Locking device and operation method for lifting overhead lines using drones

Abstract

This invention relates to a locking device and operating method for overhead power line hoisting, applicable to equipment used for hanging overhead power lines. The invention addresses the problems of existing single-plumb bob hoisting equipment used for live-line work on overhead power lines, which requires manual or other complex locking mechanisms, resulting in high costs, poor flexibility, and low efficiency. The invention involves a slidable hoisting point frame mounted on a clamping handle, a sliding fixing frame mounted on the clamping handle, a fixing sleeve fixedly mounted on the fixing frame, and an elastic support rod slidably mounted on the fixing frame. A locking handle limits the movement of the elastic support rod within the fixing sleeve, and a support rod drive assembly drives the elastic support rod to slide within the fixing sleeve, locking the cable in a cable locking groove via the clamping end of the elastic support rod. Locking and unlocking of the cable are achieved through the cable locking groove on the clamping handle and the tightening groove at the top of the support rod.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to overhead line locking devices and operating methods, specifically to locking devices and operating methods for overhead lines hoisted by drones. This invention is applicable to equipment attached to overhead lines. Background Technology

[0002] As the core carrier of power transmission, the safe and stable operation of overhead lines is directly related to the reliability of power supply. To ensure the safe operation of overhead lines, their installation height is usually no less than 5 meters to avoid interference from ground obstacles and accidental contact by personnel. In winter or in severe weather conditions, ice and snow easily condense on the surface of overhead lines. If not cleared in time, this will increase the line load and may cause safety accidents such as line breakage and short circuits. Therefore, it is necessary to regularly carry out de-icing and snow removal operations on overhead lines.

[0003] Currently, overhead line cleaning operations are still mainly carried out using traditional manual maintenance methods. Workers need to wear live electrical work clothes and carry out high-altitude operations by manually climbing poles or using equipment to reach heights. This method of operation is greatly affected by environmental factors such as terrain, temperature, and wind. For example, in complex terrain areas such as mountains and hills, climbing equipment is difficult to reach; low temperatures and strong winds will significantly increase the difficulty of operation for workers, resulting not only in longer maintenance times and lower work efficiency, but also in higher risks of misoperation and safety hazards such as falls from heights and electric shocks, seriously threatening the personal safety of workers. At the same time, it is difficult to meet the needs of large-scale and efficient overhead line maintenance.

[0004] With the continuous upgrading of power grid technology, live-line work on overhead lines is gradually moving towards automation. Drones, due to their flexibility, efficiency, and the fact that they do not require personnel to climb, are increasingly widely used in overhead line maintenance. However, most existing drones used for overhead line cleaning employ a single-feeder method to hoist the cleaning equipment. After attaching the equipment to the cable, manual assistance or complex mechanical locking mechanisms are required for securing it. This method not only increases equipment manufacturing and maintenance costs but also results in cumbersome operation, poor flexibility, low efficiency, and difficulty in adapting to different specifications of overhead lines. It fails to fully leverage the automated advantages of drones, and problems such as insufficient efficiency and poor adaptability persist, making it difficult to meet the demands for high efficiency and convenience in overhead line cleaning operations. Summary of the Invention

[0005] This invention addresses the problems of high cost, poor flexibility, and low efficiency associated with existing overhead line live-line hoisting equipment that requires manual or other complex locking mechanisms, which relies on single-plumb line hoisting. Therefore, it provides a locking device and operation method for hoisting overhead lines using drones.

[0006] To solve the above problems, this application adopts the following technical solution:

[0007] The locking device for lifting overhead lines by drones includes a lifting point frame, a clamping handle, an elastic support rod, a support rod drive assembly, a fixing frame, a fixing sleeve, and a locking handle.

