Low-frequency de-icing of cableways

• US 7,038,125 B2
• Filed: 01/24/2002
• Issued: 05/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The Trustees of Dartmounth College (Dartmouth College)
• Original Assignee: The Trustees of Dartmounth College (Dartmouth College)
• Inventors: Sullivan, Charles R., Petrenko, Victor F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mayo, III, William H.
• Application Number:
  US10/056,163
• Publication Number:
  US 20020118550A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,559 Days
• Field of Search: 174/40.R, 174/36, 174/74.R, 174/84.R, 174/40.TR, 174/40.TD
• US Class Current: 174/40.00R
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/026 using electrical means
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/3805 electrically
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 30/00 Nanotechnology for materials or surface science, e.g. nanocomposites
• CPC Class Codes: E01C 11/265 Embedded electrical heating elements in floors F24D13/00; Mounting thereof
• CPC Class Codes: E01D 19/00 Structural or constructional details of bridges
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2214/02 Heaters specially designed for de-icing or protection against icing
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/00 Ohmic-resistance heating
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/56 Heating cables
• 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: H05B 6/62 Apparatus for specific applications

Abstract

Low-frequency AC power in a range of about from 50 to 200 Hz flows through a cableway, providing 5 to 100 watts per meter of cableway. Through separate connections to a power bus, a cableway is electrically divided into branches of a parallel circuit that use low voltage to heat. A transformer connected to each branch transforms high-voltage low amperage current to low-voltage high amperage current.

Claims

1. A system for de-icing a cableway, comprising a cableway configured for movement, and a power source electrically connected to the cableway for heating the cableway, wherein the power source provides power to the cableway in a range of about from 5 to 100 watts per meter of the cableway.

2. A system as in claim 1, wherein the power source provides AC to the cableway.

3. A system as in claim 2, wherein the AC has a frequency in a range of about from 50 to 200 Hz.

4. A system as in claim 1, wherein the power source provides DC power to the cableway.

5. A system as in claim 1, further comprising a transformer connected to the power source and the cableway, whereby the power source provides power having a high voltage, and the transformer is capable of stepping down the high voltage to a low voltage.

6. A system as in claim 1, wherein the cableway comprises a cable span, said cable span being separately connected to a power source.

7. A system as in claim 6, further comprising:

a circuit connection; and

a plurality of cable spans, each cable span having a first end and a second end;

wherein the first ends of the cable spans are electrically connected through the circuit connection to a power terminal of a power source.

8. A system as in claim 7, wherein the circuit connection is switchably connectable to ground.

9. A system as in claim 7, wherein the second end of the cable spans are electrically connected to ground.

10. A system as in claim 6, further comprising:

a plurality of cable spans, each cable span having a first end and a second end;

a first power bus connected to a first terminal of a power source; and

a second power bus;

wherein the first end of the plurality of spans is electrically connected to the first power bus, and the second end of the plurality of spans is electrically connected to the second power bus.

11. A system as in claim 10, wherein the first terminal is a power terminal, and the second power bus is connected to a second terminal of the power source.

12. A system as in claim 10, wherein the second power bus is connected to electrical ground.

13. A system as in claim 1, further comprising:

a first end station connected to electrical ground; and

a second end station connected to electrical ground, wherein the cableway is connected to electrical ground at the first and second end stations.

14. A system as in claim 1, wherein the cableway comprises:

a first cable segment containing at least a first cable span; and

a second cable segment containing at least a second cable span, the first cable segment connected to a power source, and the second cable segment connected to a power source separately from the first cable segment.

15. A system as in claim 14, wherein the first cable segment is connected to a power source separately from the second cable segment.

16. A system as in claim 1, further comprising a first and a second transformer, and wherein the first transformer is electrically connected to a power source and the first cable segment, and the second transformer is electrically connected to a power source and the second cable segment.

17. A system as in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of power sources, wherein the cableway comprises:

a first cable segment containing at least a first cable span, and a second cable segment containing at least a second cable span, the first cable segment is connected to a first power source in a first circuit, and the second cable segment is connected to a second power source in a second circuit.

18. A system as in claim 1, wherein the system melts ice using power having a voltage in a range of about from 10 to 20 volts.

19. A system for de-icing an elongated conductor, comprising:

an elongated conductor; and

a power source electrically connected to the elongated conductor;

wherein the elongated conductor comprises a conductor span, said conductor span being separately connected to a power source, and

wherein the system melts ice using power having a voltage in a range of about from 10to20volts.

20. A system as in claim 19, wherein the power source provides AC to the elongated conductor.

21. A system as in claim 20, wherein AC has a frequency in a range of out from 50 to 200 Hz.

22. A system as in claim 19, wherein the power source provides DC power to the elongated conductor.

23. A system as in claim 19, further comprising a transformer connected to the power source and the elongated conductor, whereby the power source provides power having a high voltage, and the transformer is capable of stepping down the high voltage to a low voltage.

