WO2019068114A1

WO2019068114A1 - Method for providing a unique identifier for mechanical constructs and associated kit therefor

Info

Publication number: WO2019068114A1
Application number: PCT/ZA2018/050044
Authority: WO
Inventors: Theo NIEMAND
Original assignee: Duplidot (Pty) Limited
Priority date: 2017-09-29
Filing date: 2018-08-10
Publication date: 2019-04-04

Abstract

This invention relates to a method (10) for providing a unique identifier for.mechanics! constructs (80, 90), the method comprising the steps of: associating a unique marker (40) to each personnel member (30) of a team; presenting each personnel member (30) with an applicator (50) comprising an allocation of the associated marker (40); applying the applicator (50) to a predetermined component (90) of the mechanical construct (80); and applying the applicator (50) to a project sheet (70) associated with the construction, alternatively maintenance, of that mechanical construct (80), in order to confirm the accuracy of association between each predetermined component (90) and the respective personnel member (30), The invention further extends to an associated kit for use in providing a unique Identifier for mechanical constructs (80, 90).

Description

METHOD FOR PROVIDING A UNIQUE IDENTIFIER FOR MECHANICAL CONSTRUCTS, AND ASSOCIATED KIT THEREFOR

Field Of The Invention

THIS INVENTION relates, broadly, to a method for providing a unique identifier for mechanical constructs. More particularly, the invention has specific application to mechanical components, joints, fasteners and connections.

This Invention also relates to an associated kit.

Background To The Invention It occurs periodically, when dealing with mechanical components, that failures and/or accidents occur. Airplane crashes, vehicle accidents, and structural collapse of buildings are examples of such incidents. When these occur, it is very important to determine precisely what was the cause of the failure or accident. That determination is often frustrated by a number of factors, including the following: first, the extent of damage caused to the mechanical equipment may be so severe so as to render any meaningful assessment impossible. Second, in cases in which the manufacture & assembly of the mechanical equipment might have been conducted by a team of personnel, it is not always possible to identify which

SUBSTITUTE SHEETS (RULE 26) team member, precisely, was responsible for a particular aspect of manufacture or assembly.

It is will be appreciated by the person skilled in the art that this invention is concerned, exclusively, with scenarios in which a team of multiple personnel is responsible for the cumulative constructions, assembly and maintenance of mechanical constructs.

For purposes of this specification, the following terms are understood to have specific meanings:

• "mechanical construct" is understood to refer, very broadly, to a mechanical device or construct that includes at least some discreet mechanical component, joint, fastener or connection - the condition of which is required to be scrutinised or assessed at some future date; and

• "project" is understood to refer to a particular, documented production line process for a specific mechanic product, alternatively a particular, documented maintenance & servicing process for a given product - a good example of which is the project for the manufacture of a particular aircraft engine block, and a project for the regular servicing and maintenance of the same aircraft engine block respectively.

Some solutions to the problem have been attempted in prior art. In the simplest cases, a predetermined colour is spray-painted onto a particular joint or mechanical component. In other examples, a laminate, wax

SUBSTITUTE SHEETS (RULE 26) or sticky seal is applied to or around a particular joint or mechanical component. The idea is the same in each case: the paint, laminate, wax or seal has a predetermined, distinctive colour that is associated with a particular (group of) persons. One such solution is the Torque Seal™ product range of the Rocol Corporation. That product is, in essence, a paste that provides a visual indicator of loosening or tampering of select nuts, bolts, fasteners or assemblies. The paste is designed to fluoresce in particular colours under black and/or UV light. While these solutions are helpful, in limited circumstances, they suffer from a number of inherent limitations and shortcomings. For example: each of these solutions is relatively simply to tamper with and change. In cases of severe or catastrophic damage to the mechanical construct, many of these prior art solutions are damaged beyond the point of being useful. Furthermore, in cases involving teams of personnel, none of these solutions will identify which team member, specifically, was responsible for the particular marked fastener, component or joint.

