US 12,234,045 B2
Drone protection against high-voltage electrical discharges and corona effect
Thibaut Libert, Flemalle (BE); Daniel Mitcan, Eindhoven (NL); and Thibault Dasnoy, Brussels (BE)
Assigned to Ampacimon S.A., Grace-Hollogne (BE)
Filed by Ampacimon S.A., Grace-Hollogne (BE)
Filed on May 23, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/673,064.
Application 18/673,064 is a continuation of application No. PCT/EP2022/083268, filed on Nov. 25, 2022.
Claims priority of application No. 21210961 (EP), filed on Nov. 29, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2024/0308701 A1, Sep. 19, 2024
Int. Cl. B64U 30/29 (2023.01); B64U 101/00 (2023.01); H02G 1/02 (2006.01)
CPC B64U 30/29 (2023.01) [B64U 2101/00 (2023.01); B64U 2201/20 (2023.01); H02G 1/02 (2013.01)] 15 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A remotely-controlled flying device configured to approach and contact a high-voltage overhead power line for operation thereon, said flying device comprising:
a plurality of propellers (8);
a mechanical structure (1) bearing the plurality of propellers (8) and an aircraft body (4) containing at least a power hub, a flight controller, and radio communication means; and
an electrical shield (2, 7) encapsulating said mechanical structure (1) and comprising a truss or lattice comprising an assembly of electrically-conductive bars (20) interconnected with electrically-conductive connectors (21);
wherein a top part of the remotely-controlled flying device comprises at least two anchoring spots, at least one of the anchoring spots provided with a surge protector or the like (3), wherein the anchoring spots comprise a mechanical part having a V-shape open to an exterior of the device configured to (a) guide the power line in a flying phase of approaching and contacting the power line, and (b) attract electric discharges towards the electrical shield (2, 7);
wherein at least two linearly-disposed automatic clamping devices (6) are located on the top part of the flying device (1), are located in a vicinity of the V-shaped mechanical part, and are configured to attach the flying device to the power line, once the flying device has approached the power line so that the power line is located sufficiently close to a bottom of the V-shaped mechanical part; and
wherein the clamping devices (6) comprise claws mounted rotationally in a plane orthogonal to a direction of the power line in use, said claws configured to rotate continuously until the claws grip the power line and stop.