De-icing system for driveways, walkways, sidewalks and other surfaces
First Claim
1. A system to reduce snow or ice accumulation on a surface, the system comprising:
- a weather sensor, the weather sensor including a means for determining air temperature and a means for determining air moisture (humidity);
a control means in communication with the weather sensor;
an agent to reduce snow or ice accumulation on the surface, the agent having a freezing point and a boiling point;
a compressor, the compressor including a supply tank for the agent, the supply tank further comprising a means for heating the agent to a temperature between the freezing point and the boiling point, the compressor being in communication with the control means;
a means for distributing the agent, the means for distributing the agent being in communication with the compressor and the control means;
a zone, the zone in communication with the means for distributing the agent, and wherein the zone comprises a sprinkler head in fluid communication with the means for distributing the agent; and
a means for purging the distributed agent from the zone;
wherein when the weather sensor determines that the air temperature is less than a specified temperature and the humidity is greater than 99%, the control means is actuated and communicates with the means for heating to heat the agent, wherein the heated agent is water;
the heated water being distributed to the zone for a period of time specified by the control means, and the control means actuates the means for purging the agent, the agent being purged from the zone for a period of time specified by the control means.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method to deice or remove snow or ice accumulated on a surface comprises a weather sensor, control means, a compressor containing a deicing agent, a heater to heat the agent, a second deicing agent stored in a second storage tank in communication with the compressor, and a means for distributing the deicing agents through one or more zones, each zone including a sprinkler head and piping. When air temperature is below freezing and humidity exceeds 99%, the control means causes a deicing agent to be heated, and the heated agent distributed through a zone. The second agent is distributed through the zone, then a pressurized gas purges the zone of residual agents. This is repeated for each zone; after a specified time, air temperature and humidity are determined, and the cycle is repeated if needed.
20 Citations
39 Claims
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1. A system to reduce snow or ice accumulation on a surface, the system comprising:
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a weather sensor, the weather sensor including a means for determining air temperature and a means for determining air moisture (humidity);
a control means in communication with the weather sensor;
an agent to reduce snow or ice accumulation on the surface, the agent having a freezing point and a boiling point;
a compressor, the compressor including a supply tank for the agent, the supply tank further comprising a means for heating the agent to a temperature between the freezing point and the boiling point, the compressor being in communication with the control means;
a means for distributing the agent, the means for distributing the agent being in communication with the compressor and the control means;
a zone, the zone in communication with the means for distributing the agent, and wherein the zone comprises a sprinkler head in fluid communication with the means for distributing the agent; and
a means for purging the distributed agent from the zone;
wherein when the weather sensor determines that the air temperature is less than a specified temperature and the humidity is greater than 99%, the control means is actuated and communicates with the means for heating to heat the agent, wherein the heated agent is water;
the heated water being distributed to the zone for a period of time specified by the control means, and the control means actuates the means for purging the agent, the agent being purged from the zone for a period of time specified by the control means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A system to deice a surface, the system comprising:
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a weather sensor, the weather sensor including a means for determining air temperature and a means for determining air moisture (humidity);
a control means in communication with the weather sensor, the means for determining temperature and the means for determining air moisture in communication with the weather sensor by a means for communicating selected from the group consisting of wired and wireless means for communicating, or a combination thereof;
one or more agents to deice the surface, each said agent having a freezing point and a boiling point;
a compressor, the compressor including a supply tank for a first agent, the supply tank further comprising a means for heating the first agent to a temperature between the freezing point and the boiling point, the compressor being in communication with the control means;
a second supply tank, the second supply tank comprising a second agent, the second supply tank being in communication with the compressor and the control means;
a means for distributing the agents, the means for distributing the agents being in communication with the compressor and the control means;
one or more zones, each said zone being in communication with the means for distributing the agents, each said zone comprising a sprinkler head in fluid communication with the means for distributing the agents; and
a means for purging the distributed agents from the zones;
wherein when the weather sensor determines that the air temperature is less than the freezing point of water and the humidity is greater than 99%, the control means is actuated and communicates with the means for heating to heat the first agent, the heated first agent being water, the water being heated to a temperature ranging from about 33 degrees F. (0.6 degrees C.) to about 210 degrees F. (99.9 degrees C.);
the heated water being distributed to a first zone for a period of time specified by the control means, the control means actuating the second agent supply tank and the means for distributing to distribute the second agent to the first zone, and the control means actuating the means for purging the agents, the agents being purged from the first zone for a period of time specified by the control means. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method to reduce snow and ice accumulation on a surface, the method comprising the steps of:
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determining whether the air temperature is less than a specified temperature and determining whether the humidity is greater than 99%, by utilizing a weather sensor, the weather sensor including a means for determining the air temperature and a means for determining the air moisture (humidity);
causing a control unit to actuate a compressor when the air temperature is below the specified temperature and the humidity is greater than 99%, wherein the control unit is in communication with the weather sensor, and wherein the compressor includes a supply tank for an agent to reduce snow or ice accumulation, the agent having a freezing point and a boiling point, and the supply tank further includes a means for heating the agent to a temperature between the freezing point and the boiling point;
causing the control unit to actuate the means for heating the agent, the agent being water;
pressurizing the compressor to a specified pressure range, the specified pressure range being sufficient to distribute the deicing agent through a means for distributing, the means for distributing being in communication with the compressor and the control unit;
distributing the heated water to a zone through the means for distributing for a period of time specified by the control unit, wherein the zone comprises a sprinkler head in fluid communication with the means for distributing;
distributing a means for purging to the zone through the means for distributing for a period of time sufficient to purge the zone of residual agent; and
depressurizing the compressor when the period of time has elapsed. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A method for deicing a surface, the method comprising the steps of:
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determining whether the air temperature is less than a specified temperature and determining whether the humidity is greater than 99%, by utilizing a weather sensor, the weather sensor including a means for determining the air temperature and a means for determining the air moisture (humidity);
causing a control unit to actuate a compressor when the air temperature is below the specified temperature and the humidity is greater than 99%, wherein the control unit is in communication with the weather sensor, and wherein the compressor includes a supply tank for an agent to reduce snow or ice accumulation, the agent having a freezing point and a boiling point, and the supply tank further includes a means for heating the agent to a temperature ranging from about 33 degrees F. (0.6 degrees C.) to about 210 degrees F. (99.9 degrees C.);
causing the control unit to actuate the means for heating the agent, the agent being water;
pressurizing the compressor to a specified pressure range, the specified pressure range being sufficient to distribute the deicing agent through a means for distributing, the means for distributing being in communication with the compressor and the control unit;
distributing the heated water to a zone through the means for distributing for a period of time specified by the control unit, wherein the zone comprises a sprinkler head in fluid communication with the means for distributing;
distributing a second agent to the zone through the means for distributing for a period of time specified by the control unit, wherein the second agent is stored in a second supply tank, and the second agent supply tank is in communication with the compressor and the control means;
distributing a means for purging to the zone through the means for distributing for a period of time sufficient to purge the zone of residual agent; and
depressurizing the compressor when the period of time has elapsed. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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Specification