[0008] The lifting point bracket is slidably connected to the clamping handle, the sliding fixed bracket is mounted on the clamping handle, the fixed sleeve is fixedly mounted on the fixed bracket, the elastic support rod is slidably mounted on the fixed bracket, and the locking handle is mounted on the elastic support rod. The locking handle is used to limit the movement distance of the elastic support rod within the fixed sleeve. The locking handle and the lifting point bracket are connected by a support rod drive assembly, which is used to drive the elastic support rod to slide within the fixed sleeve. A cable locking groove is machined on the clamping handle, and the clamping end of the elastic support rod faces the cable locking groove, thereby locking the cable within the cable locking groove through the clamping end of the elastic support rod.

[0009] Furthermore, a strip-shaped hole is machined along the vertical direction on the clamping handle, and the bottom end of the lifting point frame is set in the strip-shaped hole of the clamping handle, and the bottom end of the lifting point frame slides in the strip-shaped hole of the clamping handle.

[0010] Furthermore, it also includes rubber pads, with rubber pads installed on the cable locking groove that holds the long handle to prevent the cable from slipping.

[0011] Furthermore, the elastic support rod includes a compression spring and a support rod;

[0012] The top clamping end face of the support rod is machined with a clamping groove. The support rod is slidably inserted into the fixed sleeve, and a compression spring is sleeved on the support rod, with the compression spring located between the top clamping end of the support rod and the fixed sleeve.

[0013] Furthermore, a locking handle limiting groove is machined along the axial direction on the fixed sleeve, and a locking handle for limiting the support rod is inserted into the locking handle limiting groove. The locking handle is installed on the support rod.

[0014] Furthermore, the support rod drive assembly includes a plumb line and a plumb line holder;

[0015] The plumb line fixing bracket is fixedly installed on the suspension point bracket. One end of the plumb line is fixedly installed on the plumb line fixing bracket, and the other end of the suspension point bracket passes around the bottom of the fixing bracket and is connected to the locking handle. The plumb line is used to pull the movement of the locking handle and limit the movement distance of the locking handle.

[0016] Furthermore, the support rod drive assembly also includes three guide pulleys;

[0017] Three guide pulleys are installed on the fixed frame from top to bottom. The plumb line passes around the three guide pulleys and connects to the locking handle. The lower guide pulley is positioned below the position of the locking handle at the bottom of the fixed sleeve.

[0018] Furthermore, it also includes cable trays;

[0019] The cable tray plate can be detachably installed on the fixed frame, and the cable tray plate is located between the plumb bob fixing frame and the guide pulley, which is used to restrict the position of the plumb bob cable.

[0020] The method for operating the locking device for hoisting overhead power lines using a drone is implemented according to the following steps:

[0021] The sling frame is mounted on a drone. The drone drives the sling frame to raise and lower its height, which enables the elastic support rod to engage with the cable locking groove on the clamping handle. The cable is locked and unlocked by the cable locking groove on the clamping handle and the top tightening groove on the support rod.

[0022] Furthermore, when the locking device is engaged: the lifting point frame is mounted on the drone, the drone is raised, the lifting point frame and the clamping handle slide relative to each other, the bottom end of the lifting point frame contacts the top of the strip hole on the clamping handle, at the same time the plumb line pulls the locking handle downward, the locking handle drives the elastic support rod to slide downward in the fixed sleeve, the cable locking groove of the clamping handle and the top tightening groove of the support rod have a cable entry gap, the drone moves the lifting point frame so that the cable enters the rubber pad position in the cable locking groove, at this time the drone descends the height, the rubber pad hangs on the cable, the plumb line begins to relax, the support rod rises under the action of the compression spring and locks the cable with the rubber pad in the cable locking groove;

[0023] When the locking device is unlocked: the drone increases its height, the lifting point frame and the clamping handle slide relative to each other, the bottom end of the lifting point frame contacts the top of the strip hole on the clamping handle, and at the same time the plumb line pulls the locking handle downward. The locking handle drives the elastic support rod to slide downward in the fixed sleeve. The cable locking groove of the clamping handle and the top tightening groove of the support rod have a gap for cable removal. The drone moves the lifting point frame to move the cable out of the rubber pad position in the cable locking groove, thereby unlocking the cable.