Another prior art solution is a barcode (typically: linear barcodes and two-dimensional array barcodes). While these are useful for providing data that would identify uniquely the items to which they are attached, they tend to be extremely large (relatively speaking) and prone to damage during ordinary operation of the machinery, which renders this solution unreliable and impractical.

SUBSTITUTE SHEETS (RULE 26) Object Of The Invention

It is an object of the present invention to provide both a method and also an associated kit, that will overcome, at least partially, the disadvantages described above.

Summary Of The Invention

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for providing a unique identifier for mechanical constructs, the method comprising the steps of:

• associating a unique marker to each personnel member of a team;

• presenting each personnel member with an applicator comprising an allocation of the associated marker;

• applying the applicator to a predetermined component of the mechanical construct; and

• applying the applicator to a project sheet associated with the construction, alternatively maintenance, of that mechanical construct, in order to confirm the accuracy of association between each predetermined component and the respective personnel member.

The marker may be selected from the group consisting of: a microdot; a tamper-proof tag; a fluorescent fluid of predetermined colour; a QR code; and a combination of these.

SUBSTITUTE SHEETS (RULE 26) The microdot may include personalised data selected from the group consisting of: the relevant personnel member's license number, the relevant personnel identity, passport or social security number; the RGB values of the fluorescent fluid; and a combination of these.

The method may further include the step of: capturing project data in a storage database.

Project data may be selected from the group consisting of: each pair of personnel members and their associated unique marker; the personnel members involved on that project; component part codes; date and time of project operation; and a combination of these.

The method may further include the step of retrieving the project data from the database, and associating a particular component uniquely with the corresponding associated project personnel member.

The marker may be designed to withstand temperatures up to 1 ,500°C, alternatively demonstrate a hardening-and-drying time of application of less than 1 5 minutes, further alternatively both.

The tamper-proof tags may be in the order of 5 mm - 50mm in length

SUBSTITUTE SHEETS (RULE 26) According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a kit for use in providing a unique identifier for mechanical constructs, the kit comprising:

• at least one unique marker, each marker being associated uniquely with a specific personnel member of a team;

• an applicator for applying an allocation of an associated marker onto a predetermined component of the mechanical construct; and

• a project sheet associated with the construction, alternatively maintenance, of that mechanical construct, which project sheet is configured for application of the marker.

Preferably, the kit compromises one applicator for each personnel member. The kit may further comprise a UV light.

Ideally, each applicator in the kit is pre-packaged to include an allocation of personalised marker pre-loaded into each applicator. The marker may be selected from the group consisting of: a personalised microdot; a fluorescent fluid of predetermined colour; a QR code; and a combination of these.

The microdot may include personalised data selected from the group consisting of: the relevant personnel member's license number, the

SUBSTITUTE SHEETS (RULE 26) relevant personnel identity, passport or social security number; and a combination of these.

Brief Description Of The Drawings

In order to describe the invention, embodiments thereof are described hereunder, purely as examples, without limiting the scope of the invention, wherein: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic flowchart illustrating the steps in the method according to a first aspect of the invention;

Figure 2 is a diagrammatic representation of an applicator envisaged in the operation of the invention;

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic representation of a microdot envisaged in the operation of the invention;

Figure 4 is a diagrammatic representation of a project sheet envisaged in the operation of the invention.

Detailed Description Of The Drawings

Referring to the figures, which depict a preferred embodiment of the invention, a method in accordance with the invention is provided, and is

