Patent Document

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/485,465 filed Jul. 8, 2003 and titled “Installation of Service Connections for Sensors and Transmitters in Buried Water Pipes.” U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/485,465 filed Jul. 8, 2003 and titled “Installation of Service Connections for Sensors and Transmitters in Buried Water Pipes” is incorporated herein by this reference. 

   The United States Government has rights in this invention pursuant to Contract No. W-7405-ENG-48 between the United States Department of Energy and the University of California for the operation of Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. 

   BACKGROUND 
   1. Field of Endeavor 
   The present invention relates to buried pipelines and more particularly to a system for installation of service connections in buried pipelines. 
   2. State of Technology 
   A news release on Nov. 26, 2001,  Water Supplies Need Better Protection  by Richard G. Luthy, Copyright© 2003 National Academy of Sciences, provides the following state of technology information, “The United States&#39; water supply systems are among the greatest engineering accomplishments of the past century. Large investments by local, state, and federal government agencies led to many improvements in the supply, treatment, and distribution of water. The payoff has been great strides in improving public health. Protecting water sources and installing treatment plants virtually eliminated the most deadly waterborne diseases such as typhoid and cholera. Today, we enjoy the safest drinking water in the world. But since the terrorist acts on September 11, questions have arisen about the vulnerability of our water systems to deliberate attacks. In addition, many components are aging and need replacement. Thus, in the context of today&#39;s war on terrorism, both the infrastructure and protection of water systems must be considered in a new light. Safeguarding water supplies from sabotage will require engineering analysis and problem-solving, scientific advances, and evaluation of institutional arrangements and water policies. Top priority should be given to protecting physical water storage and transmission structures that serve large populations. Many dams, aqueducts, and pumping stations that capture and convey water over long distances are especially vulnerable to physical damage and would be difficult to replace.” 
   United States Patent Application No. 2002/0189362 by Vladimir Havlena for communication for water distribution networks, published Dec. 19, 2002, provides the following state of technology information, “Control of processes is a broad general concern for every industry, particularly where fluids such as water are distributed in a network of pipes, vessels, containers and tanks. Often it is necessary to know conditions at various remote locations in a process in order to control the overall operation effectiveness and efficiency of production. One particular industry that requires significant control and which presently does not have adequate abilities for this goal is the water distribution networks that bring potable water from water supply sources and water treatment plants providing these water supply sources. It is well recognized that interruption of fluid flow in systems such as water supply systems needs to be minimized to identify and repair any interruption, such as by a pipe rupture or puncture, or by blockage of the line of flow.” 
   SUMMARY 
   Features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description. Applicants are providing this description, which includes drawings and examples of specific embodiments, to give a broad representation of the invention. Various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this description and by practice of the invention. The scope of the invention is not intended to be limited to the particular forms disclosed and the invention covers all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the claims. 
   The present invention provides a system for installing warning units in a buried pipeline. A small hole is drilled in the ground to the pipeline. A collar is affixed to one of the pipes of the pipeline. A valve with an internal passage is connected to the collar. A hole is drilled in the pipe. A warning unit is installed in the pipe by moving the warning unit through the internal passage, the collar, and the hole in the pipe. In one embodiment of the present invention the warning unit is a sensor. In another embodiment of the present invention the warning unit is a transmitter. In another embodiment of the present invention the warning unit is a receiver. The present invention present invention can be used to install water quality monitoring sensors into buried water pipes or the present invention can be used to install a service connection for any purpose. 
   The invention is susceptible to modifications and alternative forms. Specific embodiments are shown by way of example. It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the particular forms disclosed. The invention covers all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the claims. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated into and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate specific embodiments of the invention and, together with the general description of the invention given above, and the detailed description of the specific embodiments, serve to explain the principles of the invention. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates an embodiment of a service connection system constructed in accordance with the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates an embodiment of a service connection system that is illustrated in connection with a water distribution early warning system for warning of contamination. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Referring now to the drawings, to the following detailed description, and to incorporated materials, detailed information about the invention is provided including the description of specific embodiments. The detailed description serves to explain the principles of the invention. The invention is susceptible to modifications and alternative forms. The invention is not limited to the particular forms disclosed. The invention covers all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the claims. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 1 , an embodiment of a service connection system constructed in accordance with the present invention is illustrated. The system is designated generally by the reference numeral  100 . The system  100  provides an inexpensive method of installing a warning unit such as water monitoring sensors, transmitters, or receivers into a water distribution network. 
   A hole  101  substantially smaller than a person can fit into is drilled from the ground surface  102  above a pipe  103  to the upper surface  104  of the pipe  103 . A drilling collar/pipe reinforcement fitting  105  is affixed to the pipe  103  with a waterproof glue. A combination shutoff valve/clamp  106  is screwed into the collar  105 . A hole  107  is drilled into the pipe  103  through a valve  108 . The drill is removed and the valve  108  closed. Clamps  112  are engaged by screwing the combination valve/clamp first in and then out to provide a positive lock of the fixture to the pipe. The compression fitting  106  is then tightened by turning collar  109  to provide a watertight seal. 
