RFID tag assembly

• US 7,963,452 B2
• Filed: 09/11/2007
• Issued: 06/21/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: National Oilwell Varco LP (NOV, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: National Oilwell Varco LP (NOV, Inc.)
• Inventors: Moritz, Colin B.
• Primary Examiner(s): TRAIL, ALLYSON NEEL
• Application Number:
  US12/521,415
• Publication Number:
  US 20100090012A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,379 Days
• Field of Search: 235/492, 235/383, 235/439, 340/572.1, 340/572.8
• US Class Current: 235/492
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/13 by electromagnetic energy, e.g. radio frequency
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49963 Threaded fastener

Abstract

An RFID tag assembly for tagging an asset comprises a housing including an inner cavity and a through bore. In addition, the assembly comprises an RFID tag disposed in the inner cavity. Further, the assembly comprises a mounting member coaxially disposed in the bore. The mounting member includes a threaded portion that extends from the lower surface of the housing and is adapted to threadingly coupled the housing to the asset.

Claims

1. An RFID tag assembly for tagging an asset comprising:

a housing having an uppermost outer surface, a lowermost outer surface opposite the uppermost outer surface, an inner cavity disposed between the uppermost outer surface and the lowermost outer surface, and a through bore extending through the housing from the uppermost outer surface to the lowermost outer surface;

an RFID tag disposed in the inner cavity;

a mounting member extending coaxially through the bore, wherein the mounting member includes a head that engages the uppermost outer surface of the housing and a threaded portion that extends from the lowermost outer surface of the housing and is adapted to threadingly coupled the housing to the asset.

2. The RFID tag assembly of claim 1 wherein the housing comprises:

a first member having a lower surface including a first recess and an outer ridge extending along the entire perimeter of the lower surface;

a second member having an upper surface including a second recess and an outer ridge extending along the entire perimeter of the upper surface;

wherein the second member is coupled to the first member such that the second recess opposes the first recess defining an inner cavity between the first member and the second member;

an air-tight seal positioned between the outer ridge of the first member and the outer ridge of the second member.

3. The RFID tag assembly of claim 2 wherein the first member includes a first through bore coaxially aligned with a second through bore in the second member to form the bore in the housing.

4. The RFID tag assembly of claim 3 wherein the inner cavity is positioned radially between the mounting member and the air-tight seal.

5. An RFID tag assembly for tagging an asset comprising:

a first member having a lower surface including a first recess;

a second member having an upper surface including a second recess;

wherein the second member is coupled to the first member such that the second recess opposes the first recess to form an inner cavity between the first member and the second member;

an substantially air-tight outer seal between the first member and the second member sealing the inner cavity;

an RFID tag disposed in the inner cavity between the first member and the second member; and

a mounting member adapted to couple the housing to the asset.

6. The RFID tag assembly of claim 5 wherein the first member further comprises an outer ridge extending along the entire outer perimeter of its lower surface, the second member further comprises an outer ridge extending along the entire outer perimeter of its upper surface, and wherein the outer seal is disposed between the outer ridge of the first member and the outer ridge of the second member.

7. The RFID tag assembly of claim 6 wherein the first member includes a first through bore coaxially aligned with a second through bore in the second member.

8. The RFID tag assembly of claim 7 wherein the mounting member is disposed through the first bore and the second bore.

9. The RFID tag assembly of claim 8 wherein the inner cavity is positioned radially between the mounting member and the outer seal.

10. The RFID tag assembly of claim 8 wherein the mounting member comprises a bolt coaxially disposed through the first and the second bores, wherein the bolt comprises a head that engages the upper surface of the first member and a threaded portion opposite the head that extends from the lower surface of the second member.

11. The RFID tag assembly of claim 9 wherein the lower surface of the first member further comprises an inner ridge extending along the entire perimeter of the first bore, and the upper surface of the second member further comprises an inner ridge extending along the entire perimeter of the second bore, wherein the inner ridge of the first member opposes the inner ridge of the second member.

12. The RFID tag assembly of claim 11 further comprising a substantially inner air-tight seal positioned between the inner ridge of the first member and the inner ridge of the second member.

13. The RFID tag assembly of claim 9 further comprising a cylindrical sleeve extending through the first and second bores between the mounting member and the first and second members.

14. The RFID tag assembly of claim 13 further comprising a first inner air-tight seal between the outer cylindrical surface of the sleeve and the surface of the first member that defines the first bore, and a second inner air-tight seal between the outer cylindrical surface of the sleeve and the surface of the second member that defines the second bore.

15. The RFID tag assembly of claim 5 further comprising a visual identifier disposed in the inner cavity between the RFID tag and the first member, wherein the first member comprises a translucent material.

16. The RFID tag assembly of claim 5 wherein the mounting member includes a threaded portion and is integral with the second member.

17. The RFID tag assembly of claim 5 further comprising a resonant tuning member disposed in a third recess formed in the lower surface of the second member.

18. A method for coupling an RFID tag to an asset comprising:

(a) providing a housing with an inner cavity;

(b) disposing the RFID tag in the inner cavity;

(c) isolating the inner cavity from the environment outside the housing with at least one substantially air-tight seal;

(d) coupling the housing to the asset with a mounting member; and

(e) compressing the housing during (d) to form the at least one substantially air-tight seal.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising forming a through bore in the housing.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the mounting member comprises a bolt having a head and a threaded portion opposite the head, and (d) further comprises:

passing the bolt through the bore in the housing;

engaging the upper surface of the housing with the head;

extending the threaded portion from the lower surface of the housing; and

threadingly engaging the threaded portion of the bolt and a mating bore.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein the housing comprises:

a first member having a lower surface including a first recess and an outer ridge extending along the entire outer perimeter of the lower surface;

a second member having an upper surface including a second recess and an outer ridge extending along the entire outer perimeter of the upper surface;

wherein the second member is coupled to the first member such that the second recess opposes the first recess to form the inner cavity; and

wherein the at least one air-tight seal is positioned between the outer ridge of the first member and the outer ridge of the second member.

22. The method of claim 21 further comprising compressing the first ridge and the second ridge together.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein first member includes a first through bore coaxially aligned with a second through bore in the second member to form the bore in the housing, wherein the lower surface of the first member further comprises an inner ridge extending along the entire perimeter of the first bore and the upper surface of the second member further comprises an inner ridge extending along the entire perimeter of the second bore, and wherein a substantially air-tight inner seal is disposed between the inner ridge of the first member and the inner ridge of the second member.