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US 7,034,257 B2Granted
Methods for modifying friction between an object and ice or snow
AssigneeTrustees of Dartmouth College
InventorVictor Petrenko
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
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.
Claims23
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.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.