Leak detector
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of determining information including information indicating the leakage of liquid in storage tanks, said method comprising the steps of:
- inserting self contained measuring apparatus into a tank whose leakage is to be measured,operating said apparatus to obtain a plurality of data readings at different times indicating the instantaneous tank liquid level at the time of each reading,storing the data collected during each reading in said apparatus,subsequently connecting said apparatus to a computer,transferring said stored data from said apparatus to said computer, andoperating said computer to process said data to determine the leakage rate of said tank.
12 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus for detecting leaks in fuel storage tanks. A float suspended in the tank liquid determines liquid levels and transmits the liquid level information via an infrared beam to a probe processor in the upper port of the tank. The probe processor stores a plurality of level indications for subsequent uploading to an external computer which analyzes the level information to generate leakage rate information.
52 Citations
26 Claims
-
1. A method of determining information including information indicating the leakage of liquid in storage tanks, said method comprising the steps of:
-
inserting self contained measuring apparatus into a tank whose leakage is to be measured, operating said apparatus to obtain a plurality of data readings at different times indicating the instantaneous tank liquid level at the time of each reading, storing the data collected during each reading in said apparatus, subsequently connecting said apparatus to a computer, transferring said stored data from said apparatus to said computer, and operating said computer to process said data to determine the leakage rate of said tank. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
-
-
6. A method of determining information including information indicating the leakage of liquid in storage tanks, said method comprising the steps of:
-
inserting self contained measuring apparatus into a tank whose leakage is to be measured wherein said inserted apparatus comprises a vertically oriented hollow tube, a probe processor in the upper portion of said tube, and a float including a float processor suspended in said liquid in the lower portion of said tube, operating said float processor to generate a plurality of data readings at different times indicating the instantaneous tank liquid level at the time of each reading, transmitting said data for each reading from said float processor to said probe processor, recording the transmitted data for each reading in said probe processor, subsequently removing said apparatus from said tank, connecting said probe processor to a computer, transferring said stored data from said probe processor to said computer, and operating said computer to process said data to determine the leakage rate of said tank. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9)
-
-
10. Self contained measuring apparatus adapted to be inserted into a tank whose leakage of stored liquid is to be measured, said apparatus comprising:
-
means for obtaining a plurality of data readings at different times indicating the instantaneous tank liquid level at the time of each reading, means for storing said data collected during each reading in said apparatus, means for subsequently connecting said apparatus to a computer, and means for transferring said stored data from said apparatus to said computer, said computer being operable to process said data to determine the leakage rate of said tank. - View Dependent Claims (11)
-
-
12. Self contained measuring apparatus adapted to be inserted into a tank whose leakage of stored liquid is to be measured wherein said inserted apparatus comprises a vertically oriented hollow tube, a probe processor in the upper portion of said tube, and a float including a float processor suspended in said liquid in the lower portion of said tube, said apparatus further comprising:
-
means for operating said float processor to generate a plurality of data readings at different times indicating the instantaneous tank liquid level at the time of each reading, means for transmitting said data for each reading from said float processor to said probe processor, means for recording the transmitted data for each reading in said probe processor, and means for connecting said probe processor to a computer for the transfer of said stored data from said probe processor to said computer, said computer being operable to process said data to determine the leakage rate of said tank. - View Dependent Claims (13)
-
-
14. Apparatus for determining information including information indicating the leakage of liquid in a storage tank, said apparatus comprising:
-
a probe processor in the upper portion of said tank, a float suspended in said liquid, a first means on said float for determining the instantaneous level of said tank liquid, a second means on said float for transmitting data to said probe processor representing said determined fluid level at successive times, said probe processor being operable for recording said transmitted level data, and means for transferring said recorded data from said probe processor to an external computer to determine said tank leakage rate from said transferred data. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
-
-
17. Apparatus for determining information including information indicating the leakage of liquid in a storage tank, said apparatus comprising:
-
a hollow probe tube suspended vertically in said tank with at least a lower portion of said probe tube being immersed in said liquid in said tank, a probe processor and a receiver in the upper inner portion of said tube, a float suspended below said probe processor in said liquid within said tube, encoder means mounted on said float within said tube for determining the instantaneous level of said tank liquid, a float processor mounted on said float within said tube and responsive to said determination by said encoder means for transmitting data to said receiver representing said liquid level at successive times, said probe processor being operable for recording said transmitted level data, and means for transferring said recorded data to an external computer to determine said tank leakage. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
-
-
25. A method of determining information including information indicating the leakage of liquid in storage tanks, said method comprising the steps of:
-
inserting self contained measuring apparatus into a tank whose leakage is to be measured, operating said apparatus to obtain a plurality of data readings at different times indicating the instantaneous tank liquid level at the time of each reading, transmitting information representing said data readings over an infrared beam from a lower portion to an upper portion of said apparatus, storing the data transmitted over said infrared beam in said apparatus, subsequently connecting said apparatus to a computer, transferring said stored data from said apparatus to said computer, and operating said computer to process said data to determine the leakage rate of said tank.
-
-
26. Self contained measuring apparatus adapted to be inserted into a tank whose leakage of stored liquid is to be measured, said apparatus comprising:
-
means for obtaining a plurality of data readings at different times indicating the instantaneous tank liquid level at the time of each reading, means for transmitting information representing said date readings over an infrared beam from a lower to an upper portion of said apparatus, means for storing said data transmitted over said infrared beam in said apparatus, means for subsequently connecting said apparatus to a computer, and means for transferring said stored data from said apparatus to said computer.
-
Specification