Patent ID: 6957157

Claim:
A method for tracking vibrations on a pipeline network, the method comprising: installing multiple vibration recorders on the pipeline network, each recorder comprising a sensor, a timer, a processor, and a communication device; at each vibration recorder; receiving vibration signals from the sensor at programmed times under the control of the processor of the vibration recorder, and processing the received vibration signals with the processor of the vibration recorder; communicating processed vibrations signals from the vibration recorders to one or more reader devices using the communication devices of the vibration recorders; collecting the processed vibration signals from the one or more reader devices at a central computer system; and analyzing the collected processed vibration signals at the central computer system to determine abnormal vibration patterns and to obtain measures of any leaks present in the pipeline network, wherein a vibration recorder comprises a housing and installing the vibration recorder comprises securing the vibration recorder to a pipe of the pipeline network using one or more O-rings that extend around the pipe and engage the housing.