APPARATUS FOR AERIAL TOOL CONFIGURATIONS

• US 20190327905A1
• Filed: 06/19/2019
• Published: 10/31/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Steven J. Terrell
• Original Assignee: Steven J. Terrell
• Inventors: Terrell, Steven J.
• Granted Patent: US 10,492,373 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 23/087 Shearing apparatus or the like specially adapted for felling trees A01G23/081, A01G23/083, A01G23/093 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 23/091 Sawing apparatus specially adapted for felling trees A01G23/081, A01G23/083, A01G23/093 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 23/095 Delimbers A01G23/083 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 3/088 Circular saws circular saws in general B27B5/00

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.

Claims

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.

2. The aerial tool apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of the one or more aerial tool accessories, including the first accessory, each having at least one hose connection to a respective one of one or more quick connect/disconnect sealable hose couplings to receive power through one of the plurality of swivel ports during rotation of the axial rotator wherein there are at least one or more powered aerial tool accessories, the at least one or more powered aerial tool accessories including a demolition shear having opposing cutting blades and a grapple mechanism having opposing clamping arms.

3. The aerial tool apparatus of claim 2, wherein the plurality of the one or more aerial tool accessories are controlled by pressure and flow rates as supplied by one or more hydraulic fluid channels through the at least one hose connection.

4. The aerial tool apparatus of claim 3, wherein the pressure and flow rates are controlled independently for different ones of the plurality of the one or more aerial tool accessories.

5. The aerial tool apparatus of claim 4, wherein the different ones of the plurality of the one or more aerial tool accessories are capable of performing one or more independent tool application functions.

6. The aerial tool apparatus of claim 1, wherein the one or more aerial tool accessories are separately attachable and detachable from the aerial tool assembly.

7. The aerial tool apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of hydraulic hoses, the hydraulic hoses being configured in a configuration selected from the group consisting of:

hoses configured internal to the aerial boom, hoses configured external to the aerial boom, hoses configured as a combination of internal and external to the aerial boom, and a combination of hoses and hard lines external to the aerial boom.

8. The aerial tool apparatus of claim 7, wherein the transport vehicle is an unmanned vehicle operated using a wireless remote control.

9. The aerial tool apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a second axial rotator disposed between the first axial rotator and the configured tool assembly to provide connection of the configured tool assembly to the actuator assembly, the second axial rotator to rotate a second accessory in a plane parallel to the planar axis.

10. The aerial tool apparatus of claim 9, wherein the second accessory is a cutting tool and the first accessory is a grapple mechanism with opposing clamping arms.

11. The aerial tool apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more aerial tool accessories is operated using a wireless remote control.

12. The aerial tool apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first accessory includes at least one or more ported axial swivels each having one or more connection ports.

13. The aerial tool apparatus of claim 1, wherein the attachment points of the aerial tool assembly are configured to receive mechanically attachable and detachable aerial tool accessories using a mechanical connection technique selected from the group consisting of:

a bolted connection, a pinned connection, a hinged connection, a latched connection, an inter-locking connection, and a keyed connection.

14. The aerial tool apparatus of claim 1, wherein the aerial boom further comprises a boom overload sensing device.

15. The aerial tool apparatus of claim 1, wherein the transport vehicle is selected from the group consisting of:

a truck, trailer, vehicle with railroad wheels or high rails, off road vehicle, wheeled crawler, track crawler, track carrier, unmanned vehicle, tractor, telehandler, crane, and amphibious carrier.

16. The aerial tool apparatus of claim 1, wherein the aerial boom is constructed of material comprising fiberglass, steel, or combination thereof and a boom type is selected from the group consisting of:

a telescoping boom with one or more movable sections, a multi-section over center knuckle boom, a non-over-center knuckle boom, and a combination knuckle and telescoping boom.

17. A method of operating an aerial tool apparatus for demolition and debris removal, the method comprising:

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.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the object is an airplane.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein mechanically controlling after severance includes preventing uncontrolled lowering of the portion.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein mechanically controlling after severance includes grappling and lifting the portion for placement in a disposal transport.