   A sensor/transmitter  110  is positioned in the passage above the valve  108 . The valve  108  is opened and the sensor/transmitter  110  is moved into place inside the pipe  103 . A compression seal  111  locks the sensor/transmitter  110  in place in the pipe  103  and provides a watertight seal. 
   The system  100  provides a fitting  106  that enables a warning unit such as sensor/transmitter  110  to be installed into a buried pipe  103  without extensive excavation. The system  100  can be used in installing water quality monitoring sensors into buried water pipes. The system  100  can also be used to install a service connection for any purpose. The system  100  can be used to install connections in any buried fluid distribution system with minimal excavation. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 2 , an embodiment of service connection system is illustrated in connection with a water distribution early warning system for warning of contamination. The contamination can be unauthorized contamination or accidental contamination. This embodiment is designated generally by the reference numeral  200 . 
   Water flows from a water source  208  through pipes  203 . By way of example, the water source  208  can be a treated (e.g., chlorinated, filtered) water municipal distribution system. A news release on Nov. 26, 2001,  Water Supplies Need Better Protection  by Richard G. Luthy, Copyright© 2003 National Academy of Sciences, provides a warning that, “since the terrorist acts on September 11, questions have arisen about the vulnerability of our water systems to deliberate attacks. In addition, many components are aging and need replacement. Thus, in the context of today&#39;s war on terrorism, both the infrastructure and protection of water systems must be considered in a new light. Safeguarding water supplies from sabotage will require engineering analysis and problem-solving, scientific advances, and evaluation of institutional arrangements and water policies. Top priority should be given to protecting physical water storage and transmission structures that serve large populations. Many dams, aqueducts, and pumping stations that capture and convey water over long distances are especially vulnerable to physical damage and would be difficult to replace.” 
   The system  200  includes an array of autonomous sensors/communicators  201  that are exposed to water flow  210  that flows through the pipes  204  from the water source  208 . The array of autonomous sensors/communicators  201  detects, for example, the loss of chlorination shield upon any introduction of non-specific biological or chemical reducing agents  202  into the water  210 . Any compact sensor to detect any water property can be used. Each sensor communicates by emitting acoustic signal burst  209 , using the pipes  203  as wave-guides or channels. The preexisting Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition Systems (SCADAS)  205  receive the signal  209  and communicate by radio  206  to water management  207  where appropriate action can be taken. 
   The sensors/communicators  201  communicate by emitting acoustic signal bursts  209 , using the pipes  204  as wave-guides or channels. The Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition Systems (SCADAS)  205  receive the signal  209  and communicate by radio  206  to water management  207 . Systems for providing communication through fluid filled pipes are known, for example, various systems are shown in U.S. patent application No. 2002/0189362 published Dec. 19, 2002 and International Patent Application No. WO 02/103303 published Dec. 27, 2002. Both patent applications are owned by Honeywell International Inc. and were invented by Vladimar Havlena. The disclosures of U.S. patent application No. 2002/0189362 published Dec. 19, 2002 and International Patent Application No. WO 02/103303 published Dec. 27, 2002 are incorporated herein by this reference. 
   The system  200  can detect gross biological or chemical contamination, or agent that would defeat of the chlorination shield using a reducing agent (e.g., glucose, ascorbate, thiosulfate, hyposulfite, or ferrocyanide, and many other common reducing agents) preliminary to the introduction of biological or chemical agent that might be destroyed by the ca. 2 ppm ambient chlorine or chlorine-equivalent concentration. In addition to the oxidation potential and pH sensing, the system  200  has applicability and use for: elemental chlorine, chloramines, oxidative oxy-halogen compounds, ozone, oxygen, peroxydisulfate, peroxymonosulfate; strong reducing agents including hyposulfite, thiosulfate, ferrocyanide, sulfide, H 2 S; and specific ions and solid/liquid dispersions of cyanide, selenium, lead, mercury and arsenic containing compounds; specific nerve and blistering agents including but not necessarily limited to VX, Lewisite, G-agents, phosgene, and mustard gases; and radiological sources including actinides and radioactive isotopes of iodine, cesium, strontium, thorium and cobalt. The sensors/communicators  201  may include specific sensors for biological materials, biochemicals or live, dead or sporulated bacteriological, viral or microbial organisms. 
   The system  200  provides an inexpensive distributed sensor network that can help assure the water quality in water distribution systems. The system  200  can be installed in existing pipes. The sensors/communicators  201  are installed by digging a hole substantially smaller than a person can fit into from the ground surface above the pipes  204  to the upper surface of the pipes  204 . A drilling collar/pipe reinforcement fitting is affixed to the pipe  204  with a waterproof glue, and a combination shutoff valve/clamp is screwed into the collar. A hole is drilled into the pipe  204  through the open valve, the drill removed, and the shutoff valve closed. Clamps are engaged by screwing the combination valve/clamp first in and then out. A compression fitting  11  is then tightened to provide a watertight seal. The system  200  provides an inexpensive method of installing water monitoring sensors/communicators, transmitters, and receivers into a water distribution network. 
   The system  200  use in installing water quality monitoring sensors into buried water pipes. The system  200  can be used to install a service connection for any purpose. The system  200  can be used to install connections in any buried fluid distribution system with minimal excavation. 
   The system  200  is low in cost. The signal (e.g., a 32 bit binary code) is transmitted to pre-existing monitoring sites or Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition systems  205  that are linked to water management  207 . Each system is wireless and autonomous, being powered by a primary battery, micro fuel cell, or a secondary battery trickle charged by a thermoelectric device, solar cell, or a water-powered generator. 
   While the invention may be susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments have been shown by way of example in the drawings and have been described in detail herein. However, it should be understood that the invention is not intended to be limited to the particular forms disclosed. Rather, the invention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the following appended claims.

Technology Category: 2