Abstract: There is provided a sensor unit for a fastener assembly, the sensor unit comprising a mounting arranged to rigidly attach the sensor unit to, or adjacent to, a fastener assembly; and a sensor, that is an optical flow sensor or an inductive sensor, configured to sense movement of the fastener assembly. The sensor unit may comprise a processor arranged to process the output of the sensor to detect loosening of the fastener assembly and to output a signal representing the status of the fastener assembly. The sensor unit may comprise a wireless communication unit arranged to communicate the signal.

Abstract: A sensor assembly for a fastener assembly comprising a nut and a bolt comprises a sensor unit mounted in a cavity in the nut of the fastener assembly having an internal opening in the internal thread of the nut. The sensor unit comprises an optical flow sensor arranged to capture an image of the external thread of the bolt through the internal opening and to sense relative movement of the external thread of the bolt.

Abstract: A safety sensing system implements a method for a person in an industrial environment comprises providing a personnel locator device (10) for location on a person and a reference system comprising a plurality of nodes (20) located at predetermined locations in the industrial environment (100). Radio ranging signals are transmitted between the nodes (20) and the personnel locator device (10) and measurements of times of flight of the radio ranging signals are derived. The location of the personnel locator device (10) is calculated based on the measurements of the times of flight of the radio ranging signals and reference information representing the predetermined locations of the nodes (10). It is determined if the calculated location of the personnel locator device (10) is within one or more danger zones in the industrial environment (100) and a warning signal is output in response thereto.

Abstract: A location system for locating workers including a plurality of light detectors mounted at known locations and configured to detect light from one or more workers, and a processing system configured to determine locations of the workers using the light detected by the light detectors. There is also disclosed a wearable device for locating a worker including a wireless transceiver, and a wearable device light source and/or one or more reflective elements. There is also disclosed a method for locating workers including detecting light from one or more workers using a plurality of light detectors mounted at known locations, and determining locations of the workers using the light detected by the light detectors.

Abstract: A location system for locating workers including a plurality of light detectors mounted at known locations and configured to detect light from one or more workers, and a processing system configured to determine locations of the workers using the light detected by the light detectors. There is also disclosed a wearable device for locating a worker including a wireless transceiver, and a wearable device light source and/or one or more reflective elements. There is also disclosed a method for locating workers including detecting light from one or more workers using a plurality of light detectors mounted at known locations, and determining locations of the workers using the light detected by the light detectors.

Abstract: A safety sensing system implements a method for a person in an industrial environment comprises providing a personnel locator device (10) for location on a person and a reference system comprising a plurality of nodes (20) located at predetermined locations in the industrial environment (100). Radio ranging signals are transmitted between the nodes (20) and the personnel locator device (10) and measurements of times of flight of the radio ranging signals are derived. The location of the personnel locator device (10) is calculated based on the measurements of the times of flight of the radio ranging signals and reference information representing the predetermined locations of the nodes (10). It is determined if the calculated location of the personnel locator device (10) is within one or more danger zones in the industrial environment (100) and a warning signal is output in response thereto.

Abstract: A location system for locating workers including a plurality of light detectors mounted at known locations and configured to detect light from one or more workers, and a processing system configured to determine locations of the workers using the light detected by the light detectors. There is also disclosed a wearable device for locating a worker including a wireless transceiver, and a wearable device light source and/or one or more reflective elements. There is also disclosed a method for locating workers including detecting light from one or more workers using a plurality of light detectors mounted at known locations, and determining locations of the workers using the light detected by the light detectors.

Abstract: A sensor probe for analysis of a fluid includes a base, and a pair of electrodes and a pair of shield members protruding from the base for insertion into the fluid. The electrodes have electrical oscillations generated therein for measurement of electromagnetic properties of the fluid, such as permittivity. The shield members are disposed outside the electrodes and have a dual purpose of electromagnetically shielding the electrodes and having vibrations generated therein for measurement of physical parameters of the fluid, such as density or viscosity. Thus, the single sensor probe can provide measurements of both electromagnetic properties and physical properties of the fluid.

Abstract: A sensor unit for a fingerboard latch assembly that comprises a latch bracket and a latch rotatably supported on the latch bracket is mountable on the latch. The sensor unit comprises a sensor configured to sense an adjacent tubular, and a processor that processes the output of the sensor to provide a tubular monitor signal representing the presence or absence of an adjacent tubular A wireless communication unit wirelessly communicates the tubular monitor signal. This allows a wireless sensor unit to be provided that is suitable for operation in remote locations and can verify the presence or absence of tubular to ensure it is securely stored in a fingerboard.

Abstract: A sensor unit mountable on a rotatable element on a platform that is itself movable, and includes an orientation sensor arranged to take measurements that are dependent on the orientation of the sensor unit, a processor arranged to derive a rotational position signal representing the orientation of the rotatable element from the measurements, and a buffer arranged to buffer a series of recent measurements taken by the orientation sensor over a predetermined period of time. The processor derives the rotational position signal making a correction to compensate for the effect of the motion of the platform on the measurements on the basis of the overall series of measurements buffered in the buffer.

Abstract: A sensor system for sensing the contents of a bore including a plurality of coils disposed behind a non-metallic lining. An oscillator circuit may be used to drive the coils to generate oscillating electromagnetic fields, and a detection circuit generates output signals from each coil representing a parameter of the electrical oscillations that depends on the contents of the bore. The coils may include a primary coil and a one secondary coil, wherein the oscillating electromagnetic field generated by the secondary coil has a lesser degree of interaction with the contents of bore than the oscillating electromagnetic field generated by the primary coil. The sensor system may use the output signal from the secondary coil to compensate the output signal from the primary coil for environmental effects.

