Patents by Inventor Trevor Gareth Lorimer

Trevor Gareth Lorimer has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Apparatus for use on a cable; and a system for and method of inspecting a cable
    Patent number: 9371960
    Abstract: 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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignees: UNIVERSITY OF KWAZULU-NATAL, ESKOM HOLDINGS SOC LIMITED
    Inventors: Trevor Gareth Lorimer, Edward Sidney Boje
  • APPARATUS FOR USE ON A CABLE; AND A SYSTEM FOR AND METHOD OF INSPECTING A CABLE
    Publication number: 20150204480
    Abstract: 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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2013
    Publication date: July 23, 2015
    Inventors: Trevor Gareth Lorimer, Edward Sidney Boje