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US 12,235,189 B2Granted
Method and apparatus for testing for leaks in a contained system using an unmanned aerial vehicle
OwnerRichard A. Pawlykinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
There is an apparatus and method of testing for leaks in a contained system with an interior containing fluids. A tracer gas is introduced into the interior of the contained system. The apparatus and method sense for the presence of the tracer gas outside the contained system using a plurality of sensors located on an unmanned aerial vehicle.
Claims12
A method of testing for leaks in a contained system with an interior containing fluid, the method comprising:
- introducing a tracer gas into the interior;
- sensing for the presence of the tracer gas outside the contained system using a plurality of sensors located on an unmanned aerial vehicle, in which multiple of the plurality of sensors are opened sequentially as the plurality of sensors are transported on the unmanned aerial vehicle in proximity to the contained system;
- recording, with a processor, a location of the unmanned aerial vehicle when each of the multiple of the plurality of sensors are opened in the sequence;
- and
- determining whether tracer gas is detected in one or more of the multiple of the plurality of sensors, and, if tracer gas is detected in one or more sensors, determining one or more locations of a suspected leak in the contained system based on the recorded location or locations of the unmanned aerial vehicle when the one or more sensors within which tracer gas was detected were opened.
2 more elements
A leak detection apparatus for a contained system, comprising:
- an unmanned aerial vehicle;
- a sequential sampling tracer unit containing a plurality of tubes mounted on the unmanned aerial vehicle and a motor configured to open multiple of the plurality of the tubes sequentially;
- in which the plurality of tubes includes an absorbent material which is capable of absorbing a tracer gas;
- and
- one or more processors configured to:
- record a location of the unmanned aerial vehicle when each of the multiple of the plurality of tubes are opened in the sequence as the plurality of sensors are transported on the unmanned aerial vehicle in proximity to the contained system;
- and
- determine whether tracer gas is detected in one or more of the multiple of the plurality of sensors, and, if tracer gas is detected in one or more sensors, determining one or more locations of a suspected leak in the contained system based on the recorded location or locations of the unmanned aerial vehicle when the one or more sensors within which tracer gas was detected were opened.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.