Patent ID: 6070452
Filing Date: 2000-06-06
Classification: G01M

Abstract:
A pipe leak locating system for use with a pipe with a first inlet, an outlet and a second inlet;a balloon capable of being inflated to block the pipe at the location of a leak in the pipe constructed from a flexible elastomeric material and shaped to define a hemispherical outboard end, a cylindrical intermediate portion without any internal support rods, tubes, bars or spring elements, a hemispherical inboard end and a tubular conduit, the tubular conduit having a fitting mounted thereon with a first portion with a first diameter and a plurality of annular protrusions formed thereon for engaging the tubular conduit and a second connector portion with a second diameter greater than the first diameter with a plurality of threaded grooves formed in an inner surface thereof;a hand pump with a flexible outlet and a hand lever for generating pressurized air at the outlet upon the reciprocation of the hand pump;an elongated flexible tube with a pair of ends each having a mating connector fitting mounted thereon with a plurality of threaded grooves formed in an outer surface thereof, the flexible tube having a flexible perimeter wall with an outer surface, the flexible tube designed and manipulated to allow a lengthwise insertion thru a pipe inlet while having a length of 75 feet for allowing capability of reaching into the pipes where a great distance exists between the first inlet and outlet;the flexible tube having measurement indicia marked directly on the outer surface of the perimeter wall thereof, the measurement indicia extending along an entire length of the flexible tube starting from a first of the ends of the flexible tube and ending at a second of the ends of the flexible tube so as to provide a ruled scale fixed in position along the full length of said flexible tube against which measurements of relative movement between the flexible tube and pipe during said insertion can be viewed directly, easily and accurately, wherein a first end of the flexible tube is removably coupled to the balloon and a second end is removably coupled to the outlet of the hand pump, wherein the balloon in a deflated condition may be situated within the first inlet of the pipe, then moved along a fractional length of the pipe, and inflated by action if said hand lever for sealing the same balloon across an inner perimeter wall of said pipe at a predetermined distance from the first inlet; andan air generator mountable to the second inlet of the pipe with a pressure gauge coupled therebetween for detecting the release of pressure within the pipe between the second inlet and the balloon inflated, wherein the indicia of the movable flexible tube is used to determine a distance into the pipe from the first inlet that the leak is positioned.