[0024] Compared with the prior art, this application has the following technical advantages:

[0025] This application can effectively solve various technical defects existing in current overhead line clearing operations, and improve operational safety, efficiency and adaptability, as detailed below:

[0026] 1. The locking device and operating method of this application significantly improve operational safety and mitigate personnel safety risks: The technical solution of this application can be directly used in conjunction with drones to achieve fully unmanned operation of overhead line cleaning, completely eliminating the traditional manual high-altitude operation mode and avoiding safety hazards such as falls from heights and electric shocks for operators, fundamentally ensuring the personal safety of operators; at the same time, the cable is stably locked by the cooperation of the elastic support rod and the cable locking groove, and the locking handle can effectively limit the movement of the elastic support rod, preventing the equipment from falling off the cable during the cleaning operation, further improving the safety and stability of the operation process, and reducing the risk of line damage or ground safety accidents caused by equipment falling.

[0027] 2. The locking device and operating method of this application simplify the operation process and improve work efficiency: Compared with the existing UAV single-drop line hoisting equipment that requires manual assistance or complex mechanical mechanisms for locking, this application uses a support rod drive component to link the locking handle and the lifting point frame, which can realize the automatic sliding and locking of the elastic support rod without additional manual intervention or complex operation. This simplifies the operation process of equipment attachment and locking, and significantly shortens the preparation and operation time of a single operation. At the same time, the lifting point frame can slide vertically along the strip hole of the clamping handle, which can adapt to overhead lines of different heights without frequent adjustment of the UAV attitude, further improving the convenience and efficiency of operation, and can meet the needs of large-scale overhead line cleaning operations.

[0028] 3. The locking device and operating method of this application reduce equipment costs and improve flexibility and adaptability: The technical solution of this application has a simple structure, and the locking function is achieved only through the cooperation of basic components such as the lifting point frame, clamping handle, elastic support rod, and fixed frame. There is no need for a complex mechanical locking mechanism, which greatly reduces the manufacturing cost and subsequent maintenance cost of the equipment. The sliding locking structure of the elastic support rod can be adapted to overhead lines of different diameters, and the sliding design of the lifting point frame can be adapted to overhead line operation scenarios of different heights. This solves the problem of poor adaptability of existing drone lifting equipment, making it more versatile and widely applicable to de-icing, snow removal and other cleaning operations of various overhead lines.

[0029] 4. The locking device and operating method of this application improve operational stability and ensure the cleaning effect: The fixed sleeve limits and guides the elastic support rod, ensuring the smoothness of the sliding process of the elastic support rod and avoiding locking failure due to sliding deviation; the design of the clamping end of the elastic support rod and the cable locking groove can realize the tight locking of the cable, prevent relative sliding between the equipment and the cable during the cleaning operation, ensure the smooth progress of de-icing, snow removal and other cleaning operations, improve the cleaning effect, and ensure the safe and stable operation of overhead lines.

[0030] 5. The locking device and operating method of this application are adapted to the trend of automated operation and reduce the labor intensity of operation: The technical solution of this application can be perfectly adapted to the automated operation mode of drones, without the need for on-site operation or auxiliary operation by operators, which greatly reduces the labor intensity of operators; at the same time, the structural design is simple and easy to be hoisted and carried by drones, and can adapt to the operation needs of complex terrain such as mountains and hills as well as harsh weather conditions such as low temperature and strong wind, breaking through the environmental limitations of traditional operation methods and further expanding the scope of application of overhead line cleaning operations. Attached Figure Description

[0031] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the present invention;

[0032] Figure 2 This is the main view of the overall structure in this application;

[0033] Figure 3 Front view of clamping long handle 2. Detailed Implementation

[0034] Combination Figures 1 to 3 This embodiment describes a locking device for hoisting overhead power lines using a drone. It includes a hoisting point frame 1, a clamping handle 2, an elastic support rod 3, a support rod drive assembly, a fixing frame 4, a fixing sleeve 5, and a locking handle 6.

