Laser indicator for remote measuring devices and method therefor

Abstract

Provided is a device for use in locating the origin of a phenomenon of interest, including a sensor capable of detecting the presence of the phenomenon of interest and generating a detection signal in response thereto. The device also includes a phenomenon origin locator to monitor the detection signal and project light toward the origin when the detection signal satisfies a selected criteria level, thereby indicating the origin of the phenomenon of interest.

I claim: 
     
         1 . An instrument for use in locating a gas leak, comprising:
 a) a sensor capable of detecting the presence of the gas and generating a detection signal in response thereto; and   b) a gas leak locator to monitor the detection signal and project light toward the leak when the detection signal satisfies a selected criteria level, thereby indicating location of the leak.   
     
     
         2 . The instrument of  claim 1  wherein said sensor is an acoustic emission sensor operative upon exposure to sound attendant with leakage of the gas to generate the detection signal. 
     
     
         3 . The instrument of  claim 2  wherein said acoustic emissions sensor is a microphonic sensor. 
     
     
         4 . The instrument of  claim 1  further comprising a level selector for selectively varying said criteria level. 
     
     
         5 . The instrument of  claim 1  further comprising an output device for producing perceptible output in response to said detection signal. 
     
     
         6 . The instrument of  claim 5  wherein said perceptible output is one of an alphanumeric display, a graphic display, and a bar graph. 
     
     
         7 . The instrument of  claim 1  wherein said sensor has a field of detection extending along a sensor axis and said light is projected along a projection axis that is generally parallel to the sensor axis. 
     
     
         8 . The instrument of  claim 1  wherein said sensor has a field of detection extending along a sensor axis and said light is projected along a projection axis that is generally coaxial to the sensor axis. 
     
     
         9 . The instrument of  claim 1  further comprising an override switch for manually activating said gas leak locator for aiming the device in a desired direction. 
     
     
         10 . A device according to  claim 9  wherein said gas leak locator includes at least one laser. 
     
     
         11 . In a leak detection instrument having an instrument housing, a gas sensor supported relative to said instrument housing and operative upon exposure to a selected gas to generate a corresponding gas detection input signal, a gas pump disposed within said instrument housing and operative upon actuation to draw the selected gas toward said gas sensor, an acoustic emissions sensor supported relative to said instrument housing and operative upon exposure to sound attendant with leakage of the selected gas to generate a corresponding sound detection input signal, processing circuitry for receiving said gas detection input signal and said sound detection input signal and for producing at least one output signal in response thereto, and an output device for producing perceptible output in response to said output signal, the improvement comprising:
 a gas leak locator operative to monitor the output signal and project light toward the leak when the output signal satisfies selected threshold criteria, thereby indicating the origin of the leak.   
     
     
         12 . In a leak detection instrument having an instrument housing, an acoustic emissions sensor supported relative to said instrument housing that is operative upon exposure to sound attendant with leakage from a device to produce a corresponding sound detection signal, the improvement comprising:
 a leak locator operative to monitor the sound detection signal and project light toward the origin of the leak when the sound detection signal satisfies selected threshold criteria, thereby indicating the leak location.