An abnormal consumption detection system is provided with remote valve control for a distributed water infrastructure. The system may comprise an electronically controllable valve, a remote communication transmitter, a remote communication receiver, at least one sensor for measuring water flow information associated with the distributed water infrastructure, and at least one processor. The system may determine from the water flow information obtained from the at least one sensor a potential abnormal consumption associated with the distributed water infrastructure. The system may automatically close a valve, without human intervention, when the potential abnormal consumption is determined. The system may transmit, via the remote communication transmitter to a remote administrator, alert information about the potential abnormal consumption to enable an administrator to decide based on the transmitted information whether to reopen the valve. The system may receive from the administrator via the remote communication receiver a control signal to reopen the valve, despite the information about the potential abnormal consumption, and reopen the valve.

A seal monitoring and control system for a gas lubricated non-contacting seal includes various sensors providing signals to a programmable logic control system. The control system is disposed to determine a presence of an anomalous operating condition of the seal, for example, based on phase, relative position of rotor to stator or other signals in combination provided by the various sensors to provide an output signal, which in one embodiment performs at least one mitigating process to correct the anomalous operating condition by adjusting at least one operating parameter of the seal.

A method for calibrating a test chamber, which encloses an interior volume (20), is designed as a film chamber (12) comprising at least one flexible wall region (14, 16), and is connected in a gas-conducting way to a pressure sensor (30), to a vacuum pump (26), and via a calibration valve (34) to a calibration chamber (36) enclosing a calibration volume (37), comprising the following steps: evacuating the film chamber (12); measuring the pressure difference inside of the film chamber (12); after the evacuation has been completed, connecting the calibration volume (37) in a gas-conducting manner to the interior volume (20) of the film chamber (12) while measuring the pressure change, wherein the pressure in the calibration chamber (36) is greater than the pressure in the film chamber (12) before the connection to the film chamber (12). A corresponding device is likewise disclosed.

A method of assessing the condition of a tubular member comprises driving an ultrasonic probe to fire a short pulse ultrasonic beam at the outer surface of the tubular member and analyzing the reflected signals from the tubular member to assess the condition of the tubular member. The apparatus comprises an ultrasonic probe (22), means for driving the probe to fire a short pulse ultrasonic beam at the outer surface of the tubular member and means for converting the reflected ultrasonic beam into image signals which can be analyzed to assess the condition of the tubular member.

A method of assessing the condition of a tubular member comprises driving an ultrasonic probe to fire a short pulse ultrasonic beam at the outer surface of the tubular member and analyzing the reflected signals from the tubular member to assess the condition of the tubular member. The apparatus comprises an ultrasonic probe (22), means for driving the probe to fire a short pulse ultrasonic beam at the outer surface of the tubular member and means for converting the reflected ultrasonic beam into image signals which can be analyzed to assess the condition of the tubular member.

Water leaks in irrigation systems may be detected by analysis of water pump energy consumption data captured from a utility power meter. Unlike existing solutions that use water meters or acoustic sensors, embodiments of the present apparatus and methods described herein detect water leaks based upon the electrical load associated with the water pump(s) in irrigation lines. These methods have the advantage of not requiring any extra hardware at the site of the irrigation system.

A method for testing the sealing tightness of a specimen, containing a gas, in a film chamber made from flexible material. The film chamber is evacuated by a vacuum pump and the gas flow flowing out of the film chamber and generated by the vacuum pump is measured during the evacuation and is examined with respect to a possible leak of the specimen.

The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a bifurcated pipe and a bifurcated connector for connecting hoses and a fuel supply hose manufactured using the same, in which connection between a torch and an oxygen tank or a gas tank is facilitated and hoses are prevented from becoming twisted or entangled during a welding or cutting process.

Further, according to the present invention, a single connection hose is prevented from being damaged by sparks, a piece of steel cut off the workpiece, a discarded welding rod, or a sharp cut surface or edge of the workpiece, and a worker is capable of easily recognizing gas leakage and a portion from which gas is leaking, thereby preventing an accident.

A system and method is provided for traversing inside one or more pipes. In an embodiment, a fluid is injected into the one or more pipes thereby promoting a fluid flow. An inspection device is deployed into the one or more pipes at least partially filled with a flowing fluid. The inspection device comprises a housing wherein the housing is designed to exploit the hydrokinetic effects associated with a fluid flow in one or more pipes as well as maneuver past a variety of pipe configurations. The inspection device may contain one or more sensors capable of performing a variety of inspection tasks.

A system is provided for differentiating between water usage of multiple water consumers using a common distributed water infrastructure. The system receives from a water sensor that is upstream of a plurality of appliances, signals indicative of water usage, and constructs from the signals a plurality of water event profile signatures. The system associates, based on differences between similar water event profiles, at least one water event profile signature with a first water consumer and associates a second water event profile signature with a second water consumer, and stores the water event profile signatures for the first water consumer and the second water consumer. The system constructs current water event profiles reflecting subsequent water usage in the distributed water infrastructure, and attributes a first current water event profile to the first water consumer and attributes a second current water event profile to the second water consumer.