[0035] The lifting point bracket 1 is slidably connected to the clamping handle 2, the sliding fixing bracket 4 is installed on the clamping handle 2, the fixing sleeve 5 is fixedly installed on the fixing bracket 4, the elastic support rod 3 is slidably installed on the fixing bracket 4, and the locking handle 6 is installed on the elastic support rod 3. The locking handle 6 is used to limit the movement distance of the elastic support rod 3 in the fixing sleeve 5. The locking handle 6 and the lifting point bracket 1 are connected by a support rod drive assembly, and the support rod drive assembly is used to drive the elastic support rod 3 to slide in the fixing sleeve 5. The clamping handle 2 is machined with a cable locking groove. The clamping end of the elastic support rod 3 is set towards the cable locking groove, and the cable is locked in the cable locking groove by the clamping end of the elastic support rod 3.

[0036] In this embodiment, a long plate for guiding the cable is machined on the clamping handle 2. The cable is guided along the inclined surface of the long plate into the cable locking groove of the clamping handle 2, improving locking efficiency and ensuring locking quality. A cable detection mechanism, a power supply mechanism, and a control mechanism are installed at the bottom of the fixing sleeve 5. The weight of the cable detection mechanism, the power supply mechanism, the control mechanism, the suspension point frame 1, the support rod drive assembly, the fixing frame 4, and the fixing sleeve 5 causes the clamping handle 2 to hang on the cable.

[0037] Combination Figures 1 to 3 As shown, a strip-shaped hole is machined on the clamping handle 2 along the vertical direction. The bottom end of the lifting point frame 1 is set in the strip-shaped hole of the clamping handle 2, and the bottom end of the lifting point frame 1 slides in the strip-shaped hole of the clamping handle 2.

[0038] Combination Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, it also includes a rubber pad 10, which is installed on the cable locking groove of the clamping handle 2 to prevent the cable from slipping.

[0039] Combination Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the elastic support rod 3 includes a compression spring 31 and a support rod 32;

[0040] The top clamping end face of the support rod 32 is machined with a clamping groove. The support rod 32 is slidably inserted into the fixed sleeve 5, and the compression spring 31 is sleeved on the support rod 32, with the compression spring 31 located between the top clamping end of the support rod 32 and the fixed sleeve 5.

[0041] In this embodiment, the function of the compression spring 31 is to reset the support rod 32 to the top and cooperate with the clamping handle 2, thereby clamping the cable through the support rod 32 and the clamping handle 2.

[0042] Combination Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, a locking handle limiting groove is machined along the axial direction on the fixed sleeve 5, and a locking handle 6 for limiting the support rod 32 is inserted into the locking handle limiting groove. The locking handle 6 is installed on the support rod 32.

[0043] Combination Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the support rod drive assembly includes a plumb line 8 and a plumb line fixing bracket 9;

[0044] The plumb line fixing bracket 9 is fixedly installed on the suspension point bracket 1. One end of the plumb line 8 is fixedly installed on the plumb line fixing bracket 9. The other end of the suspension point bracket 1 passes around the bottom end of the fixing bracket 4 and is connected to the locking handle 6. The plumb line 8 is used to pull the movement of the locking handle 6 and limit the movement distance of the locking handle 6.

[0045] In this embodiment, the distance that the plumb line 8 pulls the locking handle 6 to move is equal to the distance that the support rod 32 moves within the fixed sleeve 5. When the plumb line 8 is fully relaxed, the locking device is entirely hung on the cable, and the cable is completely locked in the cable locking groove of the clamping handle 2 and the top tightening groove of the support rod 32.

[0046] Combination Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the support rod drive assembly also includes three guide pulleys 7;

[0047] Three guide pulleys 7 are installed on the fixed frame 4 from top to bottom. The plumb line 8 passes around the three guide pulleys 7 and is connected to the locking handle 6. The position of the guide pulley 7 located at the bottom is lower than the position of the locking handle 6 at the bottom of the fixed sleeve 5.

