Abstract:
A system and method for removing frozen precipitation that has accumulated on a surface of a road vehicle is disclosed. The system includes a heating array attached to the surface and a power source. When energized by the power source, the heating array generates heat that melts the frozen precipitation from the surface.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention is generally directed to the removal of ice and snow, and more particularly to a system and method for removing ice and snow from the surface of a truck trailer. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The accumulation of snow and/or ice, hereinafter referred to as “frozen precipitation” on the surface or roof of road vehicles such as vans, trucks, semi-trailer trucks and other large vehicles presents a substantial problem. Frozen precipitation may accumulate on the roof of the vehicle while the vehicle is stopped, parked or otherwise stationary, and may also accumulate on the vehicle roof while the vehicle is moving. 
         [0003]    If the frozen precipitation is not removed from the roof of the vehicle, slabs or other solid mass forms of the frozen precipitation may become separated from the vehicle roof and fly off or otherwise fall from the moving vehicle. The flying mass may strike or impact one or more vehicles following behind the moving vehicle, may cause another vehicle to swerve to avoid the flying mass, and/or may form an obstruction on the road surface. In such a manner, the flying and/or obstruction mass may cause damage or lead to an accident. For example, the flying mass may impact and break a windshield of a following car and result in one or more accidents. For at least these reasons, some jurisdictions require that ice and/or snow be removed from a vehicle before the vehicle may travel on roadways. 
         [0004]    In some attempts to remove frozen precipitation from the roof of a vehicle, an operator may climb on the roof and remove the frozen precipitation by shoveling, scraping or other similar manual method. For example, see U.S. Patent Pub. No. 2008/0086919, which discloses a scraping device for removing snow from a vehicle. However, such methods represent a substantial safety and cost issue for the operator. 
         [0005]    In other attempts, frozen precipitation may be removed from a vehicle roof surface by a static structure that includes a horizontal member that removes the frozen precipitation by scraping the vehicle roof as that the vehicle passes beneath the structure. In yet other attempts, an operator may move the vehicle to or into a facility where the frozen precipitation is removed by heating and/or spraying with de-icing and/or melting agents. However, these attempts are only practical wherein a large number of vehicles are present so as to justify the expense thereof. They do not provide a solution for a single or few vehicles that can be in a location wherein such a structure is not available. 
         [0006]    Thus, a long felt need exits to economically remove frozen precipitation from a surface of a road vehicle. 
         [0007]    What is needed is a system and method to remove frozen precipitation from the roof of a road vehicle, and in particular to remove frozen precipitation from a large vehicle such as a tractor-trailer. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    A first aspect of the disclosure includes a snow and ice removal system for removing frozen precipitation from a surface of a vehicle. The system includes a heating array, a power source configured to provide electrical power to the heating array and generate heat, and a plurality of fasteners configured to attach the heating array to the surface of a vehicle. 
         [0009]    A second aspect of the disclosure includes a semi-trailer including a surface, and a frozen precipitation removal system affixed to the surface. The frozen precipitation removal system includes a heating array configured to receive electrical power from a power source and generate heat. 
         [0010]    A third aspect of the disclosure includes a method for removing frozen precipitation that has accumulated upon a surface of a road vehicle. The method includes providing a road vehicle having a surface and a heating array attached to the surface, electrically connecting the heating array to an electrical power source, and providing electricity from the electrical power source to the heating array to energize the heating array to generate heat and remove frozen precipitation from the surface of the road vehicle. 
         [0011]    Other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following more detailed description of the preferred embodiment, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]      FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of a tractor-trailer having an exemplary embodiment of a snow and ice removal system according to the invention installed. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0013]      FIG. 1  illustrates a road vehicle  100  including a towing engine or trailer  110  and a semi-trailer  120  having an exemplary embodiment of a snow and ice removal system (system)  130  according to the disclosure attached thereto. Within this disclosure, the term “snow and ice” includes any form of frozen precipitation, including, but not limited to snow, ice, sleet, freezing rain and hail. Furthermore, in this exemplary embodiment, the road vehicle is a tractor trailer. However, in other embodiments, the road vehicle  100  may be any vehicle, motorized or non-motorized, that travel on a road, such as, but not limited to trucks, trailers, semi-trailers, towed oversized structures including housing structures and mobile homes. 
         [0014]    The system  130  includes a heating array  150  and a power source (not shown). As can be seen in  FIG. 1 , the heating array  150  is attached to a surface  125  of the semi-trailer  120 . In this exemplary embodiment, the surface  125  is the horizontal planar roof of the semi-trailer  120 . In another embodiment, the surface  125  may be an upper surface of the semi-trailer  120 . In another embodiment, the surface  125  may be non-planar. For example, the surface  125  may be stepped or otherwise discontinuous, or may be curved. In another embodiment, the surface  125  may include ridges or other non-planar elements. 
         [0015]    The heating array  150  is attached to the surface  125  by fasteners  140 . The fasteners  140  may be, but are not limited to, clips, loops, anchor hooks, hasps or other retainers. The fasteners  140  may detachably attach or permanently affix the system  130  to the surface  125 . In one embodiment, the fasteners  140  are detachable from the surface  125 . For example, the fasteners  140  may be detachably received in slots in the surface  125  or bolted to the surface  125 . In another embodiment, the fasteners  140  are permanently affixed to the surface  125 . For example, the fasteners  140  may molded into or welded to the surface  125 . In one embodiment, the fasteners  140  allow the heating array  140  to be detached from the surface  125 . The fasteners  140  retain the heating array  150  in substantial contact with the surface  125 . 
