Patent · US Expired

Method for thawing frozen road culverts

US5986237A · kind A · utility

4Cited by
2References
7Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateSep 25, 1997
Grant dateNov 16, 1999
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 25, 2017

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH05B3/56
  • WIPO fieldCivil engineering
  • WIPO sectorOther fields

Abstract

A method for thawing frozen road culverts. The first step involves positioning an electrically conductive cable in a road culvert prior to an ice blockage occurring. A connection end of the electrically conductive cable is anchored in an accessible location. The second step involves connecting a power source to the connection end of the electrically conductive cable after an ice blockage of the road culvert has occurred and supplying power to the electrically conductive cable, such that energy generated by power flowing through the electrically conductive cable causes a flow path to be created through the ice blockage in the road culvert.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.