Patents Assigned to Southern Electrical Equipment Company
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Patent number: 11688572Abstract: A group-operated switching system for multi-phase electrical transmission lines including a number of inline axial switches for opening and closing circuits to control electrical flow through the transmission lines. The switches include axially mounted load break vacuum interrupters and are mechanically and electrically isolated from each other and from a control box. The control box communicates with the inline switches via RF communications. Power for the switch electronics and operations can be provided from line power, a battery, or a capacitive source.Type: GrantFiled: June 25, 2021Date of Patent: June 27, 2023Assignee: SOUTHERN ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT COMPANY, INC.Inventors: Andrew S. Panto, Barry Craig Thomas, Doug Lanter, Dillon Surface
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Patent number: 9162753Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle and associated methods for inspecting infrastructure assets includes a multirotor, electrically driven helicopter apparatus and power supply; a flight computer; positioning and collision avoidance equipment; and at least one sensor such as a camera. The flight computer is programmed for automated travel to and inspection of selected waypoints, at which condition data is collected for further analysis. The method also includes protocols for segmenting the flight path to accomplish sequential inspection of a linear asset such as a power line using limited-range equipment.Type: GrantFiled: December 31, 2013Date of Patent: October 20, 2015Assignee: Southern Electrical Equipment Company, Inc.Inventors: Andrew S. Panto, Barry Wyeth Thomas, Barry Craig Thomas
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Patent number: 6031347Abstract: A motor operator is configured to provide local and remote operation of a power line phase switch. The motor operator has its components individually enclosed in a component enclosure and further enclosed in a main enclosure, allowing isolation and protection of the components from the environment and operators. A gear box includes a worm gear reducer submersed in oil providing a no maintenance gear train that makes continuous braking unnecessary by virtue of the inherently self-locking nature of the worm gear. The motor operator also includes a plurality of limit and auxiliary switches providing local and remote indication of switch position. The switches are each independently adjustable using cam adjustment collars. The overall configuration of the motor operator provides safe, reliable and cost effective phase switch operation.Type: GrantFiled: September 4, 1998Date of Patent: February 29, 2000Assignee: Southern Electrical Equipment CompanyInventor: Andrew S. Panto
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Patent number: 5874900Abstract: In an overhead power line switch, critical switch adjustment dimensions, switch position, switch status and other switch parameters are sensed by a plurality of particularly placed sensors, allowing determination as to whether the switch has operated correctly at critical points of the switch. The sensors also provide critical maintenance indication as to the operational status of the switch. In a preferred arrangement, the sensors are positioned to sense at least one of whether the contact blade is in a toggled closed position or a switch-open position, whether the contact blade is aligned with the clip assembly, the contact blade depth in the clip assembly, etc. The monitoring system is preferably provided with a remote terminal unit delivering sensor data to a remote operating facility.Type: GrantFiled: May 8, 1996Date of Patent: February 23, 1999Assignee: Southern Electrical Equipment CompanyInventor: Andrew S. Panto
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Patent number: 5804930Abstract: A motor operator is configured to provide local and remote operation of a power line phase switch. The motor operator has its components individually enclosed in a component enclosure and further enclosed in a main enclosure, allowing isolation and protection of the components from the environment and operators. A gear box includes a worm gear reducer submersed in oil providing a no maintenance gear train that makes continuous braking unnecessary by virtue of the inherently self-locking nature of the worm gear. The motor operator also includes a plurality of limit and auxiliary switches providing local and remote indication of switch position. The switches are each independently adjustable using cam adjustment collars. The overall configuration of the motor operator provides safe, reliable and cost effective phase switch operation.Type: GrantFiled: August 22, 1996Date of Patent: September 8, 1998Assignee: Southern Electrical Equipment CompanyInventor: Andrew S. Panto
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Patent number: 5560474Abstract: The apparatus includes contact blades at different elevations on a utility pole rotatable between electrical connection and disconnection positions vis-a-vis contact members. To rotate the contact blades, an electromechanical linear actuator extends a clevis and crank arm to rotate a vertically extending shaft coupled to another crank and a lever arm to rotate the insulators on which the contact blades are mounted. The linear actuators are carried by support structure high on the utility pole and, by rotating the vertical shafts, the insulators and contact blades at each phase are simultaneously rotated.Type: GrantFiled: August 15, 1994Date of Patent: October 1, 1996Assignee: Southern Electrical Equipment CompanyInventors: Barry Thomas, James Ross, Andrew S. Panto, W. Roy Rinehart