Detecting leaks in pipes

An apparatus for detecting a leak in a pipe for installation at a location on a pipe, the apparatus comprising:

• a transducer for acoustically monitoring the pipe;
• analysing means for analysing a parameter of the output signal of the transducer and for determining if a signal indicative of a leak should be outputted;
• and,
• signal output means adapted to transmit the signal indicative of a leak, wherein the analysing means determines that a signal indicative of a leak be outputted in the event that the parameter is above a maximum value or below a minimum value and wherein the analysing means is configured to periodically measure the output level of the transducer and to provide an average of previously measured levels, the analysing means being further configured to determine said maximum and/or said minimum values from said average.

An apparatus for detecting a leak in a pipe for installation at a location on a pipe, the apparatus comprising:

• a transducer for acoustically monitoring the pipe;
• analysing means for analysing a parameter of the output signal of the transducer and for determining if a signal indicative of a leak should be outputted;
• and,
• a transmitter configured to transmit a signal indicative of a leak to a remote receiver which is mobile with respect to the pipe, wherein the analysing means is configured to determine that a signal indicative of a leak should be outputted in the event that the parameter is above a maximum value or below a minimum value and wherein said transmitter is arranged to transmit a standby signal when said parameter is not above said maximum value or below said minimum value.

An apparatus for detecting a leak in a pipe for installation at a location on a pipe, the apparatus comprising:

• a transducer for acoustically monitoring the pipe;
• analysing means for analysing a parameter of the output signal of the transducer and for determining if a signal indicative of a leak should be outputted;
• and,
• a transmitter configured to transmit a signal indicative of a leak to a remote receiver which is mobile with respect to the pipe, wherein the analysing means is configured to determine that a signal indicative of a leak should be outputted in the event that the parameter is above a maximum value or below a minimum value and wherein said analysing means is arranged to periodically measure the output level of said transducer and to provide an average of previously measured levels and being further arranged to determine said maximum and/or minimum values from said average.

An apparatus for detecting a leak in a pipe for installation at a location on a pipe, the apparatus comprising:

• a transducer for acoustically monitoring the pipe;
• analysing means for analysing a parameter of the output signal of the transducer and for determining if a signal indicative of a leak should be outputted;
• and,
• a transmitter configured to transmit a signal indicative of a leak to a remote receiver which is mobile with respect to the pipe, wherein the analysing means is configured to determine that a signal indicative of a leak should be outputted in the event that the parameter is above a maximum value or below a minimum value and, wherein said analysing means is arranged to take a series of readings of said output level and said signal indicative of a leak is generated if said outpput level exceeds a predetermined maximum or if the spread between levels is less than the said minimum value and wherein said analysing means is arranged to generate a signal indicative of an alarm if a predetermined percentage of the readings of the output level exceed the maximum value and if the spread between levels which have exceeded predetermined upper and lower percentage numbers of readings are less than the minimum.

An apparatus for detecting a leak in a pipe for installation at a location on a pipe, the apparatus comprising:

• a transducer for acoustically monitoring the pipe;
• a port for providing an in-situ external connection to the transducer, wherein the port includes an infra-red transmitter which provides a wireless link to a corresponding port of a leak pinpointer;
• analysing means for analysing a parameter of the output signal of the transducer and for determining if a signal indicative of a leak should be outputted;
• and,
• output means configured to output a signal indicative of a leak, wherein the analysing means determines that a signal indicative of a leak should be outputted in the event that the parameter is above a maximum value or below a minimum value.

An apparatus for detecting a leak in a pipe for installation at a location on a pipe, the apparatus comprising:

• a transducer for acoustically monitoring the pipe;
• a port for providing an in-situ external connection to the transducer;
• analysing means for analysing a parameter of the output signal of the transducer and for determining if a signal indicative of a leak should be outputted;
• and,
• output means configured to output a signal indicative of a leak, wherein the analysing means determines that a signal indicative of a leak should be outputted in the event that the parameter is above a maximum value or below a minimum value and wherein said output means is configured to output a standby signal when said parameter is not above said maximum value or below said minimum value.

An apparatus for detecting a leak in a pipe for installation at a location on a pipe, the apparatus comprising:

• a transducer for acoustically monitoring the pipe;
• analysing means for paralysing a parameter of an output signal of the transducer and for determining if a signal indicative of a leak should be outputted;
• and
• a transmitter configured to transmit a wireless signal to a remote receiver which is mobile with respect to the pipe, wherein a signal indicative of a leak is outputted if a leak is detected and a standby signal is outputted otherwise.