Water leakage position estimating system

• US 5,031,446 A
• Filed: 03/20/1989
• Issued: 07/16/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Toshiba Corporation
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Taniguchi, Syozo, Saito, Susumu
• Primary Examiner(s): Myracle, Jerry W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ROSKOS, JOSEPH
• Application Number:
  US07/325,842
• Time in Patent Office: 848 Days
• Field of Search: 73/40.5 A, 73/592
• US Class Current: 73/40.50A
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/243 for pipes

Abstract

A system for estimating water leakage position in a water supply system consisting of a plurality of water feed/distribution devices. The system includes a memory unit for storing given constants of the plurality of devices at a monitoring position, a monitoring unit for monitoring vibrating frequency of the plurality of devices, and an estimating unit for estimating water leakage position based on the stored given constants of the plurality of devices and the monitored vibrating frequency of the plurality of devices.

Claims

1. A system for estimating water leakage position in a water supply system consisting of a plurality of water feed/distribution devices comprising:

memory means for storing given constants of the plurality of water feed/distribution devices;

monitoring means for detecting at a position in the water supply system distanced from the water leakage position a vibrating frequency of pipe vibration initiated by water leakage at the water leakage position; and

estimating means for estimating the water leakage position based on the stored given constants of the plurality of water feed/distribution devices and the detected vibrating frequency.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the estimating means includes means for calculating the distance between the monitoring means position and the water leakage position.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the estimating means includes means for determining the distance between the water leakage position in the water feed/distribution device in which the water leakage occurs and the adjoining water feed distribution device located towards the monitoring means.

4. A method of estimating water leakage position in a water supply system consisting of a plurality of water feed/distribution devices comprising the steps of:

storing given constants of the plurality of water feed/distribution devices;

detecting at a position in the water supply system distanced from the water leakage position a vibrating frequency of pipe vibration initiated by water leakage at the water leakage position; and

estimating water leakage position based on the stored given constants of the plurality of water feed/distribution devices and the detected vibrating frequency.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the step of estimating includes the step of calculating the distance between the detecting position and a water leakage position.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the step of estimating includes the step of determining the distance between the water leakage position in the water feed/distribution device in which the water leakage occurs and the adjoining water feed/distribution device located towards the detecting position.