Leak locator for pipe systems
First Claim
1. A method for determining a time of occurrence of a pressure wave in a pipe, comprising the steps of:
- providing a first sonic transducer and a second sonic transducer at each of a plurality of site locations along a pipe;
generating sonic waves through a pipewall at a known desired rate at each of the plurality of site locations along the pipe, the sonic waves traveling from the first sonic transducer to the second sonic transducer through a liquid flow in the pipe at each of the plurality of said site locations;
setting a measure of travel time for the sonic waves;
comparing the measure to each of the successive travel times for the sonic waves as the sonic waves arrive at the respective second transducers;
outputting a string of counts at each second transducer, each count including a first count value if a present sonic wave has a travel time that is late as compared to the measure; and
determining a time of occurrence of the pressure wave based on a reference clock such that when the string of counts includes a string of first count values longer than a threshold value, the time of occurrence of a pressure transient is indicated by a first count in the string of first count values.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for determining a time of occurrence of a pressure wave in a pipe provides a first sonic transducer and a second sonic transducer at each of a plurality of site locations along a pipe. Sonic waves are generated through a pipewall at a known desired rate. At each of the plurality of site locations, the sonic waves travel from the first sonic transducer to the second sonic transducer through a liquid flow in the pipe. A measure of travel time is set for the sonic waves. The measure is compared to each of the successive travel times for the sonic waves as the sonic waves arrive at the respective second transducers. A string of counts is output at each second transducer. Each count includes a first count value if a present sonic wave has a travel time that is late as compared to the measure. A time of occurrence of the pressure wave is determined based on a reference clock when the string of counts includes a string of first count values longer than a threshold value. The time of occurrence of a pressure transient is indicated by a first count in the string of first count values.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for determining a time of occurrence of a pressure wave in a pipe, comprising the steps of:
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providing a first sonic transducer and a second sonic transducer at each of a plurality of site locations along a pipe;
generating sonic waves through a pipewall at a known desired rate at each of the plurality of site locations along the pipe, the sonic waves traveling from the first sonic transducer to the second sonic transducer through a liquid flow in the pipe at each of the plurality of said site locations;
setting a measure of travel time for the sonic waves;
comparing the measure to each of the successive travel times for the sonic waves as the sonic waves arrive at the respective second transducers;
outputting a string of counts at each second transducer, each count including a first count value if a present sonic wave has a travel time that is late as compared to the measure; and
determining a time of occurrence of the pressure wave based on a reference clock such that when the string of counts includes a string of first count values longer than a threshold value, the time of occurrence of a pressure transient is indicated by a first count in the string of first count values. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
determining a direction of travel of the pressure wave in accordance with an arrival of the pressure wave at adjacent site locations along the pipe; and
calculating a distance from the adjacent site locations to the leak location.
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8. A method for determining a time of occurrence of a leak in a gas pipe, comprising the steps of:
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providing a first sonic transducer and a second sonic transducer at each of a plurality of site locations along a pipe;
generating sonic waves through a pipewall at a known desired rate at each of the plurality of site locations along the gas pipe, the sonic waves traveling from the first sonic transducer to the second sonic transducer through a liquid flow in the pipe at each of the plurality of said site locations;
setting a measure of sonic conductivity for the sonic waves;
comparing the measure to each of the successive sonic waves for the sonic waves as the sonic waves arrive at the respective second transducers;
outputting a string of counts at each second transducer, each count including a first count value if a present sonic conductivity is above the measure; and
determining a time of occurrence of the pressure wave based on a reference clock such that when the string of counts includes a string of first count values longer than a threshold value, the time of occurrence of the leak is indicated by a first count in the string of first count values. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
calculating a distance from adjacent site locations to the leak location.
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13. The method as recited in claim 8, further comprising the step of correlating distance along the pipe to a map position.
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14. A system for detecting pressure transients or sonic conductivity changes in a length of pipe, comprising:
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a plurality of site locations disposed along a pipe, each site location being disposed a predetermined distance from a corresponding pair of adjacent site stations along the pipe;
an ultrasonic transducer system coupled to the pipe at each site location, the ultrasonic transducer system including a first sonic transducer which generates sonic waves at a known desired rate and a second sonic transducer which receives the sonic waves at each of the plurality of site locations along the pipe;
the ultrasonic transducer system adapted to measure travel times of the sonic waves between the first and second sonic transducers and compare the travel times to a measure such that a report of each sonic wave is determined as late or early as compared to the measure; and
a monitor which records the reports and determines if a string of late reports greater than a threshold size has occurred wherein a time of the first report of the string of late reports greater than the threshold size indicates a time of occurrence of a leak in the pipe. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification