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Method for detecting leaks in pipelines

  • US 5,974,862 A
  • Filed: 05/06/1997
  • Issued: 11/02/1999
  • Est. Priority Date: 05/06/1997
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A method for detecting a leak in a pipeline, the method comprising:

  • applying sensors to the pipeline to receive acoustic signals;

    processing the received signals with processors associated with the sensors to produce digital signals representative of the received signals, each of the digital signals including a sequence of digital samples, and the processing of a received signal including amplifying the received signal using a gain;

    periodically adjusting the gain used to process a received acoustic signal to control a resolution of the corresponding digital signal relative to the received acoustic signal;

    issuing a synchronization command to the processors associated with the sensors from a base station, the synchronization command temporally aligning processing of the received signals between the processors;

    transmitting the digital signals to the base station, the base station being located remotely from the processors, and the transmitting of a digital signal including;

    transmitting a set of digital samples associated with a time period of the digital signal, the digital samples all resulting from using a particular gain to amplify a received acoustic signal, andtransmitting with the set of digital samples information identifying the particular gain and a time associated with the set of digital samples; and

    analyzing the transmitted signals for two or more sensors at the base station to obtain measures of any leaks present in the pipeline, the analyzing of a set of digital samples using the information identifying the particular gain and time associated with the set of digital samples.

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