Ex certified robotic system with enhanced corrosion resistance

Abstract

A robotic system with a robot and enclosure, the robotic system configured for EX Zone 1 certification. Fasteners attaching a panel to a housing of the enclosure can be positioned away from a seal of the panel, with the seal sealingly engaging the panel and housing when the panel is attached to the housing. The panel overlapping a portion of the housing when attached to the housing, with at least the overlapped portion having a metallized layer and the metallized layer being electrically coupled to the panel when the panel is attached. The panel can be rotationally attached to the housing by one or more hinges. The panel can be configured to assist operators with manual manipulation of the panel by attaching detachable handles to the panel.

1 . A system for conducting subterranean operations comprising:
 a robotic system comprising a robot and an enclosure, the robotic system configured to be ATEX certified or IECEx certified according to EX Zone 1 requirements, the enclosure comprising:   a housing with an opening in the housing;   a panel removably attached to the housing, with the panel covering the opening and overlapping a portion of the housing around a perimeter of the opening when the panel is attached to the housing; and   one or more hinges mounted between the housing and the panel, with each hinge having an arm rotationally attached to a panel mounting bracket and a housing mounting bracket.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the panel mounting bracket is attached to the panel and the housing mounting bracket is attached to the housing. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more hinges further comprise a gap between the arm and the panel mounting bracket, and wherein the gap allows limited rotation between the arm and the panel. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the arm comprises a curved portion and a lateral portion, and wherein a width of the curved portion allows the housing mounting bracket to be attached to the housing at a location that is spaced away from the overlapped portion of the housing. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein a pair of first extensions at an end of the curved portion straddle at least a portion of the panel mounting bracket. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein a hole extends through the portion of the panel mounting bracket, and a hole extends through each one of the first extensions, and wherein a shaft is inserted through the hole of each of the first extensions and through the hole of the panel mounting bracket to rotationally attach the first extensions to the panel mounting bracket. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the first extensions are rectangularly shaped, and each one of the first extensions is spaced away from a shoulder of the panel mounting bracket to form a gap, and wherein the gap allows limited rotation of the arm relative to the panel mounting bracket. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein each end of the shaft has an internally threaded blind hole formed therein, and a fastener is screwed into each one of the blind holes to secure the shaft within the first extensions and the portion of the panel mounting bracket. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein a pair of second extensions at an end of the lateral portion straddle at least a portion of the housing mounting bracket. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein a hole extends through the portion of the housing mounting bracket, and a hole extends through each one of the second extensions, and wherein a shaft is inserted through the hole of each of the second extensions and through the hole of the housing mounting bracket to rotationally attach the second extensions to the housing mounting bracket. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the second extensions are rounded allowing free rotation of the arm relative to the housing mounting bracket until the lateral portion of the arm engages the housing. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein each end of the shaft has an internally threaded blind hole formed therein, and a fastener is screwed into each one of the blind holes to secure the shaft within the second extensions and the portion of the housing mounting bracket. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more hinges are adjustable by adjusting the panel mounting bracket in one of a first direction or a second direction with the first direction being opposite to the second direction. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein an insert is disposed within a recess in the panel mounting bracket, with a gap between sides of the insert and walls of the recess to allow for adjustments of the panel mounting bracket in one of the first direction or the second direction. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein an adjustment fastener is inserted through a hole in one of the walls of the recess and screwed into one of the sides of the insert, and wherein rotating the adjustment fastener counterclockwise moves the insert in the first direction within the recess and rotating the adjustment fastener clockwise moves the insert in the second direction within the recess. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein at least one set fastener is threaded through the one of the walls of the recess and engages the one of the sides of the insert, wherein the engagement with the one of the sides locks the insert in the recess. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the one or more hinges are adjustable by adjusting the housing mounting bracket in one of a third direction or a fourth direction with the third direction being opposite to the fourth direction, and the third and fourth directions being orthogonal to the first and second directions. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the arm comprises a curved portion and a lateral portion, wherein a pair of second extensions at an end of the lateral portion straddle at least a portion of the housing mounting bracket. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein each one of the second extensions have a threaded hole therethrough, with the housing mounting bracket having blind holes in opposite sides, wherein a threaded fastener is installed in each of the threaded holes and a protrusion on an end of the threaded fastener extends into one of the blind holes in the housing mounting bracket, and wherein the protrusions rotationally attach the lateral portion of the arm to the housing mounting bracket. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein rotating the threaded fasteners in opposite directions at the same time, the housing mounting bracket is adjusted in one of third and fourth directions.