[0048] Combination Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, it also includes a cable tray 11;

[0049] The cable tray 11 is detachably mounted on the fixing frame 4, and the cable tray 11 is located between the plumb line fixing frame 9 and the guide pulley 7, which is used to restrict the cable routing position of the plumb line 8.

[0050] In this embodiment, the cable tray 11 is installed on the fixed frame 4 by bolt thread connection.

[0051] Combination Figures 1 to 3 As shown, the method is implemented according to the following steps:

[0052] The lifting point frame 1 is suspended on the drone. The drone drives the lifting point frame 1 to raise and lower its height, thereby enabling the elastic support rod 3 to cooperate with the cable locking groove on the clamping handle 2. The cable is locked and unlocked by the cable locking groove on the clamping handle 2 and the top tightening groove on the support rod 32.

[0053] Combination Figures 1 to 3 As shown, when the locking device is locked: the lifting point frame 1 is suspended on the drone, the drone is raised, the lifting point frame 1 and the clamping handle 2 slide relative to each other, the bottom end of the lifting point frame 1 contacts the top of the strip hole on the clamping handle 2, at the same time the plumb line 8 pulls the locking handle 6 to move downward, the locking handle 6 drives the elastic support rod 3 to slide downward in the fixed sleeve 5, the cable locking groove of the clamping handle 2 and the top tightening groove of the support rod 32 have a cable entry gap, the drone moves the lifting point frame 1 so that the cable enters the position of the rubber pad 10 in the cable locking groove, at this time the drone descends the height, the rubber pad 10 hangs on the cable, the plumb line 8 begins to relax, the support rod 32 rises under the action of the compression spring 31 and locks the cable with the rubber pad 10 in the cable locking groove;

[0054] When the locking device is unlocked: the drone increases its height, the lifting point 1 and the clamping handle 2 slide relative to each other, the bottom end of the lifting point 1 contacts the top of the strip hole on the clamping handle 2, and at the same time the plumb line 8 pulls the locking handle 6 downward. The locking handle 6 drives the elastic support rod 3 to slide downward in the fixed sleeve 5. The cable locking groove of the clamping handle 2 and the top tightening groove of the support rod 32 have a cable removal gap. The drone moves the lifting point 1 to move the cable out of the rubber pad 10 position in the cable locking groove, thereby unlocking the cable.

Claims

1. A locking device for hoisting overhead power lines using a drone, characterized in that: It includes a lifting point bracket (1), a clamping handle (2), an elastic support rod (3), a support rod drive assembly, a fixing bracket (4), a fixing sleeve (5), and a locking handle (6). The lifting point bracket (1) is slidably connected to the clamping handle (2), the sliding fixing bracket (4) is installed on the clamping handle (2), the fixing sleeve (5) is fixedly installed on the fixing bracket (4), the elastic support rod (3) is slidably set on the fixing bracket (4), the locking handle (6) is installed on the elastic support rod (3), the locking handle (6) is used to limit the movement distance of the elastic support rod (3) in the fixing sleeve (5), the locking handle (6) and the lifting point bracket (1) are connected by the support rod drive assembly, and the support rod drive assembly is used to drive the elastic support rod (3) to slide in the fixing sleeve (5). The clamping handle (2) is machined with a cable locking groove, the clamping end of the elastic support rod (3) is set towards the cable locking groove, and the cable is locked in the cable locking groove by the clamping end of the elastic support rod (3).

2. The locking device for overhead power line hoisting based on UAV as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The clamping handle (2) has a strip hole machined along the vertical direction. The bottom end of the lifting point frame (1) is set in the strip hole of the clamping handle (2), and the bottom end of the lifting point frame (1) slides in the strip hole of the clamping handle (2).

3. The locking device for overhead power line hoisting based on UAV as described in claim 1, characterized in that: It also includes a rubber pad (10), and the cable locking groove that holds the long handle (2) is fitted with a rubber pad (10) to prevent the cable from slipping.

4. The locking device for overhead power line hoisting based on UAV as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The elastic support rod (3) includes a compression spring (31) and a support rod (32); The top clamping end face of the support rod (32) is machined with a clamping groove. The support rod (32) is slidably inserted into the fixed sleeve (5), and the compression spring (31) is sleeved on the support rod (32). The compression spring (31) is located between the top clamping end of the support rod (32) and the fixed sleeve (5).

5. The locking device for overhead power line hoisting based on UAV as described in claim 4, characterized in that: The fixed sleeve (5) has a locking handle limiting groove machined along the axial direction. A locking handle (6) for limiting the support rod (32) is inserted into the locking handle limiting groove. The locking handle (6) is installed on the support rod (32).

6. The locking device for overhead power line hoisting based on UAV as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The support rod drive assembly includes a plumb line (8) and a plumb line holder (9); The plumb line fixing bracket (9) is fixedly installed on the suspension point bracket (1). One end of the plumb line (8) is fixedly installed on the plumb line fixing bracket (9). The other end of the suspension point bracket (1) passes around the bottom of the fixing bracket (4) and is connected to the locking handle (6). The plumb line (8) is used to pull the movement of the locking handle (6) and limit the movement distance of the locking handle (6).

7. The locking device for overhead power line hoisting based on UAV as described in claim 6, characterized in that: The support rod drive assembly also includes three guide pulleys (7); Three guide pulleys (7) are installed on the fixed frame (4) from top to bottom. The plumb line (8) passes around the three guide pulleys (7) and connects to the locking handle (6). The position of the guide pulley (7) located below is lower than the position of the locking handle (6) at the bottom of the fixed sleeve (5).

8. The locking device for overhead power line hoisting based on UAV as described in claim 6, characterized in that: It also includes a cable tray (11); The cable tray (11) is detachably mounted on the fixing frame (4), and the cable tray (11) is located between the plumb line fixing frame (9) and the guide pulley (7) to restrict the cable routing position of the plumb line (8).

9. A method for operating the locking device for hoisting overhead power lines using any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that: The method is implemented according to the following steps: The lifting point frame (1) is suspended on the drone. The drone drives the lifting point frame (1) to raise and lower the height to achieve the cooperation between the elastic support rod (3) and the cable locking groove on the clamping handle (2). The cable is locked and unlocked by the cable locking groove on the clamping handle (2) and the top tightening groove on the support rod (32).

10. The method for operating the locking device for hoisting overhead power lines by a drone according to claim 9, characterized in that: When the locking device is locked: the lifting point frame (1) is suspended on the drone. The drone is raised. The lifting point frame (1) and the clamping handle (2) slide relative to each other. The lower end of the lifting point frame (1) contacts the top of the strip hole on the clamping handle (2). At the same time, the plumb line (8) pulls the locking handle (6) downward. The locking handle (6) drives the elastic support rod (3) to slide downward in the fixed sleeve (5). The cable locking groove of the clamping handle (2) and the top tightening groove of the support rod (32) have a cable entry gap. The drone moves the lifting point frame (1) so that the cable enters the position of the rubber pad (10) in the cable locking groove. At this time, the drone descends. The rubber pad (10) hangs on the cable. The plumb line (8) begins to relax. The support rod (32) rises under the action of the compression spring (31) and locks the cable with the rubber pad (10) in the cable locking groove. When the locking device is unlocked: the drone increases its height, the lifting point frame (1) and the clamping handle (2) slide relative to each other, the bottom end of the lifting point frame (1) contacts the top of the strip hole on the clamping handle (2), and at the same time the plumb line (8) pulls the locking handle (6) downward. The locking handle (6) drives the elastic support rod (3) to slide downward in the fixed sleeve (5). The cable locking groove of the clamping handle (2) and the top tightening groove of the support rod (32) have a cable removal gap. The drone moves the lifting point frame (1) to move the cable out of the rubber pad (10) position in the cable locking groove, thereby unlocking the cable.

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