Line-mounted, movable, power line monitoring system
First Claim
1. A mobile system for monitoring electrical, physical and/or environmental parameters and conditions associated with or in proximity to an energized electrical power conductor supported by insulators on a succession of towers extending along a power corridor, said system comprising:
- (a) at least two toroidal propulsion modules;
(b) means for mounting and removing each said toroidal propulsion module to and from said energized conductor;
(c) each said propulsion module including means powered by current flowing through said conductor for moving said propulsion module upon and along said conductor;
(d) means mounted to and movable with said propulsion modules for carrying equipment including means for imaging, measuring, sensing and/or recording data commensurate with at least one of said parameters and conditions at selected positions in proximity to said propulsion modules as the latter moves along said conductor;
(e) means for transmitting said data via an RF link; and
(f) means for receiving said data at a location remote from said conductor.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A mobile system for monitoring electrical, physical and/or environmental parameters and conditions associated with or in proximity to an energized electrical power conductor supported on a succession of towers extending along a power corridor. In a first embodiment, the system includes front and rear propulsion modules surrounding the conductor and carrying a payload module therebetween. The propulsion modules include linear induction or rotary DC motors deriving power directly from the power conductor. The payload module carries equipment such as video and infrared cameras, and apparatus for lightning flash, ambient temperature, acoustic and corona detection, and a transmitter for relaying appropriate signals to a remote ground station. In another embodiment, the payload module is mounted upon a lightning shield wire of the power line and is connected to a propeller-driven helium blimp for movement along the wire. In both embodiments, the line-mounted equipment includes appropriate apparatus which allows movement thereof past obstructions on the line.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. A mobile system for monitoring electrical, physical and/or environmental parameters and conditions associated with or in proximity to an energized electrical power conductor supported by insulators on a succession of towers extending along a power corridor, said system comprising:
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(a) at least two toroidal propulsion modules; (b) means for mounting and removing each said toroidal propulsion module to and from said energized conductor; (c) each said propulsion module including means powered by current flowing through said conductor for moving said propulsion module upon and along said conductor; (d) means mounted to and movable with said propulsion modules for carrying equipment including means for imaging, measuring, sensing and/or recording data commensurate with at least one of said parameters and conditions at selected positions in proximity to said propulsion modules as the latter moves along said conductor; (e) means for transmitting said data via an RF link; and (f) means for receiving said data at a location remote from said conductor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A mobile system for monitoring electrical, physical and/or environmental parameters and conditions associated with or in proximity to an energized electrical power conductor supported by insulators together with at least one lightning shield wire, on a succession of towers extending along a power corridor, said system comprising:
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(a) at least one toroidal propulsion module; (b) means for mounting and removing said toroidal propulsion module to and from said shield wire; (c) propulsion means powered by current flowing through said conductor for moving said propulsion module upon and along said shield wire; (d) means for carrying equipment including means for imaging, measuring, sensing and/or recording data commensurate with at least one of said parameters and conditions at selected positions in proximity to said propulsion module as the latter moves along said shield wire; (e) means for transmitting said data via an RF link; and (f) means for receiving said data at a location remote from said conductor. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification