# US 8,539,820 B2 · Acoustic leak detection system and method with enviromental noise isolation > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,539,820 B2 - Document ID: US8539820B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/917,238 - Filed: 2010-11-01 - Published: 2012-05-03 - Granted: 2013-09-24 - Earliest claimed: 2010-11-01 - Assignees: King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals - Applicants: Hussain M. Al-Qahtani; Muhammad A. Hawwa - Inventors: Hussain M. Al-Qahtani; Muhammad A. Hawwa - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8539820B2 ## CPC - G01M 3/243: {for pipes} - G01M: TESTING STATIC OR DYNAMIC BALANCE OF MACHINES OR STRUCTURES; TESTING OF STRUCTURES OR APPARATUS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract The acoustic leak detection system with environmental noise isolation provides for the acoustic detection of leaks in a pipe while minimizing interference from external or environmental noise. The acoustic leak detection system includes a hollow shell adapted for positioning about the pipe to be inspected. A pair of gaskets are circumferentially secured to the inner surface of the hollow shell so that the pair of gaskets bear against the outer surface of the pipe to form an acoustically isolated region defined between the pipe, the pair of gaskets and the inner surface of the hollow shell. An acoustic sensor, microphone or the like is mounted on the hollow shell within the acoustically isolated region for detecting any acoustic signals; i.e., the sound produced by a leak in the pipe within the acoustically isolated region. Upon detection of a leak, an alert signal is generated. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An acoustic leak detection system with environmental noise isolation, comprising: a hollow shell adapted for attachment around a pipe, the hollow shell being substantially cylindrical and having an interior surface, wherein said hollow shell comprises first and second portions, each of the portions being substantially semicylindrical; a first pair of magnets attached to opposing edges of the first portion of the hollow shell; a second pair of magnets attached to opposing edges of the second portion of the hollow shell for releasably attaching the first portion to the second portion; a pair of gaskets attached to the inner surface of the hollow shell, the pair of gaskets being spaced apart from one another and adapted for encircling the pipe and bearing against the pipe to form an acoustically isolated region defined between the pipe, the pair of gaskets and the inner surface of the hollow shell; an acoustic sensor mounted within the hollow shell for detecting sound generated by a leak in the pipe within the acoustically isolated region and converting the sound to a signal; a controller connected to the acoustic sensor, the controller having means for analyzing the signals produced by the acoustic sensor to determine when the acoustic sensor has detected sound corresponding to a leak in the pipe within the acoustically isolated region; and an alarm connected to the controller for generating an alert signal when the analyzed signal indicates a leak in the pipe within the acoustically isolated region. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The acoustic leak detection system with environmental noise isolation as recited in claim 1, wherein each said magnet is substantially L-shaped. ### Claim 3 An acoustic leak detection system with environmental noise isolation, comprising: a hollow shell adapted for attachment around a pipe, the hollow shell having an inner surface and having first and second portions releasably attached to one another; a first pair of magnets attached to opposing edges of the first portion of the hollow shell; a second pair of magnets attached to opposing edges of the second portion of the hollow shell for releasably attaching the first portion to the second portion; a pair of gaskets attached to the inner surface of the hollow shell, the pair of gaskets being spaced apart from one another and adapted for encircling the pipe and bearing against the pipe to form an acoustically isolated region defined between the pipe, the pair of gaskets and the inner surface of the hollow shell; an acoustic sensor mounted within the hollow shell for detecting sound generated by a leak in the pipe within the acoustically isolated region and converting the sound to a signal; a controller connected to the acoustic sensor, the controller having means for analyzing the signals produced by the acoustic sensor to determine when the acoustic sensor has detected sound corresponding to a leak in the pipe within the acoustically isolated region; and an alarm connected to the controller for generating an alert signal when the analyzed signal indicates a leak in the pipe within the acoustically isolated region. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The acoustic leak detection system with environmental noise isolation as recited in claim 3, wherein each said magnet is substantially L-shaped. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The acoustic leak detection system with environmental noise isolation as recited in claim 3, wherein said hollow shell is substantially cylindrical. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The acoustic leak detection system with environmental noise isolation as recited in claim 5, wherein each of said first and second portions is substantially semicylindrical. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The acoustic leak detection system with environmental noise isolation as recited in claim 6, wherein each said gasket has first and second portions, the first portion of said gasket being attached to the first portion of said hollow shell, the second portion of said gasket being attached to the second portion of said hollow shell. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The acoustic leak detection system with environmental noise isolation as recited in claim 7, wherein the first and second portions of said pair of gaskets is each substantially semicircular. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The acoustic leak detection system with environmental noise isolation as recited in claim 8, wherein the first and second portions of said hollow shell are each formed from acoustic insulation material. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The acoustic leak detection system with environmental noise isolation as recited in claim 9, wherein the first and second portions of said hollow shell are each formed from an acoustically reflective material. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The acoustic leak detection system with environmental noise isolation as recited in claim 10, wherein each said gasket is formed from acoustic insulation material. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The acoustic leak detection system with environmental noise isolation as recited in claim 11, wherein each said gasket is formed from a resilient material. ### Claim 13 (depends on 3) The acoustic leak detection system with environmental noise isolation as recited in claim 3, further comprising first and second handles mounted on the first and second portions of said hollow shell.