Abstract: A location system for locating workers in including a plurality of light detectors mounted at known locations and configured to detect light from one or more workers, and a processing system configured to determine locations of the workers using the light detected by the light detectors. There is also disclosed a wearable device for locating a worker including a wireless transceiver, and a wearable device light source and/or one or more reflective elements. There is also disclosed a method for locating workers including detecting light from one or more workers using a plurality of light detectors mounted at known locations, and determining locations of the workers using the light detected by the light detectors.

Abstract: A wireless network comprises nodes, including routers having a tree-shaped communication topology and end devices, communicate in accordance a network protocol, wherein the routers transmit beacons in respective timeslots within a periodic beaconing interval, passively scan for messages, and, in response to receiving a message, transmit an acknowledgement thereof the received message. An end device that has a message that is pending transmission, passively scans for beacons transmitted from any router; and in response thereto, transmits the message, and passively scans for an acknowledgement, repeating those steps if no acknowledgement is received. This provides responsivity in an environment having rapidly changing propagation paths. To reduce power consumption, the end devices do not passively scan for beacons except when they have a message that is pending transmission, and also at predetermined times for reception of a downstream message.

Abstract: A sensor unit for a fingerboard latch assembly comprising a latch bracket and a latch rotatably mounted on the latch bracket comprises a sensor arranged to sense the orientation of the latch and a wireless, optical or other communication unit arranged to communicate the orientation of the latch sensed by the sensor. The sensor unit may be mountable on the latch and comprise an orientation sensor arranged to take measurements that are dependent on the orientation of the sensor unit, and a processor arranged to derive an orientation signal representing the orientation of the latch from the measurements, the communication unit being arranged to communicate the orientation signal. A monitoring system receives the sensed orientations from plural sensor units.

Abstract: A sensor assembly is provided for a fingerboard latch assembly that comprises: a latch bracket; bolts for mounting the latch bracket to a fingerboard; a latch; and a bracket pin rotatably supporting the latch on the latch bracket to allow rotation of the latch between an open position and a closed position. The sensor assembly has a mounting arrangement that mounts to the bolts, holding a closed-position proximity sensor probe facing downwardly for sensing proximity of a crank portion of the latch and/or the piston head in the closed position, and also holding an open-position proximity sensor probe facing forwardly for sensing proximity of an arm of the latch in the open position.

Abstract: An elongate component such as a drill string of drill pipes connected by joint sections inside a bore is sensed using at least one set of electromagnetic coils, the coils within the set being arranged at different angular positions around the bore facing the bore. There may be at least two sets of coils separated along the axial direction of the bore. Electrical oscillations are generated in the coils to produce oscillating electromagnetic fields that interact with the contents of the bore. A parameter of the electrical oscillations generated in each coil is detected. The detected parameters may be used to derive both (1) a measure of the axial position along the bore, and (2) a measure of the lateral position. The detected parameters may be used to derive a measure of electromagnetic properties of the contents of the pipe in a region adjacent each coil, thereby imaging the contents of the pipe.

Abstract: A sensor unit for a fingerboard latch assembly comprising a latch bracket and a latch rotatably mounted on the latch bracket comprises a sensor arranged to sense the orientation of the latch and a wireless, optical or other communication unit arranged to communicate the orientation of the latch sensed by the sensor. The sensor unit may be mountable on the latch and comprise an orientation sensor arranged to take measurements that are dependent on the orientation of the sensor unit, and a processor arranged to derive an orientation signal representing the orientation of the latch from the measurements, the communication unit being arranged to communicate the orientation signal. A monitoring system receives the sensed orientations from plural sensor units.

Abstract: A sensor assembly is provided for a fingerboard latch assembly that comprises: a latch bracket; bolts for mounting the latch bracket to a fingerboard; a latch; and a bracket pin rotatably supporting the latch on the latch bracket to allow rotation of the latch between an open position and a closed position. The sensor assembly has a mounting arrangement that mounts to the bolts, holding a closed-position proximity sensor probe facing downwardly for sensing proximity of a crank portion of the latch and/or the piston head in the closed position, and also holding an open-position proximity sensor probe facing forwardly for sensing proximity of an arm of the latch in the open position.

Abstract: A sensor assembly is provided for a fingerboard latch assembly that comprises: a latch bracket; bolts for mounting the latch bracket to a fingerboard; a latch; and a bracket pin rotatably supporting the latch on the latch bracket to allow rotation of the latch between an open position and a closed position. The sensor assembly has a mounting arrangement that mounts to the bolts, holding a closed-position proximity sensor probe facing downwardly for sensing proximity of a crank portion of the latch and/or the piston head in the closed position, and also holding an open-position proximity sensor probe facing forwardly for sensing proximity of an arm of the latch in the open position.

Abstract: A sensor unit for a fingerboard latch assembly comprising a latch bracket and a latch rotatably mounted on the latch bracket comprises a sensor arranged to sense the orientation of the latch and a wireless, optical or other communication unit arranged to communicate the orientation of the latch sensed by the sensor. The sensor unit may be mountable on the latch and comprise an orientation sensor arranged to take measurements that are dependent on the orientation of the sensor unit, and a processor arranged to derive an orientation signal representing the orientation of the latch from the measurements, the communication unit being arranged to communicate the orientation signal. A monitoring system receives the sensed orientations from plural sensor units.