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US 8,373,095 B2Granted
Power line de-icing apparatus
OwnerTung Minh Huynh, Anthony Minh Truong Huynh +1inventors
InventorsTung Minh Huynh, Anthony Minh Truong Huynh, Alyssa Baotram Huynh
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A power line de-icing apparatus which is installed onto a power line without the need for disconnecting the power line. A temperature sensor and an ice sensor on the apparatus automatically activate the de-icing mode of operation. An internal motor and drive wheel move the apparatus along the power line in both directions, one direction at a time. Heaters and chisels on the apparatus remove any ice on the power line in one direction at a time. Power for the apparatus is generated from the electrical power carried by the power line using transformers. Proximity sensors on the apparatus detect stopping devices placed on the power line to stop the motion of the apparatus.
Claims18
An apparatus for de-icing a power line, the apparatus comprising:
- a housing;
- an internal hollow channel traversing the housing from a first opening on a first end of the housing to a second opening on a second end of the housing, wherein the housing is placed over the power line such that a portion of the power line is contained within the internal hollow channel and extends through the first opening and the second opening;
- a rotatable wheel contained within the housing, wherein the rotatable wheel engages the power line for rolling movement therealong;
- a motor contained within the housing, wherein the motor is operably connected to the rotatable wheel;
- a temperature sensor attached to the housing;
- an ice sensor attached to the housing;
- a first plurality of heating elements attached to the housing proximate to the first opening, wherein the first plurality of heating elements operably provide heat within the first opening and an exterior portion of the housing proximate to the first opening;
- a second plurality of heating elements attached to the housing proximate to the second opening, wherein the second plurality of heating elements operably provide heat within the second opening and an exterior portion of the housing proximate to the second opening;
- a first physical proximity sensor attached to the housing proximate to the first opening;
- a second physical proximity sensor attached to the housing proximate to the second opening;
- a first power transformer contained within the housing, wherein the first power transformer generates electrical power for the apparatus from electrical power carried by the power line;
- and
- a control unit contained within the housing;
- wherein the control unit is operationally connected to the motor, temperature sensor, ice sensor, motion sensor, first plurality of heating elements, second plurality of heating elements, first physical proximity sensor, second physical proximity sensor and first power transformer.
11 more elements
A method for de-icing a hanging power line comprising the steps of:
- a) attaching an apparatus comprising a housing over the power line without disconnecting the hanging power line by placing the power line within an internal hollow channel traversing the housing such that the power line extends through a first opening and a second opening in the housing, and further that the power line engages a rotatable wheel contained within the housing;
- b) generating electrical power for the apparatus by charging a power transformer contained within the housing from electrical power carried by the power line;
- c) detecting ambient temperature with a temperature sensor attached to the housing, wherein a detected temperature between 27 to 35° F. sends a first signal from the temperature sensor to a control unit contained within the housing;
- d) detecting ice formed on an ice sensor attached to the housing, wherein a pre-determined amount of ice sends a second signal to the control unit;
- e) activating a motor contained within the housing, wherein the motor operates the rotatable wheel to move the apparatus along the power line in a first direction;
- f) activating an ice sensor heating element to provide heat to the ice sensor to melt accumulated ice thereon;
- g) activating a first plurality of heating elements attached to a first side of the housing that is moving forward in the first direction, wherein the first plurality of heating elements provide heat to the first side of the housing;
- h) activating a first plurality of scraper members attached to the first side of the housing that is moving forward in the first direction, wherein the first plurality of scraper members move into scraping engagement with the power line;
- i) detecting a first stop member affixed to the power line with a first physical proximity sensor attached to the first side of the housing and sending a third signal to the control unit;
- j) de-activating the motor and the first plurality of heating elements and disengaging the first plurality of scraper members from the power line;
- k) detecting ice formed on the ice sensor attached to the housing, wherein the pre-determined amount of ice sends a fourth signal to the control unit, further wherein if ice is detected on the ice sensor then activating the motor to operate the rotatable wheel, wherein the rotatable wheel moves the apparatus along the power line in a second direction, otherwise docking at the first stop member if no ice is detected;
- l) activating a second plurality of heating elements attached to a second side of the housing that is moving forward in the second direction, wherein the second plurality of heating elements provide heat to the second side of the housing;
- m) activating a second plurality of scraper members attached to the second side of the housing that is moving forward in the second direction, wherein the second plurality of scraper members move into scraping engagement with the power line;
- n) detecting a second stop member affixed to the power line with a second physical proximity sensor attached to the second side of the housing and sending a fifth signal to the control unit;
- o) de-activating the motor and the second plurality of heating elements and disengaging the second plurality of scraper members from the power line;
- p) detecting ice formed on the ice sensor attached to the housing, wherein the pre-determined amount of ice sends a sixth signal to the control unit;
- and
- q) repeating steps e) through k) above if ice is detected on the ice sensor, otherwise docking at the second stop member if no ice is detected.
15 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.