Portable circulation de-icing system
AssigneeJ2 Outdoors LLC
InventorJeffrey L. Hood
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A portable circulation de-icing system is configured to melt ice from a body of water having a surface ice layer and an underlying water layer, with an opening in the surface ice layer which may have been created by a user. The portable circulation de-icing system comprises an agitator assembly, a floating motor assembly, and a flexible drive shaft. The agitator assembly is configured to be at least partially placed into the underlying water layer through the opening. The agitator assembly is configured to induce a water flow into the underlying water layer. The floating motor assembly is configured to float on the underlying water layer in the opening and to provide rotational power. The flexible drive shaft is configured to transfer the rotational power from the floating motor assembly to the agitator assembly.
Claims17
A portable circulation de-icing system configured to melt ice from a body of water having a surface ice layer and an underlying water layer, with an opening in the surface ice layer, comprising:
- an agitator assembly configured to be at least partially placed into the underlying water layer through the opening,
- wherein the agitator assembly is configured to induce a water flow into the underlying water layer;
- a floating motor assembly including a motor, a float body, and an internal fuel tank at least partially within the float body and distinct from the motor,
- wherein the floating motor assembly is configured to float on the underlying water layer in the opening,
- wherein the motor of the floating motor assembly is configured to provide rotational power;
- and
- a flexible drive shaft configured to transfer the rotational power from the motor to the agitator assembly.
A method of removing ice from a body of water having a surface ice layer and an underlying water layer, the method comprising:
- creating an opening in the surface ice layer;
- placing an agitator assembly at least partially into the underlying water layer;
- placing a floating motor assembly having an internal fuel tank onto the underlying water layer in the opening,
- wherein the motor assembly is configured to provide rotational power to the agitator assembly via a flexible drive shaft;
- and
- starting the floating motor assembly such that the rotational power turns a propeller of the agitator assembly so as to induce a water flow into the underlying water layer such that the water flow removes ice from the surface ice layer.
A floating motor platform for a de-icing system comprising:
- a float body;
- an internal fuel tank disposed at least partially within the float body;
- and
- a motor mount disposed atop the internal fuel tank,
- wherein the motor mount is configured to receive a motor thereon for powering the de-icing machine.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.