초록 ▼

An autonomous deployment system is herein for functional utilization in the physical placement and deployment of a heating or thermal mat(s). The system is designed to enhance human productivity and ease deployment of the prior art thermal radiating or generating devices for the removal and or inhib

An autonomous deployment system is herein for functional utilization in the physical placement and deployment of a heating or thermal mat(s). The system is designed to enhance human productivity and ease deployment of the prior art thermal radiating or generating devices for the removal and or inhibition of accumulation of snow and ice. The deployment system as can be designed to operate autonomously with automatic controls and sensors to control both the thermal system and the technology of controlling a deployment system. The system is well suited to autonomously deploy and retract rolled membranes and or flexible materials out over a flat or sloped surface area. The inherent flexibility of the mat allows it to traverse gently curved surfaces.

대표청구항 ▼

The invention claimed is: 1. An apparatus using a flexible thermal material for removing and minimizing the collection of ice and snow upon a surface comprising: a. A power source; b. A thermal mat having a flexible conductive body and surface, said thermal mat being connected to said power source

The invention claimed is: 1. An apparatus using a flexible thermal material for removing and minimizing the collection of ice and snow upon a surface comprising: a. A power source; b. A thermal mat having a flexible conductive body and surface, said thermal mat being connected to said power source and having the capacity to transfer energy to an absorbing surface which is in direct contact with, or close proximity to, said conductive surface of said thermal mat, upon being energized by said power source, to remove and minimize ice and snow collection; c. A rolling system for rolling said thermal mat into itself, therein forming a tubular arrangement having an outer diameter sufficient to avoid damage to the thermal mat conductive body or surfaces; d. A storage system, having sufficient size to enclose within, said tubularly arranged thermal mat, without damage to said thermal mat conductive body or surfaces; e. An unrolling system engaged with said storage system, for unwinding said tubularly arranged thermal mat; f. A deployed mat support system engaged with said mat unrolling system; said deployed mat support system allowing said unrolling system to force said thermal mat, as guided by said deployed mat support system, over said absorbing surface for energy transfer between said conductive surfaces and said absorbing surfaces of said thermal mat; and, g. A mat retraction system engaged with said deployed mat support system, to allow said thermal mat to be directed away from said absorbing surface; wherein said mat retraction system is also engaged with said rolling system for rolling said thermal mat into itself to reform a tubular arrangement for re-insertion within said storage system and wherein said rolling, storage, unrolling, deployment and retraction systems are also connected to said power source. 2. An apparatus as described in claim 1 having independent power sources for connection to said systems. 3. An apparatus as described in claim 1 having a single bi-directional motor to drive said systems. 4. An apparatus as described in claim 3 having a common drive system to power said rolling, unrolling, deployed mat support and retraction systems. 5. An apparatus as described in claim 4 wherein said systems are arranged to allow said bi-directional motor to deploy said thermal mat when said bi-directional motor turns in a first direction and to retract said thermal mat when said bi-directional motor turns in a second direction. 6. An apparatus as described in claim 1 including an environmental sensor system. 7. An apparatus as described in claim 4 including a programmable system for control. 8. An apparatus as described in claim 5 including an external data input port. 9. An apparatus as described in claim 6 including a connection to the Internet. 10. An apparatus as described in claim 6 wherein said environmental sensors include one of the following: a. The temperature of the environment surrounding the apparatus; or, b. The atmospheric barometric pressure surrounding the apparatus; or, c. The percent humidity surrounding the apparatus; or, d. The percent precipitation of the environment surrounding the apparatus; or, e. A visual image of the environment surroundings. 11. An apparatus as described in claim 7 wherein said programmable system for control uses data including one of the following: a. The time; or, b. The date; or, c. User directions to override initiation of said flexible thermal material; or, d. User directions to override retraction of said flexible thermal material. e. User directions to power down the system. 12. An apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein deployed mat system is a track and rail assembly placed on opposite sides of said thermal mat, parallel with the direction of said thermal mat deployment. 13. An apparatus as described in claim 10 wherein said track and rail assembly is attached to the support surface by an anchoring spike having a void. 14. An apparatus as described in claim 11 wherein said track and rail assembly is attached to the support surface by an anchoring spike having a void. 15. An apparatus as described in claim 4 having a cable in communication with said unrolling system to pull said thermal mat through said deployed thermal mat support system during deployment; said cable also in communication with said rolling system to retract said thermal mat through said deployed thermal mat support system during retraction. 16. An apparatus as described in claim 4 having a cable drive shaft, said cable drive shaft having a first and second cable spool at each end of said cable drive shaft, as said cable drive shaft is turned in a first direction for deployment of said thermal mat, said first cable spools unwind cable off said first cable spools to allow deployment of said thermal mat, concurrently said second cable spools wind cable onto said second cable spools thereby maintaining tension on said first and second cables for deployment of said thermal mat, thereafter turning said cable drive shaft in said second direction for retraction of said thermal mat, said first cable spools winding cable onto said first cable spools and concurrently said second cable spools unwind cable onto said cable from said second cable spools. 17. An apparatus as described in claim 16 having rolling and unrolling systems with drive systems integrated with said cable drives. 18. An apparatus as described in claim 4 wherein said systems are arranged to allow said bi-directional motor to deploy said thermal mat when said bi-directional motor turns in a first direction and to retract said thermal mat when said bi-directional motor turns in a second direction. 19. An apparatus as described in claim 10, wherein means are employed to remove ice collected upon said apparatus during retraction of said flexible thermal material from said deployment surface. 20. An apparatus as described in claim 12, wherein means are employed to remove ice collected upon said deployed mat support system during retraction of said thermal mat from said absorbing surface. 21. An apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein said deployment surface is a building roof. 22. An apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein said deployment surface is a bridge. 23. An apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein said deployment surface is a driveway. 24. An apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein said deployment surface is a parking lot. 25. An apparatus for deploying a flexible thermal material for removing ice and snow from a surface and minimizing collection of ice and snow upon a surface including: a. A power means; b. A thermal mat means having a flexible conductive body and surface, said thermal mat means being connected to said power means, and having the capacity to transfer energy to an absorbing surface which is in direct contact with, or close proximity to, said conductive surface of said thermal mat, upon being energized by said power source, to remove and minimize ice and snow collection; c. A rolling means for rolling said thermal mat into itself, therein forming a tubular arrangement having an outer diameter sufficient to avoid damage to the thermal mat conductive body or surfaces; d. A storage means, having sufficient size to enclose within said storage means, said tubularly arranged thermal mat, without damage to said thermal mat conductive body or surfaces; e. An unrolling means, engaged with said storage means, for unwinding said tubularly arranged thermal mat; f. A deployed thermal mat support means; said deployed mat support means allowing said mat to be deployed over said absorbing surface for energy transfer between said conductive surfaces of said thermal mat and said absorbing surfaces; and, g. A mat retraction means allowing said thermal mat to be retracted from said absorbing surface; h. wherein said mat retraction means is also engaged with said rolling means for rolling said thermal mat into itself to re-form a tubular arrangement for re-insertion within said storage means and wherein said rolling, storage, unrolling, deployment and retraction means are also powered. 26. An apparatus as described in claim 25 including sensing means which sense, collect and communicate data representing environmental conditions surrounding said apparatus to said apparatus. 27. An apparatus as described in claim 26 including a communication and control means allowing data input exclusive of sensing means and selection of a control range for directing operation of said apparatus. 28. An apparatus as described in claim 27 wherein said communication and control means includes a comparator means for comparing data collected by the sensing means with data input to for controlling said apparatus.