Drone installed hardware

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12187428-B2
Application number	US-202217964812-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 12, 2022
Priority date	Oct 12, 2021
Publication date	Jan 7, 2025
Grant date	Jan 7, 2025

Abstract

One or more arrangements and associated methods for mechanical installation of an item at a location on a line that is suspended are provided. An arrangement includes a portion for mechanical actuation to install the item upon the line at the location. The arrangement includes a flying drone portion for levitation of the portion to the location on the line.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An arrangement for mechanical installation of a markerball, having a slot extending to a center bisection of the markerball, at a location on a line, the arrangement comprising:
a holder for holding the markerball, with the slot opening upward, to be installed;
two upwardly extending finger guides, aligned with the slot, to aid placement of the markerball to be installed relative to the line when the line is relatively directed by the two finger guides into the slot at the center bisection of the markerball during upward levitation of the arrangement;
a clamp portion, located adjacent to the slot at the center bisection of the markerball, for mechanical actuation, once the arrangement is upwardly levitated such that the line is in the slot at the center bisection of the markerball, to install the markerball upon the line at the location on the line; and
a flying drone portion, having structure to lift the arrangement and the markerball, located below the clamp portion and with the two finger guides extending up above the flying drone portion to relatively direct the line while the flying drone portion remains below the line, for levitation of the markerball and the clamp portion to the location on the line.

2. The arrangement as set forth in claim 1 , including a portion for moving the clamp portion.

3. The arrangement as set forth in claim 2 , wherein the portion for moving the clamp portion includes a portion for closing the clamp portion.

4. The arrangement as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the clamp portion for mechanical actuation includes structure for auto-actuation of the clamp portion.

5. The arrangement as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the markerball includes structure to be engaged.

6. The arrangement as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the markerball is spherical.

7. The arrangement as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the two finger guides comprise rods.

8. The arrangement as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the two finger guides create a v shape.

9. The arrangement as set forth in claim 1 , wherein at least some of a first finger guide of the two finger guides is not parallel to at least some of a second finger guide of the two finger guides.

10. The arrangement as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the clamp portion is spring-biased.

11. An arrangement for installation of a markerball and an associated spring-based clamp at a location on a line, the arrangement comprising:
a holder for holding the markerball, with a slot opening upward, to be installed, and with the spring-based clamp located adjacent to the slot at a center bisection of the markerball;
two upwardly extending finger guides, aligned with the slot, to aid placement of the markerball and the spring-based clamp relative to the line when the line is relatively directed by the two finger guides into the slot at the center bisection of the markerball during upward levitation of the arrangement;
a portion for actuating the spring-based clamp to install the markerball and the spring-based clamp upon the line at the location once the arrangement is upwardly levitated such that the line is in the slot at the center bisection of the markerball; and
a flying drone portion, located beneath the markerball and the spring-based clamp, for levitation of the portion to the location on the line, with the two finger guides extending up above the flying drone portion to relatively direct the line while the flying drone portion remains below the line, for levitation of the markerball and the spring-based clamp to the location on the line.

12. The arrangement as set forth in claim 11 , wherein the portion for actuating the spring-based clamp includes structure for auto-actuation.

13. The arrangement as set forth in claim 11 , wherein the markerball is spherical.

14. The arrangement as set forth in claim 11 , wherein the two finger guides comprise rods.

15. The arrangement as set forth in claim 11 , wherein the two finger guides create a v shape.

16. The arrangement as set forth in claim 11 , wherein at least some of a first finger guide of the two finger guides is not parallel to at least some of a second finger guide of the two finger guides.

17. The arrangement as set forth in claim 11 , wherein the spring-based clamp comprises at least one jaw to engage the line.

18. A method of mechanical installation of a markerball, having a slot extending to a center bisection of the markerball, at a location on a line, the method comprising:
holding, upon an arrangement, the markerball, with the slot opening upward, with the arrangement including two upwardly extending finger guides, aligned with the slot, to aid placement of the markerball to be installed relative to the line when the line is relatively directed by the two finger guides into the slot at the center bisection of the markerball during an upward levitation;
flying the arrangement with the held markerball, via operation of a flying drone portion of the arrangement, to levitate the arrangement, including the markerball located above the flying drone portion and the two finger guides extending up above the flying drone portion to relatively direct the line while the flying drone portion remains below the line, to the location on the line; and
actuating a clamp portion, located adjacent to the slot at the center bisection of the markerball, of the arrangement, to close the clamp portion once the arrangement is upwardly levitated such that the line is in the slot at the center bisection of the markerball, to install the markerball upon the line at the location.

19. The method as set forth in claim 18 , wherein closing the clamp portion comprises auto-actuation of the clamp portion.

20. The method as set forth in claim 18 , wherein actuating a mechanical actuation portion comprises actuating a portion to close the clamp portion.

Assignees

• Preformed Line Products Co

Inventors

• Ciesielczyk Benjamin Franklin
• Bell Douglas
• Markiewicz John

Classifications

• B64C39/024 Primary

  of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV · CPC title

• B64U2101/00

  UAVs specially adapted for particular uses or applications · CPC title

• B64U2101/25

  for manufacturing or servicing · CPC title

• F16B9/02

  Detachable connections {(F16B9/05 – F16B9/09 take precedence)} · CPC title

• B64U2201/10

  autonomous, i.e. by navigating independently from ground or air stations, e.g. by using inertial navigation systems [INS] · CPC title