The following U.S. patents are fully incorporated herein by reference: U.S. Pat. No. 4,793,439 to Crawford (“Apparatus for Climbing Trees, Poles and the Like and Being Remotely Controlled from Ground Elevation”); U.S. Pat. No. 5,213,172 to Paris (“Climbing Robot, Movable Along a Trestle Structure, Particularly of a Pole for High-Voltage Overhead Electric Lines”) U.S. Pat. No. 5,301,459 to Eliachar et al. (“Tree Climbing Device”); and U.S. Pat. No. 5,799,752 to Perry (“Climbing Device”).
This invention relates generally to a transport apparatus and the like and specifically to a transport device for ascending or descending elevated structures to transport materials and equipment for installation, deployment, or repair purposes.
The technology available for power line/telephone maintenance, tree surgery, pipe maintenance, repair of high-masted poles (such as light poles), and the transport of objects such as sensors or communications equipment has utilized various approaches in accessing elevated locations to perform specific tasks. For example, devices such as pole and tree ladders provide support to a user as they climb a tree or pole. One such device is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,799,752 to Perry. In Perry, a clamp engages three sides of a tree trunk, gripping the tree between opposed arms of the clamp to which is attached a ladder. Apart from using ladders, trees or poles are scaled through the use of hand lines and/or climbing spurs. Lifting devices, which a person is raised to various heights, have also been employed, but these devices are expensive and slow-moving.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,301,459 to Eliachar et al. provides an alternate approach for climbing trees having straight trunks and no branches. The device of Eliachar, which is directed to the maintenance of palm trees, employs two pairs of arms, which are capable of opening and closing around a tree trunk and of climbing the tree trunk through the activation of hydraulic cylinders. Operation of the climbing unit is directed by a programmable controller. A remotely-controlled device for positioning equipment at working elevations is taught in U.S. Pat. No. 4,793,439 to Crawford. The apparatus of Crawford employs a frame having operating arms which at least partially encircle the tree or pole and secure the frame to the tree. A hydraulically driven telescoping mast also is equipped with gripping arms, which are hydraulically actuated independently of the gripping arms of the main frame. The gripping arms of the main frame and the hydraulically driven telescoping mast are sequentially activated to cause the apparatus to climb a tree or pole. The gripping arms fully retract to permit the apparatus to pass between limbs. A winch and cable system controlled by operating personnel provides for lifting objects, such as tools, to the working level or for lowering objects, such as cut branches, to the ground.
An alternate approach is found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,213,172 to Paris, a robotic device for climbing trestles, particularly poles for overhead electric lines includes a primary support body with internal movable slides. The slides carry arms attached to gripping hands, which grasp the pole such that the gripping hands are in a perpendicular position relative to the pole. A slot within the support body enables the slide to move up or down within the support, thus enabling the arms to move up or down to move along the pole as the gripping hands are alternately opened and closed.
However, there are numerous disadvantages to existing approaches for scaling tall structures for repair, maintenance, or the installation or deployment of equipment. Existing remotely controlled devices have been narrowly directed to the movement of tools to a work location or to the maintenance of specific types of trees or electric lines. It is desirable to provide an apparatus that is capable of safely and efficiently climbing trees, poles, posts, pipes, etc. while being under the control of personnel at ground level, and, when in position, performing varied maintenance, installation, deployment and/or repair tasks.
The disclosed embodiments provide examples of improved solutions to the problems noted in the above Background discussion and the art cited therein. There is shown in these examples an improved transport apparatus for transporting materials or objects on substantially vertical structures for installation, deployment, inspection and repair purposes includes gripping mechanisms having a conformable gripping portion. The gripping mechanisms are separated by links, which are mutually attached to each other to permit angular rotation of the links relative to each other about a pivot point. A latching mechanism provides the capability for the gripping portion to be opened as well as secured for operation.
In another embodiment there is disclosed a method for operating a transport apparatus for transporting materials or objects on substantially vertical structures for installation, deployment, or repair purposes. The transport device includes conformable gripping mechanisms operatively connected to links separating the gripping mechanisms, such that at least two of the links are spaced between each of the gripping mechanisms. The links are mutually attached to permit angular movement of the links relative to each other about a pivot point. A controller causes the transport apparatus to engage a substantially vertical structure in at least two locations with the conformable gripping mechanisms. A first conformable gripping mechanism is brought into perpendicular relationship with the structure at a first position and is then disengaged from the structure. The first gripping mechanism is then moved to a second position on the structure that approaches a second gripping mechanism which is in a conformed relationship with the structure. The first gripping mechanism grips the structure at the second position by forming a conformed relationship with the structure. The angular relationship of at least two of the links is decreased, to bring the second gripping mechanism into perpendicular relationship with the structure at a third position. The second gripping mechanism is then disengaged from the structure and is moved to a fourth position along the structure that is more removed from the position of the first gripping mechanism by increasing the angular relationship of at least two of the links. The second gripping mechanism grips the structure at the fourth position by forming a conformed relationship with the structure. The sequence of bringing a gripping mechanism into perpendicular relationship with the structure, disengaging a gripping mechanism, moving the disengaged gripping mechanism to a new position and gripping the structure by forming a conformed relationship between the structure and the gripping mechanism is repeated until the desired location is reached on the structure.
The foregoing and other features of the instant invention will be apparent and easily understood from a further reading of the specification, claims and by reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
The transport apparatus and method disclosed herein provide the capability for accessing elevated sites, which a human cannot reach without difficulty or without encountering safety risks. Such sites include, but are not limited to, structures that will not support the weight of a person, areas that may be obstructed (for example, deep into a tree or a bridge), or locations close to high voltage lines. Several characteristics are necessary in a device to access these sites, such as the ability of the device to grip and release the structure it is climbing or descending as well as the ability to move at least bi-directionally along the structure being scaled.
Referring now to
Turning now to
At step two, linkages 330, which include actuators (not shown), move to an angular position relative to each other, thus reducing the distance between gripping mechanisms 320 and 340 by moving conformable gripping mechanism 340 closer to gripping mechanism 320. Conformable gripping mechanism 340 returns to its original, unconformed condition as it releases and reaches a position perpendicular to structure 310 while conformable gripping mechanism 320 remains in its deformed, gripping condition conformed to structure 310. At step three, conformable gripping mechanism 340, which has moved to a new location on structure 310, deforms to grip structure 310. Conformable gripping mechanism 320 remains in its original deformed, gripping condition and linkages 330 remain in angular relationship to each other. At step four, conformable gripping mechanism 320 releases the structure as linkages 330 begin to increase their angular relationship to each other, thereby causing conformable gripping mechanism 320 to move to an approximately perpendicular position relative to structure 310. Conforming gripping mechanism 340 remains in its deformed, gripping condition.
At step 5, linkages 330 have moved to a fully extended position, which maximizes the distance between the attached ends of conforming gripping mechanisms 320 and 340. Gripping mechanism 340 remains in its deformed, gripping condition and conforming gripping mechanism 320, which has returned to its original shape, moves along structure 310. Finally, at step 6 conforming gripping mechanism 320 deforms and grips structure 310 at its new position. Conforming gripping mechanism 340 remains deformed and gripping structure 310 and linkages 330 remain in a fully extended configuration. At this point the sequence of steps may be repeated to continue movement of the transport mechanism along the structure. Although only two links are illustrated in the figures herein, it will readily be appreciated that in an alternate embodiment more than two links could be beneficially employed to move the apparatus along a surface. The motor causing the movement of the links is included within the structure of the links. A controller (not shown) may be either included in the structure, attached separately to the structure, or included in a remote control module.
Referring to
Gripping portion 420 may be fabricated from various materials known in the art, for example sheet metal, polymers, or wire either coated or uncoated in appropriate gauges. To enhance gripping capability, the inner surface of gripping portion 420 may be abraded or include a coating, particularly in those applications in which the structure to be scaled has a smooth surface. The inside of gripping portion 420 may also have features such as hooks or spikes of various sizes to grasp or penetrate the structure. Alternatively, gripping portion 420 may be fabricated from two layered materials, such that the inner material forms the gripping surface and the outer material provides support and conformability. The inner material may be a softer yielding material such as rubber or other polymers while the outside material may be thin metal such as beryllium copper, steel or more rigid plastic.
In addition to moving along a structure, an alternate embodiment of the apparatus described herein is capable of moving around obstacles on a structure by engaging and disengaging the structure as needed.
In
As described hereinabove with reference to
For those embodiments in which the apparatus is remotely controlled, an operator directs the movement of the apparatus to clear an obstacle. For those embodiments in which the apparatus operates autonomously, touch, force, or contact sensors sense contact with the obstacle. An on-board controller (not shown in the Figures) then causes the colliding arm to move out of the way of the obstacle. The on-board controller may then either continuously attempt re-engagement as the rest of the system climbs (for example, repeatedly touching and sensing the obstacle until the obstacle is cleared), or it may sense the obstacle without contact, through proximity sensing.
Turning now to
While for the purposes of this embodiment side sections 620 and center sections 610 together form the gripping surface, it will be noted that side sections 620 may be shorter in length, such that center sections 610 provide the sole gripping surface. To enhance gripping capability in those instances in which both sections 610 and 620 form a gripping surface, the inner surface of side sections 620 may be abraded or include a coating, particularly in those applications in which the structure to be scaled has a smooth surface. Alternatively, side sections 620 may be fabricated from two layered materials, such that the inner material forms the gripping surface and the outer material provides support and conformability.
Extensions 630 and 640 connect to linkages (not shown) extending between associated gripping mechanisms and also space the body of the transport mechanism from the structure along which it is moving. As will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, this embodiment may also include an actuator to permit gripping portions 610 and 620 to move in a plane perpendicular to the structure to engage the structure.
While the present discussion has been illustrated and described with reference to specific embodiments, further modification and improvements will occur to those skilled in the art. For example, the apparatus is also able to move along structures that are semi-flexible or not precisely straight, such as piping, which includes bends or curved structural supports. It is to be understood, therefore, that this disclosure is not limited to the particular forms illustrated and that it is intended in the appended claims to embrace all alternatives, modifications, and variations which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the embodiments described herein.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
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1924033 | Flor | Aug 1933 | A |
2009474 | Castelli | Jul 1935 | A |
2731223 | Riccio | Jan 1956 | A |
2854293 | Riblet | Sep 1958 | A |
3417953 | Hillquist et al. | Dec 1968 | A |
4793439 | Crawford | Dec 1988 | A |
5170975 | Chadwick | Dec 1992 | A |
5213172 | Paris | May 1993 | A |
5301459 | Eliachar et al. | Apr 1994 | A |
5799752 | Perry | Sep 1998 | A |
6315259 | Kolb | Nov 2001 | B1 |
6957515 | Hatfield | Oct 2005 | B1 |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20050184543 A1 | Aug 2005 | US |