Process equipment tracking system
First Claim
1. A process equipment tracking system, comprising:
- an attached RF ID tag and an attachment device adapted to attach the RF ID tag to a piece of process equipment;
an RF ID tag reader/writer useable by a user to obtain the identification from the RF ID tag on the process equipment and including a user input for at least one trackable event, and being able to write data on the at least one trackable event onto the RF ID tag, the RF ID tag reader being at least one of connectable to an internet or compatible for uploading the identification and the user input to a network access device;
a data base having process equipment related information, including at least one of manufacturing date, replacement date, batch number, lot number, material specifications, material lot number, certificates of compliance, size specifications, fitting specifications, description, customer data, batch process description, cleaning operations and customer application associated with the identification for the process equipment, the data base provides access to a user to obtain the process equipment related information based on the identification and receives and stores data related to the at least one trackable event;
wherein the data related to the at least one trackable event is stored in at least one of a local process equipment history data base and an internet accessible history database, which is used to store data on a series of trackable events; and
an automatic notice generation system which interrogates the process equipment data base regarding an expected replacement life of the process equipment, and generates an electronic notice to the user prior to an expiration of the process equipment expected replacement life.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A process equipment tracking system utilizing an attached RF ID tag attached to the process equipment during manufacture or thereafter. The RF ID tag is coded with an identification specific to the particular process equipment. An RF ID tag reader is provided, which is usable by a user to obtain the identification from the RF ID tag on the process equipment, preferably after the equipment is installed at the user facility. The RF ID tag reader includes a user input for at least one trackable event and can write data based on the at least one trackable event back onto the RF ID tag. The RF ID tag reader is at least one of connectable to a PC or the internet, or is compatible for uploading the identification and any user input to an internet accessible device. A process equipment database is provided, having process equipment-related information. The process equipment database provides access to a user to obtain the process equipment-related information based on the identification from the RF ID tag and receives and stores data related to the at least one trackable event.
88 Citations
29 Claims
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1. A process equipment tracking system, comprising:
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an attached RF ID tag and an attachment device adapted to attach the RF ID tag to a piece of process equipment; an RF ID tag reader/writer useable by a user to obtain the identification from the RF ID tag on the process equipment and including a user input for at least one trackable event, and being able to write data on the at least one trackable event onto the RF ID tag, the RF ID tag reader being at least one of connectable to an internet or compatible for uploading the identification and the user input to a network access device; a data base having process equipment related information, including at least one of manufacturing date, replacement date, batch number, lot number, material specifications, material lot number, certificates of compliance, size specifications, fitting specifications, description, customer data, batch process description, cleaning operations and customer application associated with the identification for the process equipment, the data base provides access to a user to obtain the process equipment related information based on the identification and receives and stores data related to the at least one trackable event;
wherein the data related to the at least one trackable event is stored in at least one of a local process equipment history data base and an internet accessible history database, which is used to store data on a series of trackable events; andan automatic notice generation system which interrogates the process equipment data base regarding an expected replacement life of the process equipment, and generates an electronic notice to the user prior to an expiration of the process equipment expected replacement life. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of tracking a piece of process equipment using a tracking system for obtaining process equipment data, comprising:
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affixing an RF ID tag encoded with an identification on the process equipment; providing process equipment information relating to the process equipment in a process equipment data base correlated to the identification; a user reading the RF ID tag with an RF ID tag reader; the user inputting data on at least one trackable event regarding the process equipment into the RF ID tag reader; writing the data on the at least one trackable event onto the RF ID tag; uploading data from the RF ID tag reader to a PC, an internet accessible device or connecting the RF ID tag reader to an internet; accessing the process equipment data base; retrieving data relating to the process equipment from the process equipment data base using the identification; uploading data on the at least one trackable event to a process equipment history data base to build the process equipment history data base; and calculating an expected process equipment life based on the process equipment history data base. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of tracking a piece of process equipment using a tracking system for obtaining process equipment data, comprising:
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affixing an RF ID tag encoded with an identification on the process equipment; providing process equipment information relating to the process equipment in a process equipment data base correlated to the identification; a user reading the RF ID tag with an RF ID tag reader; the user inputting data on at least one trackable event regarding the process equipment into the RF ID tag reader; writing the data on the at least one trackable event onto the RF ID tag; uploading data from the RF ID tag reader to a PC, an internet accessible device or connecting the RF ID tag reader to an internet; accessing the process equipment data base; retrieving data relating to the process equipment from the process equipment data base using the identification; and uploading data on the at least one trackable event to a process equipment history data base to build the process equipment history data base; wherein the at least one trackable event relates to at least one of;
process equipment cleaning, a number of batches of material processed or passed through process equipment, and an installation date of process equipment. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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20. A method of tracking a piece of process equipment using a tracking system for obtaining process equipment data, comprising:
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affixing an RF ID tag encoded with an identification on the process equipment; providing process equipment information relating to the process equipment in a process equipment data base correlated to the identification; a user reading the RF ID tag with an RF ID tag reader; the user inputting data on at least one trackable event regarding the process equipment into the RF ID tag reader; writing the data on the at least one trackable event onto the RF ID tag; uploading data from the RF ID tag reader to a PC, an internet accessible device or connecting the RF ID tag reader to an internet; accessing the process equipment data base; retrieving data relating to the process equipment from the process equipment data base using the identification; uploading data on the at least one trackable event to a process equipment history data base to build the process equipment history data base; and determining a process equipment life expectancy based at least on the process equipment history data base; and interfacing with the process equipment history data base and electronically notifying the user to reorder prior to an expiration of the determined process equipment life expectancy. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method of tracking a piece of process equipment using a tracking system for obtaining process equipment data, comprising:
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affixing an RF ID tag encoded with an identification on the process equipment; providing process equipment information relating to the process equipment in a process equipment data base correlated to the identification; a user reading the RF ID tag with an RF ID tag reader; the user inputting data on at least one trackable event regarding the process equipment into the RF ID tag reader; writing the data on the at least one trackable event onto the RF ID tag; uploading data from the RF ID tag reader to a PC, an internet accessible device or connecting the RF ID tag reader to an internet; accessing the process equipment data base; retrieving data relating to the process equipment from the process equipment data base using the identification; uploading data on the at least one trackable event to a process equipment history data base to build the process equipment history data base; and interfacing with the process equipment data base and electronically notifying the user to reorder prior to an expiration of a process equipment life expectancy. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification