Planetary gear retrieval system
View Patent ↗A planetary gear retrieval system for pulling a sled at a constant velocity along an interior of a pipe. The system includes a network of gears, one of the gears powered by a gear motor, which is in operable communication with a variable speed microcontroller. A chain is threaded through the network of gears and an end of the chain is connected to the sled.
1. A planetary gear retrieval system for pulling a sled at a constant rate along an interior of a pipe, comprising:
a network of gears including a first gear, a second gear, and a third gear, the first gear being powered by a gear motor;
a chain threaded through the first, second, and third gears, the chain having an end attachable to a sled to be pulled by the planetary gear retrieval system, and wherein the network of gears is supported by a stand, the stand including a plurality of legs and a plate on which the gear motor is supported.
2. The planetary gear retrieval system of claim 1 , wherein the first gear is disposed above the plate and the plate includes an aperture therein through which the chain may pass through the plate.
3. The planetary gear retrieval system of claim 2 , further including an inclined upright U-shaped channel member extending upward from the aperture, the upright U-shaped channel member directing the chain from the first gear through the aperture.
4. The planetary gear retrieval system of claim 3 , further including a cover member selectively positioned in a closed position over the network of gears.
5. The planetary gear retrieval system of claim 4 , wherein the cover member is hingedly secured to the plate.
6. The planetary gear retrieval system of claim 4 , wherein the cover member includes an inverted U-shaped channel member that, upon positioning the cover member in the closed position over the network of gears, cooperates with the upright U-shaped channel member to define an inclined chute directing the chain from the first gear through the aperture.
7. A planetary gear retrieval system for pulling a sled at a constant rate along an interior of a pipe, comprising:
a stand including
a plurality of legs;
a plurality of supports extending between the legs at a bottom of the stand; and
a plate supported by the legs;
a gear motor supported by the plate;
a network of gears provided on the stand, including a first gear powered by the gear motor, a second gear, and a third gear; and a chain threaded through the first, second, and third gears, the chain having an end attachable to a sled to be pulled by the planetary gear retrieval system.
8. The planetary gear retrieval system of claim 7 , wherein each of the plurality of supports extending between the legs include fastener-receiving apertures to facilitate securement of the planetary gear retrieval system to a floor of a pipe.
9. The planetary gear retrieval system of claim 7 , wherein the plate includes an aperture therein through which the chain may pass through the plate.
10. The planetary gear retrieval system of claim 9 , further including a chain collection box provided in a base of the stand.
11. The planetary gear retrieval system of claim 7 , further including a cover member selectively positioned in a closed position over the network of gears.
12. The planetary gear retrieval system of claim 11 , wherein the cover member is hingedly secured to the plate.
13. The planetary gear retrieval system of claim 11 , further comprising an inclined upright U-shaped channel member extending upward from the aperture and an inverted U-shaped channel member provided on an underside of the cover member, the upright U-shaped channel member and the inverted U-shaped channel member cooperating with one another upon the closure of the cover member over the network of gears to define an inclined chute directing the chain from the first gear through the aperture.
14. The planetary gear retrieval system of claim 13 , wherein the upright U-shaped channel member and the inverted U-shaped channel member are made of a plastic material having a low coefficient of friction.