Ground water infiltration detection system
First Claim
1. A method for determining a leak in a pipeline in which fluid flows, comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a surface unit comprising a cable reel and a cable wound there upon;
(b) providing a probe having a meter;
(c) positioning, by operation of said surface unit, said probe within said fluid at a plurality of stations along said pipeline;
(d) obtaining a fluid property measurement at each said station;
(e) roughly determining the location of said leak by combining(i) observed change in station fluid property measurements for two adjacent stations, and(ii) determined geographical locations of said adjacent stations; and
(f) precisely determining the location of said leak using said roughly determined location and by measuring changes in the same fluid property.
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Accused Products
Abstract
This invention is directed toward the detection fluid infiltration into an underground pipe system, and more particularly is directed toward the qualitative and quantitative detection of liquid leaks into, and out of, underground sewer systems. The invention is particularly suited for detecting the infiltration of ground water into sewer systems such that the leaks can be precisely located as a precursor to time and cost efficient repairs. Fluid properties are measured with a probe at station locations which are preferably manholes. Any leaks in the system are first determined to a geographic location spanning two adjacent manholes. The locations of the leaks are further define to a very high geographic resolution by floating the probe from the upstream manhole toward the downstream manhole while continuously recording fluid property measurements at the surface of the earth. Results are preferably presented in the form of a survey map.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. A method for determining a leak in a pipeline in which fluid flows, comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing a surface unit comprising a cable reel and a cable wound there upon; (b) providing a probe having a meter; (c) positioning, by operation of said surface unit, said probe within said fluid at a plurality of stations along said pipeline; (d) obtaining a fluid property measurement at each said station; (e) roughly determining the location of said leak by combining (i) observed change in station fluid property measurements for two adjacent stations, and (ii) determined geographical locations of said adjacent stations; and (f) precisely determining the location of said leak using said roughly determined location and by measuring changes in the same fluid property. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A system for locating leaks within a pipeline in which fluid flows, comprising:
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(a) a meter for measuring at least one property of said fluid; (b) conveyance means comprising a surface unit for conveying said meter by floatation within said fluid flow within said pipeline; (c) a position system to determine the location of said meter within said pipeline with respect to the location of a measure station; and (d) a computer which is used to combine at least one variation in said at least one measured property at least one property of said fluid and said location of said probe to at the time at which said at least variation occurs and said location of said measure station to determine the location of said leak. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A system for measuring leaks within a sewage pipeline system in which sewage flows, comprising:
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(a) A plurality of probes; (b) at least one meter mounted within each of said probes, wherein said at least one meter is used to measure at least one property of said sewage; (c) conveyance means comprising a surface unit for conveying each said probe within said pipeline by floatation in said sewage flows; (d) a position system to determine the geographical location of each said probe within said pipeline; and (e) a plurality of portable computers wherein each portable computer cooperates with a specific probe, and wherein each said portable computer is used to combine (i) observed variations in said measured at least one property of said sewage measured by each said probe, and (ii) said geographical location of each said probe at the time each said variation is observed, to determine the location of leaks within said sewage pipeline. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for locating a leak in a pipe, comprising the steps of:
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(a) measuring a property of fluid within said pipe at least two fixed locations with a fluid property sensor thereby generating station measurements; (b) measuring, with said fluid property sensor, said fluid property essentially continuously as a function of determined relative position between two adjacent said fixed locations thereby generating continuous measurements; and (c) combining geographical location of at least one of two station measurements, and an observed change in said continuous measurements, and a determined relative position at the time of observation of said change to obtain said leak location.
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17. A system for locating a leak in a pipe, comprising:
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(a) a probe for measuring a property of fluid within said pipe at least two fixed locations thereby generating at least two station measurements; (b) means for conveying said probe between the locations of two adjacent station measurements thereby permitting essentially continuous measurements of said fluid property and thereby generating continuous measurements; (c) means for determining changes in said continuous measurements; (d) means for determining the relative location of said probe with respect to at least one said fixed location; (e) means for determining the geographical location of at least one said fixed location; and (f) a computer wherein said station measurements, and said changes in continuous measurements, and said determined relative location of said probe, and said at least one geographical location of at least one said fixed location, are combined to obtain an absolute location of said leak.
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18. A method for determining a leak in a pipeline in which fluid flows, comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing a surface unit comprising a cable reel and a cable wound there upon; (b) providing a probe having a meter; (c) positioning, by operation of said surface unit, said probe within said fluid at a plurality of stations along said pipeline; (d) obtaining a fluid property measurement at each said station; (e) roughly determining the location of said leak by combining (i) observed change in station fluid property measurements for two adjacent stations, and (ii) determined geographical locations of said adjacent stations; and (f) precisely determining the location of said leak using said roughly determined location by (i) placing said probe within said fluid at the upstream station of said two adjacent stations, (ii) conveying said probe within said fluid in the direction of the fluid flow by floating said probe within said fluid flow, (iii) obtaining a continuous fluid property measurement, and (iv) determining said precise location of said leak by combining said geographical location of said upstream station, observed change in said continuous fluid property measurement, and a determined location of said probe at the time of said observed change in said continuous fluid property measurement. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A method for determining the location of a leak through which a first fluid leaks into a pipeline in which a second fluid is flowing, comprising the steps of:
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(a) inserting upstream from said leak a dopant into said second liquid; (b) providing a probe which cooperates with a surface unit; (c) providing a meter which responds to the concentration of said dopant and which is contained within said probe; (d) positioning by operation of said surface unit said probe within said second fluid at a plurality of stations along said pipeline; (e) obtaining a dopant concentration measurement at each said station; (f) roughly determining the location of said leak by combining (i) an observed decrease in station dopant concentration measurements for two adjacent stations, (ii) determined geographical locations of said adjacent stations; and (g) using said roughly determined leak location in the definition of a precise leak location by (i) placing said probe within said second fluid at the upstream station of said two adjacent stations, (ii) conveying said probe within said second fluid by floating in the direction of the flow of said second fluid. (iii) obtaining a continuous measure of dopant concentration, (iv) determining a precise location of said leak by combining said location of said upstream station, an observed decrease in said continuous dopant concentration measurement, and a determined location of said probe, relative to said upstream station, at the time of said observed change in said continuous dopant concentration measurement.
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Specification