US2111251A - Icicle melter - Google Patents

Description

P. G. SPILSBURY March l5, 1938.

ICICLE MELTER Filed Sept. 19,- 1956 THERMOJ/l Patented Mar. 15., 1938 UNITED STATES ICICLE MELTER Persifor G. Spilsbury, Phoenix, Ariz., assigno'r to Anaconda Wire & Cable Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application September 19, 1936, Sirial No. 101,583

2 Claims.

'I'his invention relates to means for melting and, therefore, preventing the retention of icicles .along the overhanging portions of roof structures.

In northern sections of this country, it is known that damage to building structures and possible injury to persons is likely to result because of the formation of large icicles along the edges of roofs' or gutters on various building structures. One object of the present invention is to provide means for preventing the formation of such icicles or to melt oil the same in the event they should fall. The invention will be fully apparent from the following specification when read in connection with the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing- Fig. 1 exemplifies a flat roofed structure of a masonry type of building with my invention applied thereto; Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation o a frame building showing the application of my in vention thereto; Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional detail of a portion of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a perspective view diagrammatically showing a circuit arrange ment and certain circuit controlling devices; and Fig. 5 is a detailed view oi an'alternative amfbodiment of the invention.

Referring in detail first to Fig. 1,. iii represents an upright. wall of a building structure and ii the roof portion thereof. A cornice or other overu1 hanging element is secured to the roo! in any suitable approved manner. In the embodiment of the invention shown in Fig'. .1, I provide a ashing including an upper ilange I3, one ex` tremity of which overlaps the roof structure and extends under the rooting sheets I4. This flashing includes a substantially upright wali i5 and an inwardly .bent portion I6, part of which is bent around, indicated at Il, to form a chamber for enclosing a heating element i8.

In the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 2, the frame building includes an upright wall Ill, roof rafters Il'b carrying roofing boards Iib and shingles' |I. In this case, the upper flange i3 of the sheathing extends under the lower course of shingles and the chambered portion Il is formed at the lower extremity of the upright portion it, Extending obliquely upward from the portion II, there is an extension il* which is nanged downwardly as at i6h for engagement with the side wall.

This chambered portion carries s heating element, indicated at i8. which issubstantially the same as that shown in the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Fig. l'.

As shown in Fig. 3, the heating element icon- (Cl. 10S-26) sists of a high resistance electrical conductor surrounded by suitable insulating material I9.

The heating element is adapted to'be energized by current supplied from a suitable source. In the drawing, I have shown positive and negative 5 line wires 20 and 2i and a manually operated switch 22 constituting a master control. The circuit will preferably include a variable resistance indicated at 23. Preferably, I will also include in the circuit a Athermostat 24 of known construction, which will be effective to make or break the circuit through the heating element, when predetermined temperatures are reached. In some cases, I also consider it advantageous to provide means which will permit the energization of the heating element only'at predetermined time intervals. For example, to this end, I will provide a clock operated switch 25, which may be so set that icicles can be melted only during the evening hours, when it is very unlikely that there will be persons, in the neighborhood o! the building, who might be hurt by the melting off of the icicles, which might form.

From the disclosure, it will be apparent that the device can be so operated that current will ilow through the heating element at all times when the temperature is below a certain point. The element can be so designed that suiilcient heat will be generated to prevent the formation of icicles along the cornice or coping of a building. 30

Or, alternatively, the flow of current to the heating element can be controlled manually at intermittent times so as to melt oi any icicles, which may have accumulated during the time theelement was not in operation.

The heating element is preferably enclosed in copper tubing or housing, such as indicated at 26. .Various materials may be used for the iiashing, but I preferably use either copper, brass, or like metals because of their high heat conductivity and relatively low cost and resistance to destruction by the elements;

In Fig. 5, I have illustrated an alternative embodiment ofthe invention-wherein the heating element li8 is mounted in juxtaposition to an 45 ordinary sheet metal gutter 21 mountedin position to receive water falling from the roof. It is clear that vwith the heating element'juxtaposed to the gutter, as illustrated, the formation of ice in the gutter with resultant clogging would be 50 adequately prevented.

While I have described quite specifically the particular embodiments ofthe invention herein illustrated, it is to beunderstood that various modiilcations may be made without departure 55 from the` invention as defined in the appended 4 claims. Y

v/Wh'atlclmlniist f l. A rooi' structure inciudinga yflashing member l formed with a chambered portion at the low point ot the ashing, localizlng the dripping 11nd enclosing a heating element elective to prevent the retention of icicles.

gral enclosure for a heating element effective to prevent the retention o; icicles.

PERBIFOR G. BPILBBURY.

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