Heatable modular unit for use in pathways

Abstract

The present invention is a heatable pathway system comprising a prefabricated pathway block made by an insulator material. A plurality of open channels built inside the block forming a plurality of exposed surfaces on the top layer of the block and a plurality unexposed surfaces on the bottom of the open channels, wherein a set of heating elements are placed on the unexposed surfaces of the open channel, and the plurality of the open channels are filled by a thermally conductive material and disposed directly above the heating elements to allow for quick conduction of heat from a heating source through the top in order to permit quick melting of snow and ice.

1 . A prefabricated block to build a heated pathway, the block comprising:
 a) a bottom layer and a top layer,
 i) wherein the bottom layer is made of a first synthetic rubber and the top layer is made of a second synthetic rubber, and 
 ii) wherein the density of the first layer is lower than the density of the second layer to provide a higher thermal conduction through the top layer and a lower thermal conduction through the bottom layer, and to provide a greater tension, traction, and compression strength on the second layer to withstand passing of vehicles; 
   b) a plurality of open channels built inside the block forming a plurality of exposed surfaces on the top layer of the block and a plurality of unexposed surfaces on the bottom of the open channels, wherein a set of heating elements are placed on the plurality of unexposed surfaces of the open channel, and the plurality of the open channels to be filled by a thermally conductive material disposed directly above the set of heating elements to allow for quick conduction of heat from the set of heating elements in order to permit quick melting of snow and ice, and allow for even distribution of heat, and   c) wherein each exposed surface has an insulated-block-width, and each channel has a heated-block-width, and wherein the heated-block-width is less than width of a tire of a vehicle.   
     
     
         2 . The prefabricated block of  claim 1 , wherein the block is rectangular. 
     
     
         3 . The prefabricated block of  claim 2 , wherein the block has a length and a width of 4 feet and a thickness of 3.5 inches. 
     
     
         4 . The prefabricated block of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of open channels are configured to form a W shaped open channels. 
     
     
         5 . The prefabricated block of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of open channels are configured to form H shaped open channels. 
     
     
         6 . The prefabricated block of  claim 1 , wherein each channel has a width of 6 inches and each exposed surface has a width of 6 inches, thereby, the sum of each insulated-block-width and the heated-block-width is 12 inches to reduce the load per square inch and to cover a width of a tire. 
     
     
         7 . The prefabricated block of  claim 1 , wherein each channel has a set of grooves to receive the set of heating wires and heating pipes and guide the set of heating wires from one block to the next through a set of apertures on side walls of each block. 
     
     
         8 . The prefabricated block of  claim 1 , wherein the conductive material is selected from a group of thermally conductive material consisting of polymeric sand, beach sand, crumb rubber, pea gravel and Poly Gravel Mortar (PGM) or regular concrete. 
     
     
         9 . The prefabricated block of  claim 1 , wherein the molded block is formed under high pressure and heat in present of Aliphatic or Aromatic binder into desired shape and thickness. 
     
     
         10 . The prefabricated block of  claim 1 , further comprises a snow sensor. 
     
     
         11 . The prefabricated block of  claim 1 , wherein the block is made of tire recycling powder. 
     
     
         12 . The prefabricated block of  claim 1 , wherein the blocks are anti acid and mold resistance. 
     
     
         13 . A method for making a heatable pathway system comprising:
 a) making a plurality of prefabricated synthetic rubber blocks, wherein each block comprising:
 i) a bottom layer and a top layer, 
 ii) wherein the bottom layer is made of a first synthetic rubber and the top layer is made of a second synthetic rubber, and 
 iii) wherein the density of the first layer is lower than the density of the second layer to provide a lower thermal conduction through the bottom layer, and to provide a greater tension, traction, and compression strength on the second layer to handle passing of vehicles; 
 iv) a plurality of open channels built inside the block forming a plurality of exposed surfaces on the top surface of the block and a plurality unexposed surfaces on the bottom of the open channels; 
   b) placing the plurality of prefabricated synthetic rubber blocks on a pathway in removable, replaceable and connected relation one to the next to form the heatable pathway;   c) placing a heating wire inside the channels of each block and passing the wire in a connected relation through the plurality of prefabricated synthetic rubber blocks,   d) connecting the heating wire to a smart control panel and then to a power supply to provide power to and heat the heating wires;
 filling the open channels with a thermally conductive material disposed directly above the heating wire to allow for quick conduction of heat in order to permit quick melting of snow and ice, and allow for even distribution of heat, and whereby when the heating wire is heated, heat is conducted through the thermally conductive material to the top surface of the pathway. 
   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the plurality of prefabricated synthetic rubber blocks are connected one to the next by flexible rubber joints which allow the heatable pathway system to be thermal shock resistance and not to crack easily. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the heating wire is connected to a power supply, and wherein the power supply is a combination of active and passive energy sources that work together to provide efficient and/or a clean energy source comprising solar panel or wind turbine.