Tracking vibrations in a pipeline network
First Claim
1. A method for tracking vibrations on a pipeline network, the method comprising:
- installing multiple vibration recorders on the pipeline network, each recorder comprising a sensor, a timer, a processor, and a communication device;
at each vibration recorder;
receiving vibration signals from the sensor at programmed times under the control of the processor of the vibration recorder, and processing the received vibration signals with the processor of the vibration recorder;
communicating processed vibrations signals from the vibration recorders to one or more reader devices using the communication devices of the vibration recorders;
collecting the processed vibration signals from the one or more reader devices at a central computer system; and
analyzing the collected processed vibration signals at the central computer system to determine abnormal vibration patterns and to obtain measures of any leaks present in the pipeline network, wherein a vibration recorder comprises a housing and installing the vibration recorder comprises securing the vibration recorder to a pipe of the pipeline network using one or more O-rings that extend around the pipe and engage the housing.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Tracking vibrations on a pipeline network includes installing multiple vibration recorders on the pipeline network, with each recorder including a sensor, a timer, a processor, and a digital communication device. At each vibration recorder, vibration signals are received from the sensor at programmed times under the control of the processor of the vibration recorders and processed by the processor. The processed vibration signals are communicated from the vibration recorder to a reader device using the digital communication device. Thereafter, the processed vibration signals from the one or more reader devices are collected at a central computer system. Finally, the collected processed vibrations signals are analyzed at the central computer system to determine abnormal vibration patterns and to obtain measures of any leaks present in the pipeline network.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method for tracking vibrations on a pipeline network, the method comprising:
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installing multiple vibration recorders on the pipeline network, each recorder comprising a sensor, a timer, a processor, and a communication device;
at each vibration recorder;
receiving vibration signals from the sensor at programmed times under the control of the processor of the vibration recorder, and processing the received vibration signals with the processor of the vibration recorder;
communicating processed vibrations signals from the vibration recorders to one or more reader devices using the communication devices of the vibration recorders;
collecting the processed vibration signals from the one or more reader devices at a central computer system; and
analyzing the collected processed vibration signals at the central computer system to determine abnormal vibration patterns and to obtain measures of any leaks present in the pipeline network, wherein a vibration recorder comprises a housing and installing the vibration recorder comprises securing the vibration recorder to a pipe of the pipeline network using one or more O-rings that extend around the pipe and engage the housing.
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2. A method for tracking vibrations on a pipeline network, the method comprising:
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installing multiple vibration recorders on the pipeline network, each recorder comprising a sensor, a timer, a processor, and a communication device;
at each vibration recorder;
receiving vibration signals from the sensor at programmed times under the control of the processor of the vibration recorder, and processing the received vibration signals with the processor of the vibration recorder;
communicating processed vibrations signals from the vibration recorders to one or more reader devices using the communication devices of the vibration recorders;
collecting the processed vibration signals from the one or more reader devices at a central computer system; and
analyzing the collected processed vibration signals at the central computer system to determine abnormal vibration patterns and to obtain measures of any leaks present in the pipeline network, wherein a vibration recorder further comprises a housing and a sensor of the vibration recorder comprises a sensing element oriented in the housing so as to be at a known orientation to a flow in a pipe when the vibration recorder is installed on the pipe. - View Dependent Claims (23)
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3. A method for tracking vibrations on a pipeline network, the method comprising:
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installing multiple vibration recorders on the pipeline network, each recorder comprising a sensor, a timer, a processor, and a communication device;
at each vibration recorder;
receiving vibration signals from the sensor at programmed times under the control of the processor of the vibration recorder, and processing the received vibration signals with the processor of the vibration recorder;
communicating processed vibrations signals from the vibration recorders to one or more reader devices using the communication devices of the vibration recorders;
collecting the processed vibration signals from the one or more reader devices at a central computer system; and
analyzing the collected processed vibration signals at the central computer system to determine abnormal vibration patterns and to obtain measures of any leaks present in the pipeline network, wherein;
the pipeline network comprises a water pipeline network, and a meter reader carries a reader device such that communicating processed vibrations signals from a vibration recorder to a reader device comprises doing so in conjunction with a normal process of having the meter reader read a water meter.
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4. A method for tracking vibrations on a pipeline network, the method comprising:
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installing multiple vibration recorders on the pipeline network, each recorder comprising a sensor, a timer, a processor, and a communication device;
at each vibration recorder;
receiving vibration signals from the sensor at programmed times under the control of the processor of the vibration recorder, and processing the received vibration signals with the processor of the vibration recorder;
communicating processed vibrations signals from the vibration recorders to one or more reader devices using the communication devices of the vibration recorders;
collecting the processed vibration signals from the one or wore reader devices at a central computer system; and
analyzing the collected processed vibration signals at the central computer system to determine abnormal vibration patterns and to obtain measures of any leaks present in the pipeline network, wherein analyzing the collected processed vibration signals at the central computer system comprises computing a leak index for a vibration recorder using processed vibration signals from the vibration recorder. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method for tracking vibrations on a pipeline network, the method comprising:
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installing multiple vibration recorders on the pipeline network, each recorder comprising a sensor, a timer, a processor, and a communication device;
at each vibration recorder;
receiving vibration signals from the sensor at programmed times under the control of the processor of the vibration recorder, and processing the received vibration signals with the processor of the vibration recorder;
communicating processed vibrations signals from the vibration recorders to one or more reader devices using the communication devices of the vibration recorders;
collecting the processed vibration signals from the one or more reader devices at a central computer system; and
analyzing the collected processed vibration signals at the central computer system to determine abnormal vibration patterns and to obtain measures of any leaks present in the pipeline network, wherein analyzing the collected processed vibration signals at the central computer system comprises generating a graph showing a history of processed vibration signals.
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22. A method for tracking vibrations on a pipeline network, the method comprising:
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installing multiple vibration recorders on the pipeline network, each recorder comprising a sensor, a timer, a processor, and a communication device;
at each vibration recorder;
receiving vibration signals from the sensor at programmed times under the control of the processor of the vibration recorder, and processing the received vibration signals with the processor of the vibration recorder;
communicating processed vibrations signals from the vibration recorders to one or more reader devices using the communication devices of the vibration recorders;
collecting the processed vibration signals from the one or more reader devices at a central computer system; and
analyzing the collected processed vibration signals at the central computer system to determine abnormal vibration patterns and to obtain measures of any leaks present in the pipeline network, wherein analyzing the collected processed vibration signals at the central computer system comprises generating a graph showing a statistical or nighttime distribution of processed vibration signals.
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Specification