Abstract:
Disclosed herein are catch basin grate covers comprising a frame; a grate; a heating element in thermal communication with the grate cover; and a power source in electric communication with the heating element. Also disclosed are catch basin grate covers comprising a frame; a grate; means for heating the grate cover; and means for supplying power to the means for heating. Also disclosed are methods of preventing the clogging of a catch basin grate cover due to ice, the method comprising applying electricity to the heating element of the above grate cover, whereby the resulting heat from the heat element causes the ice to thaw, thereby unclogging the catch basin grate cover.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is in the field of grates covering drainage pipes. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     A catch basin is a basin that on one side is open to the elements, and on another side connects with a sewer or drainage system. Typically, catch basins are located at a low point in a drainage plane, for example in a park, or at a street corner, or where a street has a dip. Water from the rain, snow, or irrigation flows into the catch basin and drains through the sewer system. Normally, a catch basin is covered by a grated plate that prevents large debris, such as tree branches or garbage, to fall into the catch basin and clog the drainage system. During the cold winter months, water on or around the grated plate freezes and prevents the normal drainage of melted snow. This causes for water to accumulate and freeze over the grated plate, which poses a danger to anyone walking or driving in the affected area. Therefore, there is a need in the art for a mechanism to prevent the catch basin grate from freezing in winter. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Disclosed herein are catch basin grate covers comprising a frame; a grate; a heating element in thermal communication with the grate cover; and a power source in electric communication with the heating element. Also disclosed are catch basin grate covers comprising a frame; a grate; means for heating the grate cover; and means for supplying power to the means for heating. Also disclosed are methods of preventing the clogging of a catch basin grate cover due to ice, the method comprising applying electricity to the heating element of the above grate cover, whereby the resulting heat from the heat element causes the ice to thaw, thereby unclogging the catch basin grate cover. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an illustration of a typical catch basin grate in a street gutter. 
         FIG. 2  is a top view of an embodiment of the catch basin grate, showing the heating element, and the electrical connections to a power source. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     Disclosed herein are systems and methods by way of which a catch basin grate is equipped with an electric heating element that heats a catch basin grate to either prevent water from freezing on the grate or thaw any ice formed on the grate. 
     Referring now to the drawings,  FIG. 1  shows an example of a curbside gutter system  100  on a street. The gutter system  100  comprises a curb  102 , whose plane is generally perpendicular to the plane of the street. The gutter system also comprises a gutter  104 , whose plane is generally coextensive with the plane of the street. The street is not shown. A catch basin  106  is located under the gutter  104 . The catch basin  106  is connected to the sewer lines  108  on the one side and is covered by a grate cover  110  on top. 
     The grate cover  110  comprises a frame  112  and a grate  114 . The grate  114  is designed to fit in the frame and to allow for water to flow through the grate  114  and into the catch basin  106 . In some embodiments, the grate  114  is slotted. In other embodiments, the grate  114  is a mesh. In other embodiments, the grate  114  is a plate comprising a plurality of holes. In some embodiments, for example the one shown in  FIG. 1 , the frame  112  is nestled within a concrete slab  116  (shown by the hatched border in  FIG. 1 ). In some embodiments, the concrete slab  116  is part of the gutter  104 . In other embodiments, the concrete slab  116  is separate from the gutter  104 . In some embodiments, the frame  112  is embedded in the concrete slab  116 . In some of these embodiments, the grate  114  is removable. 
     In some embodiments, the catch basin  106  and the grate cover  110  are not part of a street gutter system. In these embodiments, the catch basin  106  is located at a low point in a drainage basin, for example in a park, in a field, on the side of a road, in a parking lot, and the like. A catch basin not associated with a gutter system is at times called an area drain. 
     In some embodiments, for example the one shown in  FIG. 1 , gutter system  100  comprises a storm back  118  located in the curb  102 . The storm back  118  comprises a frame  120  and a grate  122 . The grate  122  is analogous to the grate  114 , described above. In certain embodiments, the gutter system  100  does not have the storm back  118 . Similarly, in some of the embodiments where the catch basin  106  is not associated with a gutter, no storm back  118  exists. 
