Power Line Inspection Vehicle for Crossing Conductor Obstacles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for inspecting or monitoring aerial electric power line components are hazardous for technicians and limited by the inability of robots to navigate obstacles, restricting their access and effectiveness.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle with pivotable arms and motorized wheels that can traverse aerial conductors, equipped with support rotors and blades to overcome obstacles, allowing autonomous movement and inspection along power lines.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a robot is sent along the power line for inspection, then the technician safety is improved, but the robot cannot pass over obstacles such as vibration dampers and is restricted to intervene only between two pylons
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the arms movable and adjustable rather than fixed. The arms can pivot at their base and at their connection to the wheels, allowing the vehicle to dynamically adapt its configuration to navigate over obstacles like vibration dampers and change spans between pylons. This dynamic structure resolves the contradiction by enabling the robot to maintain technician safety while gaining the versatility to pass over previously impassable obstacles.
Solution Approach 2:
The vehicle is segmented into a body and multiple detachable arms with wheels, allowing independent movement and configuration. This segmentation enables the robot to navigate obstacles by adjusting individual arms rather than requiring the entire vehicle to be removed and reinstalled, thus improving adaptability while maintaining safety.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the robot must be removed and reinstalled on the other side of the pylon by a human operator, then the robot can access different spans, but the operation complexity and time consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The vehicle incorporates self-service capabilities through its movable arms and wheels that enable it to autonomously navigate over pylons and between spans without requiring human operators for removal and reinstallation. The arms can be independently positioned and the wheels can traverse the pylon structure, allowing the robot to service multiple spans continuously, thus reducing operational complexity and time consumption.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the robot must be removed and reinstalled by a human operator, then the robot can access different spans, but the productivity and efficiency decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The vehicle's ability to autonomously navigate between spans and over pylons using its movable arms and wheels eliminates the need for human operators to physically remove and reinstall the robot. This self-service capability significantly improves productivity and inspection efficiency by allowing continuous operation across multiple spans without interruption, while maintaining the adaptability to access different spans.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables safe and efficient monitoring of power lines by allowing the vehicle to pass over obstacles, facilitating the transportation of inspection tools over long distances without human intervention.
Implementation Method 1
each wheel being engageable with one of the conductors to displace the vehicle therealong
Implementation Method 2
a contact portion extending from the arm portion to engage one of the conductors to temporarily support the vehicle with the contact portion
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a vehicle displaceable along aerial conductors of an electricity transmission line. The vehicle includes a body having arms. Each arm has a first end pivotably mounted to the body and a second distal end. A motorized wheel is mounted to each arm to engage one of the conductors to displace the vehicle. Support rotors have at least two blades. Each blade has an arm portion extending from the support rotor and a contact portion extending from the arm portion to engage one of the conductors to temporarily support the vehicle. An arm displacement mechanism engages the arms, and is operable to displace the arms in a direction transverse to a direction of travel of the vehicle to move the arms together and apart.