24. A system as in claim 23, further comprising:

a circuit connection; and

a plurality of conductor spans, each conductor span having a first end and a second end;

wherein the first ends of the conductor spans are electrically connected through the circuit connection to a first terminal of a power source.

25. A system as in claim 24, wherein the circuit connection is switchably connectable to ground.

26. A system as in claim 19, further comprising:

a plurality of conductor spans, each conductor span having a first end and a second end;

a first power bus connected to a first terminal of the power source; and

a second power bus;

wherein the first end of a plurality of conductor spans is electrically connected to the first power bus, and the second end of the plurality of conductor spans is electrically connected to the second power bus.

27. A system as in claim 26, wherein the first terminal is a power terminal, and the second power bus is connected to a second terminal of the power source.

28. A system as in claim 26, wherein the second power bus is connected to electrical ground.

29. A system as in claim 19, wherein the elongated conductor comprises:

a first conductor segment containing at least a first conductor span; and

a second conductor segment containing at least a second conductor span, the first conductor segment connected to a power source, and the second conductor segment connected to a power source separately from the first conductor segment.

30. A system as in claim 29, wherein the first conductor segment is switchably connected to a power source separately from the second conductor segment.

31. A system as in claim 29, further comprising a first transformer and a second transformer, and wherein the first transformer is electrically connected to a power source and the first conductor segment, the second transformer is electrically connected to a power source and the second conductor segment.

32. A system as in claim 31, wherein the first transformer is switchably connected to a power source separately from the second transformer.

33. A system as in claim 19, further comprising:

a plurality of power sources,

wherein the elongated conductor comprises a first conductor segment and a second conductor segment, the first conductor segment is connected to

a first power source in a first circuit, and the second conductor segment is connected to a second power source in a second circuit.

34. A method for de-icing a cableway configured for movement, comprising a step of:

applying electric power to the cableway for heating the cableway, wherein applying electrical power comprises having a power source that provides power in a range of about from 5 to 100 watts per meter of the cableway.

35. A method as in claim 34, wherein applying electric power comprises separately applying electric power to a cable span.

36. A method as in claim 35, wherein applying electric power comprises applying electric power to at least one cable span, and not applying power to at least one cable span.

37. A method as in claim 34, wherein applying electric power comprises separately applying electric power to a cable segment.

38. A method as in claim 37, wherein applying electric power comprises applying electric power to at least one cable segment, and not applying power to at least one cable segment.

39. A method as in claim 37, wherein applying electric power comprises applying electric power having a voltage in a range of about from 10 to 20 volts to a cable segment.

40. A method as in claim 34, wherein applying electric power comprises applying low-frequency AC having a frequency in a range of about from 50 to 200 Hz.

41. A method as in claim 34, wherein the cableway has a plurality of spans, and further comprising steps of:

electrically connecting the first end of a plurality of spans to a first terminal of the power source; and

applying electric power to the plurality of connected spans.

42. A method as in claim 41, further comprising:

electrically connecting the second end of a plurality of spans to electrical ground.

43. A method as in claim 34, further comprising:

applying power to a first transformer that is electrically connected to the cableway, such that the first transformer reduces a voltage and increases a current of the power.

44. A method as in claim 43, further comprising:

applying power to the first transformer and a second transformer, the first transformer connected to a first cable segment containing at least a first cable span, the second transformer connected to a second cable segment containing at least a second cable span.

45. A method as in claim 34, wherein applying electric power comprises applying power from the power source to a first cable segment, and applying power from a second power source to a second cable segment.

46. A method as in claim 34, wherein said applying electric power comprises applying power from the power source to a first cable segment, and simultaneously applying power from a second power source to a second cable segment.

47. A method for de-icing an elongated conductor, comprising the steps of:

separately connecting a conductor span with a power source; and

applying electric power having a voltage in a range of about from 10 to 20 volts to the conductor span.

48. A method as in claim 47, wherein applying electric power applying electric power simultaneously and separately to a plurality of conductor segments.

49. A method as in claim 47, wherein applying electric power comprises applying electric power to at least one conductor segment, and not applying power to At least one conductor segment.

50. A method as in claim 47, wherein applying electric power comprises applying low-frequency AC having a frequency in a range of about from 50 to 200 Hz.

51. A method as in claim 47, further comprising:

applying power to a first transformer that is electrically connected to the elongated conductor, such that the first transformer reduces a voltage and increases a current of the power.

52. A method as in claim 51, further comprising:

applying power to the first transformer and a second transformer, the first transformer connected to a first conductor segment, the second transformer connected to a second conductor segment.

53. A method as in claim 47, further comprising:

applying power from a fast power source to a first conductor segment, and

applying power from a second power source to a second conductor segment.