Road Marker De-icing Device with Sensor-Controlled Airflow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for removing snow from travel surfaces, such as roads and runways, often require additional maintenance and can damage the surface over time due to the use of salts and sands, which erode the asphalt.
Innovation Solution
A road marker system equipped with a housing containing a cavity with air input and output openings, a fan, and heating elements, along with sensors to detect temperature and moisture, which activates the fan and heating elements to melt snow without additional maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional deicing methods (salt, sand, plows) are used, then snow is removed from travel surfaces, but wear and tear to the travel surface increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical snow removal systems (plows, shovels, blowers) with a thermal field-based heating system. Electrical heating elements generate heat that melts snow and ice through thermal conduction and convection, eliminating the need for mechanical contact that causes surface wear and tear.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameter of temperature in the deicing process. By locally increasing the temperature around the road marker through heating elements, the system melts snow and ice without requiring mechanical removal or chemical additives that erode the asphalt surface.
2Productivity
If heating elements are continuously activated, then snow melts effectively, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates temperature sensors and moisture sensors that provide feedback to the control circuit. The heating elements are activated only when the sensors detect conditions requiring deicing (low temperature and presence of moisture/snow), and deactivated when conditions improve, optimizing energy consumption while maintaining effective snow melting.
Solution Approach 2:
The heating system operates periodically rather than continuously, activating only when sensor-triggered conditions indicate snow or ice presence. This periodic operation based on environmental conditions significantly reduces overall energy consumption while maintaining deicing effectiveness when needed.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system effectively melts snow with minimal maintenance, reducing wear and tear on travel surfaces by using a self-contained, energy-efficient mechanism that activates only when necessary, thus maintaining surface integrity.
Implementation Method 1
The one or more heating elements may receive a second activation signal from the circuit board and the heating element may heat the air flow as it exits the housing through the air output opening
Implementation Method 2
The fan may be operable to draw a flow of air into the housing through the air input into the cavity
Implementation Method 3
The low temperature bi-metallic sense switch electrically connected to a moisture sensor, and the moisture sensor may be electrically coupled to a second input terminal. The low temperature bi-metallic sense switch may be operable to close upon sensing a predetermined temperature range
Implementation Method 4
The fan and heating elements may work together, and it may happen when both a temperature sensor and a moisture sensor have activated
Data Source
AI summary
A road marker may include a housing with a cavity and at least one perimeter surface oriented perpendicular to the direction of traffic. Each of the at least two perimeter surfaces containing an opening may be substantially covered with a mesh. Further, each of the openings may form either an air input or an air output, and the air input and air output openings may be located substantially opposite to each other to generate a flow of air through the cavity. In addition, the cavity may include passive electrical components for heating the flow of air.