Sonic signalling transducer
First Claim
1. A method of locating and recording at remote stations the location of a leak in a pipeline through which a stream of pressurized fluid flows, consisting of the steps ofa. Inserting a ferret including a cylinder and a piston, each of which is provided with a member substantially obstructing fluid flow therepast, said members being spaced axially of the pipe,b. And employing pressure change in the ferret resulting from fluid flow through a pipeline leak aperture to effect release of pressurized gas and resultant propulsion of the piston within the cylinder for generation of sonic waves through the pipeline fluid in both upstream and downstream directions.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for detecting a leak in a pipeline and initiating, at the leak location, a sonic signal in the stream fluid, the signal being of a magnitude and character to be detected at remote upstream and downstream stations for location of the leak by known computations based on the time differential between the arrival times of the signals at the remotely spaced stations.
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Citations
7 Claims
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1. A method of locating and recording at remote stations the location of a leak in a pipeline through which a stream of pressurized fluid flows, consisting of the steps of
a. Inserting a ferret including a cylinder and a piston, each of which is provided with a member substantially obstructing fluid flow therepast, said members being spaced axially of the pipe, b. And employing pressure change in the ferret resulting from fluid flow through a pipeline leak aperture to effect release of pressurized gas and resultant propulsion of the piston within the cylinder for generation of sonic waves through the pipeline fluid in both upstream and downstream directions.
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4. A device of the character described for locating and recording a leak in a pipeline through which a stream of pressurized fluid flows, comprising,
a. A ferret including a cylinder and a piston, each having means associated therewith for substantially obstructing fluid flow therepast, b. Means disposed within said ferret and responsive to pressure change within the ferret as it passes over a leak aperture to effect release of pressurized gas to propel the piston within the cylinder, for generation of sonic waves in both upstream and downstream directions through the pipeline fluid.
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6. A pipeline leak detector having an elongate body portion adapted for disposition within a pressurized fluid pipeline and comprising a pair of telescopically assciated members defining a piston and a closed end cylinder,
a. means disposed within said piston for actuation of a signal in response to a pipeline leak over which the detector passes, b. means associated with said piston and cylinder to define with the pipeline inner wall an enclosed space in which a bounded volume of the stream fluid is substantially isolated from the mainstream, c. means for limiting the stroke of the piston within the cylinder, d. means housed within said piston and responsive to said leak signal for the release of pressurized gas into a chamber between said piston and the cylinder end, e. valve means associated with said cylinder end and normally biased open for fluid flow between the stream and the chamber and adapted to be instantly closed by the release of pressurized gas into the chamber, f. and packing elements carried respectively by said piston and cylinder to limit fluid flow thereby, whereby as the detector passes a leak, the signal initiated release of gas into the chamber closes the valve means and drives said packing elements apart to initiate sonic waves in both up and downstream directions within the stream.
Specification