# US 12,009,644 B2 · Racking system for electrical equipment > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,009,644 B2 - Document ID: US12009644B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/015,790 - Filed: 2020-09-09 - Published: 2021-03-11 - Granted: 2024-06-11 - Earliest claimed: 2019-09-09 - Assignees: Ulc Technologies, LLC - Applicants: Ulc Technologies, LLC - Inventors: Benjamin Artes; Benjamin J. Lagosz-Sinclair; Aalap Rajendra Shah; John Jayne; Dennis John Semet - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12009644B2 ## CPC - H02B 3/00: Apparatus specially adapted for the manufacture, assembly, or maintenance of boards or switchgear - B25J 15/0028: {with movable, e.g. pivoting gripping jaw surfaces} - B25J 19/022: {using lasers} - Y10T 29/5313: Means to assemble electrical device - H02B: BOARDS, SUBSTATIONS OR SWITCHING ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE SUPPLY OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER - B25J: MANIPULATORS; CHAMBERS PROVIDED WITH MANIPULATION DEVICES ({manipulators specially adapted for use in surgery A61B34/70; manipulators used in cleaning hollow articles B08B9/04}; manipulators associated with rolling mills B21B39/20; manipulators associated with forging machines B21J13/10; {manipulators associated with picking-up and placing mechanisms B23P19/007}; means for holding wheels or parts thereof B60B30/00; {vehicles with ground-engaging propulsion means, e.g. walking members B62D57/02, B62D57/032; devices for picking-up and depositing articles or materials between conveyors B65G47/90, B65G47/91; manipulators with gripping or holding means for transferring packages B65H67/065}; cranes B66C; {manipulators used in the protection or supervision of pipe-line installations F17D5/00; walking equipment adapted for nuclear steam-generators F22B37/006}; manipulators specially adapted for, or associated with, nuclear reactors G21C; {apparatus used for handling wafers during manufacture or treatment of semiconductor H10P72/50}) - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A robotic system is configured to autonomously or semi-autonomously rack a circuit breaker from an electrical cabinet or other electrical-connection station. The robotic system may perform work on circuit breakers, ground-and-test devices, or other electrical equipment. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A circuit breaker racking system, comprising: a movable support structure for receiving and carrying a circuit breaker; a clamping arrangement including a pair of jaws configured to secure a portion of the circuit breaker to the clamping arrangement for moving the circuit breaker into and out of a storage structure; at least one of the jaws of the pair of jaws being movable relative to the other of the jaws for securing a portion of the circuit breaker between the pair of jaws; an elongated member attached to and movable with one of the jaws being configured to cooperate with at least one feature of the circuit breaker to further secure the circuit breaker to the clamping arrangement; a latch arrangement configured to engage a portion of the storage structure to inhibit relative movement between the support structure and the storage structure; and a release arrangement configured to open a locking mechanism securing the circuit breaker to the storage structure. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The circuit breaker racking system of claim 1, wherein the latch arrangement includes at least one latch arm disposed on the support structure and having a respective insertion portion and a respective locking portion. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The circuit breaker racking system of claim 1, further comprising an insertion point and an at least one latch arm, wherein the insertion portion of each of the at least one latch arm includes a contact surface forming an oblique angle with a forward direction of motion of the support structure such that the contact surface contacts a portion of the storage structure and automatically moves the at least one latch arm laterally in a first direction when the support structure moves forward and the contact surface engages the storage structure. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The circuit breaker racking system of claim 1, further comprising an at least one latch arm and a contact surface, wherein the at least one latch arm is configured to automatically move laterally in a second direction opposite a first direction when the support structure moves forward such that the contact surface disengages the support structure. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The circuit breaker racking system of claim 1, further comprising an at least one latch arm, a contact surface, and a locking portion, wherein the locking portion of each of the at least one latch arm includes a locking surface configured to automatically engage the support structure after the support structure moves forward such that the contact surface disengages the support structure. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The circuit breaker racking system of claim 1, wherein the release arrangement includes at least one movable arm configured to engage a respective latch on one of the storage structure or the circuit breaker and move the respective latch to an unlatched position to facilitate removal of the circuit breaker from the storage structure. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The circuit breaker racking system of claim 1, further comprising at least one sensor configured to identify at least one physical feature on at least one of the circuit breaker or the storage structure for orienting the support structure. ### Claim 8 A circuit breaker racking system, comprising: a movable support structure for receiving and carrying a circuit breaker; a clamping arrangement configured to secure a portion of the circuit breaker to the clamping arrangement for moving the circuit breaker into and out of a storage structure; a latch arrangement configured to engage a portion of the storage structure to inhibit relative movement between the support structure and the storage structure; and a release arrangement configured to open a locking mechanism securing the circuit breaker to the storage structure, wherein the release arrangement includes at least one movable arm configured to engage a respective latch on one of the storage structure or the circuit breaker and move the respective latch to an unlatched position to facilitate removal of the circuit breaker from the storage structure. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The circuit breaker racking system of claim 8, wherein the latch arrangement includes at least one latch arm disposed on the support structure and having a respective insertion portion and a respective locking portion. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The circuit breaker racking system of claim 8, further comprising an at least one latch arm and a contact surface, wherein the at least one latch arm is configured to automatically move laterally in a second direction opposite a first direction when the support structure moves forward such that the contact surface disengages the support structure. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The circuit breaker racking system of claim 8, further comprising at least one sensor configured to identify at least one physical feature on at least one of the circuit breaker or the storage structure for orienting the support structure.