# US 12,181,779 B2 · Camera retractor mechanism > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,181,779 B2 - Document ID: US12181779B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/051,874 - Filed: 2022-11-01 - Published: 2023-06-29 - Granted: 2024-12-31 - Earliest claimed: 2021-11-02 - Assignees: Sullivan, Higgins, and Brion Power Plant Engineering, LLC - Applicants: Sullivan, Higgins, and Brion Power Plant Engineering, LLC - Inventors: Michael J. Kranda; Clay J Hammond; Daniel R Higgins - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12181779B2 ## CPC - G03B 17/04: collapsible, foldable or extensible, e.g. book type - H04N 23/60: Control of cameras or camera modules - F16M 11/048: {adapted to forward-backward translation movement} - F16M 11/18: with mechanism for moving the apparatus relatively to the stand - F16M 13/02: for supporting on, or attaching to, an object, e.g. tree, gate, window-frame, cycle - G03B 17/12: with means for supporting objectives, supplementary lenses, filters, masks, or turrets - G03B 17/561: {Support related camera accessories} - H04N 23/50: Constructional details - H04N 23/51: Housings - H04N 23/57: Mechanical or electrical details of cameras or camera modules specially adapted for being embedded in other devices - H04N 23/69: Control of means for changing angle of the field of view, e.g. optical zoom objectives or electronic zooming - G03B: APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS OR FOR PROJECTING OR VIEWING THEM; APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS EMPLOYING ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR (optical parts of such apparatus G02B; photosensitive materials or processes for photographic purposes G03C; apparatus for processing exposed photographic materials G03D) - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION - F16M: FRAMES, CASINGS OR BEDS OF ENGINES, MACHINES OR APPARATUS, NOT SPECIFIC TO ENGINES, MACHINES OR APPARATUS PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE; STANDS; SUPPORTS ## Abstract A camera retractor assembly for a furnace includes a faceplate configured to be attached to a furnace; a retractor carriage configured to be attached to the faceplate; a pneumatically operated retractor slidably supported by the retractor carriage; a camera enclosure attached to the retractor; a lens tube attached the camera enclosure; and at least one of a control panel, an air manifold or an air reservoir attached to the camera retractor assembly. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A camera retractor assembly for a furnace, comprising: a faceplate configured to be attached to the furnace; a retractor carriage configured to be attached to the faceplate; a pneumatically operated retractor slidably supported by the retractor carriage; a camera enclosure attached to the retractor; a lens tube attached the camera enclosure; a control panel attached to the camera retractor assembly; an air manifold attached to the camera retractor assembly retractor carriage; and an air reservoir attached to the camera retractor assembly retractor carriage, the air reservoir configured to provide compressed air to retract the pneumatically operated retractor if an air supply from outside the camera retractor assembly fail. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The camera assembly of claim 1 in which the control panel is attached to the retractor carriage of the camera retractor assembly. ### Claim 3 A camera retractor assembly for a furnace, comprising: a faceplate configured to be attached to the furnace; a retractor carriage configured to be attached to the faceplate; a pneumatically operated retractor slidably supported by the retractor carriage; a camera enclosure attached to the retractor; a lens tube attached the camera enclosure; a control panel attached to the retractor carriage; and an air reservoir configured to provide compressed air to retract the pneumatically operated retractor if an air supply from outside the camera retractor assembly fail. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The camera retractor assembly of claim 3 further comprising an air manifold for providing compressed air to multiple components of the camera retraction assembly and/or the camera assembly. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The camera retractor assembly of claim 4 in which manifold is attached to the retractor carriage. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The camera retractor assembly of claim 4 in which the manifold is attached to the retractor carriage. ### Claim 7 (depends on 3) The camera retractor assembly of claim 3 in which the faceplate is attached to a chamber that is attached to the furnace wall. ### Claim 8 A camera retractor assembly for retracting a camera from a furnace, comprising: a faceplate configured to be attached to the furnace, the faceplate including an adjuster for aiming the camera, the camera aim remaining substantially unchanged when the camera is removed and replaced; a retractor carriage configured to be attached to the faceplate; a pneumatically operated retractor slidably supported by the retractor carriage; a camera enclosure attached to the retractor; a lens tube attached the camera enclosure; and a control panel attached to the retractor carriage. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The camera retractor assembly of claim 8 further comprising a camera bracket for mounting the camera enclosure onto the retractor, the camera bracket being adjustable for aiming the camera, thereby providing two adjustment mechanisms, at least one of the adjustment mechanisms being adjustable for aiming the camera without removing the camera from the retractor assembly. ### Claim 10 A camera retractor assembly for retracting a camera from a furnace, comprising: a faceplate configured to be attached to the furnace; a retractor carriage configured to be attached to the faceplate; a pneumatically operated retractor slidably supported by the retractor carriage; a camera enclosure attached to the retractor; a lens tube attached the camera enclosure; a control panel attached to the retractor carriage; and a camera bracket for mounting the camera enclosure onto the retractor, the camera bracket being adjustable for aiming the camera without removing the camera from the retractor assembly. ### Claim 11 A camera retractor assembly for retracting a camera from a furnace, comprising: a faceplate configured to be attached to the furnace; a retractor carriage configured to be attached to the faceplate a pneumatically operated retractor slidably supported by the retractor carriage; a camera enclosure attached to the retractor; a lens tube attached the camera enclosure; and a control panel attached to the retractor carriage, in which the camera retractor assembly is configured such that the camera can be removed from the camera retractor assembly and reinserted without significantly changing the adjustment of the camera aim. ### Claim 12 A camera retractor assembly for a furnace, comprising: faceplate configured to be attached to the furnace, the faceplate including a left bracket, a right bracket, and an angle adjuster, the angle adjuster allowing adjustment of a camera angle, retractor carriage configured to be attached to the faceplate a pneumatically operated retractor slidably supported by the retractor carriage; a camera enclosure attached to the retractor; a lens tube attached the camera enclosure; and a control panel attached to the retractor carriage.