Methods and apparatuses for robotic breaker racking
AssigneeDuke Energy Corporation
InventorsSandra Hall, Steve Hinkel, Doug Durst
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Methods of operating a robotic breaker-racking apparatus are provided. A method of operating a robotic breaker-racking apparatus includes controlling a motor to drive the robotic breaker-racking apparatus to a first circuit breaker. The method includes accessing the first circuit breaker via remote or autonomous control of the robotic breaker-racking apparatus. Moreover, the method includes visually inspecting, via a camera of the robotic breaker-racking apparatus, a first relay of the first circuit breaker and/or a second relay of a second circuit breaker. Related robotic breaker-racking apparatuses are also provided.
Claims22
A method of operating a robotic breaker-racking apparatus, the method comprising:
- controlling a motor to drive the robotic breaker-racking apparatus to a first circuit breaker;
- accessing the first circuit breaker via remote or autonomous control of the robotic breaker-racking apparatus, wherein the accessing comprises:
- interfacing the robotic breaker-racking apparatus with a door of a breaker cubicle that houses the first circuit breaker, to open the door;
- interfacing the robotic breaker-racking apparatus with a breaker switch that is inside the breaker cubicle and is coupled to the first circuit breaker, to open the breaker switch;
- and
- interfacing the robotic breaker-racking apparatus with the first circuit breaker, to perform breaker racking of the first circuit breaker;
- interfacing the robotic breaker-racking apparatus with a trip button or trip switch of the first circuit breaker, to trip the first circuit breaker before performing the breaker racking;
- and
- visually inspecting, via a camera of the robotic breaker-racking apparatus, a first relay of the first circuit breaker and/or a second relay of a second circuit breaker.
A robotic breaker-racking apparatus comprising:
- a motor configured to drive the robotic breaker-racking apparatus to a first circuit breaker;
- a mechanical appendage configured to access the first circuit breaker via remote or autonomous control, wherein the access comprises:
- interfacing the robotic breaker-racking apparatus with a door of a breaker cubicle that houses the first circuit breaker, to open the door;
- interfacing the robotic breaker-racking apparatus with a breaker switch that is inside the breaker cubicle and is coupled to the first circuit breaker, to open the breaker switch;
- interfacing the robotic breaker-racking apparatus with the first circuit breaker, to perform breaker racking of the first circuit breaker;
- and
- interfacing the robotic breaker-racking apparatus with a trip button or trip switch of the first circuit breaker, to trip the first circuit breaker before performing the breaker racking;
- and
- a camera configured to visually inspect a first relay of the first circuit breaker and/or a second relay of a second circuit breaker.
A method of operating a robotic breaker-racking apparatus, the method comprising:
- controlling a motor to drive the robotic breaker-racking apparatus to a first circuit breaker;
- accessing, using a humanoid hand or a mechanical claw of the robotic breaker-racking apparatus, the first circuit breaker via remote or autonomous control of the robotic breaker-racking apparatus, wherein the accessing comprises:
- interfacing the robotic breaker-racking apparatus with a door of a breaker cubicle that houses the first circuit breaker, to open the door;
- and
- interfacing the robotic breaker-racking apparatus with a screw of the door, to unscrew the screw before opening the door;
- and
- visually inspecting, via a camera of the robotic breaker-racking apparatus, a first relay of the first circuit breaker and/or a second relay of a second circuit breaker.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.