Solar battery wireless load cell

• US 9,689,758 B2
• Filed: 05/07/2014
• Issued: 06/27/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bode Intelligence Technology Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Bode Energy Equipment Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Zhao, Min
• Primary Examiner(s): Desta, Elias
• Application Number:
  US14/272,105
• Publication Number:
  US 20150323399A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,147 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 1/22 using resistance strain gauges
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 1/2218 the supports being of the column type, e.g. cylindric, adapted for measuring a force along a single direction
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 5/102 using sensors located at a non-interrupted part of the flexible member
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/35 with light sensitive cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/56 Power conversion systems, e.g. maximum power point trackers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49009 Dynamoelectric machine

Abstract

A load cell for transmitting load data of a polished rod in a rod pump system includes an outer shell having a u-shaped structure with two protrusions, the u-shaped structure configured to receive the polished rod, and the outer shell configured to be positioned between a rod clamp and a clamping bar of the rod pump system. Internal to the outer shell is a load sensor, a load signal processor, a modulator, a battery, and a charger, whereby the load cell measures a load on the polished rod and wirelessly transmits load signal data via a wireless transmitter internal to the outer shell but with an antenna that protrudes from the outer shell. Also internal to the outer shell is a battery which is charged by an external solar panel via the charger. The battery, charger, and solar panel provide power to the load cell.

Claims

1. A load cell for transmitting load data of a polished rod in a rod pump system having a rod clamp fixed to a top of the polished rod and a clamping bar fixed to a hanger harness attached to a horsehead, the load cell comprising:

an outer shell including a u-shaped structure having two protrusions, the u-shaped structure configured to receive the polished rod, and the outer shell configured to be positioned between the rod clamp and the clamping bar of the rod pump system;

a load sensor configured to receive a voltage and output a load signal based on a load experienced by the load sensor;

a load signal processor configured to receive and process the load signal from the load sensor and to output load signal data representative of the load experienced by the load sensor, wherein the load signal processor is internal to the outer shell of the load cell;

a modulator configured to receive the load signal data from the load signal processor, to modulate the load signal data, and to output the modulated load signal data, wherein the modulator is internal to the outer shell of the load cell;

a wireless transmitter configured to receive the modulated load signal data from the modulator and to wirelessly transmit the modulated load signal data;

a solar battery configured to provide power to the load cell, the solar battery including;

a solar panel that is mounted externally on the outer shell of the load cell;

a battery that is internal to the outer shell of the load cell;

a charger that is internal to the outer shell of the load cell and that is electrically connected to the solar panel and the battery,

wherein the charger is configured to receive current from the solar panel and to charge the battery; and

wherein the solar battery is configured to provide the voltage to the load sensor.

2. The load cell of claim 1, wherein

the load sensor includes two load sensors, each of the two load sensors having a bottom that protrudes from a bottom of the load sensor to thereby physically contact a clamping bar of the rod pump system.

3. The load cell of claim 2, wherein

the bottoms of each of the two load sensors are planar;

and

the two load sensors are diametrically opposed to each other across the u-shaped portion of the load cell relative to a position of the polished rod when the load sensor is installed in the rod pump system.

4. The load cell of claim 1, the load cell further comprising a bolt inserted from a top of the load cell and positioned to center the load sensor.

5. The load cell of claim 1, wherein the outer shell of the load cell includes a hole in each of the two protrusions of the u-shaped portion, the holes configured to receive a fixing bar that thereby secures the load cell to the polished rod.

6. A method of attaching a load cell to a polished rod in a rod pump system, the rod pump system having a rod clamp fixed to a top of the polished rod and a clamping bar fixed to a hanger harness attached to a horsehead, the method comprising:

providing a gap between the polished rod clamp and the clamp bar, the gap sizeable to laterally receive the load cell, wherein the load cell includes an outer shell including a u-shaped structure having two protrusions, and wherein the outer shell of the load cell includes a hole in each of the two protrusions of the u-shaped portion, the holes configured to receive a fixing bar that thereby secures the load cell to the polished rod;

laterally placing the load cell within the gap such that the u-shaped portion of the load cell receives the polished bar; and

securing the load cell to the polished bar by inserting the fixing bar in the holes of the two protrusions of the u-shaped portion,

wherein the load cell further includes;

the u-shaped structure configured to receive the polished rod, and the outer shell configured to be positioned between the rod clamp and the clamping bar of the rod pump system;

a load sensor configured to receive a voltage and output a load signal based on a load experienced by the load sensor;

a load signal processor configured to receive and process the load signal from the load sensor and to output load signal data representative of the load experienced by the load sensor, wherein the load signal processor is internal to the outer shell of the load cell;

a modulator configured to receive the load signal data from the load signal processor, to modulate the load signal data, and to output the modulated load signal data, wherein the modulator is internal to the outer shell of the load cell;

a wireless transmitter configured to receive the modulated load signal data from the modulator and to wirelessly transmit the modulated load signal data;

a solar battery configured to provide power to the load cell, the solar battery including;

a solar panel that is mounted externally on the outer shell of the load cell;

a battery that is internal to the outer shell of the load cell;

a charger that is internal to the outer shell of the load cell and that is electrically connected to the solar panel and the battery,

wherein the charger is configured to receive current from the solar panel and to charge the battery; and

wherein the solar battery is configured to provide the voltage to the load sensor.