APPARATUS FOR AERIAL TOOL CONFIGURATIONS
First Claim
1. An aerial tool apparatus comprising:
- a transport vehicle;
an aerial boom comprising;
one or more connected sections including a distal boom section; and
two ends of the aerial boom including a proximate end attached to the transport vehicle and a distal end relative to the proximate end,wherein two boom axes are defined relative to the distal boom section, the two axes including a planar axis associated with a plane relative to the distal boom section and a perpendicular axis perpendicular to the planar axis;
an aerial tool assembly comprising;
a plurality of attachment points connecting one or more aerial tool accessories to form a configured aerial tool assembly;
an actuator assembly connected to the distal boom section, the actuator assembly comprising;
a first connection to couple a first axial rotator to the actuator assembly; and
one or more actuators to orient the configured aerial tool assembly relative to the perpendicular boom axis; and
the first axial rotator comprising;
a second connection mechanism to connect the configured aerial tool assembly to the first axial rotator, the first axial rotator for turning the configured aerial tool assembly relative to the perpendicular boom axis; and
a first rotating swivel having a plurality of swivel ports, one or more of the plurality of swivel ports to provide hydraulic or pneumatic power to a first accessory of the one or more aerial tool accessories, via a respective one of the plurality of swivel ports.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A field-configurable apparatus for different aerial applications is provided. The field-configurable apparatus attaches to an aerial boom on a mobile carrier. The apparatus can perform rapid semi-precise cutting of vegetation. Additionally, the apparatus can perform more precise trimming of one or more areas (e.g., limbs) and optionally use a limb clamp to prevent cut limbs/vegetation from arbitrarily falling on objects below the cutting area. Still further, the apparatus can have a grapple or similar device attached to the end of the boom for use in relocating debris or for loading debris. Other industrial applications are also possible (e.g., commercial water blasting, deicing of planes, etc.). In each configuration, the apparatus comprises one or more rotatable or pivoting couplings to allow for rotation about one or more axis and therefore allow precise manipulation of an aerial tool assembly from an operator in the vehicle or on the ground.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An aerial tool apparatus comprising:
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a transport vehicle; an aerial boom comprising; one or more connected sections including a distal boom section; and two ends of the aerial boom including a proximate end attached to the transport vehicle and a distal end relative to the proximate end, wherein two boom axes are defined relative to the distal boom section, the two axes including a planar axis associated with a plane relative to the distal boom section and a perpendicular axis perpendicular to the planar axis; an aerial tool assembly comprising; a plurality of attachment points connecting one or more aerial tool accessories to form a configured aerial tool assembly; an actuator assembly connected to the distal boom section, the actuator assembly comprising; a first connection to couple a first axial rotator to the actuator assembly; and one or more actuators to orient the configured aerial tool assembly relative to the perpendicular boom axis; and the first axial rotator comprising; a second connection mechanism to connect the configured aerial tool assembly to the first axial rotator, the first axial rotator for turning the configured aerial tool assembly relative to the perpendicular boom axis; and a first rotating swivel having a plurality of swivel ports, one or more of the plurality of swivel ports to provide hydraulic or pneumatic power to a first accessory of the one or more aerial tool accessories, via a respective one of the plurality of swivel ports. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of operating an aerial tool apparatus for demolition and debris removal, the method comprising:
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identifying at least a portion of an object to be severed from the object, the portion to be mechanically controlled after severance; positioning a transport vehicle proximate to the object; severing the portion using a first accessory of the transport vehicle; and using a second accessory of the transport vehicle to mechanically grapple the portion; wherein the transport vehicle comprises; an aerial boom comprising; one or more connected sections including a distal boom section; and two ends of the aerial boom including a proximate end attached to the transport vehicle and a distal end relative to the proximate end, wherein two boom axes are defined relative to the distal boom section, the two axes including a planar axis associated with a plane relative to the distal boom section and a perpendicular axis perpendicular to the planar axis; an aerial tool assembly comprising; a plurality of attachment points connecting one or more aerial tool accessories, including the first accessory and the second accessory, to form a configured aerial tool assembly; an actuator assembly connected to the distal boom section, the actuator assembly comprising; a first connection to couple a first axial rotator to the actuator assembly; and one or more actuators to orient the configured aerial tool assembly relative to the perpendicular boom axis; and the first axial rotator comprising; a second connection mechanism to connect the configured aerial tool assembly to the first axial rotator, the first axial rotator for turning the configured aerial tool assembly relative to the perpendicular boom axis; and a first rotating swivel having a plurality of swivel ports, one or more of the plurality of swivel ports to provide hydraulic or pneumatic power to a first accessory of the one or more aerial tool accessories, via a respective one of the plurality of swivel ports. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification