Apparatus for use on a cable; and a system for and method of inspecting a cable

Number of patents in Portfolio can not be more than 2000

United States of America Patent

PATENT NO 9371960
APP PUB NO 20150204480A1
SERIAL NO

14417734

Stats

ATTORNEY / AGENT: (SPONSORED)

Importance

Loading Importance Indicators... loading....

Abstract

See full text

The invention relates to an apparatus for use on a cable, particularly to a power line or cable inspection and/or monitoring apparatus or robot. The apparatus typically comprises a power module to power the apparatus, a pair of links serially coupled via at least one joint, a gripper arrangement coupled to each link for attaching the apparatus to the cable, wherein each gripper arrangement is controllable to grip and/or release the cable as an end effector, and grip the cable as a base in a serial manipulator fashion; and a control arrangement configured at least to control displacement of the links and the gripper arrangements to grip and/or release the cable. The invention also extends to a method of inspecting and/or monitoring a cable; an inspection and/or monitoring system for inspecting a cable; and to a method of operating an apparatus on an elongate cable to avoid an obstacle.

Loading the Abstract Image... loading....

First Claim

See full text

Family

Loading Family data... loading....

Patent Owner(s)

Patent OwnerAddress
ESKOM HOLDINGS SOC LIMITEDMEGAWATT PARK MAXWELL DRIVE 2000 SUNNINGHILL SANDTON
UNIVERSITY OF KWAZULU-NATALOFFICE OF REGISTRAR UNIVERSITY ROAD CHILTERN HILLS WESTVILLE 3629

International Classification(s)

Inventor(s)

Inventor Name Address # of filed Patents Total Citations
Boje, Edward Sidney Cape Town, ZA 2 20
Lorimer, Trevor Gareth Durban, ZA 1 19

Cited Art Landscape

Load Citation

Patent Citation Ranking

Forward Cite Landscape

Load Citation

Maintenance Fees

Fee Large entity fee small entity fee micro entity fee due date
11.5 Year Payment $7400.00 $3700.00 $1850.00 Dec 21, 2027
Fee Large entity fee small entity fee micro entity fee
Surcharge - 11.5 year - Late payment within 6 months $160.00 $80.00 $40.00
Surcharge after expiration - Late payment is unavoidable $700.00 $350.00 $175.00
Surcharge after expiration - Late payment is unintentional $1,640.00 $820.00 $410.00