Ice build-up preventor for thermal chamber ports

Abstract

A system for preventing the formation of ice about a port to a contained cooling area. The system includes a support tube that is adapted to pass through the port in a wall that forms part of the cooling area. The support tube is further adapted to provide a passage into the cooling area for a conduit. The support tube is still further adapted to contain dry nitrogen to prevent the formation of ice around the port.

1 . An ice prevention system for a contained cooling area, the system comprising: 
 a support tube adapted to pass through a port in a wall that forms part of the cooling area, the support tube further adapted to provide a passage into the cooling area for a conduit, the support tube still further adapted to contain dry nitrogen to prevent the formation of ice around the port.    
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a first boot adapted to cap a first end of the support tube that is contained in the cooling area, the first boot having a first boot aperture wherein the conduit passes through; and    a second boot adapted to cap the second end of the support tube that is outside the cooling area, the second boot having a second boot aperture wherein the conduit passes through.    
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , further comprising: 
 a first support tube clamp adapted to secure the first boot to the first end of the support tube; and    a second support tube clamp adapted to secure the second boot to the second end of the support tube.    
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2 , further comprising: 
 a first conduit clamp adapted to secure the conduit in the first boot aperture of the first boot; and    a second conduit clamp adapted to secure the conduit in the second boot aperture of the second boot.    
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a dry nitrogen input adapted to selectively input the dry nitrogen into the support tube.    
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a dry nitrogen output adapted to selectively output the dry nitrogen from the support tube.    
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the dry nitrogen output is a solenoid adapted to expel the dry nitrogen from the support tube when pressure in the support tube exceeds a desired level.  
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the conduit is one of an electrical cable and a fluid carrying tube.  
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the support tube is a PVC pipe.  
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the contained cooling area is a thermal chamber.  
     
     
         11 . A method of preventing ice from forming near a port of a contained cooling system, the method comprising: 
 maintaining an amount of dry nitrogen near the port.    
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein maintaining the amount of dry nitrogen near the port further comprises: 
 providing a flow of dry nitrogen to an input of a support tube that passes through the port; and    allowing a relatively small flow of dry nitrogen to flow out of the support tube.    
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein allowing the relatively small amount of dry nitrogen to flow out of the support tube further comprises: 
 allowing the relatively small flow of dry nitrogen to flow through at least one boot opening of a boot that caps an end of the support tube.    
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein allowing the relatively small amount of dry nitrogen to flow out of the support tube further comprises: 
 selectively expelling the dry nitrogen out of an output in the support tube.    
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein maintaining an amount of dry nitrogen near the port further comprises: 
 pressurizing with the dry nitrogen an interior chamber of a support tube that passes through the port to about 1 to 2 psi.    
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising: 
 monitoring the pressure in the interior chamber of the support tube.    
     
     
         17 . A method of forming an ice prevention device around a port to contained cooling area, the method comprising: 
 positioning a support tube through the port so that a first end of the support tube is positioned in the contained cooling area and a second end is outside the contained cooling area;    capping the first and second ends of the support tube;    positioning a conduit through the support tube; and    providing a dry nitrogen input to the support tube.    
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising: 
 providing a dry nitrogen output from the support tube.    
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein capping the first and second ends of the support tube further comprises: 
 clamping a first boot around the first end of the of support tube; and    clamping a second boot around the second end of the of support tube.    
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein positioning the conduit through the support tube further comprises; 
 clamping a portion of the first boot around the conduit; and    clamping a portion of the second boot around the conduit.    
     
     
         21 . An ice prevention system, the system comprising: 
 a means to contain an amount of dry nitrogen about a port to a contained cooling system.    
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21 , further comprising: 
 a means to provided dry nitrogen to the means to contain the dry nitrogen; and    a means to expel the dry nitrogen from the means to contain the dry nitrogen.    
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 20 , further comprising: 
 a means to pass a conduit through the means to contain the dry nitrogen into the contained cooling system.