US5697834A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Remote repair appliance
Assignee: United States Department of Energy
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Filing: 1996-07-17
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Granted: 1997-12-16
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Expires: 2016-07-17
Abstract
Abstract A remote appliance for supporting a tool for performing work at a worksite on a substantially circular bore of a workpiece and for providing video signals of the worksite to a remote monitor comprising: a baseplate having an inner face and an outer face; a plurality of rollers, wherein each roller is rotatably and adjustably attached to the inner face of the baseplate and positioned to roll against the bore of the workpiece when the baseplate is positioned against the mouth of the bore such that the appliance may be rotated about the bore in a plane substantially parallel to the baseplate; a tool holding means for supporting the tool, the tool holding means being adjustably attached to the outer face of the baseplate such that the working end of the tool is positioned on the inner face side of the baseplate; a camera for providing video signals of the worksite to the remote monitor; and a camera holding means for supporting the camera on the inner face side of the baseplate, the camera holding means being adjustably attached to the outer face of the baseplate. In a preferred embodiment, roller guards are provided to protect the rollers from debris and a bore guard is provided to protect the bore from wear by the rollers and damage from debris.
Inventors
- 👤 Frederick K. Heumann
- 👤 Jay C. Wilkinson
- 👤 David R. Wooding
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 22:56
CPC Classifications
B; B24; B24B; B24B15/00; B24B15/04; B24B49/00; B24B49/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
228 words
A remote appliance for supporting a tool having a working end for performing work at a worksite on a substantially circular bore of a workpiece and for providing video signals of the worksite to a remote monitor, said bore having a mouth, said remote appliance comprising: a baseplate having an inner face and an outer face and being adapted to be positioned against the mouth of the bore; a plurality of rollers, each of said rollers being rotatably and adjustably attached to said inner face of said baseplate and being positioned so as to roll against the bore of the workpiece when said baseplate is positioned against the mouth of the bore so as to enable Said appliance to be rotated about said bore in a plane substantially parallel to said baseplate; a bore protection means for protecting the bore from debris generated by said appliance and from marring by said plurality of rollers; a tool holding means, adjustably attached to said outer face of said baseplate, for supporting the tool such that the working end of the tool is positioned inwardly of said inner face of said baseplate; a camera for providing video signals of the worksite to the remote monitor; and a camera holding means, adjustably attached to said outer face of said baseplate, for supporting said camera inwardly of said inner face of said baseplate.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
228 words
A remote appliance for supporting a tool having a working end for performing work at a worksite on a substantially circular bore of a workpiece and for providing video signals of the worksite to a remote monitor, said bore having a mouth, said remote appliance comprising: a baseplate having an inner face and an outer face and being adapted to be positioned against the mouth of the bore; a plurality of rollers, each of said rollers being rotatably and adjustably attached to said inner face of said baseplate and being positioned so as to roll against the bore of the workpiece when said baseplate is positioned against the mouth of the bore so as to enable Said appliance to be rotated about said bore in a plane substantially parallel to said baseplate; a bore protection means for protecting the bore from debris generated by said appliance and from marring by said plurality of rollers; a tool holding means, adjustably attached to said outer face of said baseplate, for supporting the tool such that the working end of the tool is positioned inwardly of said inner face of said baseplate; a camera for providing video signals of the worksite to the remote monitor; and a camera holding means, adjustably attached to said outer face of said baseplate, for supporting said camera inwardly of said inner face of said baseplate.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
74 words
A remote appliance as in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of roller guards mounted on said baseplate, each of said roller guards surrounding a respective one of said plurality of rollers so as to protect said respective one of said rollers from debris generated by said appliance and being positioned to sweep said debris ahead of said respective one of said rollers as said respective one of said rollers rolls against the bore.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
A remote appliance as in claim 1, further comprising a light means for illuminating the worksite.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
A remote appliance as in claim 3, wherein said light means comprises a fiber optic light guide that transmits light from a remote illuminator.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
A remote appliance as in claim 3, further comprising a light holding means attached to said camera holding means for holding said light means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
A remote appliance as in claim 1, wherein said baseplate has a substantially circular profile.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
41 words
