Band with RFID chip holder and identifying components

• US 10,339,347 B2
• Filed: 03/28/2018
• Issued: 07/02/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SPM Oil & Gas Incorporated (Caterpillar Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: SPM Flow Control Inc. (Caterpillar Incorporated)
• Inventors: Bowman, Jordan
• Primary Examiner(s): Ro, Yong-Suk
• Application Number:
  US15/938,278
• Publication Number:
  US 20180218183A1
• Time in Patent Office: 461 Days
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/2607 Surface equipment specially adapted for fracturing operations
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/13 by electromagnetic energy, e.g. radio frequency
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10366 the interrogation device being adapted for miscellaneous applications

Abstract

An apparatus is adapted to be coupled to a component of a system associated with a wellhead. The apparatus includes a band adapted to be coupled to the component; a holder coupled to the band; an electronic identifying device attached to the holder and adapted to identify the component; and an identifying component coupled to the band. The identifying component visually conveys information about at least one of: the electronic identifying device, and the component to which the band is adapted to be coupled. The system associated with the wellhead is a system for pumping fluid to the wellhead. In one embodiment, the electronic identifying device is, or includes, an RFID chip.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a band adapted to be coupled to a component of a system associated with a wellhead, the band comprising first and second ends;

a holder coupled to the band;

an electronic identifying device attached to the holder and adapted to identify the component to which the band is adapted to be coupled; and

an identifying component positioned on the band;

wherein the identifying component visually conveys information about at least one of;

the electronic identifying device, and

the component to which the band is adapted to be coupled.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the system associated with the wellhead is a system for pumping fluid to the wellhead;

wherein the electronic identifying device is, or comprises, an RFID chip; and

wherein the holder comprises a block to which the electronic identifying device is fixedly attached, and a recess formed in the block and in which at least a portion of the RFID chip is disposed.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a fastener coupled to the band and located proximate to the first end;

wherein the fastener is coupled to the band and positioned proximate to the first end so that the fastener is positioned, along the length of the band, between the first end and the holder; and

wherein the identifying component is positioned on the band so that the fastener is positioned, along the length of the band, between the first end and the identifying component.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the holder is positioned, or is adapted to be positioned, proximate to the first end so that the holder is either:

positioned, along the length of the band, between the first end and the identifying component;

or

adapted to be positioned, along the length of the band, between the first end and the identifying component.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the holder is movably coupled to the band and is permitted to move along the length of the band to be positioned between the first end and the identifying component.

6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the holder is fixedly attached to the band so that the holder is positioned, along the length of the band, between the first end and the identifying component.

7. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the identifying component comprises indicia positioned on the band, the indicia visually communicating information about at least one of the electronic identifying device and the component to which the band is adapted to be coupled;

and

wherein the holder is positioned, or is adapted to be positioned, proximate to the first end so that the holder is either;

positioned, along the length of the band, between the first end and the indicia;

or

adapted to be positioned, along the length of the band, between the first end and the indicia.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein, when the holder is positioned along the length of the band between the first end and the indicia, the band has more continuous surface area for the indicia, allowing the indicia to be expressed along a longer continuous area of the band, because the holder is positioned in closer proximity to the first end.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising the component;

wherein the band is coupled to the component; and

wherein the component is a section of pipe, a fitting, a valve, a frac or well service pump component, a fluid line, a manifold, a fluid connection, or any combination thereof.

10. An apparatus comprising a band,

wherein the band is adapted to be coupled to a component of a system associated with a wellhead;

wherein the band is an endless band;

wherein the band is adapted to be mechanically coupled to an electronic identifying device; and

wherein the band is adapted to have an identifying component positioned thereon; and

wherein the electronic identifying device to which the band is coupled;

wherein the identifying component is positioned on the band; and

wherein the electronic identifying device is positioned proximate the identifying component; and

wherein the identifying component comprises indicia visually communicating information about at least one of the electronic identifying device and the component to which the band is adapted to be coupled.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising a holder secured to the band, wherein the holder is adapted to support the electronic identifying device.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the holder is either welded to the band or attached to the band with adhesive.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising the identifying component;

wherein the identifying component is positioned on the band.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the identifying component is etched, printed, embossed, lasered, or painted on the band.

15. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising the component;

wherein the band is coupled to the component; and

wherein the component is a section of pipe, a fitting, a valve, a frac or well service pump component, a fluid line, a manifold, a fluid connection, or any combination thereof.

16. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the band is formed from an elastomeric material.

17. An apparatus, comprising:

a band adapted to be coupled to a component of a system associated with a wellhead, the band comprising first and second ends;

a holder coupled to the band, wherein the holder is positioned, or is adapted to be positioned, proximate to the first end;

an electronic identifying device attached to the holder and adapted to identify the component to which the band is adapted to be coupled; and

indicia positioned on the band, wherein the indicia visually communicates information about at least one of the electronic identifying device and the component to which the band is adapted to be coupled;

wherein the indicia is etched, printed, painted, embossed, or lasered on the band.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the electronic identifying device is, or comprises, an RFID chip;

wherein the holder comprises a block to which the electronic identifying device is fixedly attached, and a recess formed in the block and in which at least a portion of the RFID chip is disposed;

wherein the holder is positioned, or is adapted to be positioned, proximate to the first end so that the holder is either;

positioned, along the length of the band, between the first end and the indicia;

or

adapted to be positioned, along the length of the band, between the first end and the indicia;

and

wherein, when the holder is positioned along the length of the band between the first end and the indicia, the band has more continuous surface area for the indicia, allowing the indicia to be expressed along a longer continuous area of the band, because the holder is positioned in closer proximity to the first end.