SUBSTITUTE SHEETS (RULE 26) referred to generally by numeral 10. The invention, of course, must be seen in the context of mechanical construction or maintenance work conducted by a team 20 of personnel members 30. The method 10 involves a number of steps, commencing with the step 15 of associating a unique marker 40 to each personnel member 30 of team 20. It is convenient, at this juncture, to discuss marker 40 in some detail. Marker 40, in the preferred embodiment of the invention depicted here, takes the form of a personalised microdot 100 - of the type illustrated (in exaggerated, much enlarged form) in Figure 3. Microdots, of course, are well known - the significant feature, for purposes of the present invention, is that the microdots used are personalised to include data that is mapped exclusively onto the associated personnel member 30n. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, that personal data is the personnel member's 30n identity number. In other embodiments of the invention, it is envisaged that any other unique data personal to the personnel member 30n might be used instead - this includes data such as a passport number, drivers' license number or social security number. This is illustrated in Figure 3 as the alphanumeric textline 1 1 5. It will be appreciated by the expert in the field that no two personnel (30a, 30b) will have identical personal data, and also that the microdot 100 may be read only under a microscope - it being too small to be seen with the naked eye. In another embodiment of the invention (not depicted), the unique marker 40 takes the form of a QR code, which code includes data specific to its uniquely associated personnel member 30n.

SUBSTITUTE SHEETS (RULE 26) It will also be appreciated that a ready mechanical equivalent for the microdot 100 is a tamper-proof tag (not depicted) of comparable dimensions. In another embodiment of the invention (not depicted), the marker 40 is, in fact, not a solid surface substrate such as a microdot or tag, but rather a fluorescent fluid of a predetermined colour. More specifically: a unique colour, defined by RGB codes is generated, and associated uniquely with each personnel member 30n, thus pairing the two uniquely in precisely the same fashion as in the first-mentioned embodiment depicted here. What is important about the choice of marker 40 is that it is sufficiently hardy and robust to withstand the tolerances of mechanical wear and tear and, more than that, stand-up to potential sabotage and/or damage caused by mechanical failure or in accidents. In preferred embodiments of the invention, the marker 40 is be designed to withstand temperatures up to 1 ,500°C, and also demonstrate a hardening-and-drying time of application of less than 15 minutes, in order to achieve this.

In yet a further embodiment of the invention (not depicted) it is envisaged that the marker 40 will comprise both some personal information represented as alphanumeric text 1 15 displayed on a microdot 100 and also a fluorescent fluid of a predetermined colour defined by a unique RGB code. In this example, conveniently, the microdots 1 00 would be suspended within the fluorescent fluid.

SUBSTITUTE SHEETS (RULE 26) Returning to the method 1 0: in step 25, each personnel member

(30a, 30b, . , 30n) is presented with their personalised, associated applicator (50a, 50b, . , 50n). The next step in the method 10 (step 35) occurs when the team

20 is engaged in the business of constructing or conducting maintenance on a particular mechanical construct (depicted, generally, as an engine block 80 having multiple components (90a, 90b, 90n)). During that project, each team member (30a, 30b, 30n) will be allocated particular tasks to complete. Typically, those tasks on conducted on specific mechanical components, joints, fasteners or connections (90a, 90b, 90n), as required in that specific project. As each team member (30a, 30b, 30n) completes each particular task allocated to him or her, in the next step 35 in the method 10, each team member (30a, 30b, 30n) is required to apply their personal, unique applicator 50, to apply an allocation of the associated marker 40 in, on or around the particular components, joints, fasteners or connections (90) that formed part of his/her tasks. Physically, the applicator 50 resembles a penlike or syringelike structure having a nib formation 140 through which the marker 40 is passed in operation. Conveniently, in an embodiment of the invention, an allocation of marker is stored within a reservoir in a barrel formation 1 50 of the applicator 50.

Additionally, in the next step 45 in the method 10, each team member (30a, 30b, 30n) participating in the project is required to sign-off their involvement in that project- and, specifically, confirm that they were

SUBSTITUTE SHEETS (RULE 26) responsible for work or maintenance conducted on certain, specified components, joints, fasteners or connections (90a, 90b, ... , 90n). That step 45 is concluded simply by the team member (30a, 30b, 30n) applying their respective applicators (50a, 50b, 50n) to the check block 60 on the project sheet 70. In another embodiment of the invention (not depicted): a software alagoue to this paper-based solution is provided - specifically: the team member (30a, 30b, 30n) apply their respective applicators (50a, 50b, 50n) to the check block 60 digitally on an electronic project sheet 70. The team members (30a, 30b, 30n) sign-off on the electronic project sheet 70 by scanning and uploading a fingerprint. An advantage of this solution is that the digital project sheet 70 can be archived readily and securely in the cloud.