A remote appliance as in claim 1, wherein said bore protection means comprises a bore guard comprising a thin metal band that fits inside the bore and a lip portion that rests on the workpiece at the mouth of the bore.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
52 words
A remote appliance as in claim 1, wherein said baseplate includes a plurality of slotted holes and wherein each said roller is rotatably and adjustably attached to said baseplate by a bolt extending through one of said plurality of slotted holes in said baseplate and by a nut secured to said bolt.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
44 words
A remote appliance as in claim 1, wherein said tool holding means comprises a collar which is pivotally attached to said baseplate, said collar having an inner bore for holding the tool and a set screw for securing the tool in said inner bore.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
68 words
A remote appliance as in claim 1, wherein said camera holding means comprises: a camera mount adjustably attached to said outer face of said baseplate; a post having one end adjustably attached to said camera mount and a second end projecting through a camera hole in said baseplate to said inner face side of said baseplate; and a camera tube attached to said second end of said post.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
A remote appliance as in claim 10, further comprising a shielding lens removable attached to said camera tube for protecting said camera from debris generated by the appliance.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
226 words
A remote appliance for performing work at a worksite on a substantially circular bore of a workpiece and for providing video signals of the worksite to a remote monitor, said bore having a mouth, said remote appliance comprising: a baseplate having an inner face and an outer face and being adapted to be positioned against the mouth of the bore; a plurality of rollers, each of said rollers being rotatably and adjustably attached to said inner face of said baseplate and being positioned so as to roll against the bore of the workpiece when said baseplate is positioned against the mouth of the bore so as to enable said appliance to be rotated about said bore in a plane substantially parallel to said baseplate; a bore protection means for protecting the bore from debris generated by said appliance and from marring by said plurality of rollers; a tool having a working end; a tool holding means, adjustably attached to said outer face of said baseplate, for supporting said tool such that said working end of said tool is positioned inwardly of said inner face of said baseplate; a camera for providing video signals of the worksite to the remote monitor; and a camera holding means, adjustably attached to said outer face of said baseplate, for supporting said camera inwardly of said inner face of said baseplate.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
226 words
A remote appliance for performing work at a worksite on a substantially circular bore of a workpiece and for providing video signals of the worksite to a remote monitor, said bore having a mouth, said remote appliance comprising: a baseplate having an inner face and an outer face and being adapted to be positioned against the mouth of the bore; a plurality of rollers, each of said rollers being rotatably and adjustably attached to said inner face of said baseplate and being positioned so as to roll against the bore of the workpiece when said baseplate is positioned against the mouth of the bore so as to enable said appliance to be rotated about said bore in a plane substantially parallel to said baseplate; a bore protection means for protecting the bore from debris generated by said appliance and from marring by said plurality of rollers; a tool having a working end; a tool holding means, adjustably attached to said outer face of said baseplate, for supporting said tool such that said working end of said tool is positioned inwardly of said inner face of said baseplate; a camera for providing video signals of the worksite to the remote monitor; and a camera holding means, adjustably attached to said outer face of said baseplate, for supporting said camera inwardly of said inner face of said baseplate.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
14 words
A remote appliance as in claim 12, wherein said tool is an air motor.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
A remote appliance as in claim 13, wherein said working end of said tool comprises a grinding wheel.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
A remote appliance as in claim 13, wherein said air motor has a throttle and a throttle lock for locking said throttle in an activated position.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
16 words
A remote appliance as in claim 13, wherein said air motor has a rear exhaust port.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
74 words
A remote appliance as in claim 12, further comprising a plurality of roller guards mounted on said baseplate, each of said roller guards surrounding a respective one of said plurality of rollers so as to protect said respective one of said rollers from debris generated by said appliance and being positioned to sweep said debris ahead of said respective one of said rollers as said respective one of said rollers rolls against the bore.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
41 words
A remote appliance as in claim 12, wherein said bore protection means comprises a bore guard comprising a thin metal band that fits inside the bore and a lip portion that rests on the workpiece at the mouth of the bore.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US5022192A
Cited
US5577954A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-12-15 | 2001-06-16 | 2001-12-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-12-15 | 2005-06-16 | 2005-12-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-12-15 | 2009-06-16 | 2009-12-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |