Electronic tagging of valves for maintaining computer records of service history and operational performance

摘要

A valve 10 has an electronic tag 12 such as a passive RFID tag having an unique ID signal. A reader 14 detects the tag ID and conveys it to a hand held computer 16. A computer server 20 has a database of valves, their IDs and associated service history information. When an operator wishes to conduct routine maintenance or repair on a number of valves, the database information for each valve is downloaded to the hand held computer from the server. When the operator is then at the valve installations he can read a valve tag ID using the reader 14 and display the previously downloaded database information relating to that valve on the screen of the hand held computer 16. When work on the valve is complete the database information can be updated in the hand held computer and later uploaded to the server 20.