Abstract: The invention relates to a vehicle displaceable along aerial conductors of an electricity transmission line. The vehicle includes a body having arms. Each arm has a first end pivotably mounted to the body and a second distal end. A motorized wheel is mounted to each arm to engage one of the conductors to displace the vehicle. Support rotors have at least two blades. Each blade has an arm portion extending from the support rotor and a contact portion extending from the arm portion to engage one of the conductors to temporarily support the vehicle. An arm displacement mechanism engages the arms, and is operable to displace the arms in a direction transverse to a direction of travel of the vehicle to move the arms together and apart.

Abstract: An apparatus for inspecting a component of an aerial power line. A frame has a support member extending along a support member axis. The support member is mountable about the power line in proximity to the component. The support member is rotatable about the line axis upon being mounted about the power line. A stabilizing member is mountable to a stabilizing structure separate from the power line. The stabilizing member is mountable to the support member to rotate the support member about the line axis. A source of electromagnetic imaging energy is mounted to the support member and has an emitter to face the component. A detector is mounted to the support member at a distance from the source to position the component between the source and the detector. The source and/or the detector is displaceable along the support member axis to vary the distance separating the detector and source.

Abstract: The invention relates to a vehicle displaceable along aerial conductors of an electricity transmission line. The vehicle includes a body having arms. Each arm has a first end pivotably mounted to the body and a second distal end. A motorized wheel is mounted to each arm to engage one of the conductors to displace the vehicle. Support rotors have at least two blades. Each blade has an arm portion extending from the support rotor and a contact portion extending from the arm portion to engage one of the conductors to temporarily support the vehicle. An arm displacement mechanism engages the arms, and is operable to displace the arms in a direction transverse to a direction of travel of the vehicle to move the arms together and apart.

Abstract: An apparatus for inspecting a component of an aerial power line. A frame has a support member extending along a support member axis. The support member is mountable about the power line in proximity to the component. The support member is rotatable about the line axis upon being mounted about the power line. A stabilizing member is mountable to a stabilizing structure separate from the power line. The stabilizing member is mountable to the support member to rotate the support member about the line axis. A source of electromagnetic imaging energy is mounted to the support member and has an emitter to face the component. A detector is mounted to the support member at a distance from the source to position the component between the source and the detector. The source and/or the detector is displaceable along the support member axis to vary the distance separating the detector and source.

Abstract: A mechanism comprises a first Halbach cylinder having an inner cavity, the first Halbach cylinder magnetized to produce a first magnetic flux concentrated circumferentially inside the inner cavity. A second Halbach cylinder is concentrically received in the inner cavity of the first Halbach cylinder to concurrently form a rotational joint having a rotational axis. One of the Halbach cylinders is a rotor and the other of the Halbach cylinders is a stator, the second Halbach cylinder magnetized to produce a second magnetic flux concentrated circumferentially outwardly. An output is connected to the rotor to rotate therewith relative to the stator, the output applying a gravity load on the rotor, the gravity load being offset from the rotational axis, whereby the magnetic flux of the first Halbach cylinder and the second Halbach cylinder cooperatively produce a torque against the gravity load caused by the output.

Abstract: A robot for machining a part of structure under water, comprising a machine tool having a chamber receiving a machining element, a support and guiding structure of the machine tool fixable with respect to the part to be machined and having submersible mobile elements and corresponding submersible guiding elements defining axes along which the mobile elements are movable to position the machine tool with respect to the part to be machined, displacement units for displacement of the mobile elements along the axes, a gas supply connecting to the machine tool to inject gas in the chamber, and a programmable control unit for operating the displacement units and the machine tool based on a closed-loop control mode in order to achieve the machining of the part.

Abstract: A robot for machining a part of structure under water, comprising a machine tool having a chamber receiving a machining element, a support and guiding structure of the machine tool fixable with respect to the part to be machined and having submersible mobile elements and corresponding submersible guiding elements defining axes along which the mobile elements are movable to position the machine tool with respect to the part to be machined, displacement units for displacement of the mobile elements along the axes, a gas supply connecting to the machine tool to inject gas in the chamber, and a programmable control unit for operating the displacement units and the machine tool based on a closed-loop control mode in order to achieve the machining of the part.