Patent US3264864A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3264864A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for pinpointing leaks in buried pipes
Assignee: American Gas Association Inc
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Filing: 1962-03-01
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Granted: 1966-08-09
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Expires: 1982-03-01
Abstract
No abstract record available.
Inventors
- 👤 Jack M Reid
- 👤 Paul L Michael
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 17:12
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01M; G01M3/00; G01M3/02; G01M3/04; G01M3/24; G01M3/243
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 2
Claim 1
Independent Claim
184 words
AN APPARATUS FOR USE IN LOCATING A LEAK IN A BURIED GAS CONVEYING CONDUIT WITHOUT EXCAVATING SAID CONDUIT IN WHICH GAS CONVEYED BY SAID CONDUIT IS EMPLOYED TO TRANSMIT A WAVE OF ONE SONIC FREQUENCY THROUGH SAID LEAK, THE IMPROVEMENT COMPRISING TRANSDUCER MEANS AT THE EARTH''S SURFACE FOR DETECTING SAID WAVE AND GENERATING A FIRST ELECTRICAL SIGNAL CORRESPONDING TO SAID ONE FREQUENCY WITH THE VOLTAGE OF SAID FRONT ELECTRICAL SIGNAL BEING PORPORTIONAL TO THE DISTANCE OF SAID TRANSDUCER MEANS FROM SAID LEAK, A SECOND MEANS FOR GENERATING A SECOND ELECTRICAL SIGNAL OF SAID ONE FREQUENCY WITH A CONTINUOUSLY VARYING PHASE TO BE USED AS A REFERENCE SIGNAL, AND MEANS FOR COMPARING SAID FIRST SIGNAL FROM SAID TRANSDUCER WITH SAID SECOND SIGNAL HAVING SAID CONTINUOUSLY VARYING PHASE WHEREBY A CHARACTERISTIC SIGNAL IS DERIVED HAVING A MAXIMUM VOLTAGE PROPORTIONAL TO THE DISTANCE BETWEEN SAID TRANSDUCER MEANS AND SAID LEAK, THE CHARACTER OF SAID DERIVED SIGNAL VARYINGIN A PREDETERMINED MANNER WHEREBY SAID TRANSDUCER FIRST SIGNAL MAY BE DISTINGUISHED FROM TRANSDUVER SIGNALS CAUSED BY BACKGROUND NOISES OF OTHER FREQUENCIES AND FROM RANDOM NOISE SIGNALS OF SAID ONE FREQUENCY.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
184 words
AN APPARATUS FOR USE IN LOCATING A LEAK IN A BURIED GAS CONVEYING CONDUIT WITHOUT EXCAVATING SAID CONDUIT IN WHICH GAS CONVEYED BY SAID CONDUIT IS EMPLOYED TO TRANSMIT A WAVE OF ONE SONIC FREQUENCY THROUGH SAID LEAK, THE IMPROVEMENT COMPRISING TRANSDUCER MEANS AT THE EARTH''S SURFACE FOR DETECTING SAID WAVE AND GENERATING A FIRST ELECTRICAL SIGNAL CORRESPONDING TO SAID ONE FREQUENCY WITH THE VOLTAGE OF SAID FRONT ELECTRICAL SIGNAL BEING PORPORTIONAL TO THE DISTANCE OF SAID TRANSDUCER MEANS FROM SAID LEAK, A SECOND MEANS FOR GENERATING A SECOND ELECTRICAL SIGNAL OF SAID ONE FREQUENCY WITH A CONTINUOUSLY VARYING PHASE TO BE USED AS A REFERENCE SIGNAL, AND MEANS FOR COMPARING SAID FIRST SIGNAL FROM SAID TRANSDUCER WITH SAID SECOND SIGNAL HAVING SAID CONTINUOUSLY VARYING PHASE WHEREBY A CHARACTERISTIC SIGNAL IS DERIVED HAVING A MAXIMUM VOLTAGE PROPORTIONAL TO THE DISTANCE BETWEEN SAID TRANSDUCER MEANS AND SAID LEAK, THE CHARACTER OF SAID DERIVED SIGNAL VARYINGIN A PREDETERMINED MANNER WHEREBY SAID TRANSDUCER FIRST SIGNAL MAY BE DISTINGUISHED FROM TRANSDUVER SIGNALS CAUSED BY BACKGROUND NOISES OF OTHER FREQUENCIES AND FROM RANDOM NOISE SIGNALS OF SAID ONE FREQUENCY.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1969-08-08 | 1970-02-07 | 1970-08-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1973-08-08 | 1974-02-07 | 1974-08-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1977-08-08 | 1978-02-07 | 1978-08-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |