Patent US3568924A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3568924A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Snow melting system
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1969-06-25
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Granted: 1971-03-09
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Expires: 1989-06-25
Abstract
Abstract A system for melting snow and ice from paved surfaces consisting of flexible plastic tubing imbedded in the pavement is supplied wit a circulatory liquid heating agent via supply mains beneath the pavement and which feed the tubing through risers located in pits positioned at expansion joints in the pavement. All joints and connections are located in the pits together with freely flexible inlet and outlet sections of the tubing, none of which bridges the expansion joint. The liquid heating agent circulates in closed loop circuits and the system is charged through filling means located in a return line close to the heating source and which includes a check valve located between two access openings.
Inventors
- 👤 Lawrence H Chenault
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 12:15
CPC Classifications
F; F24; F24D; F24D3/00; F24D3/12; F24D3/14; E; E01; E01C; E01C11/00; E01C11/24; E01C11/26; Y; Y02; Y02B; Y02B30/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
72 words
A pavement-heating system comprising a closed conductive loop including means for heating and circulating through the loops a quantity of liquid contained therein, the heating means having overflow and return conduits, means for filling the loop with liquid and eliminating air therefrom comprising an antibackflow valve in the return conduit and a pair of access ports in said return conduit, one of said ports being located on each side of said valve.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
72 words
A pavement-heating system comprising a closed conductive loop including means for heating and circulating through the loops a quantity of liquid contained therein, the heating means having overflow and return conduits, means for filling the loop with liquid and eliminating air therefrom comprising an antibackflow valve in the return conduit and a pair of access ports in said return conduit, one of said ports being located on each side of said valve.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
171 words
In a heating system for a slab of pavement or the like, a closed conductive loop having a portion embedded in the slab, means for heating and circulating through the loop a quantity of liquid contained therein, including a heater, outflow and return conduits extending from and to the heater, respectively, and having their ends remote from the heater below the grade of the slab, a supply main connected to the outflow conduit and extending below grade to a position near an inlet end of said embedded portion, a flexible connecting conduit outside the slab and joining said supply main to said inlet end of the embedded portion, a return main below the grade of the slab and extending from a position near an outlet end of said embedded portion to a connection with said return conduit, a flexible connecting conduit outside the slab and joining said embedded portion to said return main, an antibackflow valve in the return conduit, and an expansion tank and circulating pump in the outflow conduit.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
171 words
In a heating system for a slab of pavement or the like, a closed conductive loop having a portion embedded in the slab, means for heating and circulating through the loop a quantity of liquid contained therein, including a heater, outflow and return conduits extending from and to the heater, respectively, and having their ends remote from the heater below the grade of the slab, a supply main connected to the outflow conduit and extending below grade to a position near an inlet end of said embedded portion, a flexible connecting conduit outside the slab and joining said supply main to said inlet end of the embedded portion, a return main below the grade of the slab and extending from a position near an outlet end of said embedded portion to a connection with said return conduit, a flexible connecting conduit outside the slab and joining said embedded portion to said return main, an antibackflow valve in the return conduit, and an expansion tank and circulating pump in the outflow conduit.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
92 words
In a pavement-heating system as defined in claim 2, a plurality of such embedded portions and means for connecting such portions in parallel with each other and in series with the supply and return mains, comprising a supply manifold outside the slab and connecting the supply main to each flexible conduit leading to an inlet end of one of said embedded portions, and a return manifold outside the slab and connecting the outlet end of each flexible conduit leading from an outlet end of one of said portions to the return main.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
39 words
A system as defined in claim 3 including two slabs demarcated by an intermediate expansion joint, at least one of said embedded portions being in each slab, the mains, manifolds and flexible connecting conduits being outside of both slabs.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
A system as defined in claim 4 including a chamber appurtenant to said joint containing said manifolds.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
A system as defined in claim 3 wherein each manifold comprises a cylindrical body having an axial port connected to the main and radial ports connected to said flexible connecting conduits.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
48 words
A system as defined in claim 4 wherein said chamber is formed as an opening extending entirely through one of the slabs from top to bottom and open one side toward the other slab in a direction across the expansion joint, the manifolds being spaced from both slabs.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
50 words
A system as defined in claim 4 including metallic reinforcing in said slabs, each of said embedded portions comprising a looped conduit fastened to said reinforcing and forming an extension of two of said flexible connecting conduits, one of which flexible connecting conduits is connected to each of said manifolds.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
92 words
The method of installing a heating system in concrete paving which comprises running a pair of mains below the finished grade of the pavement to a position appurtenant to the location to be paved, laying metallic reinforcing on the prepared grade before paving, securing flexible plastic conduit to the reinforcing with free ends thereof for connection to said mains projecting from the area to be paved, pouring concrete onto the conduit and reinforcing in the area to be paved, and lifting the reinforcing and conduit to an intermediate position in the concrete.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
92 words
The method of installing a heating system in concrete paving which comprises running a pair of mains below the finished grade of the pavement to a position appurtenant to the location to be paved, laying metallic reinforcing on the prepared grade before paving, securing flexible plastic conduit to the reinforcing with free ends thereof for connection to said mains projecting from the area to be paved, pouring concrete onto the conduit and reinforcing in the area to be paved, and lifting the reinforcing and conduit to an intermediate position in the concrete.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
81 words
The method defined in claim 9 which also includes running said mains to a chamber position within the boundaries of the area to be paved, blocking off said position from the area to be paved to form a chamber for access to the mains, forming an expansion joint intersecting said chamber position between sections to be paved, a loop of the plastic conduit being contained in each section, said free ends thereof projecting into said chamber for connection to said mains.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
113 words
The method of charging liquid into and removing air from a circulatory heating system of the type which includes a heater having outflow and return conduits and an antibackflow valve in the return conduit, said method comprising pumping liquid from an open container into the return conduit at a position between the valve and the heater, by means of a relatively high-capacity fill pump located outside the system, opening the return conduit at a position on the other side of but close to said valve for escape of air and overflow, and closing said opening and the connection for pumping liquid into the conduit after full flow of liquid occurs from the opening.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
113 words
The method of charging liquid into and removing air from a circulatory heating system of the type which includes a heater having outflow and return conduits and an antibackflow valve in the return conduit, said method comprising pumping liquid from an open container into the return conduit at a position between the valve and the heater, by means of a relatively high-capacity fill pump located outside the system, opening the return conduit at a position on the other side of but close to said valve for escape of air and overflow, and closing said opening and the connection for pumping liquid into the conduit after full flow of liquid occurs from the opening.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-03-08 | 1974-09-07 | 1975-03-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-03-08 | 1978-09-07 | 1979-03-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-03-08 | 1982-09-07 | 1983-03-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |