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US 9,593,999 B2Granted
Enclosure for leak detector
AssigneeMueller International, LLC
InventorsLeo W. Fleury, Jr., Ganapathi Deva Varma Dintakurti, James O. Williams, Shabbir Yusuf
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A leak detection structure for attachment to a fire hydrant includes an enclosure, the enclosure defining a cavity internal to the enclosure and a leak detection subassembly located in the cavity, the leak detection subassembly including at least one leak detection sensor and at least one circuit.
Claims19
A leak detection sensor for attachment to a fire hydrant, the leak detection structure comprising:
- a housing that is fixed to the fire hydrant, the fire hydrant defining an internal surface that defines a hydrant cavity, the housing being in fluid communication with the hydrant cavity, the housing having internal surfaces defining a housing cavity internal to the housing;
- and
- a leak detection subassembly, the leak detection subassembly including:
- at least one piezoelectric vibration sensor mounted with a fastener to an internal surface of the housing within the housing cavity, the at least one piezoelectric vibration sensor including a base and a piezoelectric layer deposited onto the base, the piezoelectric layer composed of piezoelectric crystals, the at least one piezoelectric vibration sensor arranged to receive a vibration from the housing via the fastener;
- at least one circuit arranged within the housing cavity and in electrical communication with the at least one piezoelectric sensor;
- an antenna in electrical communication with the at least one circuit;
- and wherein the housing is rigid.
4 more elements
A leak detection structure permanently attached to a fire hydrant, the leak detection structure comprising:
- a nozzle cap fixed to the fire hydrant, the nozzle cap having internal surfaces defining a cavity internal to the nozzle cap, the nozzle cap defining an internal surface and an external surface, the internal surface and the external surface defining a nozzle cap bore extending from the internal surface to the external surface, an intersection between the nozzle cap bore and the external surface defining a nozzle cap outlet;
- a housing secured to the nozzle cap within the cavity of the nozzle cap, the housing having internal surfaces defining a cavity internal to the housing,
- at least one piezoelectric vibration sensor mounted with a fastener to an internal surface of the housing, the at least one piezoelectric vibration sensor including a base and a piezoelectric layer deposited onto the base, the piezoelectric layer composed of piezoelectric crystals, the at least one piezoelectric vibration sensor arranged to receive a vibration from the nozzle cap via the fastener;
- at least one circuit arranged in the cavity and in electrical communication with the at least one piezoelectric vibration sensor;
- and
- an antenna in electrical communication with the at least one circuit, the antenna protruding out from the fire hydrant through the nozzle cap outlet.
3 more elements
A leak detection structure for attachment to a fire hydrant, the leak detection structure comprising:
- a housing assembly including a rigid primary housing and a rigid mating housing connected to the primary housing, the primary housing fixed to the fire hydrant, the primary housing defining a cavity that is open on one side of the primary housing, wherein the mating housing substantially seals the cavity;
- a leak detection subassembly, the leak detection subassembly including
- at least one piezoelectric vibration sensor mounted with a fastener to an internal surface of the housing within the cavity, the at least one piezoelectric vibration sensor including a base and a piezoelectric layer deposited onto the base, the piezoelectric layer composed of piezoelectric crystals, the at least one piezoelectric vibration sensor arranged to receive a vibration from the housing via the fastener,
- at least one circuit arranged within the cavity and in electrical communication with the at least one piezoelectric vibration sensor, and
- an antenna in electrical communication with the at least one circuit;
- and
- an antenna enclosure fixed to the fire hydrant, the antenna arranged within the antenna enclosure.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.