim 13, wherein the audible alert is a pre-recorded audible verbal message.

15. The pipe system according to claim 12, wherein the signal device is a visual signal device, and the alert is a visual alert.

16. The pipe system according to claim 15, wherein the visual alert is a pre-recorded text message.

11. (canceled)

17. (canceled)

18. (canceled)