The present invention relates to a powerline de-icing device primarily comprised of a body, further comprised of at least one solar panel, at least one battery, at least one heating element, and at least one heat-able wire. In the preferred embodiment, the device is comprised of a solar panel that supplies power to the battery, wherein the battery supplies power to the heating element which provides an electrical charge to the wire and in turn heats the wire. The wire can then be wrapped and secured around a power line to prevent ice and snow from forming on the power line. Furthermore, the device may be comprised of a temperature sensor that automatically activates the heating element when the ambient temperature around the device is below a threshold temperature (e.g., 32 degrees Fahrenheit).

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to the field of de-icing devices. More specifically, the present invention relates to a powerline de-icing device primarily comprised of a body, further comprised of at least one solar panel, at least one battery, at least one heating element, and at least one heat-able wire. In the preferred embodiment, the device is comprised of a solar panel that supplies power to the battery, wherein the battery supplies power to the heating element which provides an electrical charge to the wire and in turn, heats the wire. The wire can then be wrapped and secured around a power line to prevent ice and snow from forming on the power line. Furthermore, the device may be comprised of a temperature sensor that automatically activates the heating element when the ambient temperature around the device is below a threshold temperature (e.g., 32 degrees Fahrenheit). Accordingly, the present disclosure makes specific reference thereto. Nonetheless, it is to be appreciated that aspects of the present invention are also equally applicable to other like applications, devices and methods of manufacture.

BACKGROUND

Inclement weather during the winter months can lead to significant snow and ice buildup on power lines. Without a way to clear the lines, the lines can break and as a result, thousands of individuals may lose power for a prolonged period of time. Losing electricity during a winter storm can cause significant problems and challenges for a community, even if power is only down for a short amount of time.

Therefore, there exists a long-felt need in the art for a powerline de-icing device. There also exists a long-felt need in the art for a powerline de-icing device that automatically ensures snow and ice does not form on powerlines during the winter months. Further, there exists a long-felt need in the art for a powerline de-icing device that requires no user input to function once installed.

The subject matter disclosed and claimed herein, in one embodiment thereof, comprises a powerline de-icing device. The device is primarily comprised of a body, further comprised of at least one solar panel, at least one battery, at least one heating element, and at least one heat-able wire. In the preferred embodiment, the device is comprised of a solar panel that supplies power to the battery. The battery supplies power to the heating element which provides an electrical charge to the wire which in turn, heats the wire. The wire can then be wrapped and secured around a power line to prevent ice and snow from forming on the power line. The device may also be comprised of a temperature sensor that automatically activates the heating element when the ambient temperature around the device is below a threshold temperature (e.g., 32 degrees Fahrenheit).

In this manner, the powerline de-icing device of the present invention accomplishes all of the foregoing objectives and provides a device that can de-ice power lines. The powerline de-icing device further automatically ensures snow and ice does not form on powerlines during the winter months. In addition, the device requires no user input to function once installed.

SUMMARY

The subject matter disclosed and claimed herein, in one embodiment thereof, comprises a powerline de-icing device. The device is primarily comprised of a body, further comprised of at least one solar panel, at least one battery, at least one heating element, and at least one heat-able wire. The body is preferably comprised of a durable metal, such as but not limited to, stainless steel or aluminum that is preferably corrosion resistant to withstand snow, ice, rain, etc. The bottom surface of the body is preferably comprised of at least one strap with least one opening that allows at least one fastener to be used to secure the strap to a power line pole.

The heating element is located within the body and is powered by the battery. The heating element provides an electrical current through the wire, which is secured to the heating element through at least one opening in at least one of the side surfaces of the body using at least one tab and at least one fastener such as, but not limited to, a bolt. In this manner, the wire can be wrapped around a power line such that the wire continuously heats the surface of the power line while receiving electrical current from the heating element. The wire can be secured to the power line via at least one strap.

