Fire hydrant leak detector

• US 9,291,520 B2
• Filed: 06/08/2012
• Issued: 03/22/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mueller International LLC (Mueller Water Products Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Mueller International LLC (Mueller Water Products Incorporated)
• Inventors: Fleury, Leo W. Jr., Dintakurti, Ganapathi Deva Varma, Richarz, Werner Guenther, Williams, James O., Yusuf, Shabbir, Hiller, Timothy Scott Edward, Mercer, Steven James, Janhunen, Stefan Erik
• Primary Examiner(s): McNally, Kerri
• Application Number:
  US13/492,790
• Publication Number:
  US 20130049968A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,383 Days
• Field of Search: 340/603, 340/604, 340/605, 239/71, 239/72, 347/4, 73/40, 73/405, 73/407
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B26F 1/14 Punching tools; Punching dies
• CPC Class Codes: E03B 7/003 Arrangement for testing of watertightness of water supply conduits
• CPC Class Codes: E03B 7/071 Arrangement of safety devices in domestic pipe systems, e.g. devices for automatic shut-off
• CPC Class Codes: E03B 9/02 Hydrants; Arrangements of valves therein; Keys for hydrants
• CPC Class Codes: E03B 9/06 Covers
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 17/00 Methods or apparatus for determining the capacity of containers or cavities, or the volume of solid bodies measuring linear dimensions to determine volume G01B
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/00 Investigating fluid-tightness of structures
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/24 using infrasonic, sonic, or ultrasonic vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/243 for pipes
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/225 used in level-measurement devices, e.g. for level gauge measurement
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2291 used in bluetooth or WI-FI devices of Wireless Local Area Networks [WLAN] H01Q1/241 takes precedence; WLAN in general H04W
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/38 formed by a conductive layer on an insulating support patch antennas H01Q9/0407; microstrip dipole antennas H01Q9/065; microstrip slot antennas H01Q13/106; transmission line microstrip antennas H01Q13/206; manufacturing reflecting surfaces using insulating material for supporting the reflecting surface H01Q15/142
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/42 Housings not intimately mechanically associated with radiating elements, e.g. radome
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 20/15 Leakage reduction or detection in water storage or distribution
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/04 Processes

Abstract

A leak detection system includes a housing for installation within a hydrant; at least one leak detection sensor within the housing; and a transmitter circuit in communication with the at least one leak detection sensor for communicating leak detection data.

Claims

1. A leak detection system comprising:

a housing installed within a fire hydrant;

at least one leak detection sensor contained within the housing;

a transmitter circuit mounted on a first circuit board contained within the housing, the transmitter circuit being in communication with the at least one leak detection sensor for communicating leak detection data; and

a digital signal processing circuit mounted on a second circuit board contained within the housing, the digital signal processing circuit being in communication with the at least one leak detection sensor and the transmitter circuit.

2. The leak detection system of claim 1, wherein the digital signal processing circuit includes a logger circuit.

3. The leak detection system of claim 1, wherein each at least one leak detection sensor includes piezoelectric material.

4. The leak detection system of claim 1, wherein each at least one leak detection sensor is fastened to the housing.

5. The leak detection system of claim 1, wherein the at least one leak detection sensor includes four leak detection sensors.

6. The leak detection system of claim 5, wherein one bolt fastens the four leak detection sensors to the housing.

7. The leak detection system of claim 6, wherein the one bolt is fastened to one post.

8. The leak detection system of claim 5, wherein each leak detection sensor is fastened to one post of the housing.

9. The leak detection system of claim 5, wherein the leak detection sensors sense for leak data periodically.

10. The leak detection system of claim 1, wherein the at least one leak detection sensor includes five leak detection sensors.

11. The leak detection system of claim 10, wherein four leak detection sensors sense for leak data periodically and wherein one leak detection sensor senses for pipe burst and tampering continuously.

12. The leak detection system of claim 10, wherein four leak detection sensors are coupled together and to the housing and wherein one leak detection sensor is coupled alone to the housing.

13. The leak detection system of claim 10, wherein each leak detection sensor is coupled alone to the housing.

14. The leak detection system of claim 10, wherein at least one leak detection sensor is coupled to the housing and to at least one other leak detection sensor and wherein at least one leak detection sensor is coupled alone to the housing.

15. The leak detection system of claim 1, wherein at least one leak detection sensor is dampened.

16. The leak detection system of claim 15, wherein the at least one leak detection sensor is dampened by a coating.

17. The leak detection system of claim 16, wherein the coating is Loctite RTV 5140.

18. The leak detection system of claim 16, wherein the coating is Loctite Adhesive 5150.

19. The leak detection system of claim 15, wherein the at least one leak detection sensor is dampened by an adhesive.

20. The leak detection system of claim 19, wherein the adhesive connects at least one leak detection sensor to at least one other leak detection sensor.

21. A method of detecting leaks in a piping system, the method comprising:

installing a leak detector within a fire hydrant, the leak detector including at least one leak detection sensor, a communication circuit mounted on a first circuit board, and a digital signal processing circuit mounted on a second circuit board;

receiving a signal from the leak detector, the signal including leak detection data;

interpreting the leak detection data regarding the presence of a leak in the piping system; and

determining when the leak detection data indicates that the presence of a leak has been sensed.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising logging the leak detection data received from the leak detector.

23. The method of claim 21, further comprising processing the leak detection data received from the leak detector.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein the signal from the leak detector includes an indication that a leak has been detected.

25. The method of claim 21, wherein the leak detection data is amplified.

26. The method of claim 21, wherein the leak detector includes a manual summer and wherein the leak detection data is summed by the manual summer.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the step of determining when the leak detection data indicates that the presence of the leak has been sensed includes the step of summing the leak detection data.

28. The method of claim 21, wherein the leak detection data is unprocessed.