Pipeline and leak locater and method

• US 4,016,748 A
• Filed: 11/10/1975
• Issued: 04/12/1977
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/1975
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Virgil C. Boyens
• Original Assignee: Virgil C. Boyens
• Inventors: Boyens, Virgil C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Queisser, Richard C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Roskos, Joseph W.
• Application Number:
  US05/630,694
• Time in Patent Office: 519 Days
• Field of Search: 73/405 R, 73/405 A, 73/49.1, 73/49.5, 33/126, 33/126.5, 33/126.6, 33/137 R, 33/138, 138/97, 346/33 P
• US Class Current: 73/40.50R
• CPC Class Codes: G01H 3/00 Measuring characteristics of vibrations by using a detector in a fluid G01H7/00, G01H9/00, G01H11/00 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/005 using pigs or moles G01M3/246, G01M3/2823 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/02 by using fluid or vacuum

Abstract

A method and apparatus for detecting a leak in a conduit. The method generally comprises flowing a fluid through a conduit at superatmospheric pressure, placing within the conduit a floatable leak sensor which is responsive to pressure and velocity differentials caused by a leak, moving the leak sensor through the conduit along with the fluid, whereby the leak sensor stops movement through the conduit at the location of a leak. The apparatus comprises a leak sensor casing, a floatable leak sensor mounted within the casing for movement along with fluid through a line of test pipe, and means on the casing to attach casing to the test pipe to allow direct communication between fluid and the test pipe and the floatable leak sensor.

Claims

1. A method of detecting a leak in a conduit, said method comprising;

flowing a fluid through said conduit at super-atmospheric pressure,

placing within said conduit a floatable leak sensor which is responsive to pressure, velocity and turbulence differentials caused by a leak in said conduit,

moving said leak sensor through said conduit along with said fluid, said floatable leak sensor automatically stopping movement through said conduit

2. The method of claim 1 wherein an additional step includes determining from the stopping location of said floatable leak sensor, the distance from the position at which said floatable leak sensor entered said

3. The method of claim 2 wherein all outlets to said conduit, except one which is believed to be downstream from said leak, are shut off and an additional step includes pumping fluid through said conduit, along with said sensor at a pressure within the range of from about 20 psig. to 50

4. A pipeline and leak locator for detecting leaks in pipelines used for transferring fluids, comprising

a leak sensor casing,

a floatable leak sensor mounted within said casing for movement along with fluid flowing through the line of a test pipe,

said sensor being responsive to pressure, turbulence and, velocity differentials within said test pipe caused by a leak in said test pipe so that said sensor stops at said leak, and

means on said casing to attach said casing to said test pipe to allow direct communication between fluid in said test pipe and said floatable

5. The device of claim 4 wherein said leak sensor casing has a rearward end and a forward end, with said leak sensor attached to a reel which is rotatably mounted within said leak sensor casing forward of the rearward

6. The device of claim 4 wherein said floatable leak sensor is attached to

7. The device of claim 6 wherein said floatable leak sensor is a floatable hollow sphere having a diameter at least equal to the radius of said test

8. The device of claim 7 wherein said leak sensor casing has a pump inlet conduit positioned forward of said reel but rearwardly of the forward end

9. The device of claim 8 wherein said pump inlet conduit is adapted to alow fluid to be pumped into said test pipe in the direction of fluid low

10. The device of claim 4 wherein said floatable leak sensor has a sound

11. The device of claim 10 which includes a sound receiver for sound transmitted by said sound transmitter to aid in locating the precise position of said leak sensor, after said sensor has stopped at the position of a leak in said test pipe.