The battery may be charged via at least one solar panel. In one embodiment, the solar panel may be of a fixed position. In a differing embodiment, the solar panel is repositionable about at least one hinge point of at least one mounting arm that is attached to the top surface of the body. In this manner, the solar panel supplies a constant charge to the battery to power the heating element and ensure the wire remains heated.

An embodiment of the device may also have at least one temperature sensor which automatically activates the heating element when the ambient temperature around the device is at or below 32 degrees Fahrenheit (freezing). In this manner, the wire will automatically be heated when the temperature is at or below freezing, therefore ensuring ice and snow does not collect on the power line.

Accordingly, the powerline de-icing device of the present invention is particularly advantageous as it provides a device that can de-ice power lines. In doing so, the powerline de-icing device automatically ensures snow and ice does not form on powerlines during the winter months. In addition, the device requires no user input to function once installed. In this manner, the powerline de-icing device provides a novel means of preventing snow and ice from forming on power lines during winter months.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As noted above, there is a long-felt need in the art for a powerline de-icing device. There also exists a long-felt need in the art for a powerline de-icing device that automatically ensures snow and ice does not form on powerlines during the winter months. Further, there exists a long-felt need in the art for a powerline de-icing device that requires no user input to function once installed.

The present invention, in one exemplary embodiment, is comprised of a powerline de-icing device primarily comprised of a body, further comprised of at least one solar panel, at least one battery, at least one heating element, and at least one heat-able wire. The body is preferably comprised of a durable metal, such as but not limited to, stainless steel or aluminum that is preferably corrosion resistant to withstand snow, ice, rain, etc. The bottom surface of the body is preferably comprised of at least one strap with least one opening that allows at least one fastener to be used to secure the strap to a power line pole.

The heating element is located within the body and is powered by the battery. The heating element provides an electrical current through the wire, which is secured to the heating element through at least one opening in at least one of the side surfaces of the body via at least one tab and at least one fastener, such as but not limited to, a bolt. As a result, the wire can be wrapped around a power line such that the wire continuously heats the surface of the power line while receiving electrical current from the heating element. The wire can be secured to the power line via at least one strap.

The battery may be charged via at least one solar panel. The solar panel may be of a fixed position or may be repositionable about at least one hinge point of at least one mounting arm that is attached to the top surface of the body. In this manner, the solar panel supplies a constant charge to the battery to power the heating element and ensure the wire remains heated.

Furthermore, an embodiment of the device may also have at least one temperature sensor which automatically activates the heating element when the ambient temperature around the device is at or below 32 degrees Fahrenheit (freezing). In this manner, the wire will automatically be heated when the temperature is at or below freezing, therefore ensuring ice and snow does not collect on the power line.

Accordingly, the powerline de-icing device of the present invention is particularly advantageous as it provides a device that can de-ice power lines. The powerline de-icing device that automatically ensures snow and ice does not form on powerlines during the winter months. In addition, the device requires no user input to function once installed. In this manner, the powerline de-icing device provides a novel means of preventing snow and ice from forming on power lines during winter months.

Referring initially to the drawings,FIG.1illustrates a perspective view of one potential embodiment of a powerline de-icing device100of the present invention while attached to a power line pole in accordance with the disclosed architecture. The device100is primarily comprised of a body110, further comprised of at least one solar panel122, at least one battery160, at least one heating element150, and at least one heat-able wire154. The body110is preferably manufactured from a durable metal, such as but not limited to, stainless steel or aluminum that is preferably corrosion resistant to withstand snow, ice, rain, etc. The body110is preferably square in shape but may be any other shape without limitation, such as but not limited to: cylindrical, circular, rectangular, etc.

The bottom surface140of the body110is preferably comprised of at least one strap142. The strap142may be manufactured from a durable fabric, weather-resistant material. The strap142has at least one opening144, which in one embodiment may be a metal grommet, which allows at least one fastener146, such as but not limited to: a nail, a screw, etc. to be used to secure the strap142to a power line pole12. The device100is preferably positioned on the top surface14of the pole12but may be adapted to be mounted to differing locations of the pole12in differing embodiments.

