Metal working – Means to assemble or disassemble – Means to assemble electrical device
Utility Patent
1999-10-13
2001-01-02
Gerrity, Stephen F. (Department: 3729)
Metal working
Means to assemble or disassemble
Means to assemble electrical device
C029S825000, C320S109000, C439S310000, C439S500000
Utility Patent
active
06167612
ABSTRACT:
The present invention relates to apparatus suitable for handling plugs and sockets remotely and, in particular though not exclusively, plugs and sockets having a plurality of individual pins and connectors therein and requiring accurate rotational and linear alignment in order to be mated without damage.
Difficulties arise in hazardous environments for example where connections between plugs and sockets have to be made and/or broken remotely by, for example, manipulator arms or other remote handling devices. Whilst manipulators are good at linear positioning, they are not so good where placement in an axial direction relative to the manipulator and rotation about the axis are required since there is frequently little or no compliance in conventional plug and socket designs and it is also frequently not possible for an operator to determine how much force is being applied by the manipulator, consequently leading to breakages. Many current plug and socket designs for use in hazardous areas are very expensive and overly complex for the use to which they are intended to be put.
In some hazardous installations such as nuclear plants, it is sometimes necessary to connect plugs and sockets which contain up to eighty individual pin and socket elements which need very accurate rotational and axial positioning to avoid damage thereto.
EP-A-0613763 describes apparatus for the remote connection and disconnection of plugs and sockets in a hostile environment such as a ‘hot’ cell in a nuclear plant. However, the apparatus described requires purpose designed and made plugs and sockets and also requires the use of two robotic devices used in coordination with each other. Furthermore, the plug element requires significant manipulation about its axis in order to be placed in the correct orientation in a positioning jig which then needs to be placed on the specially machined socket prior to connection of the plug thereto. Such manipulation is very difficult to achieve, especially where two manipulator/robotic arms have to be moved in unison, and is further complicated in circumstances where there may be no direct line of sight to the operation.
It is an object of the present invention to provide apparatus for making and breaking plug and socket connections easily by remote handling means such as manipulator arms for example.
According to the present invention there is provided apparatus for the making and breaking of plug and socket connections by remote handling means, the apparatus comprising: at least one receiving bracket means adapted to receive a positioning and retaining plate, the positioning and retaining plate having one of a plug or a socket fixed thereto in a predetermined orientation to permit making or breaking of the connection with the other of a socket or plug; said at least one receiving bracket and said fixed plug or socket being movable in a direction parallel to the axis of said plug or socket on slider means; and, means for moving said at least one receiving bracket and said held plug or socket relative to the other of said socket or plug which is fixed in a co-operating axial and rotational orientation thereto so as to make or break said connection.
The remote handling means may comprise a robot or manipulator for example.
The apparatus according to the present invention may have two receiving brackets to receive the plug and the socket respectively, the two brackets holding the plug and socket in a required orientation to enable a connection to be made or broken and allowing mutual relative axial movement between the two receiving brackets along a making and breaking axis.
The apparatus according to the present invention is intended to enable connections to be made between: a plug and a socket which are each disposed at the end of a flexible lead; a plug and a socket, only one of which is disposed at the end of a flexible lead, the other of the plug and socket being fixed on a piece of plant in a particular orientation for example within a hazardous area; and, a plug and a socket where the socket for example is disposed on the interior wall in a particular orientation for example of a contained hazardous area and it is necessary to make and break plug connections to that socket for power supplies to plant for example housed with the contained area. Therefore, it may only be necessary to handle and manipulate one of the plug or the socket according to the particular circumstances.
The plug and socket connections being made and broken may be for electrical connections via cables; liquid connections via hydraulic hoses for example; and, gas connections via pneumatic hoses for example. Essentially, the apparatus of the present invention may be used where connections of any type need to be made and broken. However, the apparatus of the present invention is particularly advantageous where the plug and socket contain a plurality of individual pin and socket elements, for example, and where they require to be mated in a single fixed orientation relative to each other, in particular where rotational alignment about the common plug and socket axis is required.
The receiving bracket may comprise a flat rectangular plate having a slot therein to receive the plug or socket. Opposed edges of the plate may be provided with inturned flange portions to receive and hold a co-operating flat plate to which the plug or socket is fixed in a desired orientation. Other alternative designs of receiving bracket and plug/socket fixture may be employed as will be apparent to those skilled in the mechanical engineering art. For example the receiving bracket may comprises two vertical pins which receives a plate having co-operating channels, the plate being fixed to the plug or socket.
The receiving bracket may be mounted on slider rails to allow movement along a making/breaking axis of the plug and socket. Such rails may comprise round rods for example on which the bracket is mounted via sliding bearings. Where there are two receiving brackets for the plug and socket respectively, either or both of the brackets may be movable. However, in one embodiment of the present invention, one bracket is fixed relative to the other and the connection is made or broken by movement of one bracket only. Alternatively, other forms of rails may be used instead of round rods, the only requirement being that the plug and socket be maintained in a desired relationship with respect to making and breaking of the connection without placing unnecessary stress on either component.
The moving means may be a lever arm and suitable linkage connected to the moveable receiving bracket, movement of the lever arm causing the plug and socket connection to be made or broken. Alternatively, a component of the apparatus such as the plug or socket positioning plate or the receiving bracket may be provided with a tab or other grippable feature to enable a gripper of a manipulator to move the receiving bracket in the appropriate direction. Other forms of moving means such a screw-threaded rods, pneumatic or hydraulic cylinders and piston rods for example may be employed according to circumstances as will be described hereinbelow.
Apparatus according to the present invention may include or may be mounted on a base plate or mounting fixture which may be fixed to plant or a suitable fixture within the particular environment in which it is contained. In this way only a single robotic/manipulation arm is required to effect making and breaking of the plug and socket.
A particular advantage of the apparatus of the present invention is that the manipulator only has to place the plug or socket, which is fixed to a retaining plate in a desired orientation, in the receiving bracket which is desirably generally vertical and with which the manipulator is easily able to align by virtue of appropriate movements in the horizontal plane. Alignment of the plug and socket is automatically effected by virtue of one or the other or both being placed in the receiving bracket(s) in their retaining plate. The only other function needed from the manipulator is
British Nuclear Fuels PLC
Gerrity Stephen F.
Myers Bigel & Sibley & Sajovec
Sands Rhonda E
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