US4289019A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and means of passive detection of leaks in buried pipes
Assignee: United States Department of Energy
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Filing: 1979-10-30
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Granted: 1981-09-15
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Expires: 1999-10-30
Abstract
Abstract A method and means for passive detection of a leak in a buried pipe containing fluid under pressure includes a plurality of acoustic detectors that are placed in contact with the pipe. Noise produced by the leak is detected by the detectors, and the detected signals are correlated to locate the leak. In one embodiment of the invention two detectors are placed at different locations to locate a leak between them. In an alternate embodiment two detectors of different waves are placed at substantially the same location to determine the distance of the leak from the location.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas N. Claytor
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 00:29
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01M; G01M3/00; G01M3/02; G01M3/04; G01M3/24; G01M3/243
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
113 words
A method of detecting the location of a leak in a buried pipe that contains a fluid, the method comprising the steps of: detecting acoustic waves of a first particular type produced by the leak and propagated to a first location; detecting acoustic waves of a second particular type produced by the leak and propagated to a second location; transmitting the detected acoustic waves from the second location to the first location; and determining a cross-correlation between the detected acoustic waves from the first location and the detected acoustic waves from the second location; which cross-correlation is a measure of the location of the leak with respect to the first and second locations.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
113 words
A method of detecting the location of a leak in a buried pipe that contains a fluid, the method comprising the steps of: detecting acoustic waves of a first particular type produced by the leak and propagated to a first location; detecting acoustic waves of a second particular type produced by the leak and propagated to a second location; transmitting the detected acoustic waves from the second location to the first location; and determining a cross-correlation between the detected acoustic waves from the first location and the detected acoustic waves from the second location; which cross-correlation is a measure of the location of the leak with respect to the first and second locations.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the first and second particular types of acoustic waves are longitudinal acoustic waves.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the first and second particular types of acoustic waves are torsional acoustic waves.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
72 words
A method of detecting the location of a leak in a buried pipe that contains a fluid, the method comprising the steps of: detecting longitudinal acoustic waves at a measuring location; detecting torsional acoustic waves at the measuring location; and determining a cross-correlation between the detected longitudinal acoustic waves and the detected torsional acoustic waves, which cross-correlation provides a measure of the location of the leak with respect to the measuring location.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
72 words
A method of detecting the location of a leak in a buried pipe that contains a fluid, the method comprising the steps of: detecting longitudinal acoustic waves at a measuring location; detecting torsional acoustic waves at the measuring location; and determining a cross-correlation between the detected longitudinal acoustic waves and the detected torsional acoustic waves, which cross-correlation provides a measure of the location of the leak with respect to the measuring location.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
132 words
An apparatus for detecting a location of a leak in a buried pipe containing a fluid through the use of acoustical signals produced in the fluid by the escape of fluid at the leak, the apparatus comprising: a first detector of acoustic waves disposed in acoustical contact with the pipe at a first location; a second detector of acoustic waves disposed in acoustical contact with the pipe at a second location; means connected to the second detector for communicating a signal detected by the second detector to the first location; and means responsive to a signal from the first detector and to the communicated signal from the second detector for measuring cross-correlation between the signals, which cross-correlation is interpretable to indicate the distance of the leak from the first and second locations.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
132 words
An apparatus for detecting a location of a leak in a buried pipe containing a fluid through the use of acoustical signals produced in the fluid by the escape of fluid at the leak, the apparatus comprising: a first detector of acoustic waves disposed in acoustical contact with the pipe at a first location; a second detector of acoustic waves disposed in acoustical contact with the pipe at a second location; means connected to the second detector for communicating a signal detected by the second detector to the first location; and means responsive to a signal from the first detector and to the communicated signal from the second detector for measuring cross-correlation between the signals, which cross-correlation is interpretable to indicate the distance of the leak from the first and second locations.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the first and second detectors are detectors of longitudinal acoustic waves.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the first and second detectors are detectors of torsional acoustic waves.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the means for measuring cross-correlation comprise an electronic cross-correlator having a visual display.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
92 words
An apparatus for detecting a location of a leak in a buried pipe through the use of acoustical signals produced in the fluid by the escape of fluid at the leak, the apparatus comprising: a detector of longitudinal acoustic waves disposed at a measuring location; a detector of torsional acoustic waves disposed at the measuring location; and means connected to the detectors of longitudinal and torsional acoustic signals for obtaining a correlogram of signals detected by the detectors, which correlogram provides a measure of distance from the measuring location to the leak.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
92 words
An apparatus for detecting a location of a leak in a buried pipe through the use of acoustical signals produced in the fluid by the escape of fluid at the leak, the apparatus comprising: a detector of longitudinal acoustic waves disposed at a measuring location; a detector of torsional acoustic waves disposed at the measuring location; and means connected to the detectors of longitudinal and torsional acoustic signals for obtaining a correlogram of signals detected by the detectors, which correlogram provides a measure of distance from the measuring location to the leak.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1984-09-14 | 1985-03-16 | 1985-09-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1988-09-14 | 1989-03-16 | 1989-09-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1992-09-14 | 1993-03-16 | 1993-09-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |