LEAK DETECTOR

• US 20160018283A1
• Filed: 09/30/2015
• Published: 01/21/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Mueller International LLC (Mueller Water Products Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Mueller International LLC (Mueller Water Products Incorporated)
• Inventors: Fleury, Leo W., Dintakurti, Ganapathi Deva Varma, Richarz, Werner Guenther, Williams, James O., Yusuf, Shabbir, Hiller, Timothy Scott Edward, Mercer, Steven James, Janhunen, Stefan Eirk
• Application Number:
  US14/870,070
• Publication Number:
  US 20160018283A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B26F 1/14 Punching tools; Punching dies
• CPC Class Codes: E03B 7/003 Arrangement for testing of watertightness of water supply conduits
• CPC Class Codes: E03B 7/071 Arrangement of safety devices in domestic pipe systems, e.g. devices for automatic shut-off
• CPC Class Codes: E03B 9/02 Hydrants; Arrangements of valves therein; Keys for hydrants
• CPC Class Codes: E03B 9/06 Covers
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 17/00 Methods or apparatus for determining the capacity of containers or cavities, or the volume of solid bodies measuring linear dimensions to determine volume G01B
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/00 Investigating fluid-tightness of structures
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/24 using infrasonic, sonic, or ultrasonic vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/243 for pipes
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/225 used in level-measurement devices, e.g. for level gauge measurement
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2291 used in bluetooth or WI-FI devices of Wireless Local Area Networks [WLAN] H01Q1/241 takes precedence; WLAN in general H04W
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/38 formed by a conductive layer on an insulating support patch antennas H01Q9/0407; microstrip dipole antennas H01Q9/065; microstrip slot antennas H01Q13/106; transmission line microstrip antennas H01Q13/206; manufacturing reflecting surfaces using insulating material for supporting the reflecting surface H01Q15/142
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/42 Housings not intimately mechanically associated with radiating elements, e.g. radome
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 20/15 Leakage reduction or detection in water storage or distribution
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/04 Processes

Abstract

Examples of a leak detection system are disclosed. In one example according to aspects of the present disclosure, a leak detection system includes a housing defining an interior, the housing connected to a component of a water distribution system. The leak detection system also includes a leak detection sensor contained within the interior of the housing and configured to detect a leak within the water distribution system. Additionally, the leak detection system includes a digital signal processing circuit in communication with the leak detection sensor.

Claims

1. A leak detection system comprising:

a housing defining an interior, the housing connected to a component of a water distribution system;

a leak detection sensor contained within the interior of the housing and configured to detect a leak within the water distribution system; and

a digital signal processing circuit in communication with the leak detection sensor.

2. The leak detection system of claim 1, further comprising:

a communication circuit contained within the interior of the housing and in communication with the leak detection sensor, the communication circuit configured to communicate leak detection data.

3. The leak detection system of claim 2, wherein the communication circuit is configured to communicate leak detection data using a radio frequency (RF).

4. The leak detection system of claim 2, wherein the communication circuit and the digital signal processing circuit are components of a circuit board.

5. The leak detection system of claim 2, wherein the communication circuit is a component of a first circuit board and the digital signal processing circuit is a component of a second circuit board.

6. The leak detection system of claim 1, wherein the digital signal processing circuit is configured to store leak detection data detected by the leak detection sensor.

7. The leak detection system of claim 1, wherein the leak detection sensor includes piezoelectric material.

8. The leak detection system of claim 1, wherein the leak detection sensor is connected to the housing.

9. The leak detection system of claim 1, further comprising:

a second leak detection sensor contained within the interior of the housing.

10. The leak detection system of claim 1, wherein the leak detection sensor is configured to detect a leak by sensing leak data periodically.

11. The leak detection system of claim 9, wherein:

the leak detection sensor is configured to detect a leak by sensing leak data periodically, and

the second leak detection sensor is configured to sense a pipe burst and a tamper event continuously.

12. The leak detection system of claim 1, wherein the leak detection sensor is dampened by one of a coating or an adhesive.

13. A method comprising:

sampling, by a leak detection sensor, an area of a water distribution system for an acoustic signal;

correlating, by a processor, an acoustic waveform of the acoustic signal with an event unrelated to a leak in the water distribution system; and

filtering, by the processor, the acoustic waveform correlated with the event unrelated to the leak in the water distribution system from the acoustic signal.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising determining, by the processor, when the acoustic waveform correlated with the event unrelated to the leak in the water distribution system spikes.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising using, by the processor, a Fourier Transform to determine when the acoustic waveform correlated with the event unrelated to the leak in the water distribution system spikes.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising storing, by the processor, the filtered acoustic signal in a memory device.

17. A leak detection system comprising:

a housing defining an interior, the housing connected to a component of a water distribution system;

a leak detection sensor contained within the interior of the housing and configured to detect a leak within the water distribution system; and

a circuit board contained within the interior of the housing, the circuit board including a communication circuit and a digital signal processing circuit, the communication circuit and digital signal processing circuit in communication with the leak detection sensor, the digital signal processing circuit configured to store leak detection data stored by the leak detection sensor, and the communication circuit device configured to communicate leak detection data.

18. The leak detection system of claim 17, wherein the digital signal processing circuit and a microcontroller unit are components of a circuit board.

19. The leak detection system of claim 18, wherein the microcontroller unit is configured to operate continually, and wherein the digital signal processing circuit is configured to operate periodically.

20. The leak detection system of claim 17, wherein the leak detection sensor is configured to detect a leak by sensing leak data periodically.