Asceptic pipeline pig with identification means
AssigneeUresh AG
InventorsUrs HOFER, Andres HUBER
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Abstract
A pipeline pig (5) for cleaning pipelines (6) and/or for recovering products from a pipeline is disclosed. The pipeline pig (5) comprises at least one radiofrequency identification tag (4a, 4b) as a means for identification and for the sending, receiving and storing of data. The pipeline pig (5) may be used in pipeline systems used for the production of sterile food or phaimaceutical products.
Claims15
A pipeline pig for cleaning a pipeline or for product recovery comprising an axially symmetrical, elongate main body of solid material shaped to have at least two axially spaced sealing surfaces for sealing the pig against the interior surface of the pipeline, characterised in that the pig comprises at least one radiofrequency identification tag fully encased within the solid material of the main body.
A method for identifying, monitoring and/or positioning a pipeline pig for cleaning a pipeline or for product recovery, comprising:
- (a) providing at least one radiofrequency identification tag having a memory on which information relating to the identity of the pig and/or further information, such as the time of its first launch and/or temperature data, is storable;
- (b) providing a plurality of radiofrequency identification readers capable of reading the unique identifying information from the memory of the radiofrequency identification tag at a plurality of positions along the pipeline;
- (c) incorporating the radiofrequency identification tag within the pipeline pig,
- (d) allowing the plurality of radiofrequency identification readers to read the stored information from the memory of the radiofrequency identification tag at the plurality of positions of the radiofrequency identification tag readers, and
- (e) using the thereby determined data to monitor the pig's use and/or to position the pig at at least one target position within the pipeline.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.