IDENTIFICATION TAGS AND INSTALLATION TECHNIQUES

• US 20130057387A1
• Filed: 09/02/2011
• Published: 03/07/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vallourec Oil And Gas France
• Original Assignee: Merrick Systems Incorporated (The Petroleum Place LLC)
• Inventors: Binmore, Ian Rex
• Granted Patent: US 9,089,906 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/10.1
• CPC Class Codes: B23B 51/08 Drills combined with tool parts or tools for performing additional working B23G5/20 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B23B 51/10 Bits for countersinking
• CPC Class Codes: B23C 2220/16 Chamferring
• CPC Class Codes: B23C 3/30 Milling straight grooves, e.g. keyways
• CPC Class Codes: B23C 5/10 Shank-type cutters, i.e. with an integral shaft
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 17/006 Accessories for drilling pipes, e.g. cleaners wear protectors E21B17/10; handling drilling pipes E21B19/00; thread protectors B65D59/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/041 Constructional details G06K19/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0772 Physical layout of the record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0773 the record carrier comprising means to protect itself against external heat sources
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07758 arrangements for adhering the record carrier to further objects or living beings, functioning as an identification tag
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 408/03 Processes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 408/352 including rotating cutter other than rotating, axially moving Tool

Abstract

Various identification tags are disclosed. In one embodiment, a system includes a coupling with an extended skirt having an opening to receive an identification tag. The identification tag may be configured to be snapped into the opening, slid into the opening, or threaded into the opening, for example. The identification tag, such as an RFID tag, may include an electronics module to enable wireless communication with a reader. The electronics module may be received within a body to facilitate installation and retention of the tag and increase durability. The disclosed tags may also be installed in other components. Various other tags, systems, devices, and methods pertaining to identification tags are also disclosed.

Claims

1. An identification tag including:

an electronics module configured to wirelessly transmit information; and

a body configured to receive the electronics module, wherein the body is configured to snap into a mating opening of a component.

2. The identification tag of claim 1, wherein the body is split into at least two pieces configured to snap together and enclose the electronics module such that a first piece of the body may be moved into the opening from outside the coupling and a second piece of the body may be moved into the opening from inside the coupling to engage the first piece of the body and retain the electronics module within the opening.

3. The identification tag of claim 2, wherein the electronics module includes an integrated circuit and an antenna encased in a protective material, and the electronics module is disposed within a carrier configured to be received within the body between the first piece and the second piece.

4. The identification tag of claim 3, wherein the protective material includes glass.

5. The identification tag of claim 1, wherein the body includes upper and lower flanges configured to abut the component and retain the body within the opening.

6. The identification tag of claim 5, wherein the identification tag is configured such that, upon installation, the upper and lower flanges cooperate with respectively tapered surfaces within the opening of the component to retain the body within the opening.

7. A tool comprising:

a shank;

a first cutting surface at an end of the shank to enable the tool to bore through a wall of a component;

a second cutting surface to enable the tool to form a slot in the wall of the component by inserting the tool into the bore and laterally moving the tool to form the slot;

a third cutting surface to remove material from a first side of the wall of the component to form a first shoulder; and

a fourth cutting surface to remove material from a second side of the wall opposite the first side to form a second shoulder;

wherein the tool is configured to simultaneously enable the third cutting surface and the fourth cutting surface to remove material from the first side and the second side, respectively.

8. The tool of claim 7, wherein the third cutting surface and the fourth cutting surface are formed on tapered portions of the shank.

9. The tool of claim 7, wherein the third cutting surface and the fourth cutting surface are formed on opposite tapered portions of a groove of the shank.

10. A method comprising:

boring a hole through a component with a first cutting surface of a tool;

while the tool is inserted in the hole of the component, moving the tool laterally with respect to the component to cut a slot into the component.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein moving the tool laterally to cut the slot is performed without removing the tool from the hole following the boring of the hole through the component.

12. The method of claim 10, comprising forming at least one shoulder in the component adjacent the slot using the tool.

13. A method comprising:

aligning at least a portion of a handheld reader with the bore of one tubular member of a plurality of tubular members adjacent one another, the plurality of tubular members having wireless identification tags installed therein;

receiving at the handheld reader wireless information from a particular wireless identification tag installed in an opening of the one tubular member;

wherein the opening of the one tubular member facilitates receipt of the wireless information from the particular wireless identification tag and the body of the one tubular member inhibits reception of wireless communications from other wireless identification tags installed in the other tubular members of the plurality of tubular members.

14. The method of claim 13, comprising inserting at least a portion of the handheld reader into the bore of the one tubular member.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein inserting at least a portion of the handheld reader into the bore includes inserting an antenna of the handheld reader into the bore.

16. A system comprising:

an identification tag including;

electronics configured to wirelessly transmit information; and

a body configured to receive the electronics, wherein the body has a substantially cylindrical profile with a plurality of ribs protruding from an exterior, circumferential surface.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the plurality of ribs are formed parallel to the axis of the cylindrical profile of the body.

18. The system of claim 16, comprising a component having an opening configured to receive the identification tag.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the opening and the body are sized with respect to one another that insertion of the body in the opening causes the component to engage and compress ribs of the plurality of ribs to facilitate retention of the body within the opening.

20. The system of claim 19, comprising an adhesive within the opening between the body and the component.

21. The system of claim 18, wherein the component is a coupling configured to join two tubular members to one another.

22. The system of claim 18, wherein the opening extends to an axial end surface of the component.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the opening also extends through both of two surfaces opposite one another about the axial end surface.

24. The system of claim 22, wherein the opening includes at least two grooves formed in opposing sides of the component adjacent the opening configured to be aligned with and receive at least two mating portions of the body.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the electronics are disposed in a protective bead and the body is configured to receive the protective bead and the electronics.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the body includes a first portion to receive the electronics module and a second portion to receive the first portion, and the second portion includes the at least two mating portions of the body.