Method and apparatus for detaching coatings frozen on to surfaces

Claim 3

The method as claimed in claim 1 including the further step of removing said coating from said surface over areas where said bond has been disrupted.

Claim 4

The method as claimed in claim 1 in which said visible light has a wavelength range of from about 300 to about 700 nanometers.

Claim 5

The method as claimed in claim 1 in which the light beam energy is used at the rate of about 40 kilowatts per foot of surface width at a rate of movement over the surface of about 15 miles per hour.

Claim 6

The method as claimed in claim 1 including breaking up the coating immediately after the bond thereof has been disrupted.

Claim 7

The method as claimed in claim 5 including lifting and removing the broken coating.

Claim 8

The method as claimed in claim 6 including sucking up any residual melted water immediately after the removal of the broken coating and before refreezing occurs.

Claim 9

Apparatus for freeing a coating of ice, snow or frost from a surface to which said coating is frozen, comprising a frame to be moved over the coated surface, artificial light means mounted on the frame for producing an intense light beam consisting of light energy primarily in the visible range so that said light beam will pass relatively unimpeded through said coating, means for focussing said light beam on to the interface between the coating and the surface, during motion of said apparatus over said surface, such as to heat the surface to raise the temperature of the interface above the freezing point of water and thereby disrupt the bond between the coating and the surface to detach the former from the latter while substantially all of the material of said coating apart from that at said interface remains below its melting temperature, and means for moving said apparatus over said surface.

Claim 10

Apparatus for freeing a coating of ice, snow or frost from a surface to which said coating is frozen, comprising a frame to be moved over the coated surface, artificial light means mounted on the frame for producing an intense light beam consisting of light energy primarily in the visible range so that said light beam will pass relatively unimpeded through said coating, means for focussing said light beam on to the interface between the coating and the surface, during motion of said apparatus over said surface, such as to heat the surface to raise the temperature of the interface above the freezing point of water and thereby disrupt the bond between the coating and the surface to detach the former from the latter while substantially all of the material of said coating apart from that at said interface remains below its melting temperature, and means for moving said apparatus over said surface.

Claim 11

Apparatus according to claim 8 further comprising means for removing said coating from said surface over areas where said bond has been disrupted.

Claim 12

Apparatus as claimed in claim 8 including means on the frame ahead of the light means operable to plow snow away from the light means.

Claim 13

Apparatus as claimed in claim 8 including means on the frame behind the light means for breaking up the coating immediately after the bond thereof has been disrupted.

Claim 14

Apparatus as claimed in claim 11 including means on the frame for lifting and removing the broken coating.

Claim 15

Apparatus as claimed in claim 12 including vacuum means for sucking up any residual melted water immediately after the removal of the broken coating and before refreezing occurs.