Smart operating nut

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2023175537-A1
Application number	US-202117545670-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 8, 2021
Priority date	Dec 8, 2021
Publication date	Jun 8, 2023
Grant date	—

Abstract

An operating nut can include a body and a digital identification tag secured to the body, at least one of the body and the digital identification tag defining an outer surface of the operating nut. The body can define a central bore defining an axis and can include a working portion defining an end surface and a plurality of side surfaces defining a polygonal shape in a cross-sectional plane orthogonal to the axis; and a flange portion extending outward from the working portion in a radial direction with respect to an axis of the operating nut, the flange portion defining a first end surface and a second end surface, the central bore extending through each of the working portion and the flange portion.

First claim

That which is claimed is:

1 . An operating nut comprising:
a body defining a central bore defining an axis and comprising:
a working portion defining an end surface and a plurality of side surfaces defining a polygonal shape in a cross-sectional plane orthogonal to the axis; and
a flange portion extending outward from the working portion in a radial direction with respect to an axis of the operating nut, the flange portion defining a first end surface and a second end surface, the central bore extending through each of the working portion and the flange portion; and
a digital identification tag secured to the body, at least one of the body and the digital identification tag defining an outer surface of the operating nut.

2 . The operating nut of claim 1 , wherein the digital identification tag is a radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag.

3 . The operating nut of claim 2 , wherein the read range of the RFID tag is equal to or less than 10 inches.

4 . The operating nut of claim 2 , wherein the RFID tag defines at least a portion of the outer surface of the operating nut, the portion of the outer surface of the operating nut defined by the RFID tag being coincident with the end surface of the working portion of the body.

5 . The operating nut of claim 4 , wherein the RFID tag is embedded in a cavity defined in the outer surface.

6 . The operating nut of claim 5 , wherein the RFID tag does not protrude outwardly past the outer surface in any direction away from or along the axis. A device comprising the operating nut of claim 1 , wherein the device comprises a valve.

8 . The device of claim 7 , wherein the device is one of a hydrant, a gate valve, a plug valve, a ball valve, a stem valve, and a butterfly valve.

9 . A tool for manipulating an operating nut of a valve, the tool comprising:
a tool end defining a tool socket defining an axis, the socket defining a plurality of side surfaces and sized to receive the operating nut, the operating nut defining a substantially polygonal shape in a cross-sectional plane orthogonal to the axis; a handle end extending from the tool end; and a radio-frequency identification (RFID) reader secured to the tool.

10 . The tool of claim 9 , wherein the RFID reader is secured to one of the tool end and the handle end.

11 . The tool of claim 10 , wherein the handle end comprises a handle extending radially outward with respect to the axis, the handle being configured to apply torque.

12 . The tool of claim 10 , further comprising a shaft extending between the tool end and the handle end.

13 . The tool of claim 10 , wherein the handle end defines one of a handle socket and a handle engagement nut, the one of the handle socket and the handle engagement nut defining the axis, the one of the handle socket and the handle engagement nut defining a plurality of side surfaces defining a polygonal shape in a cross-sectional plane orthogonal to the axis.

14 . The tool of claim 10 , further comprising a sensor configured to measure a parameter of the device.

15 . A method of using an operating nut, the method comprising:
engaging a tool with the operating nut of a device, the operating nut comprising a digital identification tag and the tool comprising a digital identification tag reader, the operating nut further comprising a body defining a central bore defining an axis, an end surface, and a plurality of side surfaces defining a polygonal shape in a cross-sectional plane orthogonal to the axis, the central bore extending through the body; rotating the tool to rotate the operating nut; and activating the identification tag of the operating nut with the identification tag reader of the tool.

16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein engaging the tool with the operating nut comprises engaging the tool with the operating nut of one of a hydrant, a gate valve, and a butterfly valve.

17 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the identification tag is a radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag.

18 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising identifying a unique identification number for the device.

19 . The method of claim 18 , further comprising transmitting a parameter of the device to a remote server.

20 . The method of claim 18 , further comprising, based on the unique identification number, communicating data on a device comprising the operating nut to a user of the tool through an interface on an electronic device and a display on the tool.

Assignees

• Mueller Int Llc

Inventors

• Pike Andrew Henderson
• Owens Amanda Leverett
• Sutterfield Matthew Thomas

Classifications

• B25B27/24 Primary

  mounting or demounting valves (for tyre valves B60C25/18) · CPC title

• F16B1/0071 Primary

  Mechanical Engineering · mapped topic

• F16B37/0878 Primary

  in one piece, e.g. C-shaped nuts · CPC title

• F16B2200/95

  with markings, colours, indicators or the like · CPC title

• B25B13/06

  of socket type · CPC title