It will be appreciated by the expert in the field that, by executing this step 45, each respective team member (30a, 30b, 30n) acknowledges personal responsibility for having worked on a specifically delineated list of components 90 - this is because the uniquely personalised marker 40 applied to the relevant components 90 will correspond to the uniquely personalised marker 40 applied to the check block 60 on the project sheet 70. This serves to remove any ambiguity as to which team member (30a, 30b, 30n) handled which component (90a, 90b, ... , 90n).

The project sheet 70 includes all data relevant to the specific construction or maintenance required in the specific project, including linking each task with the relevant personnel member (30a, 30b, 30n) responsible. That data also includes detail of the specific component parts

SUBSTITUTE SHEETS (RULE 26) used in the execution of the project. In the example depicted in Figure 1 , the data is represented generally by reference numeral 1 1 0. Each personnel member (30a, 30b, 30n) acknowledges the accuracy of the data 1 10 by signing off in the checkblock 60 using his personalised applicator (50a, 50b, 50n) - this is conducted in the step 45. Then, in a further step 55 (that is not compulsory to the invention, but is regarded as ideal), all of the data captured on project sheet 70 is uploaded and stored on a database 120. In the example shown in Figure 1 , that data 1 1 0 is captured manually on a computer database 120, where it is then uploaded onto a secure server 1 30, over internet 160, for storage. Naturally, as will be appreciated, there are countless methods to achieve the uploading of data 1 1 0 onto secure server 130, all of which are considered to fall within the letter and spirit of the invention. Should it occur, at some point after the completion of a particular project, that particular components (90a, 90b, 90n) fail or are suspected of causing an accident, an investigation will, most assuredly, be expected. As a first measure (step 65), a UV light source 170 would be shone onto the damaged mechanical construct 80 - it will be appreciated that any specific, pre-loaded colour will fluoresce at under the UV Light source 1 70. This is certainly helpful to identify some information, but only in cases in which marker 40 comprises a fluorescent fluid of a predetermined colour. For all other markers, at that point, step 75, the uploaded project data 1 10 is retrieved and assessed, in order to link particular components (90a, 90b, 90n) uniquely with the corresponding associated project personnel member.

SUBSTITUTE SHEETS (RULE 26) In this way, the culpability or innocence of any given personnel member (30a, 30b, 30n) may be tested unambiguously and reliably.

While not depicted in the figures, a kit in accordance with the invention is also provided. The kit comprises, at a minimum, a unique marker 40 associated uniquely with a specific personnel member (30a, 30b, ... . 30n) of a team 20, an applicator 50 for applying an allocation of an associated marker 40 onto a predetermined component (90a, 90b, 90n) of the mechanical construct 80, and a project sheet 70 associated with the construction, alternatively maintenance, of that mechanical construct 80.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention , the kit compromises one applicator (50a, 50b, 50n) for each personnel member (30a, 30b, 30n), each such pair being associated uniquely. Also in a preferred embodiment, each applicator (50a, 50b, 50n) in the kit is prepackaged to include an allocation of personalised marker 40 pre-loaded into each applicator. So, for example, in the case of a penlike applicator, the allocation of marker 40 will be contained in a reservoir housed within the barrel 1 50 of the applicator 50. In yet another embodiment of the invention (not depicted) the penlike applicator houses a series of stickers, each of which displays a QR code marker 40.

Conveniently, in an embodiment of the invention, the kit further includes a UV light 170.

SUBSTITUTE SHEETS (RULE 26) It will be appreciated that the advantages achieved through the use and exercise of this invention overcomes, to at least some degree, each one of the disadvantages described above. It will be appreciated, further, that numerous embodiments of the invention could be performed without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the consistory statements above.

