Removable, portable controlable power link for controlling and powering components of structures at an agribusiness
First Claim
1. A control assembly for driving and/or controlling electrically powered and/or controlled components associated with structures at an agribusiness;
- the control assembly including;
a mount fixed to a surface on or adjacent said structure at an appropriate location to facilitate the ease and control of the equipment by an operator;
the mount comprising a bracket and an electrical connector;
said electrical connector being connectable to a source of electricity and including a mount electrical outlet;
a control/power assembly removably mountable to the mount;
the control/power assembly comprising;
a housing having a back surface, a front surface, top and bottom surfaces, and side surfaces defining an enclosure;
load and control circuitry contained within the enclosure for powering and controlling at least one of the components of the structure to which the control/power assembly is to be mounted; and
a component outlet electrically connectable to one or more of the control circuits and/or load circuits;
a bracket engaging member positioned on the housing shaped to engage the mount bracket to removably mount the control/power assembly to the mount; and
an electrical connector operatively and electrically connected to the controller and removably connectable to said mount electrical outlet.
8 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A control assembly is provided for a plurality of structures (such as grain bins, silos, dryers, hoppers, poultry houses, pig houses, etc.) at an agribusiness. Each structure includes one or more components to be controlled and a component cable to electrically connect the component to a source of power. The control assembly includes a mount for each structure and a control/power assembly which can be mounted to the mounts of the individual structures. The mount is fixedly mountable to a surface on or adjacent the structure and includes a bracket and an electrical outlet connected to a source of electricity. The control/power assembly includes a housing containing control circuitry, a plurality of component outlets each of which is electrically connected to a specific control circuit to receive the component cable of the structure; a connector for electrically connecting the control/power to the mount outlet. The control/power assembly can be mounted to the mount and connected to the components and the source of electricity to operate the components of the particular structure. When operations at the structure are complete, the portable control/power assembly can be removed from the mount and either placed in a secure location or mounted to the mount of a different structure to operate the components of the different second structure.
37 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A control assembly for driving and/or controlling electrically powered and/or controlled components associated with structures at an agribusiness;
- the control assembly including;
a mount fixed to a surface on or adjacent said structure at an appropriate location to facilitate the ease and control of the equipment by an operator;
the mount comprising a bracket and an electrical connector;
said electrical connector being connectable to a source of electricity and including a mount electrical outlet;
a control/power assembly removably mountable to the mount;
the control/power assembly comprising;
a housing having a back surface, a front surface, top and bottom surfaces, and side surfaces defining an enclosure;
load and control circuitry contained within the enclosure for powering and controlling at least one of the components of the structure to which the control/power assembly is to be mounted; and
a component outlet electrically connectable to one or more of the control circuits and/or load circuits;
a bracket engaging member positioned on the housing shaped to engage the mount bracket to removably mount the control/power assembly to the mount; and
an electrical connector operatively and electrically connected to the controller and removably connectable to said mount electrical outlet. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
- the control assembly including;
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8. A power and control system for individually powering and controlling an electrically operated and/or controlled component of a structure at an agribusiness;
- each structure being connected to a source of electricity and including one or more controllable components and an electrical cable for each controllable component;
said system comprising;
a plurality of common mounts, there being at least one mount fixed on or adjacent each structure of the plurality of structures;
each said mount including a mounting bracket;
an electrical outlet connectable to said source of electricity at each structure; and
a control/power assembly;
said control/power assembly comprising a bracket engaging member to removably mount the control/power assembly to the mount;
a control unit comprising load and/or control circuitry for the components of the plurality of structures;
an electrical connector operatively connected to said control circuitry and being removably connectable to said mount electrical outlet; and
a plurality of component outlets to removably receive controllable component cables of the structures. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11)
- each structure being connected to a source of electricity and including one or more controllable components and an electrical cable for each controllable component;
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12. A control system for individually powering and/or controlling an electrically operated and/or controlled component of a structure at an agribusiness;
- each structure being connected to a source of electricity and including one or more controllable components and an electrical cable for each controllable component;
said control system comprising;
a control assembly comprising load and/or control circuitry for at least some the components of two or more of the structures of the agribusiness;
means for electrically connecting said components to said control assembly;
means for connecting said control assembly to said source of electricity; and
means for removably mounting said control assembly to said structures. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
- each structure being connected to a source of electricity and including one or more controllable components and an electrical cable for each controllable component;
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17. A method for controlling and/or powering selected components of selected structures in an agribusiness;
- each said selected structure including or being connected to a source of electricity, having a mounting member thereon or adjacent thereto and including at least one electrical connector for each selected component of the selected structure to be controlled and/or powered;
the method comprising;
removably mounting a control assembly on or adjacent said selected structure;
removably connecting said control assembly to said source of electricity for said selected structure; and
removably connecting at least one electrical connector for each selected component of said selected structure to be powered and/or controlled by said control assembly to said control assembly. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
- each said selected structure including or being connected to a source of electricity, having a mounting member thereon or adjacent thereto and including at least one electrical connector for each selected component of the selected structure to be controlled and/or powered;
Specification