Device for installing and/or removing components from electrical equipment
First Claim
1. A robot for installing and/or removing electrical components from electrical equipment while allowing a human operator to remain outside of an arc flash zone, wherein the robot comprises:
- a. a motor portion comprising;
i. a motor;
ii. a gear box connected to the motor;
iii. a bidirectional rotatable shaft extending from the gear box;
iv. a gear box power and signal cable in communication with the motor and configured to provide power and control signals to the motor;
v. a support plate connected to the motor, the gear box, or combinations thereof;
vi. a plurality of removable magnetically shielding magnet housings attached to the support plate, wherein each removable magnetically shielding magnet housing comprises a non-electric magnet disposed therein, and wherein each non-electric magnet is engaged with a rotatable handle configured to rotate the non-electric magnet to extend the non-electric magnet from one of the removable magnetically shielding magnet housings to engage with a magnetic surface surrounding the electrical equipment and to hold the motor portion to the magnetic surface;
vii. a first arm comprising;
1. a first arm body connected to the bidirectional rotatable shaft having a first arm body end with a first arm engagement portion; and
2. a gripper slidably disposed over the first arm body end, wherein the gripper has an engagement portion;
viii. an arm fastener securing the first arm body to the bidirectional rotatable shaft;
ix. a second arm comprising;
1. a second arm body connected to the bidirectional rotatable shaft;
2. an extension projecting from the second arm body; and
3. a threadable member disposed through the extension; and
x. a first stop and a second stop both projecting from the support plate, wherein each stop prevents over-rotation of the first arm;
b. a controller portion in communication with the motor portion through the gear box power and signal cable, wherein the controller portion comprises;
i. a controller comprising a controller circuit board and controller relays;
ii. a controller magnet disposed on the controller and configured to attach the controller to the magnetic surface proximate the motor portion;
iii. a power and signal-out interface plug in the controller portion for connecting to gear box power and signal cable; and
iv. a power and signal-in interface plug in the controller for receiving power and signals;
c. a remote switch operator in communication with the controller portion through a power and signal cable, wherein the power and signal cable is engaged with the power and signal-in interface plug, and wherein the remote switch operator is configured to remotely control and power the motor portion through the controller portion; and
d. a remote control device in communication with the remote switch operator for controlling the remote switch operator while allowing the operator to remain outside of the arc flash zone.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A robot for operating isolation switches while allowing an operator to remain outside of an arc flash zone can include a motor, bidirectional rotatable shaft, gear box, and magnet housings with magnets for engaging with metal. A first arm can be connected to the bidirectional rotatable shaft and can have a gripper. A second arm can connect to the bidirectional rotatable shaft, and can have a threadable member for depressing an interlock on the isolation switches. Stops can prevent the first arm from over-rotating. A magnetically securable controller portion can be in communication with a motor portion and remote switch operator. A remote control device can operate the remote switch operator to control and power the controller portion to operate the motor outside of the arc flash zone.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A robot for installing and/or removing electrical components from electrical equipment while allowing a human operator to remain outside of an arc flash zone, wherein the robot comprises:
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a. a motor portion comprising; i. a motor; ii. a gear box connected to the motor; iii. a bidirectional rotatable shaft extending from the gear box; iv. a gear box power and signal cable in communication with the motor and configured to provide power and control signals to the motor; v. a support plate connected to the motor, the gear box, or combinations thereof; vi. a plurality of removable magnetically shielding magnet housings attached to the support plate, wherein each removable magnetically shielding magnet housing comprises a non-electric magnet disposed therein, and wherein each non-electric magnet is engaged with a rotatable handle configured to rotate the non-electric magnet to extend the non-electric magnet from one of the removable magnetically shielding magnet housings to engage with a magnetic surface surrounding the electrical equipment and to hold the motor portion to the magnetic surface; vii. a first arm comprising; 1. a first arm body connected to the bidirectional rotatable shaft having a first arm body end with a first arm engagement portion; and 2. a gripper slidably disposed over the first arm body end, wherein the gripper has an engagement portion; viii. an arm fastener securing the first arm body to the bidirectional rotatable shaft; ix. a second arm comprising; 1. a second arm body connected to the bidirectional rotatable shaft; 2. an extension projecting from the second arm body; and 3. a threadable member disposed through the extension; and x. a first stop and a second stop both projecting from the support plate, wherein each stop prevents over-rotation of the first arm; b. a controller portion in communication with the motor portion through the gear box power and signal cable, wherein the controller portion comprises; i. a controller comprising a controller circuit board and controller relays; ii. a controller magnet disposed on the controller and configured to attach the controller to the magnetic surface proximate the motor portion; iii. a power and signal-out interface plug in the controller portion for connecting to gear box power and signal cable; and iv. a power and signal-in interface plug in the controller for receiving power and signals; c. a remote switch operator in communication with the controller portion through a power and signal cable, wherein the power and signal cable is engaged with the power and signal-in interface plug, and wherein the remote switch operator is configured to remotely control and power the motor portion through the controller portion; and d. a remote control device in communication with the remote switch operator for controlling the remote switch operator while allowing the operator to remain outside of the arc flash zone. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification