Method and device for de-icing conductors of a bundle of conductors

Claim 3

A method according to claim 1, wherein steps (a) to (f) are carried out a plurality of times, and wherein different at least one of the conductors are selected every consecutive time in step (b) until all the conductors have been de-iced.

Claim 4

A method according to claim 2, wherein a single conductor is selected each time.

Claim 5

A method according to claim 1, wherein the method is carried out during the whole duration of an ice storm.

Claim 6

A method according to claim 1, wherein step (b) comprises measuring a temperature value for each conductor, the at least one conductor being selected based on said temperature values.

Claim 7

A method according to claim 5, further comprising an additional step between steps (b) and (c) which comprises determining the period of time based on said temperature values.

Claim 8

A method according to claim 1, wherein the blocking of step (c) is carried out by electric power units, each of said electric power units being connected to one of said conductors of the bundle.

Claim 9

A method according to claim 7, wherein the electric power units are controlled by a command module.

Claim 10

A method according to claim 8, comprising an additional step between steps (b) and (c) which comprises sending a triggering signal to the command module, the command module activating the blocking of step (c) upon reception of said triggering signal.

Claim 11

A method according to claim 7, wherein: the re-routing of step (d) is carried out through a first conducting member electrically connected to each of the conductors of the bundle at a location upstream the electric power units; and the redistributing of step (e) is carried out through a second conducting member electrically connected to each of the conductors of the bundle at a location downstream the electric power units.

Claim 14

A de-icing device for conductors of a bundle of conductors, the bundle of conductors carrying a total current load distributed between them, the device comprising: an electric power unit for each of the conductors of the bundle, said electric power unit being adapted to regulate a current circulation in a corresponding conductor; first and a second connecting means each electrically connected to each conductor of the bundle, the first connecting means being located proximate a first end of said bundle of conductors upstream the electric power units, and the second connecting means being located proximate a second end of said bundle downstream the electric power units; and controlling means adapted to repetitively select at least one of the conductors for de-icing and send a signal to the electric power units corresponding to the conductors not selected for de-icing to stop the current therein for a period of time, so that during said period of time, the total current load is re-routed through the first connecting means to circulate in the at least one of the conductors, the total current load being redistributed between all the conductors through the second connecting means, the circulation of the total current load in the at least one of the conductors heating said at least one of the conductors to remove ice thereon.

Claim 15

A de-icing device for conductors of a bundle of conductors, the bundle of conductors carrying a total current load distributed between them, the device comprising: an electric power unit for each of the conductors of the bundle, said electric power unit being adapted to regulate a current circulation in a corresponding conductor; first and a second connecting means each electrically connected to each conductor of the bundle, the first connecting means being located proximate a first end of said bundle of conductors upstream the electric power units, and the second connecting means being located proximate a second end of said bundle downstream the electric power units; and controlling means adapted to repetitively select at least one of the conductors for de-icing and send a signal to the electric power units corresponding to the conductors not selected for de-icing to stop the current therein for a period of time, so that during said period of time, the total current load is re-routed through the first connecting means to circulate in the at least one of the conductors, the total current load being redistributed between all the conductors through the second connecting means, the circulation of the total current load in the at least one of the conductors heating said at least one of the conductors to remove ice thereon.

Claim 16

A de-icing device according to claim 12, wherein the first and second connecting means each comprise a conducting member having a plurality of extremities, and wherein each conductor of the bundle is electrically connected to one of the extremities.

Claim 17

A de-icing device according to claim 12 wherein each electric power unit is chosen from a group consisting of Silicon-Controlled Rectifiers, MOSFETS, power transistors and triacs.

Claim 18

A de-icing device according to claim 12, wherein the controlling means comprise a command module controlled by a microprocessor.

Claim 19

A de-icing device according to claim 15, wherein the controlling means further comprise a current transformer connected to one of the conductors of the bundle and to the command module, the current transformer using the current circulating in said one of the conductors of the bundle to power the command module.

Claim 20

A de-icing device according to claim 15, wherein the controlling means further comprises an antenna connected to the command module, said command module being thereby remotely controllable via radio waves.

Claim 21

A de-icing device according to claim 17, wherein the controlling means further comprises: a ground ice detector for measuring an ice accumulation value in the vicinity of the bundle of conductors; and a transmitter adapted to transmit the ice accumulation value to the command module via radio waves.

Claim 22

A de-icing device according to claim 15, wherein the controlling means further comprise a temperature sensor attached to each conductor of the bundle for measuring a temperature value thereof.

Claim 23

A de-icing device according to claim 15, wherein the controlling means further comprise a current transformer attached to each conductor of the bundle for measuring a current value circulating therein.

Claim 24

A device according to claim 12, further comprising a plurality of spacers holding the conductors apart from each other, each spacer having a plurality of extremities, each conductor of the bundle being fixed to one of the extremities of each spacer.

Claim 25

A device according to claim 21, wherein the spacers each have an electrical resistance sufficiently large to prevent a re-routing of the current load there through.

Claim 26

A de-icing device according to claim 12, wherein the controlling means comprises: a command module controlled by a microprocessor operated by an expert software; a current transformer connected to one of the conductors of the bundle and to the command module, the current transformer using current circulating in said one of the conductors of the bundle to power the command module; a temperature sensor attached to each conductor of the bundle for measuring a temperature value thereof, said temperature value being transmitted to the command module; current measuring means attached to each conductor of the bundle for measuring a current value circulating therein, said current value being transmitted to the command module; a ground ice detector for measuring an ice accumulation value in the vicinity of the bundle of conductors; a transmitter connected to the ground ice detector and adapted to transmit the ice accumulation value to the command module via radio waves; and an antenna connected to the command module, said command module being thereby remotely controllable via radio waves, the ice accumulation value being receivable by the command module through said antenna, whereby the command module controls the de-icing device based on the temperature value, the current value and the ice accumulation value.