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US 12,555,985 B2Granted
Method and system for installing power line dampers
AssigneeFt Holdings Inc.
InventorDaniel John Clarke
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and system for installing Stockbridge dampers on wires, such as power lines and guy wires, is described. The method and system include the use of a robotic Stockbridge damper installer onto the wires where the robotic installer is configured to place Stockbridge dampers on the wire as the robotic installer travels along the wire.
Claims17
A method for installing a Stockbridge damper onto a longitudinal length of a wire, the method comprising:
- a) placing a robotic Stockbridge damper installer on the wire, the robotic Stockbridge damper installer comprising:
- i) a frame configured to straddle the wire when placed thereupon, the frame further comprising opposing frame members extending downwardly therefrom,
- ii) a pair of motorized wheels configured to traverse along the wire, each of the motorized wheels comprising an electric hub motor disposed therein,
- iii) a lifting mechanism operatively coupling the pair of motorized wheels to the frame, the lifting mechanism configured to raise and lower the frame relative to the wire,
- iv) at least one swingarm mechanism operatively coupled to the frame, the at least one swingarm mechanism configured to hold the at least one Stockbridge damper and further configured to rotate the at least one Stockbridge damper towards the wire for installation thereupon, and
- v) a battery configured to provide direct current (“DC”) power, the battery operatively coupled to the pair of motorized wheels, to the lifting mechanism, and to the at least one swingarm mechanism to provide DC power thereto,
- the robotic Stockbridge damper installer further configured to traverse along the longitudinal length of the wire, the robotic Stockbridge damper installer configured to hold at least one Stockbridge damper, the robotic Stockbridge damper installer loaded with the at least one Stockbridge damper;
- b) moving the robotic Stockbridge damper installer along the longitudinal length of the wire;
- and
- c) installing the at least one Stockbridge damper on the wire with the robotic Stockbridge damper installer at pre-determined locations on the wire.
7 more elements
A system for installing at least one Stockbridge damper onto a longitudinal length of a wire, the system comprising:
- a) a frame configured to straddle the wire when placed thereupon, the frame further comprising opposing frame members extending downwardly therefrom;
- b) a pair of motorized wheels configured to traverse along the wire, each of the motorized wheels comprising an electric hub motor disposed therein;
- c) a lifting mechanism operatively coupling the pair of motorized wheels to the frame, the lifting mechanism configured to raise and lower the frame relative to the wire;
- d) at least one swingarm mechanism operatively coupled to the frame, the at least one swingarm mechanism configured to hold the at least one Stockbridge damper and further configured to rotate the at least one Stockbridge damper towards the wire for installation thereupon, the at least one Stockbridge damper comprising a clamp configured to fasten to the wire with a breakaway bolt wherein the breakaway bolt comprises a breakaway section configured to shear off of the breakaway bolt at a predetermined torque;
- and
- e) a battery configured to provide direct current (“DC”) power, the battery operatively coupled to the pair of motorized wheels, to the lifting mechanism, and to the at least one swingarm mechanism to provide DC power thereto.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.