As seen inFIG.2, the heating element150is located within the body110. The heating element150is powered by the battery160. The battery160may be a disposable battery160or a rechargeable battery160in the form of an alkaline, nickel-cadmium, nickel-metal hydride battery160, etc., such as any 3V-12 volt DC battery160or other conventional battery160, such as A, AA, AAA, etc., that supplies power to the device100. Throughout this specification the terms “battery” and “batteries” may be used interchangeably to refer to one or more wet or dry cells, or batteries160of cells in which chemical energy is converted into electricity and used as a source of DC power. References to recharging or replacing batteries160may refer to recharging or replacing individual cells, individual batteries160of cells, or a package of multiple battery cells as is appropriate for any given battery160technology that may be used.

The heating element150provides an electrical current through the wire154, which is secured to the heating element150through at least one opening132in at least one of the side surfaces130of the body110using at least one tab152(that is preferably metal for electricity conducting purposes) and at least one fastener156, such as but not limited to, a bolt. In this manner, the wire154can be wrapped around a power line10such that the wire154continuously heats the surface of the power line10while receiving an electrical current from the heating element150.

FIG.3illustrates a perspective view of one potential embodiment of a powerline de-icing device100of the present invention while attached to a power line pole12and a power line10in accordance with the disclosed architecture. In one embodiment, one wire154may be wrapped above the power line10and one wire154may be wrapped below the power line10. The wire154can be secured to the power line10via at least one strap190. The strap190may further have at least one fastener192, such as but not limited to: a buckle, a tie, elastic, a zipper, etc. that allows it to remain in a secured position.

The battery160may be charged via at least one solar panel122. In the preferred embodiment, the solar panel122is located on the top surface120of the body110. Although, in differing embodiments, the solar panel122may be located anywhere on the body110or at a separate location from the body110(while still remaining in electrical communication with the battery160). In one embodiment, the solar panel122may be of a fixed position. In a differing embodiment, the solar panel122is repositionable about at least one hinge point126of at least one mounting arm124that is attached to the top surface120. In this manner, the solar panel122supplies a constant charge to the battery160to power the heating element150and ensure the wire154remains heated.

In one embodiment, the device100is comprised of at least one temperature sensor170. The temperature sensor170automatically activates the heating element150when the ambient temperature around the device100is at or below 32 degrees Fahrenheit (freezing) or below a chosen threshold temperature. In this manner, the wire154will automatically be heated when the temperature is at or below freezing, therefore ensuring ice and snow does not collect on the power line10. The addition, the temperature sensor170further ensures the device100need not be manually activated. Although, the heating element150and/or device100may be manually activated via at least one button180in one embodiment.

FIG.4illustrates a flow chart of one potential method of using 200 one potential embodiment of a powerline de-icing device100of the present invention while attached to a power line pole in accordance with the disclosed architecture. The device100is also comprised of a method200of using the device100. First, the device100is secured to a power line pole12via the strap190and a fastener192[Step202]. Then, the wire154is wrapped around the power line10of the power line pole12[Step204]. Next, the wire154can be secured around the power line10via a strap190[Step206]. In an embodiment of the device100with a repositionable solar panel122, the solar panel122can be positioned in the optimal position to receive maximum sunlight [Step208].

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the powerline de-icing device100of the present invention and its various components can be of any suitable size and configuration as is known in the art without affecting the overall concept of the invention, provided that they accomplish the above-stated objectives. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the size, configuration and material of the powerline de-icing device100as shown in the FIGS. are for illustrative purposes only, and that many other sizes and shapes of the powerline de-icing device100are well within the scope of the present disclosure. Although the dimensions of the powerline de-icing device100are important design parameters for user convenience, the powerline de-icing device100may be of any size, shape and/or configuration that ensures optimal performance during use and/or that suits the user's needs and/or preferences.