Pipe assembly

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a pipe assembly containing a pipe, an insulating jacket coupled to the pipe via an attachment base; and a tracer wire within the insulating jacket. The width of the attachment base is greater than width of the insulating jacket. Also disclosed herein are methods of locating a pipe concealed below a ground surface, and detecting the presence and the position of a leak in a pipe concealed below a ground surface.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A device comprising:
 a tube including a metal;   a T-shape defined via an insulating jacket and a base such that the base is positioned between the tube and the insulating jacket; and   a wire extending within the insulating jacket, wherein the base is positioned between the wire and the tube.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the insulating jacket thins towards the base. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the base has a width within a range of about 5 millimeters to about 8 millimeters. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a signal generator coupled to the wire.   
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 an oscilloscope coupled to the wire.   
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an oscilloscope coupled to the wire.   
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a signal generator coupled to the wire.   
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the tube is rectilinear. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the tube includes a high-density polyethylene. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the wire includes an electrically conductive material. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a memory that stores a reflection representation.   
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the tube is a first tube, and further comprising:
 a second tube butt welded to the first tube such that a continuous tube is formed.   
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 12 , wherein the wire is a first wire, wherein the second tube hosts a second wire, wherein the first wire and the second wire are joined via a flexible multi-strand cable. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein the first wire includes a first end portion, wherein the second wire includes a second end portion, wherein the flexible multi-strand cable includes a plurality of end portions hosting a plurality of tubular lugs that crimp and insulate the first end portion and the second end portion. 
     
     
         15 . A method comprising:
 causing a signal source to be coupled to a wire extending within an insulating jacket, wherein the insulating jacket and a base define a T-shape, wherein the base is positioned between the insulating jacket and a tube concealed below a ground surface, wherein the base is positioned between the wire and the tube;   causing a signal to be sent from the signal source through the wire; and   causing the signal to be sensed via a sensor located above the ground surface.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 generating a representation of the tube concealed below the ground surface.   
     
     
         17 . A method comprising:
 causing a signal source to be coupled to a wire extending within an insulating jacket, wherein the insulating jacket and a base define a T-shape, wherein the base is positioned between the insulating jacket and a tube concealed below a ground surface, wherein the base is positioned between the wire and the tube;   causing a pulse to be sent from the signal source through the wire;   receiving a reflection of the pulse via the wire;   performing an analysis of the reflection; and   determining a presence of a leak in the tube based on the analysis.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 determining a position of the leak based on the analysis.   
     
     
         19 . A method comprising:
 causing a first end portion of a first wire to be exposed from a first insulation jacket, wherein the first insulation jacket and a first base define a first T-shape, wherein the first wire extends within the first insulation jacket, wherein the first base is positioned between the first insulation jacket and a tube, wherein the first base is positioned between the first wire and the tube;   causing a second end portion of a second wire to be exposed from a second insulation jacket, wherein the second insulation jacket and a second base define a second T-shape, wherein the second wire extends within the second insulation jacket, wherein the second base is positioned between the second insulation jacket and a second tube, wherein the second base is positioned between the second wire and the second tube;   causing the first end portion to be joined to a first lug;   causing the second end portion to be joined to a second lug;   causing the first lug and the second lug to be attached to a multi-strand insulated cable.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 causing an application of a heat shrinkage sleeve such that the heat shrinkage sleeve encompasses at least a portion of the multi-strand cable and the first lug and the second lug;   causing the heat shrinkage sleeve to be heated such that a joint of the first wire and the second wire is created.   
     
     
         21 . A device comprising:
 a tube including a non-metal;   a T-shape defined via an insulating jacket and a base such that the base is positioned between the tube and the insulating jacket; and   a wire extending within the insulating jacket, wherein the base is positioned between the wire and the tube.   
     
     
         22 . The device of  claim 21 , wherein the insulating jacket thins towards the base. 
     
     
         23 . The device of  claim 21 , wherein the base has a width within a range of about 5 millimeters to about 8 millimeters. 
     
     
         24 . The device of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 a signal generator coupled to the wire.   
     
     
         25 . The device of  claim 24 , further comprising:
 an oscilloscope coupled to the wire.   
     
     
         26 . The device of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 an oscilloscope coupled to the wire.   
     
     
         27 . The device of  claim 26 , further comprising:
 a signal generator coupled to the wire.   
     
     
         28 . The device of  claim 21 , wherein the tube is rectilinear. 
     
     
         29 . The device of  claim 21  wherein the tube includes a high-density polyethylene. 
     
     
         30 . The device of  claim 21 , wherein the wire includes an electrically conductive material. 
     
     
         31 . The device of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 a memory that stores a reflection representation.   
     
     
         32 . The device of  claim 21 , wherein the tube is a first tube, and further comprising:
 a second tube butt welded to the first tube such that a continuous tube is formed.   
     
     
         33 . The device of  claim 22 , wherein the wire is a first wire, wherein the second tube hosts a second wire, wherein the first wire and the second wire are joined via a flexible multi-strand cable. 
     
     
         34 . The device of  claim 23 , wherein the first wire includes a first end portion, wherein the second wire includes a second end portion, wherein the flexible multi-strand cable includes a plurality of end portions hosting a plurality of tubular lugs that crimp and insulate the first end portion and the second end portion. 
     
     
         35 . The device of  claim 21 , wherein the non-metal includes a polymer. 
     
     
         36 . The device of  claim 21 , wherein the non-metal includes a polybutylene. 
     
     
         37 . The device of  claim 21 , wherein the non-metal includes a polyvinylchloride. 
     
     
         38 . The device of  claim 21 , wherein the non-metal includes a unplasticised polyvinylchloride. 
     
     
         39 . The device of  claim 21 , wherein the non-metal includes a polyethylene. 
     
     
         40 . The device of  claim 21 , wherein the non-metal includes a high density polyethylene. 
     
     
         41 . The device of  claim 21 , wherein the non-metal includes a polypropylene. 
     
     
         42 . The device of  claim 21 , wherein the non-metal includes a cross-linked polyethylene. 
     
     
         43 . The device of  claim 21 , wherein the non-metal includes a plastic. 
     
     
         44 . The device of  claim 21 , wherein the non-metal includes a fiberglass. 
     
     
         45 . The device of  claim 21 , wherein the non-metal includes a concrete. 
     
     
         46 . An assembly comprising:
 a pipe;   an insulating jacket coupled to the pipe via an attachment base; and   a tracer wire within the insulating jacket.