Patent ID: 8109131
Filing Date: 2012-02-07
Classification: G01D,G01F,G08B,H01Q,Y02B,Y04S

Abstract:
1. A method of detecting a leak in a liquid consumption system, comprising the following steps: providing a meter housing having a liquid inlet opening, a liquid outlet opening, a measuring chamber between, and in fluid communication with, the liquid inlet and the liquid outlet openings, and a cavity having an access opening; providing a sealed meter register in the access opening of the meter housing, wherein the meter register comprises a microprocessor and the meter register is magnetically coupled with the measuring chamber to coact with the measuring chamber to receive liquid flow information from the measuring chamber, wherein the microprocessor of the meter register receives the liquid flow information and measures the amount of liquid flowing through the measuring chamber as a function of time defined as a measured flow rate; passing a liquid from a liquid source, through the liquid inlet opening of the meter, through the measuring chamber of the meter and through the liquid outlet opening of the meter to the liquid consumption system, wherein as the liquid moves though the measuring chamber, the measuring chamber generates the liquid flow information, and the microprocessor provides the measured flow rate; and generating a signal indicating a leak when the measured flow rate is greater than zero and when one of the following events occurs: (i) the measured flow rate remains constant over a fixed period of time, or (ii) the measured flow rate exceeds a threshold flow rate value.