IP Library Granted Patent US 8,161,631
Granted Patent B1
US 8,161,631 · App. 12/563,038 · Granted Apr 24, 2012

Motor controlled bucket replacement tool

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,161,631
App. No.
12/563,038
Granted
Apr 24, 2012
Kind
B1
Abstract

A motor control bucket replacement tool, such as for circuit breakers, that is portable, and rugged for providing electrically operated controlled insertion and removal of electrical equipment by an operator from a remote location using an easily detachable magnetic coupling device for engagement with the electrical equipment and using a linear actuator.

Claims (41)

1. A remote-control electric equipment replacement tool comprising:

a. a first riser and a second riser extending from a base support, wherein the base support provides a first load-supporting wheel and a second load-supporting wheel;

b. at least one floor lock to prevent movement of the base support;

c. a high-lift support rail fixed to a first and second high-lift rail bracket connected between the first and second risers;

d. a first high-lift support rail bracket and a second high-lift support rail bracket connected between the first and second risers for supporting the high-lift support rail;

e. a first high-lift moveable slide connected to the first high-lift support rail and a second high-lift moveable slide connected to the first high-lift support rail;

f. a moveable high-lift rail connected to the first and second high-lift moveable slides;

g. a first moveable slide connected to the moveable high-lift rail;

h. a second moveable slide connected to the moveable high-lift rail;

i. a moveable mounting brace with at least one moveable magnetic pad for engaging a metal surface proximate to electrical equipment of interest, wherein the moveable mounting brace is telescopically connected to the second moveable slide;

j. a linear actuator with a detachable push-pull unit for engaging electrical equipment of interest and removing or inserting a portion of the electrical equipment while adjacent electrical equipment is operating with a voltage connected to the first moveable slide; and

k. a remote-switch operator connected to the linear actuator for remotely controlling and powering the linear actuator.

2. The remote-control electric equipment replacement tool of claim 1 , wherein the base support has a first extension and a second extension connected by a back side.

3. The remote-control electric equipment replacement tool of claim 1 , further comprising a holding basket connected between the risers for supporting the remote-switch operator.

4. The remote-control electric equipment replacement tool of claim 1 , wherein the high-lift support rail is between 4 feet and 10 feet in length.

5. The remote-control electric equipment replacement tool of claim 1 , wherein the high-lift support rail is made from a hollow, lightweight, strong aluminum alloy.

6. The remote-control electric equipment replacement tool of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of moveable slides, wherein each moveable slide supports a linear actuator connected to the remote-switch operator.

7. The remote-control electric equipment replacement tool of claim 6 , further comprising a plurality of remote-switch operators, wherein each remote-switch operator provides power to and controls a linear actuator.

8. The remote-control electric equipment replacement tool of claim 1 , wherein the moveable high-lift rail comprises a first channel and a second channel.

9. The remote-control electric equipment replacement tool of claim 1 , further wherein the moveable mounting brace comprises a cross brace supporting the first moveable magnetic pad opposite a second moveable magnet pad disposed for removably engaging the metal around the electrical equipment to be installed, removed or maintained.

10. The remote-control electric equipment replacement tool of claim 9 , wherein the moveable mounting brace is connected to the cross brace with a magnetic brace quick-disconnect for attaching and reattaching different cross braces to the movable mounting brace.

11. The remote-control electric equipment replacement tool of claim 1 , further comprising a front axle connected to the base support, wherein the front axle has a first front wheel and a second front wheel.

12. The remote-control electric equipment replacement tool of claim 10 , wherein the first and second front wheels have a diameter less than 25 percent the diameter of the load-supporting wheels.

13. The remote-control electric equipment replacement tool of claim 1 , further comprising a power supply mount mounted between the first and second risers on at least one brace mounted between the risers for supporting an AC/DC power supply engageable with 110 volts of AC current.

14. The remote-control electric equipment replacement tool of claim 1 , further comprising a linear actuator support bracket for supporting the linear actuator on the moveable high-lift rail, and further comprising a quick-disconnect for use with the linear actuator to quickly install and replace push-pull units as needed.

15. The remote-control electric equipment replacement tool of claim 1 , further comprising at least two high-lift stops mounted to the moveable high-lift rail to prevent excessive movement of the moveable high-lift rail.

16. The remote-control electric equipment replacement tool of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of braces disposed between the first and second risers.

17. The remote-control electric equipment replacement tool of claim 1 , wherein the remote-switch operator comprises:

a. a body with a lid;

b. a face plate in the body;

c. an actuator cord for engaging the linear actuator;

d. an on/off switch in the face plate;

e. an install momentary push button mounted to the face plate and connected to a relay and circuit board disposed beneath the face plate;

f. a remove momentary push button mounted to the face plate and connected to the relay and circuit board;

g. a circuit breaker connected between a battery and the relay;

h. an AC power plug in the face plate for receiving power from an AC source;

i. a wireless remote transmitter/receiver connected to a plug in the face plate by a cable;

j. a wireless remote controller for communicating with the wireless remote transmitter/receiver;

k. a charger power supply connected to the AC power plug in the body beneath the face plate and the battery; and

l. a second side connected to the face plate for ensuring a watertight connection around the battery and circuit board.

18. The remote-control electric equipment replacement tool of claim 17 , wherein the wireless remote controller comprises a remote-on button, a remote-off button, a remote-install button, a remote-remove button, and an antenna.

Assignments (4)
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 052858/0394 →
NUNC PRO TUNC ASSIGNMENT Recorded Jun 3, 2020
From: MCWHORTER, ASHLEY LEDBETTER
To: CBS ARCSAFE, INC.
Reel/Frame 052830/0617 →