Pipeline leak detector apparatus and method
First Claim
Patent Images
1. Pipeline leak detector apparatus comprising:
- a liquid containing tank;
dispenser valve means remote from said tank;
liquid conduit means connected between the interior of said tank and said dispenser valve means;
shut-off valve means in said conduit means intermediate said tank and said dispenser valve means;
pump means coupled in said conduit means on the tank side of said shut-off valve means and configured to apply fluid under pressure to said liquid conduit means and said dispenser valve means; and
flow meter means connected in said conduit means in parallel with said shut-off valve means, said flow meter means and said shut-off valve means being a parallel combination in series with said pump means, said flow meter means being configured to maintain equal pressure on both sides of said shut-off valve means and to indicate any liquid flow therethrough.
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Abstract
A method for detecting leaks in a fluid pipeline where the pressure supply pump remains ON during the test procedure and pressure on both sides of a closed shut-off valve in the pipeline is maintained equal. A novel flow meter is provided comprising a parallel combination of a solenoid value and a pressure differential switch connected across the shut-off valve.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. Pipeline leak detector apparatus comprising:
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a liquid containing tank; dispenser valve means remote from said tank; liquid conduit means connected between the interior of said tank and said dispenser valve means; shut-off valve means in said conduit means intermediate said tank and said dispenser valve means; pump means coupled in said conduit means on the tank side of said shut-off valve means and configured to apply fluid under pressure to said liquid conduit means and said dispenser valve means; and flow meter means connected in said conduit means in parallel with said shut-off valve means, said flow meter means and said shut-off valve means being a parallel combination in series with said pump means, said flow meter means being configured to maintain equal pressure on both sides of said shut-off valve means and to indicate any liquid flow therethrough. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method for detecting leaks in a pipeline, the pipeline being connected between a liquid containing tank and a dispenser valve, there being a pump to apply the liquid under pressure to the pipeline, a shut-off valve in the pipeline between the pump and the dispenser valve, and a flow meter connected in the pipeline in parallel with the shut-off valve, the combination of the flow meter and the shut-off valve being in series with the pump, said method comprising the steps of:
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closing the dispenser valve; energizing the pump to apply liquid under pressure to the pipeline;
thenclosing the shut-off valve while maintaining the pump energized; and
thendetermining whether or not there is liquid flow through the flow meter. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. Pipeline leak detector apparatus comprising:
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a liquid containing tank; dispenser valve means remote from said tank; liquid conduit means connected between the interior of said tank and said dispenser valve means; shut-off valve means in said conduit means intermediate said tank and said dispenser valve means; pump means coupled in said conduit means on the tank side of said shut-off valve means and configured to apply fluid under pressure to said liquid conduit means and said dispenser valve means; and flow meter means connected in said conduit means in parallel with said shut-off valve means, said flow meter means indicating any liquid flow therethrough. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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Specification