     In some embodiments, the frame  112 , the grate  114 , the frame  120  and the grate  122  is each independently made up of a heat conducting material. In some of these embodiments, the heat conducting material is a metal. In certain embodiments, the metal is iron, steel, or a metallic alloy. 
       FIG. 2  shows a top view of an embodiment of the grate cover  110 . The grate  114  is shown in a simplified form for clarity. In some embodiments, the grate cover  110  is thermal communication with a heating element  202 . In some embodiments, the thermal communication is between the heating element  202  and the frame  112 . In other embodiments, the thermal communication is between the heating element  202  and the grate  114 . In some embodiments, the heating element  202  is a heat tape. In certain embodiments, the heat tape is water proof. In other embodiments, the heating element  202  is a wire, which is optionally a coiled wire. In some of these embodiments, the wire is insulated so that there is no electrical connectivity with the environment, to avoid accidentally delivering an electric shock to passersby. In some embodiments, the heating element  202  is also insulated to protect it from the elements, for example, water, ice, salt water (for winter road conditions), and/or heat (during the summer months). The use of any heating element that converts electrical current to heat is contemplated. 
     In some embodiments, the heating element  202  is embedded in the concrete slab  116 . The heat from the heating element  202  is transferred by conductance through the concrete slab  116  to the frame  112  and the grate  114 . In other embodiments, the heating element  202  physically touches the frame  112 . In other embodiments, the frame  112  comprises a groove (not shown) into which the heating element  202  is placed. 
     The heating element  202  is in electrical communication with a power source  204  through wires  206  (in embodiments where there is no transformer  208 , see below, the wire  206  is a combination of wires  206 A and  206 B). In some embodiments, the power source  204  is a street light, or wires that power a street light. In other embodiments, the power source  204  is a battery. In certain embodiments, the power source  204  is a solar cell that generates electricity from sun light, and optionally stores it in a battery. In other embodiments, the power source  204  is a transformer that converts the street voltage of 110 V or 220 V to a safer voltage, for example 12 V, to avoid accidental electric shocks to passersby. Any other source of electrical energy, for example any other wire that is connected to a power source is contemplated. 
     In some embodiments, a thermostat  208  is placed in series between the power source  204  and the heating element  202 . The thermostat  208  is in electrical communication with the heating element  202  through the wire  206 A, and with the power source  204  through the wire  206 B. The thermostat  208  closes the circuit between the power source  204  and the heating element  202  when the ambient temperature falls below a pre-set value, for example 32° F. (0° C.), and opens the circuit when the ambient temperature rises above the pre-set value. 
     In some embodiments, an analogous system as discussed above exists for the storm back  118 . Thus, in  FIG. 2 , frame  120  can replace frame  112 , and grate  122  can replace grate  114  to provide the analogous system. 
     In some embodiments, for example that shown in  FIG. 1 , both the grate cover  110  and the storm back  118  are provided. In some of these embodiments, both the grate cover  110  and the storm back  118  comprise the heating element  202  and the connection to the power source  204 . In other embodiments, only one of the grate cover  110  and the storm back  118  comprises the heating element  202  and the connection to the power source  204 . 
     In some of the embodiments where both the grate cover  110  and the storm back  118  comprise the heating element  202  and the connection to the power source  204 , both the grate cover  110  and the storm back  118  connect to the power source  204  through the same wire  206 . In these embodiments, the wire  206  splits, optionally distal to the thermostat  208 , and one set of wires connects with the grate cover  110  and another set of wires connects with the storm back  118 . In other embodiments, each of the grate cover  110  and the storm back  118  connects with the power source  204  independently. In some of these embodiments, the flow of electricity into each of the grate cover  110  and the storm back  118  is optionally and independently regulated by a thermostat. 
     In some embodiments, a sacrificial anode is provided to prevent the corrosion of the grate cover, its frame, and/or its grate.