Method and apparatus for removing ice from paved surfaces
OwnerHoward W. Longinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
To remove ice and snow from pavement (1) having a carbonaceous top surface (4), a 915 M-Hz micro-wave generator with wave guide (8) is passed over the ice (13) followed closely by a scraper (10). Concrete pavements (1) are first coated with a reflective (2), heat-insulating (3) and carbonaceous (4) top coat or other carbonaceous coating while asphalt pavements need not be so coated. The micro-waves at this frequency pass through the ice (13), the carbonaceous top surface (4) absorbs the micro-waves and becomes heated thereby, the interface (12) between the ice (13), so freed, is scraped off without damaging the pavement (1).
Claims22
The method for removing ice from a pre-prepared pavement having an ice cover thereon, comprising the steps of:
- (a) preparing the pavement by application to said pavement of a thin multi-layer top coat wear-resistant material comprising a microwave absorptive carbonaceous material layer and an aluminum containing underlayer material;
- (b) passing a microwave generator and a cooperating waveguide over said pre-prepared pavement having ice cover thereon, said generator generating microwaves at a frequency permitting the microwaves to pass through said ice cover and to be absorbed by said microwave absorptive material at the interface between said thin multi-layer top coat wear-resistant material and said ice and said waveguide passing with sufficient speed to cause said interface to be heated without substantially warming the underlying pavement to thereby cause said ice to be rapidly released from said thin multi-layer top coat wear resistant material at said interface only;
- and,
- (c) scraping said ice from said thin multi-layer top coat wear-resistant material prior to said ice refreezing to said thin multi-layer top coat wear-resistant material.
The method of removing ice from a pre-prepared pavement having an ice cover thereon, comprising:
- (a) preparing the pavement for ice removal by application thereto of a thin multi-layer top coat wear-resistant material having a microwave absorptive carbonaceous material layer and an aluminum containing underlayer material;
- (b) passing a microwave generator having a cooperating waveguide over said pre-prepared pavement having an ice cover thereon, said generator generator microwaves of substantially 915 MHz so that the microwaves pass through said ice cover and are absorbed by said thin multi-layer to coat wear-resistant material at the interface between said thin multi-layer top coat wear-resistant material and said ice cover and said waveguide passing with sufficient speed to cause said interface to be heated without substantially warming the underlying pavement to thereby cause said ice cover to be rapidly released from said thin multi-layer top coat wear-resistant material at said interface only;
- and,
- (c) scraping said ice from overlying relation with said thin multi-layer top coat wear-resistant material prior to said ice refreezing to said thin multi-layer top coat wear-resistant material.
A method of removing ice from a pre-prepared pavement having ice cover thereon, comprising the steps of:
- (a) preparing the pavement for ice removal by application thereto of a thin multi-layer top coat wear-resistant material having a microwave absorptive carbonaceous material layer and an aluminum containing underlayer material;
- (b) providing a pavement supported mobile vehicle;
- (c) mounting a microwave generator having a cooperating waveguide to said vehicle;
- (d) moving said vehicle and thereby said waveguide over said pre-prepared pavement having ice cover thereon, said generator generating microwaves at a frequency permitting microwaves to pass through said ice and to be absorbed by said thin multi-layer top coat wear-resistant material at the interface between said thin multi-layer top coat wear-resistant material and said ice cover and said vehicle moving at a speed sufficient to cause said interface to be heated without substantially warming the underlaying pavement to thereby cause said ice to be released from said thin multi-layer top coat wear-resistant material at said interface only;
- and,
- (e) removing said ice from overlying relation with said thin multi-layer top coat wear-resistant material prior to refreezing of said ice to said thin multi-layer top coat wear-resistant material.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.