Thawing System for Machinery Undercarriages

Abstract

What is presented is a thawing system for thermally heating an undercarriage of a machine, with the machine having an engine and a track frame. This thawing system comprises a heating element and thawing line. The heating element is powered independently from the engine, produces thermal energy for the thawing system, and can be activated and/or stay activated when the engine is not active. The thawing line is connected to the heating element, adapted to spread thermal energy from the heating element throughout the undercarriage of the machine, and is isolated from the engine. The thawing line extends from the heating element to the undercarriage of the machine via a channel, which is in the machine. Thermal energy is produced and delivered to the undercarriage of the machine when the heating element is activated.

1 . A thawing system for thermally heating an undercarriage of a machine, the machine having an engine and a track frame, said thawing system comprising:
 a heating element powered independently from the engine, said heating element produces thermal energy for said thawing system, said heating element can be activated and/or stay activated when the engine is not active;   a thawing line connected to said heating element, said thawing line is adapted to spread thermal energy from said heating element throughout the undercarriage of the machine, said thawing line is isolated from the engine;   said thawing line extends from said heating element to the undercarriage of the machine via a channel; and   thermal energy is produced and delivered to the undercarriage of the machine when said heating element is activated.   
     
     
         2 . The thawing system of  claim 1  further comprising a rechargeable battery connected to said heating element, said rechargeable battery is recharged while the engine is activated, said rechargeable battery assists in activating said heating element. 
     
     
         3 . The thawing system of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a track cast traveling around the perimeter of the track frame on the machine, said track cast for evenly distributing thermal energy around the track frame; and 
 said thawing line is positioned in said track cast. 
 
     
     
         4 . The thawing system of  claim 1  further comprising:
 the track frame comprises a front idler, top roller, bottom roller, metal shields, and track thread; 
 a track cast traveling around the perimeter of the track frame on the machine, said track cast for evenly distributing thermal energy to the front idler, top roller, bottom roller, metal shields, and track thread; and 
 said thawing line is positioned in said track cast. 
 
     
     
         5 . The thawing system of  claim 1  wherein said heating element comprises a pump for circulating one of the following, petroleum based oils, synthetic oils, water, or anti-freeze, through said thawing system. 
     
     
         6 . The thawing system of  claim 1  wherein said heating element comprises an electric pump for circulating one of the following, petroleum based oils, synthetic oils, water, or anti-freeze, through said thawing system. 
     
     
         7 . The thawing system of  claim 1  wherein:
 said heating element for circulating one of the following, petroleum based oils, synthetic oils, water, or anti-freeze, around said thawing system; 
 said thawing line is fluidly connected to said heating element, said thawing line is adapted to carry one of the following, petroleum based oils, synthetic oils, water, or anti-freeze, from said heating element to the undercarriage of the machine; and 
 said thawing system further comprises a reservoir connected to said thawing line, said reservoir is an access point to one of the following, petroleum based oils, synthetic oils, water, or anti-freeze. 
 
     
     
         8 . The thawing system of  claim 1  wherein:
 said thawing line comprises a first high pressure line and a second high pressure line; and 
 both said first high pressure line and said second high pressure line are fluidly connected to said heating element, both said first high pressure line and said second high pressure line are adapted to carry one of the following, petroleum based oils, synthetic oils, water, or anti-freeze, from said heating element. 
 
     
     
         9 . The thawing system of  claim 1  wherein said thawing line is constructed from aluminum or stainless steel. 
     
     
         10 . The thawing system of  claim 1  wherein said thawing line is an electrical conduit connected to said heating element, said thawing line uses electricity to generate thermal energy. 
     
     
         11 . A method of installing a thawing system on a machine, the thawing system for thermally heating an undercarriage of the machine, the machine having an engine and a track frame, the method comprising:
 obtaining the thawing system, the thawing system comprising:
 a heating element that produces thermal energy for the thawing system when the thawing system is installed on the machine; and 
 a thawing line connected to the heating element when the thawing system is installed on the machine, the thawing line is isolated from the engine when the thawing system is installed on the machine, the thawing line is adapted to spread thermal energy from the heating element throughout the undercarriage of the machine when the thawing system is installed on the machine; 
   creating a channel in the machine that allows passage of the thawing line from the heating element to the undercarriage;   fixedly connecting the heating element to the machine; and   fixedly connecting the thawing line to the machine such that the thawing line extends to the undercarriage from the heating element via the channel.   
     
     
         12 . The method of installing a thawing system to a machine of  claim 11  further comprising activating the heating element, the heating element can be activated and/or stay activated when the engine is not active. 
     
     
         13 . The method of installing a thawing system to a machine of  claim 11  further comprising positioning the thawing line in a track cast, the track cast traveling around the perimeter of a track frame on the machine. 
     
     
         14 . The method of installing a thawing system to a machine of  claim 11  further comprising connecting a rechargeable battery to the heating element, the rechargeable battery is recharged while the engine is activated, the rechargeable battery assists in activating the heating element. 
     
     
         15 . The method of installing a thawing system to a machine of  claim 11  wherein the thawing line is constructed from aluminum or stainless steel. 
     
     
         16 . A method of preventing freezing or snow/ice buildup on the undercarriage of a machine, the machine having an engine and a track frame, the method comprising:
 installing a thawing system on the machine, the thawing system comprising:
 a heating element that produces thermal energy for the thawing system when the thawing system is installed on the machine; and 
 a thawing line connected to the heating element when the thawing system is installed on the machine, the thawing line is isolated from the engine when the thawing system is installed on the machine, the thawing line is adapted to spread thermal energy from the heating element throughout the undercarriage of the machine when the thawing system is installed on the machine; 
   activating the thawing system while the engine of the machine is not active; and   allowing the thawing system to remain active over the duration of time the engine is not active.   
     
     
         17 . The method of preventing freezing or snow/ice buildup of  claim 16  further comprising positioning the thawing line in a track cast, the track cast traveling around the perimeter of a track frame on the machine;
 the track frame comprises a front idler, top roller, bottom roller, metal shields, and track thread; and 
 the thawing line distributes thermal energy to the front idler, top roller, bottom roller, metal shields, and track thread. 
 
     
     
         18 . The method of preventing freezing or snow/ice buildup of  claim 16  wherein the thawing line is constructed from aluminum or stainless steel.