Patent ID: 8250906

Claim:
A leak detector for use within a piping system, said leak detector comprising: a housing configured to be attached to a conduit; a guide movably seated within said housing, wherein said guide includes a plurality of axially extending ports; a ribbed valve that includes a plurality of radial ribs that are configured and arranged to extend into said axially extending ports of said guide, said ribbed valve also including an axially extending projection; a diaphragm plate including an aperture that slidably receives said axially extending projection of said ribbed valve; a biasing member seated within said leak detector, wherein said biasing member is operatively connected to an outlet side of said diaphragm plate and provides a biasing force thereto; and an annular diaphragm seated upon an inlet side of said diaphragm plate, wherein an outer circumferential portion of said diaphragm is sealingly connected to said housing, wherein an inner circumferential portion of said diaphragm contacts an outlet side of said ribbed valve in a no-flow state and said inner circumferential portion of said diaphragm is separated from the outlet side of said ribbed valve in a full-flow state, and further wherein axial movement within said leak detector activates a switch to indicate fluid flow.