Methods for modifying friction between an object and ice or snow

• US 7,034,257 B2
• Filed: 09/09/2004
• Issued: 04/25/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: The Trustees of Dartmounth College (Dartmouth College)
• Original Assignee: The Trustees of Dartmounth College (Dartmouth College)
• Inventors: Petrenko, Victor
• Primary Examiner(s): Hoang, Tu
• Application Number:
  US10/939,289
• Publication Number:
  US 20050035110A1
• Time in Patent Office: 593 Days
• Field of Search: 219200-202, 219211-213, 219482-494, 219/527, 219/770, 280/602, 280/610, 280/757, 280/809, 244/134.R, 244/134.D, 435/303.1, 361/144, 174/110.R
• US Class Current: 219/482
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 1/30 with special blades
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 2203/12 Electrically powered or heated
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 3/00 Accessories for skates
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 5/06 with special devices thereon, e.g. steering devices
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 15/12 by electric heating electric heating elements in general H05B
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 15/14 controlled cyclically along length of surface
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 15/22 Automatic initiation by icing detector
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 25/02 De-icing means for engines having icing phenomena
• CPC Class Codes: F02C 7/047 Heating to prevent icing
• CPC Class Codes: F25C 5/08 by heating bodies in contact with the ice
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/84 Heating arrangements specially adapted for transparent or reflecting areas, e.g. for demisting or de-icing windows, mirrors or vehicle windshields
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 50/60 Efficient propulsion technologies, e.g. for aircraft

Abstract

A method modifies friction between an object and ice or snow. The method utilizes a heating element to apply a pulse of thermal energy to an interface between the object and the ice or snow; the first pulse is sufficient to melt an interfacial layer of ice at the interface. Water forming the interfacial layer refreezes to form a bond between the object and the ice or snow. The steps of the method may be repeated to form a second bond between the object and the ice or snow.

Claims

1. A method of modifying friction between an object and ice/snow, comprising the steps of:

utilizing a heating element to apply a first pulse of thermal energy to an interface between the object and the ice/snow, the first pulse being sufficient to melt an interfacial layer of ice/snow adjacent the object; and

refreezing water forming the interfacial layer to form a first bond between the object and the ice/snow.

2. A method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of

utilizing a heating element to apply a second pulse of thermal energy, after the step of refreezing, to re-melt at least part of the interfacial layer and

refreezing the re-melted interfacial layer to form a second bond between the object and the ice/snow.

3. A method of claim 1, the object comprising a tire, the heating element comprising a hot cylinder, the step of utilizing comprising pressing the hot cylinder against the tire.

4. A method of claim 3, further comprising electrically heating the hot cylinder.

5. A method of claim 3, the step of refreezing comprising pressing a cold cylinder against the tire.

6. A method of claim 1, the object comprising a tire of a car, the step of refreezing comprising utilizing air conditioning of the car to cool the tire.

7. A method of claim 1, the heating element comprising a metal heater, the step of utilizing comprising applying pulse power to the metal heater in thermal communication with the interface.

8. A method of claim 1, the heating element being formed of a material with low heat capacity.

9. A method of claim 1, further comprising the step of discharging a capacitor to the heating element.

10. A method of claim 9, further comprising the step of charging the capacitor with a power supply.

11. A method of claim 10, further comprising utilizing a switch to charge and respectively discharge the capacitor.

12. A method of claim 1, the step of utilizing comprising coupling a hot plate through one or more holes to a slider base adjacent the ice/snow.

13. A method of claim 1, the object comprising a ski, the step of utilizing comprising applying electrical pulse power to the heating element coupled with a base of the ski.

14. A method of claim 13, further comprising activating braking action of the ski by one of a manual switch, a ski motion switch, an accelerometer, a pressure-activated switch, and a motion sensor.

15. A method of claim 1, the object comprising a snowboard, the step of utilizing comprising applying pulsed electrical energy to one or more heating elements in the base of the snowboard.

16. A method of claim 1, further comprising utilizing a portable battery as a source of energy for the step of utilizing.

17. A method of claim 1, the step of utilizing comprising utilizing a pulse action lamp to heat the object.

18. A method of claim 17, the object comprising a rotating tire, light from the lamp temporarily heating respective zones of the tire which melt the layer, rotation of the tire refreezing the layer.

19. A method of claim 1, the object comprising a tire, the step of utilizing comprising utilizing a metal brush against the tire.

20. A method of claim 1, the step of utilizing comprising utilizing a photoflash lamp illuminating through the object to the layer.

21. A method of claim 3, the step of utilizing comprising utilizing a ear exhaust to heat the hot cylinder.

22. A method of claim 1, the step of refreezing comprising utilizing a car air conditioner.

23. A method of claim 1, the step of refreezing comprising utilizing a Peltier element.