Leak detection system and method for fluid delivery piping

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The invention relates to a leak detector system and method for detecting a leak in fluid delivery piping.
More specifically, the invention relates to such a system and method particularly adapted as a permanent installation either for original construction or as a retrofit addition to gasoline service stations whereby piping leaks can be readily and reliably ascertained on a regular basis without the prohibitive costs and/or complexity frequently associated with such equipment.
This is achieved in accordance herewith by use of a relatively small diameter bypass parallel connected downstream of the pump supplying gasoline from an underground storage tank to one or more of the remotely located aboveground dispensers on the station site.
Situated in the bypass is a highly sensitive commercially available flow detector which in the testing cycle is serially energized in a predetermined sequence of go, no-go steps for ascertaining existence or non-existence of a pipe leak.
Initiating the actual test cycle is delayed until after a minimum predetermined time period following shutdown of the dispensing system has elapsed to permit temperature stabilization of the piping network.
The test is conducted with the dispensers inoperative and on completion of the final step, existence or non-existence of a leak is identified.
At the same time, the intermediate test steps serve to eliminate false indication of leakage as might be occasioned by detector malfunction.
It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a novel system for detecting existence of a leak in fluid delivery piping.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a novel method for detecting existence of a leak in fluid delivery piping.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a system and/or method as in the previous objects that will eliminate false leak indications occasioned by malfunction of system components.
It is a further object of the invention to effect the foregoing objects in an underground piping network on the site of a gasoline service station delivering gasoline pumped from an underground storage tank to remotely located aboveground dispenser outlets