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Device and a method for localizing leakages in conduit networks

  • US 5,639,958 A
  • Filed: 01/25/1996
  • Issued: 06/17/1997
  • Est. Priority Date: 03/29/1993
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A device for localizing leakages in a conduit network by listening for leakage sounds emanating from a leaking liquid in conduits that are constructed from plastics and other materials having low acoustic conductivity, comprising a first, thin diaphragm having one side oriented to lie in contact with the liquid and a second side oriented not to lie in contact with the liquid, a second sound-responsive diaphragm that is attached to and overlies the second side of the first diaphragm with a common interface therebetween, wherein said first diaphragm is designed to transmit oscillations from the liquid to the second diaphragm by the coupling of forced mechanical oscillations across the interface, said second diaphragm being made of a piezoelectric material in a sound-responsive, piezoelectric plastic sheet, wherein said first and said second diaphragms are able to oscillate together at frequencies of from zero to seven thousand Hertz, and wherein said first diaphragm is designed to withstand the internal pressure in the liquid conduit and to protect the second sound-responsive diaphragm against direct contact with said liquid, and also to attenuate any resonance oscillations of the conduit network comprising said liquid in the conduits, and an amplifier for amplifying the low-frequency electric alternating current signals generated by the oscillations in the second sound-responsive diaphragm and means for transposing the amplified signals to a frequency range which can be readily heard by the human ear.

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