Leak detection band

• US 8,289,173 B2
• Filed: 02/22/2010
• Issued: 10/16/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals (Government of Saudi Arabia)
• Original Assignee: King Fahd University Of Petroleum And Minerals
• Inventors: Ben-Mansour, Rached, Mezghani, Khaled
• Primary Examiner(s): La, Anh V
• Application Number:
  US12/656,989
• Publication Number:
  US 20110205072A1
• Time in Patent Office: 967 Days
• Field of Search: 340/605, 340/525, 340/572.1, 340/572.8, 73/491, 73/46, 73/310.5, 73/232, 73/405.R, 73/495, 138/104, 137/15.11
• US Class Current: 340/605
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 21/065 tightened by tangentially-arranged threaded pins
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 2201/30 Detecting leaks
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/183 for pipe joints or seals

Abstract

The leak detection band is mounted about a pipe joint for generating an alert signal when a liquid leak from the pipe joint is detected. The leak detection band includes an annular mount having a pair of opposed annular edges and an annular recess formed in an interior surface thereof adjacent one of the annular edges. A transmitter is attached to the annular mount, and a pair of substantially semicircular leads are provided. Each lead has opposed first and second ends and a central portion. The first ends are electrically connected to the transmitter. The second ends and central portions are disposed within the recess so that the second ends are mounted opposite one another with a gap being formed therebetween. When a conductive liquid leaks from the pipe joint, the conductive liquid fills the gap, closing a transmitting circuit, causing the transmitter to transmit an alert signal.

Claims

1. A leak detection band, comprising:

an annular mount adapted for mounting about a pipe joint, the annular mount having a pair of opposed annular edges and an annular recess formed in an interior surface of the annular mount adjacent one of the annular edges;

a transmitter attached to the annular mount; and

a pair of substantially semicircular leads, each of the leads having opposed first and second ends and a central portion, the first ends being electrically connected to the transmitter, the second ends and central portions being disposed within the annular recess and being circumferentially aligned with respect to the annular recess, with the second ends being positioned opposite one another and separated circumferentially with respect to the annular mount by an open gap forming an open circuit so that when water leaks from the pipe joint, the water closes the open circuit, causing a circuit in the transmitter to transmit an alert signal.

2. The leak detection band as recited in claim 1, wherein said transmitter comprises:

a radio frequency identification chip;

a battery in electrical communication with the radio frequency identification chip; and

an antenna in electrical communication with the radio frequency identification chip.

3. The leak detection band as recited in claim 1, wherein said annular mount has a slit formed therethrough, the slit extending substantially along an axial direction.

4. The leak detection band as recited in claim 3, further comprising means for securing said annular mount about the pipe joint.

5. The leak detection band as recited in claim 1, wherein an opening is formed through said annular mount, said transmitter secured in the opening.

6. The leak detection band as recited in claim 1, wherein said annular mount has a secondary annular recess formed in the interior surface, the second annular recess forming a stop for a fitting at an end of a pipe forming part of the pipe joint.

7. The leak detection band as recited in claim 6, wherein the pipe joint, the annular recess and the adjacent annular edge define an axially extending, open liquid leak channel therebetween.

8. The leak detection band as recited in claim 7, wherein the pair of substantially semicircular leads extend into the liquid leak channel.

9. A leak detection band, comprising:

a band clamp adapted for mounting about a pipe joint, the band clamp having a pair of opposed annular edges, a first annular recess being formed in an interior surface of said band clamp adjacent one of the annular edges thereof, a second annular recess being formed in the interior surface of said band clamp in the opposite annular edge adapted for receiving a fitting at an end of one of the pipes;

a transmitter attached to the band clamp; and

a pair of substantially semicircular leads, each of the leads having opposed first and second ends and a central portion, the first ends being electrically connected to a circuit in the transmitter, the second ends and central portions being disposed within the annular recess and being circumferentially aligned with respect to the annular recess, so that the second ends are disposed opposite one another within the annular recess and separated circumferentially with respect to the band clamp by an open gap forming an open in the circuit so that when water leaks from the pipe joint, the water fills the gap formed between the second ends of the pair of substantially semicircular leads, thus closing a transmitting circuit and causing said transmitter to transmit an alert signal.

10. The leak detection band as recited in claim 9, wherein said transmitter comprises:

a radio frequency identification chip;

a battery in electrical communication with the radio frequency identification chip; and

an antenna in electrical communication with the radio frequency identification chip.

11. The leak detection band as recited in claim 9, further comprising means for securing said band clamp about the pipe joint.

12. The leak detection band as recited in claim 9, wherein said band clamp has a secondary annular recess formed in the interior surface, the second annular recess forming a stop for a fitting at an end of a pipe forming part of the pipe joint.

13. The leak detection band as recited in claim 12, wherein the pipe joint, the annular recess and the adjacent annular edge define an axially extending, open liquid leak channel therebetween.

14. The leak detection band as recited in claim 13, wherein the pair of substantially semicircular leads extend into the liquid leak channel.

15. A leak detection band, consisting of:

an annular mount adapted for mounting about a pipe joint, the annular mount having a pair of opposed annular edges and an annular recess formed in an interior surface of the annular mount adjacent one of the annular edges;

a transmitter attached to the annular mount; and

a pair of substantially semicircular leads, each of the leads having opposed first and second ends and a central portion, the first ends being electrically connected to the transmitter, the second ends and central portions being disposed within the annular recess and being circumferentially aligned with respect to the annular recess, with the second ends being positioned opposite one another and separated circumferentially with respect to the annular mount by an open gap forming an open circuit so that when water leaks from the pipe joint, the water closes the open circuit, causing a circuit in the transmitter to transmit an alert signal.