# US 12,000,801 B1 · Identifying material used in water pipes using acoustic wave analysis > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,000,801 B1 - Document ID: US12000801B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 18/332,071 - Filed: 2023-06-09 - Granted: 2024-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2023-06-09 - Assignees: Solinas Technologies Inc. - Applicants: Solinas Technologies Inc. - Inventors: Marc Bracken; Antonio Laranjo Da Costa; William Philip Maize; Declan Bracken - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12000801B1 ## CPC - G01N 29/46: by spectral analysis, e.g. Fourier analysis {or wavelet analysis (spectral signal processing per se G06F17/14)} - G01N 29/04: Analysing solids (using acoustic emission techniques G01N29/14) - G01N 29/045: {by imparting shocks to the workpiece and detecting the vibrations or the acoustic waves caused by the shocks (measuring resonant frequency G01H13/00; measuring strength properties by application of mechanical stress G01N3/00)} - G01N 29/12: by measuring frequency or resonance of acoustic waves {(measuring frequency or resonant frequency of mechanical vibrations or acoustic waves in general G01H1/06, G01H3/04, G01H13/00; acoustic resonators G10K11/04; vibration or shock testing of structures G01M7/00)} - G01N 29/14: using acoustic emission techniques {(echo of particles G01N29/046; measuring mechanical vibrations or acoustic waves in solids in general G01H1/00)} - G01N 29/28: providing acoustic coupling {, e.g. water (impedance matching G10K11/02)} - G01N 2291/023: Solids - G01N 2291/106: one or more transducer arrays - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) ## Abstract A method for identifying a material of a water pipe buried below ground is provided. The method includes generating controlled vibrations in the water pipe using a vibration exciter, and detecting a vibration response associated with the water pipe in response to the controlled vibrations using a vibration transducer in vibrational communication with the water pipe. The method further includes analyzing and processing the vibration response using a vibration signal analyzer to identify the material of the water pipe based on a comparison of the processed vibration response of the water pipe to a known vibration response of a known water pipe material. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for identifying a material of a water pipe buried below ground, the method comprising: generating controlled vibrations in the water pipe using a vibration exciter; detecting a vibration response associated with the water pipe in response to the controlled vibrations using a vibration transducer in vibrational communication with the water pipe; converting the vibration response from a time-domain response to a frequency-domain response by applying a Fourier transform algorithm; using a vibration signal analyzer, analyzing the frequency-domain response to identify at least one dominant peak; identifying a frequency associated with the at least one dominant peak as a resonant frequency of the water pipe; and, identifying the material of the water pipe based on a comparison of the resonant frequency of the water pipe to a known resonant frequency of a known water pipe material. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the water pipe is connected to a curb stop shut-off valve, and wherein the controlled vibrations are generated in the water pipe through the curb stop shut-off valve. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, further comprising turning off the vibration exciter prior to the vibration transducer detecting the vibration response associated with the water pipe at the curb stop shut-off valve. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the controlled vibrations are generated through a curb stop key coupled to the curb stop shut-off valve. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the vibration transducer is mounted on the ground above the water pipe, and wherein the vibration transducer detects the vibration response associated with the water pipe through the ground. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the water pipe material comprises at least one of lead, copper, galvanized steel, and plastic. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein analyzing and processing the vibration response comprises identifying at least one of a resonant frequency, a damping factor, a Q-factor, and harmonics of the water pipe. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein identifying the material of the water pipe is based on a comparison of a harmonic excitation response of the water pipe with a known harmonic excitation response of the known water pipe material. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the vibration transducer is one of a plurality of vibration transducers spaced apart and positioned on the ground above the water pipe along a length thereof. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the water pipe is configured to supply water from a water main to a building, wherein the water pipe is located between the water main and the building, and wherein the vibration transducer is positioned on the ground above the water pipe between the water main and the building. ### Claim 11 A system for identifying the composition of a water pipe buried below ground, the system comprising: a vibration exciter configured to generate controlled vibrations in the water pipe; at least one vibration transducer configured to detect a vibration response associated with the water pipe in response to the controlled vibrations; and a vibration signal analyzer coupled to the at least one vibration transducer and configured to convert the vibration response from a time-domain response to a frequency-domain response by applying a Fourier transform algorithm, analyze the frequency-domain response to identify at least one dominant peak, and identify a frequency associated with the at least one dominant peak as a resonant frequency of the water pipe, and further configured to identify a material of the water pipe based on a comparison of the resonant frequency of the water pipe with a known resonant frequency for a known water pipe material. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the water pipe is connected to a curb stop shut-off valve, and wherein the vibration exciter is configured to generate the controlled vibrations in the water pipe through the curb stop shut-off valve. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein the vibration exciter generates the controlled vibrations through a curb stop key coupled to the curb stop shut-off valve. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the vibration signal analyzer is configured to identify the material of the water pipe based on a comparison of a harmonic excitation response of the water pipe with a known harmonic excitation response of the known water pipe material. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the at least one vibration transducer is mounted on the ground above the water pipe, and wherein the at least one vibration transducer detects the vibration response associated with the water pipe through the ground. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein analyzing and processing the vibration response comprises identifying at least one of a resonant frequency, a damping factor, a Q-factor, and harmonics of the water pipe. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the water pipe is configured to supply water from a water main to a building, wherein the water pipe is located between the water main and the building, and wherein the at least one vibration transducer is positioned on the ground above the water pipe between the water main and the building. ### Claim 18 A method for identifying service pipes containing lead in a utility, the utility comprising a plurality of service pipes buried below ground and connected to a respective curb stop shut-off valve, the method comprising: generating controlled vibrations at at least one service pipe of the plurality of service pipes using a vibration exciter in vibrational communication with the respective curb stop shut-off valve; detecting a vibration response associated with the at least one service pipe using at least one vibration transducer in vibrational communication with the at least one service pipe; analyzing and processing the vibration response associated with the at least one service pipe using a real time analyzer; comparing the processed vibration response associated with the at least one service pipe to a known vibration response of a lead service pipe to determine whether the at least one service pipe contains lead; and storing the processed vibration response for each of the plurality of service pipes in a remote database for further analysis to identify all the service pipes containing lead for future replacement action planning by the utility. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein the controlled vibrations are generated in the at least one service pipe through the curb stop shut-off valve, the method further comprising: turning off the vibration exciter prior to the vibration transducer detecting the vibration response associated with the service pipe at the curb stop shut-off valve. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein the vibration transducer is mounted on the ground above the service pipe, and wherein the vibration transducer detects the vibration response associated with the service pipe through the ground.