Robotic system including an internal cooling system

{
  "publication_number": "US11836018B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Robotic system including an internal cooling system",
  "abstract": "A robot, robotic systems, and methods for conducting a subterranean operation. In some embodiments, a robot may include a hazardous atmosphere controlled volume, such as an explosive (EX)-certified chamber, that is located within the body of the robot. In some embodiments, a robot may include a cooling system that is at least partially disposed to fully disposed within the body of the robot, such as partially to fully disposed within the EX-certified chamber located within the body.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A robot for conducting a subterranean operation comprising: a main body comprising a housing; a controlled atmosphere volume disposed within the housing; an electrical component disposed within the controlled atmosphere volume; and a cooling system disposed in the housing, wherein a first portion of the cooling system is disposed within the controlled atmosphere volume, and a second portion of the cooling system is disposed outside of the controlled atmosphere volume and spaced away from the controlled atmosphere volume, wherein the cooling system is attached to a second robot and provides cooling to the second robot.",
    "2. The robot of claim 1, wherein the controlled atmosphere volume is configured to be Atmosphere Explosible (ATEX) certified or International Electrotechnical Commission for Explosive Atmospheres (IECEx) certified according to explosive (EX) Zone 1 requirements.",
    "3. The robot of claim 1, wherein the cooling system traverses a boundary between the controlled atmosphere volume and a non-controlled atmosphere volume.",
    "4. The robot of claim 3, wherein the cooling system comprises a cooling unit and a heat sink.",
    "5. The robot of claim 4, wherein the heat sink comprises a cold plate and the cold plate transfers heat from the cold plate to a fluid circulation loop, and wherein the fluid circulation loop transfers the heat from the cold plate to the cooling unit.",
    "6. The robot of claim 5, wherein at least a portion of the cold plate, at least a portion of the fluid circulation loop, at least a portion of the cooling unit, or a combination thereof are disposed within the controlled atmosphere volume.",
    "7. The robot of claim 6, wherein the cooling unit traverses a boundary between the controlled atmosphere volume and a non-controlled atmosphere volume.",
    "8. The robot of claim 7, wherein the cooling system further comprises a fan which is disposed within the controlled atmosphere volume and is configured to promote circulation of air over the cold plate.",
    "9. The robot of claim 8, wherein the controlled atmosphere volume comprises an inlet and an outlet, and wherein the fan is configured to purge the controlled atmosphere volume via circulation of a gas from the inlet, through the controlled atmosphere volume, and to the outlet.",
    "10. The robot of claim 5, wherein the cooling system further comprises a heat exchanger that is configured to remove at least a portion of the heat from the fluid circulation loop.",
    "11. The robot of claim 5, wherein the cold plate is disposed in contact with the electrical component.",
    "12. The robot of claim 1, wherein the cooling system provides cooling to the robot.",
    "13. The robot of claim 12, wherein the robot comprises an iron roughneck and the second robot comprises a drill floor robot, or a pipe handler, or a combination thereof.",
    "14. The robot of claim 1, wherein the electrical component comprises an electronic controller that controls a function of the robot.",
    "15. The robot of claim 1, further comprising a motor disposed within the controlled atmosphere volume.",
    "16. The robot of claim 1, wherein the robot comprises a 90% electro-mechanically controlled system, a 90% electro-mechanically powered system, or a combination thereof.",
    "17. The robot of claim 1, wherein the robot comprises an iron roughneck, a drill floor robot, a multi-size elevator, a pipe handler, a tubular handler, a racking system, or a combination thereof.",
    "18. A method for conducting a subterranean operation, the method comprising: operating a robot on a rig; controlling operation of the robot via at least one electrical component disposed within a controlled atmosphere volume of the robot; and cooling the at least one electrical component via a cooling system that is disposed within a housing of the robot, wherein a first portion of the cooling system is disposed within the controlled atmosphere volume, and a second portion of the cooling system is disposed outside of the controlled atmosphere volume and spaced away from the controlled atmosphere volume; and coupling the cooling system to a second robot on the rig.",
    "19. The method of claim 18, further comprising: cooling at least a portion of the second robot via the cooling system.",
    "20. The method of claim 19, wherein the robot is an iron roughneck and the second robot is a drill floor robot, a pipe handler, or a combination thereof."
  ],
  "cpc": [
    "G06F 1/20",
    "E21B 36/001",
    "E21B 47/0175",
    "G06F 2200/201"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "CANRIG ROBOTIC TECHNOLOGIES AS"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2021-03-12",
  "publication_date": "2023-12-05",
  "grant_date": "2023-12-05",
  "priority_date": "2020-03-19",
  "application_number": "US-202117200534-A",
  "family_id": "75143637",
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