Patent US4640121A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4640121A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method for finding a leak in pressure-carrying vessels and apparatus for carrying out the method
Assignee: Kraftwerk Union AG
•
Filing: 1984-09-28
•
Granted: 1987-02-03
•
Expires: 2004-09-28
Abstract
Abstract A method for determining the location of a leak in pressure-carrying vessels, including a plurality of probes spaced-apart on walls of the vessels for picking up high-frequency solid-conducted sound noises, and an amplifier connected to the probes, includes forming an r.m.s. value in the amplifier from the sound noises, comparing the r.m.s. value with a threshold value, issuing a signal if the r.m.s. value exceeds the threshold value, comparing the solid-conducted sound noises from at least two probes with each other for localizing the leak, placing the r.m.s. values of the solid-conducted sound noises in a relationship relative to the spacing between the probes based on the comparison, and determining the location of the leak as the location of the maximum solid-conducted sound noise from the relationship.
Inventors
- 👤 Wilhelm Leuker
- 👤 Gunter Stipsits
- 👤 Bernhard Thiel
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 15:36
CPC Classifications
G; G21; G21C; G21C17/00; G21C17/002; G01; G01M; G01M3/00; G01M3/02; G01M3/04; G01M3/24; G01M3/243; G01N; G01N29/00; G01N29/14; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E30/00; Y02E30/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
144 words
Method for determining the location of a leak in pressure-carrying vessels, including a plurality of probes spaced-apart on walls of the vessels for picking up high-frequency solid-conducted sound noises, and an amplifier connected to the probes, which comprises determining the solid-conducted sound noises by comparing with a background noise averaged over at lest ten minutes, forming an r.m.s. value in the amplifier from the sound noises, comparing the r.m.s. value with a threshold value, issuing a signal if the r.m.s. value exceeds the threshold value, comparing the solid-conducted sound noises from at least two probes with each other for localizing the leak, placing the r.m.s. value of the solid-conducted sound noises in a relationship relative to the spacing between the probes based on the comparison, and determining the location of the leak as the location of the maximum solid-conducted sound noise from the relationship.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
144 words
Method for determining the location of a leak in pressure-carrying vessels, including a plurality of probes spaced-apart on walls of the vessels for picking up high-frequency solid-conducted sound noises, and an amplifier connected to the probes, which comprises determining the solid-conducted sound noises by comparing with a background noise averaged over at lest ten minutes, forming an r.m.s. value in the amplifier from the sound noises, comparing the r.m.s. value with a threshold value, issuing a signal if the r.m.s. value exceeds the threshold value, comparing the solid-conducted sound noises from at least two probes with each other for localizing the leak, placing the r.m.s. value of the solid-conducted sound noises in a relationship relative to the spacing between the probes based on the comparison, and determining the location of the leak as the location of the maximum solid-conducted sound noise from the relationship.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
Method according to claim 1, which comprises digitizing the solid-conducted sound noises for the comparison.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
Method according to claim 1, which comprises interconnecting at least three probes through a ring line, and exciting two alarms through the ring line.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
Method according to claim 1, which comprises comparing the comparison with a fixed upper threshold, a lower threshold and an upper sliding threshold.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
Method according to claim 1, which comprises exciting the probes at defined time intervals with a given sound signal, and calibrating the probes by means of the excitation.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
Method according to claim 5, which comprises exciting the calibrated probes with a spatially defined sound signal, and localizing the point of excitation.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
Method according to claim 1, including a main coolant pump of a nuclear reactor connected to the vessels, which comprises shutting off the main coolant pump during the determination of the solid-conducted sound noises.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
143 words
Method for determining the location of a leak in pressure-carrying vessels, including a plurality of probes spaced-apart on walls of the vessels for picking up high-frequency solid-conducted sound noises, and an amplifier connected to the probes, which comprises forming an r.m.s. value in the amplifier from the sound noises, comparing the r.m.s. value with a threshold value, issuing a signal if the r.m.s. value exceeds the threshold value, comparing the solid-conducted sound noises from at least two probes with each other for localizing the leak, carrying out the comparison separately for different frequencies, averaging the location determined by the separate comparisons, placing the r.m.s. value of the solid-conducted sound noises in a relationship relative to the spacing between the probes based on the comparison, and determining the location of the leak as the location of the maximum solid-conducted sound noise from the relationship.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
143 words
