Apparatus and method for detecting wet and icy conditions on the

Electricity: measuring and testing – Conductor identification or location – Inaccessible

Patent

Rate now

  [ 0.00 ] – not rated yet Voters 0   Comments 0

Details

324 65R, G01R 2726

Patent

active

042812860

ABSTRACT:
Detection of wet and icy surface conditions on the surface of a pathway is accomplished using a block of electrically insulative material embedded in the pathway with its top surface flush with the surface of the pathway and exposed to atmospheric precipitation. A sensor electrode is encapsulated in the block and is positioned a predetermined distance beneath the top surface of the block so that an accumulation of atmospheric precipitation on the top surface affects the capacitance and conductance between the sensor electrode and the pathway. Provision is made for detecting the presence of impurities such as salt on the block's top surface. A time-varying electrical current is supplied to the sensor electrode at at least two different predetermined frequencies. The apparatus is relatively sensitive to impurities on the block's surface at one of the predetermined frequencies and is relatively insensitive to said impurities at the second predetermined frequency. The frequency of the current supplied to the sensor electrode when substantially pure precipitation is present on the block's top surface is the first predetermined frequency and the frequency of the supplied current is the second predetermined frequency when impurities are detected. The presence of precipitation is signalled when the capacitive and conductive losses between the sensor electrode and the pathway are indicative of such precipitation on the pathway.

REFERENCES:
patent: 2419266 (1947-04-01), Kliever et al.
patent: 3241062 (1966-03-01), Baird
patent: 3243793 (1966-03-01), Goldman
patent: 3255411 (1966-06-01), Norwich
patent: 3255412 (1966-06-01), Liu
patent: 3290588 (1966-12-01), Norwich
patent: 3323045 (1967-05-01), Baird
patent: 3323049 (1967-05-01), Hanken
patent: 3428890 (1969-02-01), Peck et al.
patent: 3873927 (1975-03-01), Overall
patent: 3882381 (1975-05-01), Gregory
patent: 3986110 (1976-10-01), Overall
patent: 4135151 (1979-01-01), Rogers et al.

LandOfFree

Say what you really think

Search LandOfFree.com for the USA inventors and patents. Rate them and share your experience with other people.

Rating

Apparatus and method for detecting wet and icy conditions on the does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Apparatus and method for detecting wet and icy conditions on the, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Apparatus and method for detecting wet and icy conditions on the will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

     

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-551110

  Search
All data on this website is collected from public sources. Our data reflects the most accurate information available at the time of publication.