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Title: Apparatus and method for detecting leaks in piping

Abstract

A method and device for detecting the location of leaks along a wall or piping system, preferably in double-walled piping. The apparatus comprises a sniffer probe, a rigid cord such as a length of tube attached to the probe on one end and extending out of the piping with the other end, a source of pressurized air and a source of helium. The method comprises guiding the sniffer probe into the inner pipe to its distal end, purging the inner pipe with pressurized air, filling the annulus defined between the inner and outer pipe with helium, and then detecting the presence of helium within the inner pipe with the probe as is pulled back through the inner pipe. The length of the tube at the point where a leak is detected determines the location of the leak in the pipe.

Inventors:
 [1]
  1. Aiken, SC
Issue Date:
Research Org.:
Savannah River Site (SRS), Aiken, SC (United States)
OSTI Identifier:
869668
Patent Number(s):
5375457
Assignee:
United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
Patent Classifications (CPCs):
G - PHYSICS G01 - MEASURING G01M - TESTING STATIC OR DYNAMIC BALANCE OF MACHINES OR STRUCTURES
DOE Contract Number:  
AC09-89SR18035
Resource Type:
Patent
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
apparatus; method; detecting; leaks; piping; device; location; wall; preferably; double-walled; comprises; sniffer; probe; rigid; cord; length; tube; attached; extending; source; pressurized; air; helium; guiding; inner; pipe; distal; purging; filling; annulus; defined; outer; presence; pulled; leak; detected; determines; outer pipe; annulus defined; inner pipe; pressurized air; method comprises; apparatus comprises; sniffer probe; apparatus comprise; method comprise; detecting leaks; /73/

Citation Formats

Trapp, Donald J. Apparatus and method for detecting leaks in piping. United States: N. p., 1994. Web.
Trapp, Donald J. Apparatus and method for detecting leaks in piping. United States.
Trapp, Donald J. Sat . "Apparatus and method for detecting leaks in piping". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/869668.
@article{osti_869668,
title = {Apparatus and method for detecting leaks in piping},
author = {Trapp, Donald J},
abstractNote = {A method and device for detecting the location of leaks along a wall or piping system, preferably in double-walled piping. The apparatus comprises a sniffer probe, a rigid cord such as a length of tube attached to the probe on one end and extending out of the piping with the other end, a source of pressurized air and a source of helium. The method comprises guiding the sniffer probe into the inner pipe to its distal end, purging the inner pipe with pressurized air, filling the annulus defined between the inner and outer pipe with helium, and then detecting the presence of helium within the inner pipe with the probe as is pulled back through the inner pipe. The length of the tube at the point where a leak is detected determines the location of the leak in the pipe.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {1994},
month = {1}
}