초록 ▼

Rupture path logic methods of detecting, locating and isolating ruptures within a fluid piping system are disclosed, wherein a rupture within a piping system can be detected and isolated based solely upon local pressure and flow rate measurements at individual valves within the system without the ne

Rupture path logic methods of detecting, locating and isolating ruptures within a fluid piping system are disclosed, wherein a rupture within a piping system can be detected and isolated based solely upon local pressure and flow rate measurements at individual valves within the system without the need for communication of measured fluid data between valves at various locations throughout the system. A fluid characteristic is determined individually for each valve based upon the pressure and flow rate measurements at the valve, and that fluid characteristic is compared with set point fluid characteristic information to determine whether each valve is on a fluid path between a fluid supply source and a rupture. Upon detecting a rupture, valves detected as being on such a fluid path are automatically closed within the system in an order of valves furthest from all online fluid supply sources closing first, thereby ensuring eventual isolation of the rupture while allowing intact sections of the piping system to remain open and operational. An automatic rupture detection and isolation fluid piping system is also disclosed that utilizes rupture path logic methods to isolate detected ruptures within the system.

대표청구항 ▼

Rupture path logic methods of detecting, locating and isolating ruptures within a fluid piping system are disclosed, wherein a rupture within a piping system can be detected and isolated based solely upon local pressure and flow rate measurements at individual valves within the system without the ne

Rupture path logic methods of detecting, locating and isolating ruptures within a fluid piping system are disclosed, wherein a rupture within a piping system can be detected and isolated based solely upon local pressure and flow rate measurements at individual valves within the system without the need for communication of measured fluid data between valves at various locations throughout the system. A fluid characteristic is determined individually for each valve based upon the pressure and flow rate measurements at the valve, and that fluid characteristic is compared with set point fluid characteristic information to determine whether each valve is on a fluid path between a fluid supply source and a rupture. Upon detecting a rupture, valves detected as being on such a fluid path are automatically closed within the system in an order of valves furthest from all online fluid supply sources closing first, thereby ensuring eventual isolation of the rupture while allowing intact sections of the piping system to remain open and operational. An automatic rupture detection and isolation fluid piping system is also disclosed that utilizes rupture path logic methods to isolate detected ruptures within the system. 50; US-5659127, 19970800, Shie et al., 073/031.05; US-5667667, 19970900, Southern, 205/687; US-5668303, 19970900, Geisler et al., 073/024.06; US-5670322, 19970900, Eggers et al., 435/006; US-5698089, 19971200, Lewis et al., 205/787; US-5705399, 19980100, Larue, 436/501; US-5739686, 19980400, Naughton et al., 324/259; US-5755942, 19980500, Zanzucchi et al., 204/454; US-5759493, 19980600, Raisanen, 422/088; US-5766934, 19980600, Guiseppi-Elie, 435/287.9; US-5770038, 19980600, Iwama et al., 205/775; US-5776359, 19980700, Schultz et al., 423/263; US-5779362, 19980700, Lightfoot, 374/033; US-5779981, 19980700, Danssaert et al., 374/099; US-5783805, 19980700, Katzmann, 219/494; US-5788373, 19980800, Huetter et al., 374/010; US-5788833, 19980800, Lewis et al., 204/406; US-5806979, 19980900, Gschneidner et al.; US-5813763, 19980900, Plotnikov et al., 374/011; US-5821596, 19981000, Miu et al., 257/419; US-5832411, 19981100, Schatzmann et al., 702/023; US-5876118, 19990300, Vogel, 374/011; US-5891395, 19990400, Glaunsinger et al., 422/053; US-5923421, 19990700, Rajic et al., 356/328; US-5939312, 19990800, Baier et al., 435/287.2; US-5945069, 19990800, Buehler, 422/090; US-6017144, 20000100, Guo et al., 700/121; US-6037167, 20000300, Adelman et al., 435/285.1; US-6045671, 20000400, Wu et al., 204/298.11; US-6079873, 20000600, Cavicchi et al., 374/010; US-6093302, 20000700, Montgomery, 205/122; US-6111520, 20000800, Allen et al., 340/870.16; US-6167748, 20010100, Britton, Jr. et al., 073/024.06; US-6170318, 20010100, Lewis, 340/632; US-6215898, 20010400, Woodfill et al., 382/154; US-6290911, 20010900, Lewis et al., 204/406; US-6338112, 20020100, Wipfel et al., 710/269; US-6350369, 20020200, Lewis et al., 204/412; US-6387329, 20020500, Lewis et al., 422/083 ods," filed on Sep. 5, 1996 and issued on Oct. 5, 1999 as U.S. Pat. No. 5,961,333; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/641,911, entitled "Information Retrieval and Presentation Systems With Direct Access To Retrievable Items Of Information," filed on May 2, 1996 and issued on Mar. 12, 1998 as U.S. Pat. No. 5,751,369; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/624,983, entitled "Operation of Information/Entertainment Centers," filed on Mar. 29, 1996 and issued on Jun. 9, 1998 as U.S. Pat. No. 5,764,304, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 08/569,310 filed Dec. 8, 1995; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/624,984, entitled "Data Storage Devices," filed on Mar. 29, 1996 and issued on Sep. 1, 1998 as U.S. Pat. No. 5,801,784, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 08/569,310 filed Dec. 8, 1995; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/625,719, entitled "Methods of Producing Data Storage Devices for Appliances," filed on Mar. 29, 1996 and issued on Apr. 27, 1999 as U.S. Pat. No. 5,898,462, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 08/569,310 filed Dec. 8, 1995; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/621,638, entitled "Systems In Which Information Can Be Retrieved From An Encoded Laser Readable Disc," filed on Mar. 26, 1996 and issued on Mar. 8, 1998 as U.S. Pat. No. 5,724,102, which is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/569,310, filed Dec. 8, 1995; and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/569,310, entitled "Systems With A Remote Control In Which Information Can Be Retrieved From An Encoded Laser Readable Disc," filed Dec. 8, 1995 and issued on May 5, 1998 as U.S. Pat. No. 5,748,254, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/505,969, filed Jul. 24, 1995, now abandoned.