SUBSTITUTE SHEETS (RULE 26)

Claims

Claims:

A method (10) for providing a unique identifier for mechanical constructs (80, 90), the method comprising the steps of:

• associating a unique marker (40a, 40b, ... 40n) to each personnel member (30a, 30b, 30n) of a team;

• presenting each personnel member (30a, 30b, 30n) with an applicator (50a, 50b, 50n) comprising an allocation of the associated marker (40a, 40b, ... 40n);

• applying the applicator (50a, 50b, 50n) to a predetermined component (90a, 90b, 90n) of the mechanical construct (80); and

• applying the applicator (50a, 50b, ... , 50n) to a project sheet (70) associated with the construction, alternatively maintenance, of that mechanical construct (80),

characterised in that the unique association between each predetermined component (90a, 90b, 90n) and each respective personnel member (30a, 30b, 30n) may be confirmed.

A method (10) according to claim 1 were the marker (40) is selected from the group consisting of: a microdot (1 00); a tamper-proof tag; a fluorescent fluid of predetermined colour; a QR code; and a combination of these.

SUBSTITUTE SHEETS (RULE 26) A method (1 0) according to claim 2 wherein the microdot (1 00) includes personalised data selected from the group consisting of: the relevant personnel member's (30a, 30b, 30n) license number, the relevant personnel member's (30a, 30b, 30n) identity, passport, Engineer or social security number; the RGB values of the fluorescent fluid; and a combination of these.

The step of applying the applicator (50a, 50b, 50n) to a project sheet (70) may be conducted in hardcopy onto a paper-based project sheet (70), alternatively electronically onto an electronic project sheet (70).

A method (10) according to claim 1 which further includes the step of: capturing project data (1 1 0) in a storage database (120).

A method (10) according to claim 5 wherein the project data (1 10) is selected from the group consisting of: each pair of personnel members (30a, 30b, 30n) and their associated unique marker (40a, 40b, ... 40n); the personnel members (30a, 30b, 30n) involved on that project; component part codes; date and time of project operation; and a combination of these.

A method (10) according to claim 5 which further includes the step of retrieving the project data (10) from the database (120), and associating a particular component (90a, 90b, 90n) uniquely with

SUBSTITUTE SHEETS (RULE 26) the corresponding associated project personnel member (30a, 30b, 30n).

A method (10) according to claim 1 wherein each marker (40a, 40b, ... 40n) is designed to withstand temperatures up to 1 ,500°C, alternatively demonstrate a hardening-and-drying time of application of less than 15 minutes, further alternatively both.

A method (10) according to claim 2 wherein the tamper-proof tags are in the order of 5 mm - 50mm in length

A kit for use in providing a unique identifier for mechanical constructs (80, 90), the kit comprising:

• at least one unique marker (40a, 40b, 40n), each marker (40a, 40b, 40n) being associated uniquely with a specific personnel member (30a, 30b, ... , 30n) of a team;

• an applicator (50a, 50b, 50n) for applying an allocation of an associated marker (40a, 40b, 40n) onto a predetermined component (90a, 90b, 90n) of the mechanical construct (80); and

• a project sheet(70) associated with the construction, alternatively maintenance, of that mechanical construct (80),

characterised in that the project sheet (70) is configured for application of the marker (40a, 40b, 40n).

SUBSTITUTE SHEETS (RULE 26) A kit according to claim 10 which includes one applicator (50a, 50b, 50n) for each personnel member (30a, 30b, 30n).

A kit according to claim 10 which further includes a UV light.

A kit according to claim 1 0 wherein each applicator (50a, 50b, 50n) is pre-packaged to include an allocation of personalised marker (40a, 40b, 40n) pre-loaded into each applicator (50a, 50b, 50n).

A kit according to claim 1 0 wherein each marker (40a, 40b, 40n) is selected from the group consisting of: a personalised microdot (100); a fluorescent fluid of predetermined colour; a QR code; and a combination of these.

A kit according to claim 14 wherein the microdot includes personalised data selected from the group consisting of: the relevant personnel member's (30a, 30b, 30n) license number, the relevant personnel member's (30a, 30b, 30n) identity, license, passport or social security number; and a combination of these.

SUBSTITUTE SHEETS (RULE 26)