Apparatus and method for tracking the melting of frozen precipitation

• US 6,972,395 B2
• Filed: 10/09/2003
• Issued: 12/06/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ETI, Inc.
• Original Assignee: MSX, Inc.
• Inventors: Jones, Thaddeus M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Walberg, Teresa J.
• Application Number:
  US10/682,573
• Publication Number:
  US 20040262414A1
• Time in Patent Office: 789 Days
• Field of Search: 219/213, 219/483, 219/486, 219/497, 340/580, 340/581, 340/601, 340/602, 340/604, 244/134.R, 244/134.D, 244/134.A
• US Class Current: 219/213
• CPC Class Codes: E04D 13/103 De-icing devices or snow melters for drainage outlets E04D13/0409, for gutters E04D13/0762, for down pipes E04D13/08
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1919 characterised by the type of controller

Abstract

A snow melting system including a controller, a first heater supplying heat under the control of the controller, the first heater supplying heat at a power density, a moisture detection apparatus located apart from the first heater, the moisture detection apparatus communicatively coupled to the controller and a second heater located proximate to the moisture detection apparatus, the controller directing power to the second heater at an other power density, the other power density substantially the same as the power density.

Claims

1. A snow melting system, comprising:

a controller;

a first heater supplying heat under the control of said controller, said first heater supplying heat at a power density;

a moisture detection apparatus located apart from said first heater, said moisture detection apparatus communicatively coupled to said controller; and

a second heater located proximate to said moisture detection apparatus, said controller directing power to said second heater at an other power density, said other power density substantially the same as said power density, said second heater having a potential power density higher than said power density, said controller controlling said power to thereby cause said other power density to approximate said power density.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said controller causes said other power density to approximate said power density by alternately applying said power to said second heater and not applying said power to said second heater.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said controller discontinues the supply of heat after a predetermined time once no moisture is sensed by said moisture detection apparatus.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein said predetermined time is one of less than and equal to approximately one hour.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said controller discontinues supplying said power if an air temperature is detected higher than a predetermined temperature.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein said predetermined temperature is approximately 38°

Fahrenheit.

7. A method of tracking the removal of snow and moisture, comprising:

providing a controller connected to a first heater, a second heater and a moisture sensor;

dissipating at least one of snow and water by heat from said first heater, said dissipating occurring at a dissipation rate; and

substantially matching said dissipation rate on said moisture sensor by heat from said second heater by modulating power to said second heater, said moisture sensor located apart from said first heater.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of discontinuing the supply of energy to said first heater after a predetermined time once no moisture is sensed by said moisture sensor.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said predetermined time is one of less than and equal to approximately one hour.

10. The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of not checking for moisture when an air temperature is detected higher than a predetermined temperature.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said predetermined temperature is approximately 38°

Fahrenheit.

12. A method of tracking snow melting, comprising the steps of:

providing a controller connected to a first heater, a second heater and a moisture sensor;

dissipating power in said first heater at a power density; and

supplying power to said second heater to heat a moisture sensor at approximately said power density, said moisture sensor located apart from said first heater; and

controlling said power being supplied to said second heater to approximate said power density by alternately applying said power to said second heater and not applying said power to said second heater to thereby approximate said power density.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of discontinuing said dissipating step and said supplying step after a predetermined time once no moisture is sensed by said moisture sensor.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said predetermined time is one of less than and equal to approximately one hour.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of discontinuing said dissipating step and said supplying step if an air temperature is detected higher than a predetermined temperature.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said predetermined temperature is approximately 38°

Fahrenheit.