Apparatus for removal of material from a surface
AssigneeAdagio Industries Inc.
InventorDavid A. MACLEAN
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus for shedding material accumulated on a surface is disclosed. The apparatus is an elastic expandable vessel with fluid inlet and outlet. The elastic expandable vessel is fixed to the surface in a flat shape. Upon the introduction of fluid into the expandable vessel, the expandable vessel expands into a domed shape so that material accumulated on the surface slides off under the influence of gravity. Upon the egress of fluid out of the expandable vessel, the expandable vessel flattens.
Claims20
An apparatus for shedding material accumulated above a surface, the apparatus comprising an expandable vessel comprised of an elastic material, a fluid inlet, a pressure regulating fluid outlet, the expandable vessel is adapted to receive a fluid via the fluid inlet and contain the fluid such that upon fluid being introduced into the expandable vessel, via the fluid inlet, pressure will be exerted on the elastic material such that the expandable vessel expands from the substantially flat shape to a domed shape such that the material accumulated above the surface is shed from the surface under the influence of gravity, the pressure regulating fluid outlet adapted to regulate the pressure the fluid exerts on the elastic material to a maximum pressure.
A vehicle having a roof and an expandable elastic vessel for shedding material accumulated on the roof, the expandable vessel comprising an elastic material, stretched and attached to the roof under tension such that the expandable vessel lies in a substantially flat shape on the roof, the expandable vessel adapted to contain a fluid and comprises a fluid port and a pressure regulating fluid outlet wherein upon fluid being introduced into the expandable vessel via the fluid port, under pressure, the expandable vessel expands from the substantially flat shape to a domed shape wherein material accumulated on the roof is shed from the roof under the influence of gravity, and wherein the pressure regulating fluid outlet regulates the pressure of the fluid inside the expandable vessel to a maximum pressure.
A trailer having a roof and an expandable elastic vessel for shedding material accumulated on the roof, the expandable vessel comprising an elastic material, stretched and attached to the roof under tension such that the expandable vessel lies in a substantially flat shape on the roof, the expandable vessel adapted to contain a fluid and comprising a fluid port and a pressure regulating fluid outlet wherein upon fluid being introduced into the expandable vessel via the fluid port, under pressure, the expandable vessel expands from the substantially flat shape to a domed shape wherein material accumulated on the roof is shed from the surface under the influence of gravity, and wherein the pressure regulating fluid outlet regulates the pressure of the fluid inside the expandable vessel to a maximum pressure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.