Method for thawing frozen road culverts

• US 5,986,237 A
• Filed: 09/25/1997
• Issued: 11/16/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Iceworm International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Iceworm International Inc.
• Inventors: Schmidt, Rudiger, Sterling, Robert Laurel
• Primary Examiner(s): Walberg, Teresa
• Assistant Examiner(s): Campbell, Thor S.
• Application Number:
  US08/936,825
• Time in Patent Office: 782 Days
• Field of Search: 219/213, 219/528, 219/544, 219/538, 219/546, 404/77, 404/79, 405/131, 405/128, 338/214
• US Class Current: 219/213
• CPC Class Codes: E01F 5/005 Culverts underground siphons E02D29/08; tunnels or galleries E21D; pipes in general F16L; Head-structures for culverts, or for drainage-conduit outlets in slopes
• CPC Class Codes: H01C 3/06 Flexible or folding resistors, whereby such a resistor can be looped or collapsed upon itself
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/56 Heating cables

Abstract

A method for thawing frozen road culverts. The first step involves positioning an electrically conductive cable in a road culvert prior to an ice blockage occurring. A connection end of the electrically conductive cable is anchored in an accessible location. The second step involves connecting a power source to the connection end of the electrically conductive cable after an ice blockage of the road culvert has occurred and supplying power to the electrically conductive cable, such that energy generated by power flowing through the electrically conductive cable causes a flow path to be created through the ice blockage in the road culvert.

Claims

1. A method for thawing frozen road culverts, comprising the steps of:

positioning an electrically conductive cable in a road culvert prior to an ice blockage occurring, with a connection end of the electrically conductive cable anchored in an accessible location;

dispatching a mobile low voltage power source to the road culvert when a blockage occurs; and

connecting the power source to the connection end of the electrically conductive cable and supplying power to the electrically conductive cable, such that energy generated by power flowing through the electrically conductive cable causes a flow path to be created through an ice blockage in the road culvert.

2. In combination:

a road culvert having an interior bore;

an electrically conductive cable positioned in the interior bore and extending substantially the length of the road culvert;

a connection end of the electrically conductive cable being anchored in an accessible location, such that a power source is connectable to the connection end of the electrically conductive cable to supply power to energize the electrically conductive cable; and

a mobile low voltage power source for supplying power to the electrically conductive cable.

3. The combination as defined in claim 2, wherein the road culvert has with an upstream end and a downstream end relative to normal water flow, the cable extending from the upstream end toward the downstream end.

4. The combination as defined in claim 2, wherein the cable is looped lengthwise back and forth in boustrophedonic fashion.

5. The combination as defined in claim 4, wherein the cable is twisted.

7. The combination of claim 2 wherein the accessible location of the connection end of the cable is located outside the road culvert so as to be accessible.

6. A method for thawing frozen road culverts, comprising the steps of:

positioning an electrically conductive cable in a road culvert prior to an ice blockage occurring, with a connection end of the electrically conductive cable anchored in an accessible location outside the road culvert and an opposite end of the cable being unattended and extending completely through the road culvert and projecting out through the opposite end thereof;

dispatching a mobile low voltage power source to the road culvert when a blockage occurs in the road culvert; and

connecting the power source to the connection end of the electrically conductive cable and supplying electrical power to the electrically conductive cable, such that energy generated by the electrical power flowing through the electrically conductive cable causes a flow path to be created through the ice blockage in the road culvert thereby assisting with thawing of the road culvert.