Detecting leaks in pipes
First Claim
1. An apparatus for detecting a leak in a pipe for installation at a location on a pipe, the apparatus comprising:
- a transducer for acoustically monitoring the pipe;
analysing means for analysing a parameter of an output signal of the transducer and for determining if a signal indicating a leak should be outputted; and
, signal output means for outputting the leak-indicating signal, wherein the analysing means is configured to determine that said leak-indicating signal should be outputted in the event that the parameter is below a minimum value and wherein said parameter is the spread of the output levels of said transducer and wherein the signal output means is arranged to output a standby signal if the conditions for outputting a signal indicative of a leak are not satisfied.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for permanently or semi-permanently fitting to an underground water pipe 15, 16 for detecting leaks therein, comprises a hydrophone 26 mounted to acoustically monitor water flowing along the pipe 15, 16 and means 29 for analysing a parameter of the output signal of the hydrophone 26 and for generating an alarm signal, in the event that the parameter is above a maximum value or below a minimum value. The apparatus further comprises a radio transmitter for transmitting the alarm signal to a remote receiver, so as to indicate the detection of a leak. The maximum and minimum values are preferably calculated using historical data obtained from the hydrophone 26, so that the values are automatically adjusted to suit location of the apparatus. In use, a plurality of leak detection apparatus can be installed to pipes at various locations around a geographical area of supply. Once a leak has been identified in an area, it is then a relatively simple matter to more precisely determine where in the area should be surveyed using a conventional leak detector. Thus, the need to survey the whole of the area using a conventional leak detector is avoided.
81 Citations
83 Claims
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1. An apparatus for detecting a leak in a pipe for installation at a location on a pipe, the apparatus comprising:
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a transducer for acoustically monitoring the pipe;
analysing means for analysing a parameter of an output signal of the transducer and for determining if a signal indicating a leak should be outputted; and
,signal output means for outputting the leak-indicating signal, wherein the analysing means is configured to determine that said leak-indicating signal should be outputted in the event that the parameter is below a minimum value and wherein said parameter is the spread of the output levels of said transducer and wherein the signal output means is arranged to output a standby signal if the conditions for outputting a signal indicative of a leak are not satisfied. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. An assembly, comprising:
- a transducer for acoustically monitoring fluid flowing within a pipe, the assembly comprising a body having a port for connecting to a corresponding port in the wall of the pipe, a fluid-flow passage extending through the body and having opposite ends communicating with the port, said acoustic transducer mounted inside the flow passage, and flow diverting means for diverting at least some of the fluid flowing along the pipe through said flow passage.
- View Dependent Claims (23)
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24. An apparatus for detecting a leak in a pipe for installation at a location on a pipe, the apparatus comprising:
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a transducer for acoustically monitoring the pipe;
analysing means for analysing a parameter of the output signal of the transducer and for determining if a signal indicative of a leak should be outputted; and
,signal output means adapted to transmit the signal indicative of a leak, wherein the analysing means determines that a signal indicative of a leak be outputted in the event that the parameter is above a maximum value or below a minimum value and wherein the analysing means is configured to periodically measure the output level of the transducer and to provide an average of previously measured levels, the analysing means being further configured to determine said maximum and/or said minimum values from said average. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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43. An apparatus for detecting a leak in a pipe for installation at a location on a pipe, the apparatus comprising:
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a transducer for acoustically monitoring the pipe;
analysing means for analysing a parameter of the output signal of the transducer and for determining if a signal indicative of a leak should be outputted; and
,a transmitter configured to transmit a signal indicative of a leak to a remote receiver which is mobile with respect to the pipe, wherein the analysing means is configured to determine that a signal indicative of a leak should be outputted in the event that the parameter is above a maximum value or below a minimum value and wherein said transmitter is arranged to transmit a standby signal when said parameter is not above said maximum value or below said minimum value. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51)
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52. An apparatus for detecting a leak in a pipe for installation at a location on a pipe, the apparatus comprising:
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a transducer for acoustically monitoring the pipe;
analysing means for analysing a parameter of the output signal of the transducer and for determining if a signal indicative of a leak should be outputted; and
,a transmitter configured to transmit a signal indicative of a leak to a remote receiver which is mobile with respect to the pipe, wherein the analysing means is configured to determine that a signal indicative of a leak should be outputted in the event that the parameter is above a maximum value or below a minimum value and wherein said analysing means is arranged to periodically measure the output level of said transducer and to provide an average of previously measured levels and being further arranged to determine said maximum and/or minimum values from said average. - View Dependent Claims (53, 54, 55, 56)
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57. An apparatus for detecting a leak in a pipe for installation at a location on a pipe, the apparatus comprising:
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a transducer for acoustically monitoring the pipe;
analysing means for analysing a parameter of the output signal of the transducer and for determining if a signal indicative of a leak should be outputted; and
,a transmitter configured to transmit a signal indicative of a leak to a remote receiver which is mobile with respect to the pipe, wherein the analysing means is configured to determine that a signal indicative of a leak should be outputted in the event that the parameter is above a maximum value or below a minimum value and, wherein said analysing means is arranged to take a series of readings of said output level and said signal indicative of a leak is generated if said outpput level exceeds a predetermined maximum or if the spread between levels is less than the said minimum value and wherein said analysing means is arranged to generate a signal indicative of an alarm if a predetermined percentage of the readings of the output level exceed the maximum value and if the spread between levels which have exceeded predetermined upper and lower percentage numbers of readings are less than the minimum.
