Patents by Inventor Kristina S. Kim

Kristina S. Kim has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • In-pipe leak detection systems, devices, and methods
    Patent number: 10845007
    Abstract: In-pipe leak detection systems and related methods are disclosed for detecting in-pipe leaks while fluid is actively flowing through the pipe. The system can include a sensing element coupled to a membrane that are disposed parallel to or in-line with an axial direction of a fluid flow. The membrane is configured to be drawn into contact with the inner wall in response to a suction force caused by a leak. The leak is detected based on a transient output from the sensing element indicative of a stretch or strain on the membrane. The sensing element and the membrane is coupled to a support structure configured to position the membrane adjacent to an inner wall of a pipe. The support structure can include a mechanism that couples the membrane and the sensing element to the support structure and is configured to help in discriminating between leaks and false detections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignees: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals
    Inventors: You Wu, Kamal Youcef-Toumi, Kristina S. Kim, Michael Finn Henry, Rached Ben Mansour
  • IN-PIPE LEAK DETECTION SYSTEMS, DEVICES, AND METHODS
    Publication number: 20190368664
    Abstract: In-pipe leak detection systems and related methods are disclosed for detecting in-pipe leaks while fluid is actively flowing through the pipe. The system can include a sensing element coupled to a membrane that are disposed parallel to or in-line with an axial direction of a fluid flow. The membrane is configured to be drawn into contact with the inner wall in response to a suction force caused by a leak. The leak is detected based on a transient output from the sensing element indicative of a stretch or strain on the membrane. The sensing element and the membrane is coupled to a support structure configured to position the membrane adjacent to an inner wall of a pipe. The support structure can include a mechanism that couples the membrane and the sensing element to the support structure and is configured to help in discriminating between leaks and false detections.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2017
    Publication date: December 5, 2019
    Inventors: You Wu, Kamal Youcef-Toumi, Kristina S. Kim, Michael Finn Henry, Rached Ben Mansour