Abstract:
A system and method for preventing buildup of snow, ice and icicles ( 200 ) from the sides of a roof, a building or the vertical front of a gutter, a tunnel or a roof wall or a cliff along roads or railroads outside a tunnel comprising a set of rails ( 103, 203 ) and a cart ( 100, 201 ) moving along said rails ( 103, 203 ), further characterized in that protruding from the cart ( 100, 201 ) is a tool ( 101, 202 ) for removing said snow, ice and icicles ( 200 ).

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD  
       [0001]    The present invention regards a system and a method for preventing buildup of snow, ice and icicles, and more particularly an automated system and method for preventing buildup of snow, ice and icicles from the sides of a roof, a building or the vertical front of a gutter, a tunnel or a roof wall or a cliff along roads or railroads outside a tunnel. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    During the winter season, and particularly when winter is turning into spring, icicles start forming and hanging down from the gutters. One reason for this happening is that during the day when it gets warm, snow and ice on the roof of the building melts and during the evening and night it freezes again forming icicles hanging down from the gutters. When the icicles get too big or the temperature rises it is a big risk that the icicles will fan down. 
         [0003]    There are several injuries caused each year in Norway because of icicles falling onto the sidewalks underneath. In a worst case scenario falling ice can lead to death. 
         [0004]    In the technical regulations of the Plan and Buildings Act §7-45, it is stated that all buildings must be secured, so that ice and snow cannot fall down. This is usually done by placing snow guards on the roof. In cases of extraordinary amounts of snow this is not always sufficient, and the owner of the house has to remove snow and ice from the roof with ladders, platforms and the like. 
         [0005]    Several cases of liability have been before the courts, and the homeowners are in most cases imposed liability for damage to both person and cars and it can lead to fines of several hundreds of thousands of kroners or even prison sentences. 
         [0006]    US 2004/0256412 A1 describes a deicing device for placing ice melting material into a rain gutter. The device is mounted on a handle and permits the placing of an ice melting material from ground level without the need for a ladder. The deicing device has a side which is placed over the rain gutter and the edge of the roof. On the opposite side the actuating mechanism is located. 
         [0007]    A problem with this solution is that it is intended for houses under a certain height and further it is a solution that demands manual labor. 
         [0008]    WO 2007/127527 A2 describes a gutter system with integral snow and ice melting cables which prevents the formation of snow and ice. The gutter system comprises an elongated gutter, a gutter cover, and a pair of heating elements. The gutter cover presents a longitudinal axis and includes a rear wall adapted to be affixed to the building, a front wall spaced from the rear wall, and a bottom wall extending between a lower edge of the rear wall and a lower edge of the front wall. 
         [0009]    US 2006/0032153 A1 describes a gutter heating system for preventing the formation of ice or melting ice in and adjacent a gutter system includes a recirculation fluid transportation circuit a portion of which is disposed adjacent a portion of the gutter system, a heat source for heating an antifreeze fluid and a pump in fluid communication with the circuit for moving the heated fluid there through. 
         [0010]    The problem with these solutions is that they use a lot of energy trying to melt the ice and snow on the roof and they will not work in a harsh climate like the one in northern countries. Further these solutions can worsen the situation as they can make the bottom layers of snow and ice unstable which again can lead to large amounts of snow and ice falling from the roofs. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0011]    It is therefore an object of the present invention, as it is stated in the set of claims, to solve the problems stated above. This is done by a system and a method that cuts away the snow, ice and icicles before it is able to build up. The problem is solved by a cart running back and forth on rails as soon as ice or build-up of ice is detected. This cart has a device attached intended to remove the overhanging snow, ice and icicles from e.g. gutters or other places where it is a risk of build-up of snow and ice. The device can be a chainsaw, a knife, a course file, a milling machine, a controlled stream of air, either warm or cold, a controlled stream of air containing particles, circular saw blade, or a stick knocking of snow and ice. The stick can also be motorised with the ability to give the snow, ice or icicle at least one rapid blow. 
         [0012]    This solution solves the problem with build-up of snow, ice and icicles in a safe way with less use of energy. Further this is a solution that works in harsh climates. 
         [0013]    Since it can be made fully automated it requires little or no involvement when operated. Necessary maintenance and repairs will be easier. 
         [0014]    The present invention has the object of removing unwanted ice and build-up of ice on or over unwanted areas. It is intended to be a continually repeated process. As soon as ice or icicles are detected the process is initiated and the main point of the invention is that this process is repeated and repeated at the moment there is any build-up of ice or icicles. This results in that the downfall is in the form of minute particles that is swept away by the wind. The system complies with the public demand regarding notification of possible danger of snow, ice and icicles falling from the e.g. roof, a building or the vertical front of a gutter and the removal of the warning signs when the danger is over. The same system can be used in tunnels, on the side of a cliff or any other place where there is danger of falling snow, ice or icicles. 
         [0015]    This flag warning system is interactive with the system as soon as the cart starts its job the warning flags are lowered to warn people about possible danger. As soon as the cart is finished with the job the warning flags will be raised to its vertical parked position and show no more possible danger. The flag can be equipped with blinking lights and/or an audio signal. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0016]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention, where there is a rail connected to the side of the building. 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of another embodiment of the present invention where the rail is connected to the gutter. 
           [0018]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the present invention mounted in a tunnel, or on a cliff outside a tunnel. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0019]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention. It is shown a system for removing snow and ice from the gutters  104  of a building. 
         [0020]    The system comprises a cart  100  that has the ability to move back and forth along a predetermined path. The predetermined path can be along the gutters of a building or at the roof of a building or any other place where there are possibilities for snow and ice to fall down and causing damage or injury to either persons or material. 
         [0021]    To the cart  100  it is attached a tool  101 . This tool  101  is attached in one end to the cart  100 . The tool  101  extends outwards from the cart  100  for a predetermined length and in a predetermined angle. At the other end of this tool  101  it can be attached a device  102  for removing ice. This can be in the form of a chainsaw, a knife, a heated wire, a rotating or oscillating head with protruding pins or plugs like e.g. a course file, a milling machine, a controlled stream of air, either warm or cold, a controlled stream of air containing particles, a circular saw blade, an electric arc, a laser, blasting or a stick knocking of snow and ice. The stick can also be motorised with the ability to give the snow, ice or icicle at least one rapid blow. 
         [0022]    The cart  100  is attached to a system of rails  103 . The system of rails  103  extends at least the entire length of the gutters  104 . The rails  103  are made of a hard material, preferably metal. The cart  100  can be attached to the rails  103  by a set of wheels gripping around the rails  103 . 
         [0023]    Alternatively the cart  100  can have a lip or a set of lips gripping around the rails  103 . In this solution the rails  103  are preferably made of a material with low friction. This ensures that the sliding motion of the cart is as easy and as cost efficient as possible. 
         [0024]    The cart  100  can be propelled along the system of rails  103  either by an internal motor on the cart  100  or an externally placed method of propulsion. 
         [0025]    An internally placed motor can propel the cart  100  either by having an on board rechargeable battery supplying the motor with power or it can get electricity via the rails  103 . 
         [0026]    The internally placed motor can propel the cart  100  either by using at least one wheel propelling the cart  100  using friction. Alternatively the rails  103  can be in the form of a rack  105 , placed either internally or externally with the cart  100  having a matching pinion or a roller chain and sprocket solution, or belt driven, or a threaded spindle. 
         [0027]    Using an externally placed method of propulsion the cart  100  can be manoeuvred either by pushing or pulling it back and forth using either a wire or a rope attached to the cart  100 , alternatively the propulsion can be in the form of an electromagnetic levitation. 
         [0028]    The embodiment shown in  FIG. 1  has the rails  103  attached to either the wall of the building or the underside of the roof via a set of support beams  106 . 
         [0029]    The cart  100  can be controlled by one or more docking stations. The cart  100  returns to the docking stations after use. Further the docking station is the place where the cart  100  is recharged, lubricated and maintained and a place protecting it from the weather conditions. 
         [0030]    The cart  100  can be activated either at a predetermined time e.g. at a certain time every day or preferably as often as it is needed this being up to several times an hour. Alternatively the cart  100  can be activated by a sensor system sending a signal to the cart  100  or the docking station informing them about buildup of snow and ice. A further alternative for controlling the activation of the cart  100  can be a set of sensors measuring meteorological data such as temperature, moisture, snow and wind etc. or a photocell or a laser cell or similar. 
         [0031]      FIG. 2  is an alternative embodiment of the present invention. Here the rail  203  and the cart  201  are attached to the gutter itself. The cart  201  further has a set of tools  202  attached that make it possible to remove snow and ice  200  from both the side and the underside of the gutter  105 . 
         [0032]    This solution can either be in the form of a rail  203  that is attachable to an existing gutter  105  or it can be part of a new gutter. The rails  203  are attached to a profile. The profile is, in one end, attached to the outward side of the gutter  105 . This attachment forms a continuation in a downwardly direction of the outward edge of the gutter. This continuation of the profile ends in a lip forming an extremity to which snow and ice  200  naturally will build up on. The profile continues from this extremity to form a part where the rail  203  itself is attached. This part is further where the profile is attached to the gutter  105  in a further place. 
         [0033]    In yet another alternative embodiment the rails can be attached to the gutter directly without being attached to a profile first. 
         [0034]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the present invention mounted in a tunnel. It is shown that the cart  201  has a set of tools  202  attached that make it possible to remove snow, ice and icicles  200 . These tools  202  are attached in one end to the cart  201 . At the other end of the tools  202  it can be attached a device for removing snow, ice and icicles  200 . This can be in the form of a chainsaw, a knife, a heated wire, a rotating or oscillating head with protruding pins or plugs like e.g. a course file, a milling machine, a controlled stream of air, either warm or cold, a controlled stream of air containing particles, a circular saw blade, an electric arc, a laser, blasting or a stick knocking of snow and ice. The stick can also be motorised with the ability to give the snow, ice or icicle at least one rapid blow. 
         [0035]    Further the rails can either be attached to bars or beams  301  which again are attached directly to the tunnel or they can be encased inside a protective cover  300 .