Devices and Methods for Antifouling

• US 20080164145A1
• Filed: 11/15/2007
• Published: 07/10/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: iRobot Corporation
• Original Assignee: iRobot Corporation
• Inventors: Vosburgh, Frederick
• Application Number:
  US11/940,568
• Publication Number:
  US 20080164145A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 204/196.01
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 17/00 Pumps characterised by combination with, or adaptation to, specific driving engines or motors
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 19/006 Micropumps F04B43/043 and F04B43/095 take precedence

Abstract

A method of clearing a surface of an object contaminated with a polar material includes the steps of: providing an object having a surface with a plurality of spaced apart electrodes, the electrodes being connected with a voltage source and capable of sustaining a time-varying charge; inducing a first electric field on the plurality of electrodes of a magnitude and for a duration to induce drops of the polar material to take a first dimensional aspect; and inducing a second electric field on the plurality of electrodes of a magnitude and for a duration to induce the drops of the polar material to take a second dimensional aspect. With this method, surfaces such as the head window of a periscope can be cleaned/cleared of contaminants without requiring a manual cleaning and without the use of problematic coatings.

Claims

1. A method of clearing a surface of an object contaminated with a polar material, comprising the steps of:

providing an object having a surface with a plurality of spaced apart electrodes, the electrodes being connected with a voltage source and capable of sustaining a time-varying charge;

inducing a first electric field on the plurality of electrodes of a magnitude and for a duration to induce drops of the polar material to take a first dimensional aspect; and

inducing a second electric field on the plurality of electrodes of a magnitude and for a duration to induce the drops of the polar material to take a second dimensional aspect.

2. The method defined in claim 1, wherein the plurality of electrodes are arranged in alternating first and second sets, wherein the first set takes a positive charge under the first electric field and the second set takes a negative charge under the First electric field.

3. The method defined in claim 2, wherein the first set of electrodes takes a negative charge under the second electric field.

4. The method defined in claim 2, wherein the first set takes a neutral charge under the second electric field.

5. The method defined in claim 1, wherein the electrodes are generally linear and extend across the object surface.

6. The method defined in claim 1, wherein the object surface is transparent.

8. The method defined in claim 1, further comprising the step of introducing a cleaning fluid to the object surface prior to the inducing steps.

7. The method defined in Clam 1, wherein the polar material comprises water.

9. A method of clearing a surface of an object contaminated with a polar material, comprising the steps of:

providing an object having a surface with a plurality of spaced apart electrodes, the electrodes being connected with a voltage source and capable of sustaining a time-varying charge;

inducing a first electric field on the plurality of electrodes arranged in alternating first and second sets, wherein the first set takes a positive charge under the first electric field and the second set takes a negative charge under the first electric field, the electric field being induced at a magnitude and for a duration to induce a drop of the polar material to take a first dimensional aspect; and

inducing a second electric field on the plurality of electrodes in which at least one electrode in the first set takes a neutral or negative charge and at least one electrode in the second set takes a neutral or positive charge, with the result that the drop of polar liquid moves along the object surface.

10. The method defined in claim 9, wherein each of the electrodes is capable of taking a positive, negative and neutral charge.

11. The method defined in claim 9, further comprising repeating the steps of inducing a first electric field and inducing a second electric field in order to continue to move the drop of polar liquid along the object surface.

12. The method defined in claim 9, wherein the electrodes are generally linear and extend across the object surface.

13. The method defined in claim 9, wherein the object surface is transparent.

15. The method defined in claim 9, further comprising the step of introducing a cleaning fluid to the object surface prior to the inducing steps.

20. The method defined in claim 9, further comprising the step of introducing a cleaning fluid to the object surface prior to the inducing and ceasing steps.

14. The method defined in Clam 9, wherein the polar material comprises water.

16. A method of clearing a surface of an object contaminated with a polar material, comprising the steps of:

providing an object having a surface with a plurality of spaced apart electrodes, the electrodes being connected with a voltage source and capable of sustaining a time-varying charge;

inducing a first electric field on the plurality of electrodes arranged in alternating first and second sets, wherein the first set takes a positive charge under the first electric field and the second set takes a negative charge under the first electric field, the electric field being induced at a magnitude and for a duration to induce a drop of the polar material to take a first flattened shape;

ceasing the induction of electric field on the plurality of electrodes, with the result that the drop of polar liquid takes a second relaxed shape;

repeating the inducing and ceasing steps to cause the drop of polar liquid to alternately switch between the first and second shapes and provide a scrubbing action to the object surface.

17. The method defined in claim 16, wherein the electrodes are generally linear and extend across the object surface.

18. The method defined in claim 16, wherein the object surface is transparent.

19. The method defined in claim 16, wherein the polar material comprises water.

21. An object with anti-fouling capability, comprising:

a surface with a plurality of spaced apart electrodes, the electrodes being capable of sustaining a time-varying charge;

a voltage source connected with the electrodes; and

a controller for controlling the voltage of the electrodes, the controller configured to (a) induce a first electric field on the plurality of electrodes of a magnitude and for a duration to induce drops of a polar material on the object surface to take a first dimensional aspect, and (b) induce a second electric field on the plurality of electrodes of a magnitude and for a duration to induce the drops of the polar material to take a second dimensional aspect.

22. The object defined in claim 21, wherein the surface is a transparent surface.

23. The object defined in claim 21, wherein the object is a submersible vehicle.

24. The object defined in claim 21, wherein the electrodes are generally linear and extend across the object surface.

25. The object defined in claim 21, further comprising a source for applying a cleaning fluid to the surface.