Deployment of equipment into fluid containers and conduits

• US 7,331,215 B2
• Filed: 03/24/2005
• Issued: 02/19/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Pure Technologies Limited (Xylem, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: WRC, PLC (RSK Group Ltd.)
• Inventors: Bond, Anthony
• Primary Examiner(s): RAEVIS, ROBERT R
• Application Number:
  US11/088,416
• Publication Number:
  US 20050172737A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,062 Days
• Field of Search: 738/658, 73/405.A, 73/491, 735/87, 735/92, 181/101, 181/125
• US Class Current: 73/40.50A
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 2101/30 Inspecting, measuring or testing
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 2101/60 Stopping leaks
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 55/46 Launching or retrieval of pigs or moles
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 55/48 Indicating the position of the pig or mole in the pipe or conduit

Abstract

Apparatus for deploying equipment in a fluid container or fluid conduit comprises a fluid housing having an outlet aperture, the fluid housing being adapted to be secured to the container or conduit such that the outlet aperture is in fluid communication with an aperture in the container or conduit. The apparatus further includes a piston in the fluid housing dividing the fluid housing into first and second fluid chambers, the second fluid chamber being in fluid communication with the interior of the container or conduit via the outlet aperture when the fluid housing is secured in fluid communication with the container or conduit. The piston is movable within the fluid housing toward the outlet aperture in response to increases of fluid pressure in the first fluid chamber. The apparatus further includes a guide means for guiding deployment of the equipment into the container or conduit. The guide means is secured to the piston, whereby movement of the piston within the fluid housing can move the guide means at least partially into the container or conduit through said outlet aperture.

Claims

1. A method for locating a leak in a pipe, the method comprising the steps of moving two acoustic sensors along the pipe, generating signals corresponding to acoustic signals received by each of said acoustic sensors, and transmitting the generated signals from each of the acoustic sensors to a respective one of two loudspeakers, and

wherein the acoustic sensors are mounted on an elongate carrier which carries the generated signals to the loudspeakers therethrough, and wherein the acoustic sensors and the elongate carrier are inserted into the pipe through an aperture therein, and wherein a length of carrier paid out into the pipe is measured, enabling a position of the acoustic sensors indicating the leak to be measured out along a corresponding path of the pipe.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the acoustic sensors are moved along the pipe while recording a distance traveled by the sensors and simultaneously transmitting the generated signals to the loudspeakers.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the loudspeakers are headphones which can be worn by an operator.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the generated signals are cross-correlated, and are then displayed on a suitable display.

5. A method according to claim 4, wherein the generated signals are cross-correlated over a delay range corresponding to a time taken for the acoustic signals to travel between the sensors.

6. Apparatus for locating leaks in a pipe, the apparatus comprising:

two acoustic sensors adapted to be disposed in the pipe in spaced relationship to one another, the acoustic sensors converting acoustic signals received by the acoustic sensors into corresponding further signals;

two loudspeakers, each loudspeaker being arranged to receive the further signal generated by a respective one of said sensors; and

means for adjusting a frequency of the acoustic signals into a range that is detectable by a human ear.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the loudspeakers are a set of headphones.

8. Apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising cross-correlation means for cross-correlating the further signals, and display means for displaying results generated by the cross-correlation means.

9. Apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising a test signal and balance control unit to enable an operator to correct for imbalance in a person'"'"'s hearing.

10. Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the acoustic sensors are mounted on an elongate carrier, and wherein the acoustic sensors and the elongate carrier are capable of being inserted through an aperture in the pipe, and wherein the further signals are carried to the loudspeakers through the elongate carrier.

11. Apparatus according to claim 10, wherein a sonde is carried by the elongate carrier, a position of the sonde being detectable from outside the pipe.