System and method for preventing build-up of snow, ice and icicles

Abstract

A system and method for preventing buildup of snow, ice and icicles ( 200 ) from the sides of a roof, a building or the vertical front of a gutter, a tunnel or a roof wall or a cliff along roads or railroads outside a tunnel comprising a set of rails ( 103, 203 ) and a cart ( 100, 201 ) moving along said rails ( 103, 203 ), further characterized in that protruding from the cart ( 100, 201 ) is a tool ( 101, 202 ) for removing said snow, ice and icicles ( 200 ).

1 . A system for preventing buildup of snow, ice and icicles ( 200 ) from the vertical front of a gutter, comprising a set of rails ( 103 ,  203 ) and a cart ( 100 ,  201 ) moving along said rails ( 103 ,  203 ), protruding from the cart ( 100 ,  201 ) is a tool ( 101 ,  202 ) for removing said snow, ice and icicles ( 200 ), further characterized in that the rails ( 103 ,  203 ) and the cart ( 100 ,  201 ) are attached to the gutter. 
     
     
         2 . A system as described in  claim 1  wherein said tool ( 101 ,  202 ) can be a chainsaw, a knife, a heated wire, a rotating or oscillating head with protruding pins or plugs like e.g. a course file, a milling machine, a controlled stream of air, either warm or cold, a controlled stream of air containing particles, a circular saw blade, an electric arc, a laser, blasting or a stick or any combination of these elements. 
     
     
         3 . A system as described in  claim 2  wherein said stick can be motorised with the ability to give the snow, ice or icicle at least one rapid blow. 
     
     
         4 . A system as described in  claim 1  wherein said cart ( 100 ,  201 ) can be propelled by an internally placed motor. 
     
     
         5 . A system as described in  claim 4  wherein said internally placed motor can be supplied with energy from a rechargeable battery or it can get electricity via the rails ( 103 ,  203 ) or from the docking station. 
     
     
         6 . A system as described in  claim 5  wherein the internally placed motor can propel the cart ( 100 ,  201 ) using at least one wheel propelling the cart ( 100 ,  201 ) using friction. 
     
     
         7 . A system as described in  claim 5  wherein the internally placed motor can propel the cart ( 100 ,  201 ) by a rack ( 105 ) and pinion solution or a roller chain and sprocket solution, or belt driven, or a threaded spindle. 
     
     
         8 . A system as described in  claim 1  wherein said cart ( 100 ,  201 ) can be propelled using an externally placed propulsion system either by pushing or pulling it back and forth using either a wire or a rope attached to the cart ( 100 ,  201 ). 
     
     
         9 . A system as described in  claim 1  wherein said cart ( 100 ,  201 ) is controlled by at least one docking station. 
     
     
         10 . A system as described in  claim 1  wherein said system is interactive with a warning system giving a visual or audial warning signal when said system is active. 
     
     
         11 . A method for preventing buildup of snow, ice and icicles ( 200 ) from the vertical front of a gutter, comprising a set of rails ( 103 ,  203 ) and a cart ( 100 ,  201 ) with a tool ( 101 ,  202 ) protruding from the cart, said cart ( 100 ,  201 ) is moving back and forth along said rails ( 103 ,  203 ), further characterized in that, said rails ( 103 ,  203 ) and the cart ( 100 ,  201 ) are attached to the gutter, while the tool ( 101 ,  202 ) removes the snow, ice and icicles ( 200 ). 
     
     
         12 . A method as described in  claim 11  wherein said system should be interactive as often as required to prevent build-up of snow, ice or icicles. 
     
     
         13 . A method as described in  claim 11  wherein said cart ( 100 ,  201 ) is controlled by at least one docking station either by a watch or a sensor system sending a signal to the cart ( 100 ,  201 ) or the docking station informing about buildup of snow, ice and icicles ( 200 ) or a set of sensors measuring meteorological data, or a photocell or a laser cell.