Smart operating nut
AssigneeMueller International, LLC
InventorsAndrew Henderson Pike, Amanda Leverett Owens, Matthew Thomas Sutterfield
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
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.
Claims20
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.
A tool for manipulating an operating nut of a valve, the tool comprising:
- a tool end defining a tool socket defining an axis, the tool 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.
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 digital identification tag of the operating nut with the digital identification tag reader of the tool.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.