         [0016]    In this exemplary embodiment, the surface  125  is substantially planar or flat, however, in other embodiments, the surface  125  may be ridged or otherwise non-planar. In another embodiment, the heating array contacts the surface  125  at contact points. In yet another embodiment, the surface  125  may include channels, slots, grooves, toughs or other receiving features (not shown) for at least partially supporting and/or containing the heating array  150 . 
         [0017]    The heating array  150  includes a plurality of resistive heating elements  152  electrically connected in parallel across the width W of the semi-trailer  120 . The resistive heating elements  152  may be electric cable having a hot insulated conductor and a neutral insulated conductor (not shown). The hot and neutral insulated conductors may be wrapped with a braided ground to protect against shock in the unlikely event that any of the plurality of resistive heating elements  152  are punctured. 
         [0018]    The heating array  150  further includes an array of support lines  154  provided across the length L of the semi-trailer  120 . The support lines  154  space the resistive heating elements  152  at a predetermined fixed spacing across the semi-trailer  120 . In one embodiment, the support lines may be an elastic web. For example, the support lines may be formed of a heat-resistant polymer web material. 
         [0019]    In another embodiment, the heating elements  152  may be provided across the length L of the semi-trailer  120 , and the support lines  154  may be provided across the width W of the semi-trailer. In yet another embodiment, both heating elements  152  may be provided across both the length L and width W of the semi-trailer, and support lines  154  may be provided across the length L, width W, or combination thereof of the semi-trailer  120 . In still another embodiment, the heating array  150  may be formed by a continuous resistive heating element (not shown). For example, the heating array  150  may be formed by a continuous resistive heating element sinusoidally arranged on the surface  125 . 
         [0020]    In another embodiment, the heating array  150  is constructed of a flexible, durable material, such as, but not limited to an elastic web formed of a vulcanized polymer, having heating elements  152  embedded therewithin. The heating array  150  is formed of flexible materials that permit the heating array  150  to be rolled or otherwise gathered for storage. The heating array  150  may include locking devices (not shown) to securely affix the heating array to the semi-trailer  120 . 
         [0021]    In one exemplary embodiment, the heating array  150  includes heating elements  152  formed of belts or strips of flexible heating elements in a square cross-hatching pattern over surface  125 . In one embodiment, the heating elements  152  may be encased in a silicone or fiberglass shield. 
         [0022]    In another embodiment, the heating array  150  is disposed between the surface  125  and an optional panel or cover layer  126 . The cover  126  is shown in  FIG. 1  removed and separated from the surface  125  for clarity. In this embodiment, the cover layer  126  overlays the surface  125  to substantially cover the surface  125 . In other embodiments, the cover layer  126  may partially cover the surface  125 . The cover layer  126  may be a metal, composite, fabric or plastic barrier that protects the heating array  150  from the environment or damage from outside forces such as rocks, tree limbs, debris and other structures. 
         [0023]    In one embodiment, the heating array  150  is assembled to the surface  125  at the time of assembly of the semi-trailer  120 . In yet another embodiment, the heating array  150  is retrofitted or otherwise later added to the semi-trailer  120  after the manufacture of the semi-trailer  120 . 
         [0024]    In one embodiment, the heating array  150  is electrically connected to a power source (not shown) via an electrical wire or cable (not shown). The electrical cable may be permanently attached or detachable from the heating array  150 . In another embodiment, the electrical cable is attached to the power source and connected to the heating array  150 . In one embodiment, the electrical cable is a No. 1 or No. 00 gauge copper wire cable. In one embodiment, an electrical power safety device (not shown) may be electrically disposed between the heating array  150  and the power source. For example, the electrical power safety device may be a fuse, breaker or other ground break device. 
         [0025]    In one embodiment, the power source is a portable generator that is temporarily electrically connected to the heating array  150 . The power source may or may not include the electrical cable used to attach the power source to the heating array. In one embodiment, the portable generator may be a 15 kw, 20 kw, 26 kw or 30 kw generator. In one embodiment, the power source provides between about 240 volt to about 480 volts. The portable generator may be gasoline or diesel fuel powered. 
         [0026]    In another embodiment, the power source may be a solar power collector, such as a photovoltaic cell, that energizes the heating array  150 . In another embodiment, the power source may be a battery. The battery may be carried by the road vehicle  100  or may be provided at a stationary location. 
         [0027]    In one embodiment, the power source provides electrical energy to the heating array  150  to produce between about 1 to about 5 watt per square inch. In another embodiment the power source provides between about 2 to about 3 watt per square inch to the heating array  150 . In another embodiment, the system  100  further includes a temperature control unit (not shown) to control the heat generated by the heating array  150 . In one exemplary embodiment, the temperature control unit includes a resistance temperature sensor configured to regulate the heat of the heating array  150  to between about 150° F. to about 200° F. In another embodiment, the heating array  150  includes a inline temperature sensor probe to control the amount of heat generated by the heating array  150 . 
         [0028]    In another embodiment, the power source is an electrical supply point, such as an electrical outlet or an electrical source, such as a power panel, to which the electrical cable is attached. The power source provides electricity to the heating array  150  to substantially melt and thus remove any frozen precipitation that has accumulated on the surface  125  before the tractor trailer  100  begins to travel. 
         [0029]    While the invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.