Modification of ice friction in transportation systems
First Claim
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1. A system for increasing friction at a contact interface between a layer office and a solid object, comprising:
- a plurality of electrodes, wherein the electrodes are located proximate to the contact interface;
an AC power source electrically connected to the electrodes, wherein the power source is capable of providing a potential difference across the electrodes to generate an AC electric field at the contact interface, the solid object comprising at least one of (a) a wheel, (b) a track of a tracked vehicle, (c) a tread of a tracked vehicle, (d) a shoe sole, (e) a slider, (f) sport equipment, and (g) a ski.
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Abstract
A plurality of electrodes in a solid object are located proximate to the contact interface between an ice layer and the surface of the solid object. A power source provides a potential difference across the electrodes to generate an electric field at the contact interface, thereby increasing the friction force between the solid object and the ice. Preferably, the power source is in AC power source. A capacitor in series between the power source and the electrodes creates an additional impedance for limiting the AC current to a level safe for human exposure.
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Citations
54 Claims
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1. A system for increasing friction at a contact interface between a layer office and a solid object, comprising:
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a plurality of electrodes, wherein the electrodes are located proximate to the contact interface;
an AC power source electrically connected to the electrodes, wherein the power source is capable of providing a potential difference across the electrodes to generate an AC electric field at the contact interface, the solid object comprising at least one of (a) a wheel, (b) a track of a tracked vehicle, (c) a tread of a tracked vehicle, (d) a shoe sole, (e) a slider, (f) sport equipment, and (g) a ski. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A method for increasing friction at a contact interface between a layer of ice and a solid object comprising steps of:
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providing a solid object comprising at least one of (a) a wheel, (b) a track of a tracked vehicle, (c) a tread of a tracked vehicle, (d) a slider, (f) sport equipment, and (g) a ski; and
generating an AC electric field at the contact interface. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
providing an AC potential difference across a plurality of electrodes located proximate to the contact interface.
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37. A method as in claim 36, wherein the potential difference is in a range of from 1 to 5000 volts.
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38. A method as in claim 36, wherein the potential difference is in a range of from 100 to 2000 volts.
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39. A method as in claim 36, wherein the potential difference does not exceed 100 volts.
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40. A method as in claim 36, wherein the potential difference is in a range of from 5 to 100 volts.
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41. A method as in claim 36, further comprising switching the potential difference “
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to electrodes that are Dot proximate to the contact interface.
- off”
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42. A system for increasing friction at a contact interface between a layer of ice and a solid object, comprising:
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a plurality of electrodes, wherein the electrodes are located with the solid object and proximate to the contact interface, the solid object comprising at least one of (a) a wheel, (b) a track of a tracked vehicle, (c) tread of a tracked vehicle, (d) a shoe sole, (e) a slider, (f) snort equipment, and (g) a ski;
an DC power source electrically connected to the electrodes, wherein the power source is capable of providing a DC potential difference greater than 1000 volts across the electrodes to generate a DC electric field at the contact interface. - View Dependent Claims (43, 44)
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45. A method for increasing friction at a contact interface between a layer of ice and a solid, comprising the steps of:
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providing a solid object comprising at least one of (a) a wheel, (b) a track of a tracked vehicle, (c) a tread of a tracked vehicle, (d) shoe sole, (e) a slider, (f) spat equipment, and (g) a ski; and
generating an DC electric field at the contact interface, wherein electric field has a value not less than 100 V/cm. - View Dependent Claims (46)
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47. A method for increasing friction at a contact interface between a layer of ice and a solid object comprising the of:
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providing a solid object comprising at least one of (a) a wheel, (b) a track of a tracked vehicle, (c) a tread of a tracked vehicle, (d) shoe sole, (e) a slider, (f) sport equipment, and (g) a ski; and
providing a DC potential difference greater than 1000 volts across two electrodes located proximate to the contact interface.
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48. A system for increasing friction at a contact interface between a layer office and a solid object, comprising:
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a plurality of electrodes arranged with the solid object comprising at least one of (a) a wheel, (b) a track of a tracked vehicle;
(c) a red of a tracked vehicle, (d) a shoe sole, (e) a slider, (f) sport equipment, and (g) a ski, wherein the electrodes are located proximate to the contact interface, and the electrodes are separated from each other by an interelectrode spacing not exceeding one mm;
a DC power source electrically connected to the electrodes, wherein the power source is capable of providing a potential difference across the electrodes to generate an electric field at the contact interface. - View Dependent Claims (49, 50, 51, 52)
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53. A method for increasing friction at a contact interface between a layer of ice and a solid object, comprising steps of:
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providing a solid object comprising at least one of (a) a wheel, (b) a track of a racked vehicle, (c) a tread of a tacked vehicle, (d) a shoe sole, (e) a slider, (f) sport equipment, and (g) a ski; and
generating an DC electric field at the contact interface by providing a potential difference across two electrodes located proximate to the contact interface, whereby the electrodes are separated from each other by an interelectrode spacing not exceeding one mm. - View Dependent Claims (54)
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Specification