Coupling Housing for RFID Tag in Tubular Connections
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing solutions for identifying and marking components in oil and gas wells, particularly thin-walled tubes, fail to provide durable and non-contaminating electronic identification tags that do not compromise mechanical integrity or increase the risk of contamination, and are difficult to apply without affecting productivity or structural strength.
Innovation Solution
A coupling design with a housing for an electronically responsive identification tag, such as an RFID, is integrated into the central thicker portion or extension segment of the tubular body, allowing for easy reading and protection without altering the outside diameter or structural integrity, using a recess or sheath that simplifies manufacturing and application.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If an electronically responsive identification tag is applied to thin-walled tubes, then identification and tracking capability is improved, but the outside diameter increases making installation difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The identification tag is nested within a recess formed in the coupling body, allowing the tag to be housed inside the coupling structure itself rather than attached externally. This eliminates the need to increase the outside diameter of the assembly while providing durable identification capability.
2Loss of information
If an identification tag is attached to the external surface of thin-walled tubes, then identification capability is improved, but the structural strength decreases increasing crack risk
Solution Approach 1:
The tag is nested within a recess in the coupling body, utilizing the thicker central portion of the coupling for housing the tag. This location provides structural support without compromising the thin-walled tube strength, as the tag is embedded in the coupling rather than attached to the tube.
Solution Approach 2:
The identification function is extracted from the thin-walled tube and placed in the coupling body instead. This separates the identification requirement from the structural tube component, allowing the tube to maintain its thin-walled design without additional attachment hardware that would compromise its strength.
3Loss of information
If conventional marking methods are used on tubes, then identification is achieved, but the marking is easily damaged and wears away during handling and storage
Solution Approach 1:
The electronic identification tag is nested within a protected recess in the coupling body, shielding it from physical damage, abrasion, and environmental factors. This housing provides mechanical protection while maintaining identification capability throughout the service life of the equipment.
4Loss of information
If identification tags are applied to thin-walled tubes, then tracking capability is improved, but contamination risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The identification tag is nested within a recess in the coupling body, which acts as a protective barrier preventing direct contact between the tag and the well environment. This eliminates contamination risks associated with exposed electronic components while maintaining full tracking capability.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~5
Figure 6~9
AI summary
The coupling comprises a tubular body with two ends of the body each provided with a portion of internal threading (14) for joining to a tubular element, the tubular body further comprising a central portion separating the two ends each provided with a portion of threading (14) and having a wall thickness greater than the wall thickness of the ends of the body. More precisely, this coupling comprises an extension segment (18) that extends from one of the ends of the tubular body, after the portion of internal threading (14), said extension segment having the same outside diameter as that of the tubular body and an inside diameter greater than or equal to that of the portion of internal threading. Moreover, the extension segment (18) comprises a housing (12), provided with an opening onto an external surface of the coupling, in which an electronically responsive identification tag is housed.