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Patent Number: |
7563124 |
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Case ID: |
0 |
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Patent Title:
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Harvesting power from low-voltage overhead power cables
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Status: |
ACTIVE |
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Status Date: |
2/3/2010 2:08:50 PM |
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Issue Date:
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7/21/2009 |
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Filed Date:
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5/21/2008 |
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Serial #:
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2/154,812 |
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Assignee Name:
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The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
(Washington,
DC)
N/A
(
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Inventor(s):
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Marshall, Patrick T. , McKinley, Michael W. , Brun, Jr., Charley |
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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to recharging battery-operated equipment used by remote rescue teams, and more specifically, harvesting power from low-voltage overhead power transmission lines to recharge such battery-operated equipment.
Energy capacity of batteries means a great deal to military ground forces and other remote rescue teams. This is especially true when the conflict being supported largely involves special operational forces on the ground that serve as a link
between air and ground forces. These Special Forces designate targets for air strikes. They do so using methods such as laser designators, which require a tremendous amount of battery power. They also carry other battery-powered items in their
battlefield air operations kits, such as laser range finders, GPS equipment, radio equipment to talk to aircraft, laptops and night vision equipment. Malfunctions of some of this equipment cost lives in the twenty-first century conflicts . . . . More |
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Harvesting power from low-voltage overhead power transmission lines for
recharging batteries for use in battery-operated equipment used in urban
and remote geographic locations used by military Special Forces,
firefighters and remote rescue teams. An elongated metal head containing
a razor attached to electrical wire is thrown over an overhead power line
where it cuts through insulated cable, makes contact with the hot line,
and establishes an electrical connection in order transfer low voltage
power to batteries or equipment.
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What is claimed is:
1. A method for obtaining power from low-voltage, overhead power cables for recharging batteries and hand-held equipment comprising the steps of: throwing a weighted,
elongated metal housing up and over a low-voltage power cable, said metal housing containing a cutout on said elongated side for seating a razor blade connected to a first N-gauge wire; grounding said metal housing by connecting a second N-gauge wire
thereto which is connected to an aluminum metal ground stake; cutting insulation of said low voltage overhead power cable using said razor blade by pulling said first and second N-gauge wires and electrically connecting to a hot line of said power
cable; providing constant tension to said elongated metal housing to maintain an electrical connection to said power cable hot line using said aluminum metal ground stake connected to said metal housing by said support cable; and supplying low voltage
electrical power to charge batteries or equipment . . . . More |
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