US3863456A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method for constructing ice islands in cold regions
Assignee: Union Oil Company of California
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Filing: 1973-07-23
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Granted: 1975-02-04
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Expires: 1993-07-23
Abstract
Abstract A method for constructing ice islands in cold regions in which water is placed on the surface of a floating sheet of natural ice and allowed to freeze to form an ice body having a mass such that its draft is greater than the water depth, whereby the ice island is permanently grounded.
Inventors
- 👤 Paul J Durning
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 19:18
CPC Classifications
E; E02; E02B; E02B17/00; E02B17/02; E02B17/028
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
236 words
A method for constructing an artificial ice island in a water body covered by a floating sheet of ice, which comprises placing water on the surface of a selected portion of the floating sheet of ice, said selected portion being substantially less than the whole of said ice sheet and being surrounded by a remaining contiguous portion of said ice sheet, and said water being placed on said selected portion under ambient conditions such that the water is frozen on said selected portion to form an ice body having a central thickened portion and tapering in thickness from said central portion outwardly to the edge of said selected portion, said ice body having a mass sufficiently large that the sheet of ice is deformed downwardly so as to define one continuous sheet of ice having three portions: (1) a grounded portion centrally located within said selected portion, which is grounded on the bottom underlying said water body; (2) an intermediate portion contiguous with said grounded portion and with an exterior portion of said ice sheet, said intermediate portion tapering in thickness from said grounded portion to said exterior portion; and (3) said exterior portion being undeformed and floating on said water body; and thereafter placing additional water on the upper surface of the ice island so that additional ice is formed to raise the elevation of the ice island above that of the surrounding floating ice.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
236 words
A method for constructing an artificial ice island in a water body covered by a floating sheet of ice, which comprises placing water on the surface of a selected portion of the floating sheet of ice, said selected portion being substantially less than the whole of said ice sheet and being surrounded by a remaining contiguous portion of said ice sheet, and said water being placed on said selected portion under ambient conditions such that the water is frozen on said selected portion to form an ice body having a central thickened portion and tapering in thickness from said central portion outwardly to the edge of said selected portion, said ice body having a mass sufficiently large that the sheet of ice is deformed downwardly so as to define one continuous sheet of ice having three portions: (1) a grounded portion centrally located within said selected portion, which is grounded on the bottom underlying said water body; (2) an intermediate portion contiguous with said grounded portion and with an exterior portion of said ice sheet, said intermediate portion tapering in thickness from said grounded portion to said exterior portion; and (3) said exterior portion being undeformed and floating on said water body; and thereafter placing additional water on the upper surface of the ice island so that additional ice is formed to raise the elevation of the ice island above that of the surrounding floating ice.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method defined in claim 1 wherein said water is intermittently placed on said selected portion and allowed to freeze between placements.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method defined in claim 2 wherein said water is intermittently placed on said selected portion to a depth of 2 to 6 inches at each placement.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method defined in claim 1 wherein said water placed upon the surface of said selected portion freely floods said surface.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method defined in claim 1 wherein said water body has a depth of less than about 50 feet.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method defined in claim 1 wherein said water is placed on the surface of said selected portion and frozen until the elevation of said artificial ice island is raised to at least about 3 feet above its maximum free-floating elevation.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method defined in claim 1 wherein said water body is a marine body and the water placed on said selected portion is sea water.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method defined in claim 1 wherein said water placed on the surface of said selected portion is fresh water.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
261 words
A method for constructing an artificial ice island in a water body covered by a floating sheet of ice, which comprises: placing water on the surface of a selected portioN of said floating sheet of ice to freely flood the surface of the selected portion to a maximum depth of about 2 to 6 inches, said selected portion being substantially less than the whole of said ice sheet and being surrounded by a remaining contiguous portion of said ice sheet, and said water being placed on said selected portion under average ambient temperatures below the freezing point of water; allowing the water placed on said selected portion to freeze; repeating the alternate flooding and freezing steps to form an ice body having a central thickened portion and tapering in thickness from said central portion outwardly to the edge of said selected portion, said ice body having a mass sufficiently large that the sheet of ice is deformed downwardly so as to define one continuous sheet of ice having three portions: (1) a grounded portion centrally located within said selected portion, which is grounded on the bottom underlying said water body; (2) an intermediate portion contiguous with said grounded portion and with an exterior portion of said ice sheet, said intermediate portion tapering in thickness from said grounded portion to said exterior portion; and (3) said exterior portion being undeformed and floating on said water body; and continuing the alternate flooding and freezing steps until the elevation of the ice island is at least about 3 feet above its maximum free-floating elevation.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
