IP Library Granted Patent US 8,151,452
Granted Patent B2
US 8,151,452 · App. 12/500,523 · Granted Apr 10, 2012

Portable electrical equipment racking tool

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,151,452
App. No.
12/500,523
Granted
Apr 10, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

A portable electrical equipment racking tool with an onboard power supply, controllers and drive assembly that can raise or lower the drive assembly while operating the drive assembly from a safe distance form the electrical equipment needing replacement.

Claims (56)

1. An electrical equipment racking tool adapted for remote operation, comprising:

a. a one piece cart comprising

(i) a base frame comprising a first support and a second support connected to a back support;

(ii) a first riser connected to the first support, wherein the first riser has a first riser bottom and a first riser top;

(iii) a second riser connected to the second support opposite the first riser;

(iv) a first slide support connected to the first riser midway between the first riser bottom and the first riser top;

(v) a second slide support connected to the first riser and extending from the first riser top; and

(vi) at least four braces engaging the first riser with the second riser;

b. a first load bearing first wheel and a second load bearing second wheel connected to a load bearing axel pivotably mounted to the base frame for rolling the cart along a surface;

c. a slide connected perpendicularly to each of the first and second slide supports, wherein the slide further comprises a first external rails and a second external rail, wherein the slide supports a slide table moveably connected to the first and second external rails, and an actuatable internal lifting means mounted internally in the slide;

d. a drive assembly with a drive coupling mounted to the slide table;

e. a control assembly mounted on the cart, wherein the control assembly comprises:

(i) a motor connection cable for engaging the drive assembly from the control assembly;

(ii) a housing having a closeable door, wherein the housing supports:

(a) an on/off switch;

(b) a power on indicator;

(c) a current controller for engaging a drive assembly motor;

(d) at least two run contactors in communication with the current controller;

(e) at least one battery providing power to the at least two run contactors;

(f) at least one AC/DC power supply with battery charger connected to the at least one battery and for engaging an AC power source;

(g) a motor protection relay disposed between the at least two run contactors and the drive assembly;

(h) an auxiliary power bus connected in parallel to the AC/DC power source allowing either the power supply or the battery to continue to power the drive assembly;

(i) a pendant station comprising a pendant controller and a connecting cable connected to the current controller for operating the drive assembly, wherein the drive assembly rotates a drive coupling to rotates a connecting/disconnecting tool for installing or removing electrical equipment while an operator is remote to the cart.

2. The electrical equipment racking tool of claim 1 , wherein the drive assembly with motor further comprises a clutch and a brake connected to a gear assembly.

3. The electrical equipment racking tool of claim 2 , further comprising an front axel disposed between the first and second supports connecting and extending from the first and second support, wherein a first small wheel is secured to the front axel opposite the first load bearing wheel and a second small wheel is secured to front axel opposite the second load bearing wheel.

4. The electrical equipment racking tool of claim 3 , wherein the slide comprises a two stage high lift mast to elevate the drive assembly and provided extended height above the risers.

5. The electrical equipment racking tool of claim 4 , wherein the two stage high lift mast comprises:

a. a mast base plate connected to the first support above the front axel;

b. a fixed mast segment connected to the mast base plate fixedly mounted to the first support and the first and second slide supports;

c. a first moveable locking bracket slidably engaging the fixed mast segment, and a second movable locking bracket slidable engaging the fixed mast segment in a spaced apart relationship from the first moveable locking bracket;

d. a moving slide segment for slidingly engaging the first and second moveable locking brackets;

e. a lifting means for raising and lowering the drive assembly along the moving slide segment;

f. a gear motor secured to the moving slide segment for raising and lowering the drive assembly and electrically connected to the power supply; and

g. a motor control secured to the cart for operating the gear motor and electrically connected to the auxiliary power bus.

6. The electrical equipment racking tool of claim 1 , further comprising a first floor lock connected to the back support and a second floor lock connected to the back support for removably and lockingly engaging the base frame with the surface.

7. The electrical equipment racking tool of claim 1 , wherein the pendant station comprises a emergency stop, a clockwise rotation actuator and a counter clockwise rotation actuator for remote actuation of the electrical equipment racking tool.

8. The electrical equipment racking tool of claim 1 , wherein the cable is a retractile cord.

9. The electrical equipment racking tool of claim 8 , wherein the retractile cord is between 3 feet to 25 feet.

10. The electrical equipment racking tool of claim 1 , comprising at least one storage hook connected to one of the braces for supporting at least the connecting cable.

11. The electrical equipment racking tool of claim 1 , further comprising a protective hoop extending from the first riser to the second riser and providing a load bearing non deforming barrier between the risers and the surface.

12. The electrical equipment racking tool of claim 1 , wherein the slide is operable by a crank or an electric gear motor.

13. The electrical equipment racking tool of claim 1 , wherein the drive assembly is orientable at an angle between 50 degrees to 90 degrees from the base frame.

14. The electrical equipment racking tool of claim 1 , further comprising an automatic shut off switch comprising a preset amperage limit for turning off the drive assembly when the preset amperage limit is exceeded.

15. The electrical equipment racking tool of claim 1 , wherein the load bearing wheels have a diameter between 6 inches to 16 inches.

16. The electrical equipment racking tool of claim 3 , wherein the first and second small wheels have a diameter between 3 inches to 8 inches and wherein the small wheels have a diameter less than the load bearing wheels.

17. The electrical equipment racking tool of claim 1 , wherein the pendant station is wirelessly connected to the drive assembly using a wireless transmitter disposed on the pendant station and a wireless receiver connected to the current controller and mounted to the cart.

18. The electrical equipment racking tool of claim 1 , wherein the tool is adapted for use with circuit breakers having a voltage less than 38,500 volts AC.

19. The electrical equipment racking tool of claim 1 , wherein the cart comprises a member of the group: chrome steel molybdenum tubing or an extruded aluminum channel.

20. The electrical equipment racking tool of claim 1 , wherein the risers comprise hollow tubing.

21. The electrical equipment racking tool of claim 1 , further comprising a wireless video camera is mounted to the drive assembly and connected to a remote video receiver enabling handheld monitoring of signals from the wireless video camera.

22. The electrical equipment racking tool of claim 1 , further comprising at least one light connected to the auxiliary power bus and mounted to the cart for illuminating a target for the camera.

23. The electrical equipment racking tool of claim 22 , wherein the light is an explosion proof rugged light emitting diode “LED” light.

24. The electrical equipment racking tool of claim 1 , further comprising:

a. at least two mounting tabs mounted to each riser on a riser leg in parallel with the back support;

b. a stair climbing bracket removably attachable to each mounting tab;

c. a hand truck brace removably attachable to two stair climbing brackets, wherein each hand truck brace has a sliding side allowing the tool to slide easily across stairs.

Assignments (3)
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Dec 7, 2022
From: VACUUM INTERRUPTERS, LLC; CBS ARCSAFE, LLC; CIRCUIT BREAKER SALES, LLC; NORTH AMERICAN BREAKER CO., LLC; GROUP CBS, LLC
To: GOLUB CAPITAL MARKETS LLC,
Reel/Frame 062080/0170 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Dec 7, 2022
From: GOLUB CAPITAL LLC
To: CIRCUIT BREAKER SALES, LLC; CBS ARCSAFE, LLC; GROUP CBS, LLC; VACUUM INTERRUPTERS, LLC
Reel/Frame 062080/0181 →
NUNC PRO TUNC ASSIGNMENT Recorded Jun 5, 2020
From: LEDBETTER, FINLEY LEE
To: CBS ARCSAFE, INC.
Reel/Frame 052857/0981 →