Differential Pressure Feedback for Hydraulic Pipeline Leak Shutoff

The patent replaces traditional mechanical-hydraulic pipeline rupture valves with an electro-hydraulic control system that uses electrical sensors and control circuits to detect pipeline leaks. The system substitutes mechanical spring-based cutoff mechanisms with electronically controlled directional valves that can be precisely actuated by electrical signals from pressure sensors, enabling both substantial rupture protection and minor leak monitoring.

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where pressure sensors continuously monitor pipeline pressure conditions and feed this information back to the controller. The controller compares the feedback signal against reference values and automatically actuates the electro-proportional directional valve to cutoff fluid flow when leakage is detected, enabling continuous monitoring and automatic response to both minor leaks and substantial ruptures.

The patent replaces the static spring-based cutoff threshold with a dynamic, electronically adjustable threshold implemented in the controller. The reference value for leak detection can be modified through software or configuration without physical hardware changes, allowing the system to adapt to different operating conditions and pipeline configurations while maintaining automatic protection functionality.

The patent enables change of the detection threshold parameter from a fixed mechanical spring preload to a configurable electrical reference value. This allows the threshold to be adjusted electronically to match different operational requirements, pipeline sizes, and fluid conditions, providing versatility while maintaining automatic operation.

The patent extracts the essential monitoring function from complex flow meters and implements it using simpler, more cost-effective pressure sensors combined with electronic calculation. By measuring pressure differential across the pipeline and calculating flow changes electronically, the system achieves real-time monitoring capability without the high cost and slow response characteristics of traditional flow meters.

The patent creates a functional equivalent of flow meter monitoring by using pressure sensors to infer flow conditions. Instead of directly measuring flow with expensive instruments, the system copies the monitoring function by calculating flow changes from easily measurable pressure differential data, achieving the same real-time detection capability at lower cost with faster response.