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58. An apparatus for detecting a leak in a pipe for installation at a location on a pipe, the apparatus comprising:
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a transducer for acoustically monitoring the pipe;
a port for providing an in-situ external connection to the transducer, wherein the port includes an infra-red transmitter which provides a wireless link to a corresponding port of a leak pinpointer;
analysing means for analysing a parameter of the output signal of the transducer and for determining if a signal indicative of a leak should be outputted; and
,output means configured to output a signal indicative of a leak, wherein the analysing means determines that a signal indicative of a leak should be outputted in the event that the parameter is above a maximum value or below a minimum value.
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59. An apparatus for detecting a leak in a pipe for installation at a location on a pipe, the apparatus comprising:
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a transducer for acoustically monitoring the pipe;
a port for providing an in-situ external connection to the transducer;
analysing means for analysing a parameter of the output signal of the transducer and for determining if a signal indicative of a leak should be outputted; and
,output means configured to output a signal indicative of a leak, wherein the analysing means determines that a signal indicative of a leak should be outputted in the event that the parameter is above a maximum value or below a minimum value and wherein said output means is configured to output a standby signal when said parameter is not above said maximum value or below said minimum value. - View Dependent Claims (60, 61, 62, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78)
77.The apparatus of claim 59, in which said signal output means are located at the said location. -
77. The apparatus of claim 59, further including a body having a port for connecting to a corresponding port in the wall of said pipe, a fluid-flow passage extending through the body and having opposite ends communicating with the port, said acoustic transducer mounted inside the flow passage, and flow diverting means for diverting at least some of the fluid flowing along said pipe through said flow passage.
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78. The apparatus of claim 59, in which the port includes a transmitter which provides a wireless link to a corresponding port of a leak pinpointer.
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63. The apparatus as claimed in 62, in which said transmitter transmits a low power radio signal.
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79. The apparatus of claim 79, wherein the wireless link is provided by an infra-red transmitter.
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80. An apparatus for detecting a leak in a pipe for installation at a location on a pipe, the apparatus comprising a transducer for acoustically monitoring the pipe, analysing means for analysing a parameter of the output signal of the transducer and for determining if a signal indicative of a leak or a standby signal should be generated, the signal indicative of a leak being generated if the parameter is above a maximum value or below a minimum value, the standby signal being generated otherwise, and output means provided at the said location for outputting the required signal.
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81. A system for monitoring a pipe for a leak, the system comprising a plurality of leak detection units each being arranged to monitor a section of the pipe for leaks and to transmit a wireless signal, wherein the transmitter transmits a signal indicative of a leak if a leak is detected and a standby signal otherwise, the system further comprising a mobile receiver which is arranged to sequentially receive the wireless signals from the leak detection units as the receiver moves with respect to the units.
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82. A method of monitoring a pipe for leaks, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing a plurality of leak detection units at locations on the pipe, each of the detection units being arranged to monitor a section of the pipe for leaks and to transmit a wireless signal, wherein the transmitter transmits a signal indicative of a leak if a leak is detected and a standby signal otherwise; and
,moving a mobile receiver past the units and sequentially receiving the wireless signal from the nearest unit as the mobile receiver moves into the vicinity of each unit.
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83. An apparatus for detecting a leak in a pipe for installation at a location on a pipe, the apparatus comprising:
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a transducer for acoustically monitoring the pipe;
analysing means for paralysing a parameter of an output signal of the transducer and for determining if a signal indicative of a leak should be outputted; and
a transmitter configured to transmit a wireless signal to a remote receiver which is mobile with respect to the pipe, wherein a signal indicative of a leak is outputted if a leak is detected and a standby signal is outputted otherwise.
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Specification