Gas leak meter
OwnerDavid T. Bellefeuille, Robert S. Beckwithinventors
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A gas leak meter is directly attached to a valve box having a leaking valve therein. Based upon the rate of gas leakage, a decision can be made to delay or replace the leaking valve. The gas leak meter has a stopper that is placed into the valve box. The stopper has a rubber tube attached thereon and this tube leads to a gas collector which operates at atmospheric pressure. In a given period of time, the rate of gas leakage can be determined based upon the amount of gas collected.
Claims10
A gas leak meter, said gas leak meter removably attached to a valve box containing a leaking gas valve therein, said gas leak meter comprising:
- means for blocking the escape of leaking gas from said valve box, said means for blocking removably attached to said valve box, said means for blocking having therein a hole for channeling said leaking gas,
- a flexible tube, said tube fixedly attached to said hole in said means for blocking,
- means for collecting said leaking gas at atmospheric pressure, said means for collecting having a first chamber with an open end exposed to said atmospheric pressure, said means for collecting having a second chamber having a closed top end, said first and said second chambers communicating through operably connected lower ends, said tube operably connected to allow said leaking gas to collect in said second chamber, said second chamber completely filled with a fluid before said leaking gas enters therein, and
- means for timing, said timing means providing a period of time during which said leaking gas partially fills said second chamber.
A method of measuring the rate of gas leaking from a leaking valve buried underground and reached through a valve box, said method comprising said steps of:
- attaching a stopper to said valve box, said stopper having a tube therein such that leaking gas flows therein,
- filling a means for collecting gas at atmospheric pressure with a fluid, said fluid totally filling a second chamber, said second chamber having a closed top end and an open bottom end, some of said fluid partially filling a first chamber, said first chamber having an open end exposed to atmospheric pressure,
- allowing said leaking gas flowing through said tube to enter into said second chamber,
- allowing said leaking gas to enter said second chamber for a given period of time,
- measuring a differential fluid height between said first and said second chamber,
- calculating the rate of gas leakage, and
- comparing a cost of gas leaking to a cost of replacing said leaking valve.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.