Method for determining the location of a leak in pressure-carrying vessels, including a plurality of probes spaced-apart on walls of the vessels for picking up high-frequency solid-conducted sound noises, and an amplifier connected to the probes, which comprises forming an r.m.s. value in the amplifier from the sound noises, comparing the r.m.s. value with a threshold value, issuing a signal if the r.m.s. value exceeds the threshold value, comparing the solid-conducted sound noises from at least two probes with each other for localizing the leak, carrying out the comparison separately for different frequencies, averaging the location determined by the separate comparisons, placing the r.m.s. value of the solid-conducted sound noises in a relationship relative to the spacing between the probes based on the comparison, and determining the location of the leak as the location of the maximum solid-conducted sound noise from the relationship.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
80 words
Apparatus for determining the location of a leak in pressure-carrying vessels, comprising a plurality of probes with outputs including piezoelectric pickups spaced apart on walls of the vessels for picking up high-frequency solid-conducted sound noises, an amplifier connected to the probes for forming an r.m.s. value from the sound noises, a ring line interconnecting said outputs of said probes, and a head station connected to said ring line, said head station including at least one memory forming a long-term average.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
80 words
Apparatus for determining the location of a leak in pressure-carrying vessels, comprising a plurality of probes with outputs including piezoelectric pickups spaced apart on walls of the vessels for picking up high-frequency solid-conducted sound noises, an amplifier connected to the probes for forming an r.m.s. value from the sound noises, a ring line interconnecting said outputs of said probes, and a head station connected to said ring line, said head station including at least one memory forming a long-term average.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said ring line includes two stations connected to said outputs of said probes.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
14 words
Apparatus according to claim 9, including filters connected to said pickups for frequency selection.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
Apparatus according to claim 9, including a transmitter disposed at the vessel for a calibration signal.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
17 words
Apparatus according to claim 12, including another transmitter for a test signal with a spatially defined position.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
186 words
Apparatus for determining the location of a leak in pressure-carrying vessels, comprising a plurality of probes with outputs including piezoelectric pickups spaced apart on walls of the vessels for picking up high-frequency solid-conducted sound noises, an amplifier connected to the probes for forming an r.m.s. value from the sound noises, means connected to said amplifier for comparing the r.m.s. value with a threshold value and issuing a signal if the threshold value is exceeded by the r.m.s. value, means connected to said amplifier for comparing the solid-conducted sound noises from at least two probes with each other for localizing the leak, means connected to said comparing means for placing the r.m.s. values of the solid-conducted sound noises in a relationship relative to the spacing between said probes based on the comparison, means connected to said placing means for determining the location of the leak as the location of the maximum solid-conducted sound noise from the relationship, a ring line interconnecting said outputs of said probes, and a head station connected to said ring line, said head station including at least one memory forming a long-term average.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
186 words
Apparatus for determining the location of a leak in pressure-carrying vessels, comprising a plurality of probes with outputs including piezoelectric pickups spaced apart on walls of the vessels for picking up high-frequency solid-conducted sound noises, an amplifier connected to the probes for forming an r.m.s. value from the sound noises, means connected to said amplifier for comparing the r.m.s. value with a threshold value and issuing a signal if the threshold value is exceeded by the r.m.s. value, means connected to said amplifier for comparing the solid-conducted sound noises from at least two probes with each other for localizing the leak, means connected to said comparing means for placing the r.m.s. values of the solid-conducted sound noises in a relationship relative to the spacing between said probes based on the comparison, means connected to said placing means for determining the location of the leak as the location of the maximum solid-conducted sound noise from the relationship, a ring line interconnecting said outputs of said probes, and a head station connected to said ring line, said head station including at least one memory forming a long-term average.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
19 words
Apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said ring line includes two stations connected to said outputs of said probes.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
14 words
Apparatus according to claim 14, including filters connected to said pickups for frequency selection.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
16 words
Apparatus according to claim 14, including a transmitter disposed at the vessel for a calibration signal.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
17 words
Apparatus according to claim 17, including another transmitter for a test signal with a spatially defined position.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3713127A
Cited
DE2848702A1
Cited
US4289019A
Cited
JPS5687835A
Cited
SU953479A2
Cited
US4457163A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1990-02-02 | 1990-08-04 | 1991-02-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-02-02 | 1994-08-04 | 1995-02-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-02-02 | 1998-08-04 | 1999-02-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |