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US 8,261,433 B1Granted
Portable racking tool for electric equipment replacement and method for replacing electrical components
OwnerFinley Lee Ledbetter, Ashley Sue Ledbetterinventors
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An electrical device removal tool, such as for circuit breakers, that is lightweight, portable, and rugged for providing electrically operated controlled insertion and removal of electrical equipment by an operator from a remote location using a coupling device for engagement with the electrical equipment housing.
Claims23
A portable racking tool for removing or installing electrical equipment surrounded by a metal surface, the tool comprising:
- a. a motor mount plate;
- b. a motor rotatably engaging a gear box, wherein the motor is mounted to the motor mount plate;
- c. a rotatable shaft with an axis and a shaft keyway extending through the motor mount plate for receiving torque from the gear box, wherein the gear box comprises:
- a shaft housing, and wherein the gear box rotates the rotatable shaft in a clockwise direction and in a counter clockwise direction, and wherein the rotatable shaft engages a torque-limiting clutch;
- d. a gear box keyway disposed in the shaft housing;
- e. a key for engaging between the gear box keyway and the shaft keyway;
- f. a coupling connecting to the torque-limiting clutch on one end and electrical equipment;
- g. a magnet mount bracket extending from the motor mount plate;
- h. a surface-engageable removable non-electric magnet for providing a secure engagement between the motor mount plate and a metal surface surrounding electrical equipment without sliding, and wherein the surface-engagable removable non-electric magnet is connected to the magnet mount bracket;
- and
- i. a motor control housing secured to the motor mount plate, wherein the motor control housing comprises a motor control circuit board in communication with the motor and an interface plug for supplying power to connectors engaging at least one relay connected to the motor control circuit board from a power supply.
8 more elements
A system for racking electrical equipment comprising:
- a. a portable racking tool comprising:
- i. a motor mount plate;
- ii. a motor rotatably engaging a gear box, wherein the motor is mounted to the motor mount plate;
- iii. a rotatable shaft with an axis and a shaft keyway extending through the motor mount plate for receiving torque from the gear box comprising a shaft housing, wherein the gear box rotates the rotatable shaft in a clockwise direction and in a counter clockwise direction, and wherein the rotatable shaft engages a torque-limiting clutch;
- iv. a gear box keyway disposed in the shaft housing;
- v. a key for engaging between the gear box keyway and the shaft keyway;
- vi. a coupling connecting to the torque-limiting clutch on one end and electrical equipment;
- vii. a magnet mount bracket extending from the motor mount plate;
- viii. a surface-engageable removable non-electric magnet for providing a secure engagement between the motor mount plate and a metal surface surrounding electrical equipment without sliding, and wherein the surface-engageable removable non-electric magnet is connected to the magnet mount bracket;
- and
- ix. a motor control housing secured to the motor mount plate, wherein the motor control housing comprises a motor control circuit board in communication with the motor and an interface plug for supplying power to connectors engaging at least one relay connected to the motor control circuit board;
- b. a power cord for providing power to the interface plug;
- c. a power supply apparatus connected to the power cord, wherein the power supply apparatus further comprises:
- c1. a housing with a body and a closable lid;
- c2. a face plate within the housing;
- c3. a power plug in the face plate to provide current and signals from the housing;
- c4. a power cord attached to the power plug for engaging the interface plug;
- c5. a charger power supply in the housing beneath the face plate for receiving AC current from an AC outside source;
- c6. an AC plug in the face plate for receiving the AC current from the AC outside source;
- c7. a battery disposed beneath the face plate in the housing;
- c8. a first relay connected to the battery;
- c9. a circuit board connected to the first relay and the battery;
- c10. an install momentary push button engaging the circuit board;
- c11. a remove momentary push button engaging the circuit board;
- c12. an on/off switch for connecting or disconnecting the battery;
- and
- c13. a circuit breaker connected between the battery and a circuit board.
24 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.