Tracking vibrations in a pipeline network

• US 7,891,246 B2
• Filed: 06/10/2005
• Issued: 02/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Itron, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Itron, Inc.
• Inventors: Lander, Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): SAINT SURIN, JACQUES M
• Application Number:
  US11/149,432
• Publication Number:
  US 20050279169A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,083 Days
• Field of Search: 735/92, 73/405.A, 735/87, 738/610.3, 738/617.7, 732/75, 702/51, 702/45, 340/605, 340/870.02, 340/870.18, 340/870.19, 340/870.03
• US Class Current: 73/592
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/243 for pipes
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/0609 Display arrangements, e.g. colour displays indicating or recording in connection with measuring in general G01D
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/14 using acoustic emission techniques echo of particles G01N29/046; measuring mechanical vibrations or acoustic waves in solids in general G01H1/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/449 Statistical methods not provided for in G01N29/4409, e.g. averaging, smoothing and interpolation
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/46 by spectral analysis, e.g. Fourier analysis or wavelet analysis spectral signal processing per se G06F17/14

Abstract

A vibration recorder for detecting leaks in a pipeline network includes a sensor operable to receive vibration signals from a pipeline network, and a communication port connected to an automatic meter reader/transmitter (“AMRT”). A processor connected to the communication port and to the sensor is programmed to process the vibration signals and to send data regarding the processed vibration signals to the AMRT using the communication port. The vibration recorder may also include metering functions, and, in some implementations, may also incorporate the functions of the AMRT.

Claims

1. A vibration recorder for detecting leaks in a pipeline network, the vibration recorder comprising:

a sensor operable to receive vibration signals from a pipeline network;

a communication port connected to an automatic meter reader/transmitter (“

AMRT”

) that is configured to receive meter reading values; and

a processor connected to the communication port and to the sensor to receive the vibration signals, the processor being programmed to process the vibration signals and to send data regarding the processed vibration signals to the AMRT using the communication port; and

wherein the AMRT is configured to transmit the data regarding the processed vibration signals and the meter reading values.

2. The vibration recorder of claim 1 wherein the processor is programmed to emulate a register encoder of a water meter when sending data to the AMRT.

3. The vibration recorder of claim 1 wherein the processor is programmed to send data regarding the processed vibration signals to the AMRT as a sequence of meter reading values.

4. The vibration recorder of claim 1, further comprising a connection to a register encoder of a water meter, wherein the processor is programmed to receive the meter reading values from the connection to the register encoder and to send the meter reading values to the AMRT.

5. The vibration recorder of claim 4 wherein the processor is programmed to determine a type of the register encoder.

6. The vibration recorder of claim 5 wherein the processor is programmed to interpret the meter reading values received from the connection to the register encoder based on the determined type of the register encoder.

7. The vibration recorder of claim 4 wherein the processor is programmed to determine a usage activity pattern based on the meter reading values.

8. The vibration recorder of claim 1, further comprising a pulse detector configured to detect magnetic pulses produced by a water meter, wherein the processor is connected to receive an output of the pulse detector and programmed to generate the meter reading values based on the output of the pulse detector.

9. The vibration recorder of claim 8 wherein the processor is programmed to determine a usage activity pattern based on the output of the pulse detector.

10. A vibration recorder for detecting leaks in a pipeline network, the vibration recorder comprising:

a sensor operable to receive vibration signals from a pipeline network;

a wireless transmitter;

a processor connected to the wireless transmitter and to the sensor to receive the vibration signals, the processor being programmed to process the vibration signals and to use the transmitter to transmit data regarding the processed vibration signals, and to generate meter reading values and to use the transmitter to transmit the meter reading values; and

a connection to a register encoder of a water meter, wherein the processor is programmed to generate the meter reading values based on data received from the register encoder.

11. The vibration recorder of claim 10 wherein the processor is programmed to determine a type of the register encoder.

12. The vibration recorder of claim 11 wherein the processor is programmed to interpret the data received from the connection to the register encoder based on the determined type of the register encoder.

13. The vibration recorder of claim 10 wherein the processor is programmed to determine a usage activity pattern based on the data received from the connection to the register encoder.

14. A vibration recorder for detecting leaks in a pipeline network, the vibration recorder comprising:

a sensor operable to receive vibration signals from a pipeline network;

a wireless transmitter;

a processor connected to the wireless transmitter and to the sensor to receive the vibration signals, the processor being programmed to process the vibration signals and to use the transmitter to transmit data regarding the processed vibration signals, and to generate meter reading values and to use the transmitter to transmit the meter reading values; and

a pulse detector configured to detect magnetic pulses produced by a water meter, wherein the processor is connected to receive an output of the pulse detector and programmed to generate meter reading values based on the output of the pulse detector.

15. The vibration recorder of claim 14 wherein the processor is programmed to determine a usage activity pattern based on the output of the pulse detector.