261 words
A method for constructing an artificial ice island in a water body covered by a floating sheet of ice, which comprises: placing water on the surface of a selected portioN of said floating sheet of ice to freely flood the surface of the selected portion to a maximum depth of about 2 to 6 inches, said selected portion being substantially less than the whole of said ice sheet and being surrounded by a remaining contiguous portion of said ice sheet, and said water being placed on said selected portion under average ambient temperatures below the freezing point of water; allowing the water placed on said selected portion to freeze; repeating the alternate flooding and freezing steps to form an ice body having a central thickened portion and tapering in thickness from said central portion outwardly to the edge of said selected portion, said ice body having a mass sufficiently large that the sheet of ice is deformed downwardly so as to define one continuous sheet of ice having three portions: (1) a grounded portion centrally located within said selected portion, which is grounded on the bottom underlying said water body; (2) an intermediate portion contiguous with said grounded portion and with an exterior portion of said ice sheet, said intermediate portion tapering in thickness from said grounded portion to said exterior portion; and (3) said exterior portion being undeformed and floating on said water body; and continuing the alternate flooding and freezing steps until the elevation of the ice island is at least about 3 feet above its maximum free-floating elevation.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
266 words
A method for constructing an artificial ice island in a marine body covered by a floating sheet of ice, which comprises: intermittently placing sea water on the surface of a selected portion of said floating sheet of ice to freely flood the surface of the selected portion to a maximum depth of about 2 to 6 inches, said selected portion being substantially less than the whole of said ice sheet and being surrounded by a remaining contiguous portion of said ice sheet, and said water being placed on said selected portion under average ambient temperatures below the freezing point of water; allowing the water placed on the selected portion of said ice to freeze; repeating the alternate flooding and freezing steps to form an ice body having a central thickened portion and tapering in thickness from said central portion outwardly to the edge of said selected portion, said ice body having a mass sufficiently large that the sheet of ice is deformed downwardly so as to define one continuous sheet of ice having three portions: (1) a grounded portion centrally located within said selected portion, which is grounded on the bottom underlying said water body; (2) an intermediate portion contiguous with said grounded portion and with an exterior portion of said ice sheet, said intermediate portion tapering in thickness from said grounded portion to said exterior portion; and (3) said exterior portion being undeformed and floating on said water body; and continuing the alternate flooding and freezing steps until the elevation of the ice island is at least about 3 feet above its maximum free-floating elevation.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
266 words
A method for constructing an artificial ice island in a marine body covered by a floating sheet of ice, which comprises: intermittently placing sea water on the surface of a selected portion of said floating sheet of ice to freely flood the surface of the selected portion to a maximum depth of about 2 to 6 inches, said selected portion being substantially less than the whole of said ice sheet and being surrounded by a remaining contiguous portion of said ice sheet, and said water being placed on said selected portion under average ambient temperatures below the freezing point of water; allowing the water placed on the selected portion of said ice to freeze; repeating the alternate flooding and freezing steps to form an ice body having a central thickened portion and tapering in thickness from said central portion outwardly to the edge of said selected portion, said ice body having a mass sufficiently large that the sheet of ice is deformed downwardly so as to define one continuous sheet of ice having three portions: (1) a grounded portion centrally located within said selected portion, which is grounded on the bottom underlying said water body; (2) an intermediate portion contiguous with said grounded portion and with an exterior portion of said ice sheet, said intermediate portion tapering in thickness from said grounded portion to said exterior portion; and (3) said exterior portion being undeformed and floating on said water body; and continuing the alternate flooding and freezing steps until the elevation of the ice island is at least about 3 feet above its maximum free-floating elevation.
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) | 1978-02-03 | 1978-08-05 | 1979-02-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-02-03 | 1982-08-05 | 1983-02-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-02-03 | 1986-08-05 | 1987-02-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |