Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
144 words
A system for detecting ruptures in a pipeline comprising: fluid flow responsive means coupled to said pipeline for generating signals proportional to the rate of fluid flow in said pipeline, first logic means coupled to said fluid flow responsive means for generating an output signal only if fluid flow in said pipeline is increasing at a rate greater than a predetermined rate, fluid pressure responsive means coupled to said pipeline for generating signals proportional to fluid pressure within said pipeline, second logic means coupled to said fluid pressure responsive means for generating an output signal only if pressure in said pipeline is decreasing at a rate greater than a predetermined rate; and, control means coupled to said first and second logic means for generating a control signal in response to the simultaneous presence of output signals from both said first and second logic means.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
144 words
A system for detecting ruptures in a pipeline comprising: fluid flow responsive means coupled to said pipeline for generating signals proportional to the rate of fluid flow in said pipeline, first logic means coupled to said fluid flow responsive means for generating an output signal only if fluid flow in said pipeline is increasing at a rate greater than a predetermined rate, fluid pressure responsive means coupled to said pipeline for generating signals proportional to fluid pressure within said pipeline, second logic means coupled to said fluid pressure responsive means for generating an output signal only if pressure in said pipeline is decreasing at a rate greater than a predetermined rate; and, control means coupled to said first and second logic means for generating a control signal in response to the simultaneous presence of output signals from both said first and second logic means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
A system for detecting ruptures in a pipeline as in claim 1, further comprising: means coupled to said control means and to said pipeline for cutting off fluid flow in said pipeline in response to the generation of said control signal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
A system for detecting ruptures in a pipeline as in claim 1, wherein: said control means comprises an AND gate including two series connected switching means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
A system for detecting ruptures in a pipeline as in claim 1, further comprising: alarm means coupled to said control means for producing an alarm signal in response to the generation of said control signal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
67 words
A system for detecting ruptures in a pipeline as in claim 1, wherein: said first logic means comprises memory means coupled to said fluid flow responsive means for storing an output signal thereof for a predetermined interval; and, comparator means coupled to said memory means and to said fluid flow responsive means for comparing said stored signal with another output signal from said fluid flow responsive means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
67 words
A system for detecting ruptures in a pipeline as in claim 5, wherein: said second logic means comprises memory means coupled to said fluid pressure responsive means for storing an output signal thereof for a predetermined interval; and, comparator means coupled to said memory means and to said fluid pressure responsive means for comparing said stored signal with another output signal from said fluid pressure responsive means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
63 words
A system for detecting ruptures in a pipeline as in claim 5, wherein: said first memory means includes a memory circuit; and, sampling means coupled to said memory circuit and to said fluid flow responsive means for clearing and reloading said memory circuit and for transferring said stored signal from said first memory means to said comparator means at a predetermined time interval.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
63 words
A system for detecting ruptures in a pipeline as in claim 5, wherein: said second memory means includes a memory circuit; and, sampling means coupled to said memory circuit and to said fluid pressure responsive means for clearing and reloading said memory circuit and for transferring said stored signal from said second memory means to said comparator means at a predetermined time interval.