Device for detecting and locating leaks in pipelines

A leak locator probe for use in detecting leaks in a pipe comprising:

• a housing having a first closed end and a second closed end with an aperture located in the wall of said housing;
• airflow measuring means disposed adjacent said aperture for measuring airflow through said aperture;
• means disposed on the exterior of said housing for providing a boundary that defines a first sealed volume defined by the exterior of said housing, the interior wall of said pipe and said boundary, said volume located such that said aperture provides a fluid passageway between said sealed volume and the interior of said housing;
• said means for providing a boundary including a first pair of annular sealing rings;
• a pair of annular stiffening rings for said first sealing rings, said stiffening rings disposed on either side of and adjacent each of said first annular sealing rings for reducing the flexing of said sealing rings, said stiffening rings having an outer diameter less than the outer diameter of said first sealing rings;
• a second pair of annular sealing rings disposed on the exterior of said housing for defining a second and third sealed volume, said second volume being defined by one of said sealing rings of said first pair of annular sealing rings and one sealing rings of said second pair of annular sealing rings, said housing and the pipe, said third sealed volume being defined by the other sealing rings of said first and second pairs, said housing and pipe, said housing having at least one aperture in said wall for providing a fluid passageway between said second sealed volume and the interior of said housing and at least one aperture in the wall of said housing for providing a fluid passageway between said third sealed volume and the interior of said tube;
• and
• check valve means disposed adjacent said aperture that provides a fluid passageway between said first volume and the interior of said housing for allowing fluid flow only in the direction from the interior of said housing into said first sealed volume.