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US 11,543,321 B2Granted
Methods and apparatus for leak detection from a thief hatch
AssigneeEmerson Process Management Regulator Technologies Tulsa, LLC
InventorsVlad Cristinel Hanceanu, Istvan Bartha, Silviu Vasile Rebreanu, Cristian Amza
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Abstract
Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed for leak detection from a thief hatch. An example thief hatch includes a vent control stem coupled to first and second sealing plates, the first and second sealing plates to control fluid flow through the thief hatch based on translation of the vent control stem, and an indicator extending from the vent control stem to provide a visual indication of a condition of the fluid flow.
Claims18
A thief hatch, comprising:
- a vent control stem coupled to first and second sealing plates, the first and second sealing plates to control fluid flow through the thief hatch based on translation of the vent control stem;
- and
- an indicator extending from the vent control stem to provide a first visual indication of a condition of the fluid flow, wherein:
- a first position of the indicator indicates fluid egress via the thief hatch;
- a second position of the indicator indicates atmospheric ingress via the thief hatch;
- and
- a third position of the indicator, located between the first position and the second position of the indicator, indicates the thief hatch is closed.
4 more elements
An apparatus, comprising:
- a tank including a fluid;
- and
- a thief hatch coupled to the tank;
- a vent control stem coupled to first and second sealing plates, the first and second sealing plates to control flow of the fluid through the thief hatch based on translation of the vent control stem;
- an indicator extending from the vent control stem to provide a first visual indication of a condition of the flow;
- a proximity sensor to detect a position of a portion of the indicator;
- a thief hatch leak analyzer communicatively coupled to the proximity sensor;
- and
- an infrared (IR) camera communicatively coupled to the thief hatch leak analyzer to detect fluid egress via the thief hatch.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.