Systems and methods for detecting and communicating moisture leaks in fluid conduits

• US 8,746,041 B2
• Filed: 01/18/2012
• Issued: 06/10/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Benjamin Glace, Hess, Mark A., Joseph J. Howard
• Original Assignee: Benjamin Glace, Hess, Mark A., Joseph J. Howard
• Inventors: Howard, Joseph J., Hess, Mark A., Glace, Benjamin
• Primary Examiner(s): Williams, Hezron E
• Assistant Examiner(s): MERCADO, ALEXANDER A
• Application Number:
  US13/353,149
• Publication Number:
  US 20130180318A1
• Time in Patent Office: 874 Days
• Field of Search: 73/405.R, 73/46
• US Class Current: 73/46
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 2201/30 Detecting leaks
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/022 Test plugs for closing off the end of a pipe
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/04 by detecting the presence of fluid at the leakage point
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/18 for pipes, cables or tubes; for pipe joints or seals; for valves; for welds; for containers, e.g. radiators

Abstract

A system for detecting and communicating moisture leaking from a fluid conduit of the type comprising a fitting configured to mate with the fluid conduit, the fitting including an outer surface including an outer edge portion that is enclosed within the fluid conduit when positioning the fluid conduit over at least a portion of the outer surface, wherein the system includes a sensor for detecting moisture, the sensor being positioned proximate to the outer edge portion of the fitting and configured to generate a signal representing a result of moisture detection, and a receiver configured to receive the signal generated by the sensor. The system may include a communication circuit to provide wired or wireless communication between the sensor and the receiver. Other systems and method for detecting and communicating moisture leakage are further disclosed herein.

Claims

1. A system for detecting moisture leaking from a fluid conduit of the type comprising a fitting configured to mate with the fluid conduit, the fitting including an outer surface including an outer edge portion that is enclosed within the fluid conduit when positioning the fluid conduit over at least a portion of the outer surface, the system comprising:

a sensor for detecting moisture, the sensor being positioned proximate to the outer edge portion of the fitting and configured to generate a signal representing a result of moisture detection, the sensor including a wrapped portion configured to extend around a circumference of the outer surface of the fitting at the outer edge portion of the fitting, the wrapped portion having a capillary layer, two conductive traces disposed on the capillary layer, the two conductive traces extending around an entire circumference of the wrapped portion, and a substrate layer configured to bond the wrapped portion of the sensor to the outer edge portion of the fitting; and

a receiver configured to receive the signal generated by the sensor.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a communication circuit configured to connect the sensor to the receiver.

3. The system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the communication circuit is partially disposed on the outer surface of the fitting.

4. The system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the outer surface of the fitting further includes a channel extending along a length of the fitting, the channel being configured to retain an extended portion of the sensor that connects the sensor to the communication circuit.

5. The system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the communication circuit is configured to wirelessly communicate the result of moisture detection from the sensor to the receiver.

6. The system as claimed in claim 5, wherein the communication circuit is a radio frequency identification device.

7. The system as claimed in claim 5, wherein the communication circuit further includes a battery.

8. The system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the communication circuit is an integrated circuit wrapped around the outer surface of the fitting.

9. The system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the communication circuit is configured to wirelessly communicate the result of moisture detection over a wireless range.

10. The system as claimed in claim 9, further comprising a repeater placed within the wireless range of the communication circuit, the repeater being coupled wirelessly to the communication circuit and configured to increase the wireless range.

11. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the outer surface of the fitting is barbed.

12. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the capillary layer is made of a capillary material.

13. The system as claimed in claim 12, wherein the conductive traces are made of conductive ink printed on the capillary layer.

14. The system as claimed in claim 12, wherein the substrate layer is attached to the capillary layer to provide a protective backing.

15. The system as claimed in claim 14, the sensor further comprising an internal layer made of a non-conductive adhesive material to bond the capillary layer to the substrate layer.

16. The system as claimed in claim 15, further comprising an adhesive layer made of a non-conductive adhesive material to bond the substrate layer to the fitting.

17. The system as claimed in claim 12, the sensor further comprising a plurality of conductive trace protrusions extending from said two conductive traces and disposed on the capillary layer to increase the sensitivity of moisture detection.