US3233078A

US3233078A - Automatic device for preventing ice formation in gutters and downspouts

Info

Publication number: US3233078A
Application number: US278107A
Authority: US
Inventors: Siemianowski Roman
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1963-05-06
Filing date: 1963-05-06
Publication date: 1966-02-01
Anticipated expiration: 1983-02-01

Description

Feb- 1, 1966 R.s1EM1ANowsK| 3,233,078

AUTOMATIC DEVICEFOR PREVENTING ICE FORMATION IN GUTTERS AND DOWNSPOUTS Filed May 6, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. l, 1966 R. slEMlANowsKl 3,233,078

AUTOMATIC DEVICE FOR PREVENTING ICE FORMATION IN GUTTERS AND DOWNSPOUTS Filed May 6, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 gil Z/P' United States Patent Oii ice 3,233,078 Patented Feb. 1, 1966 3,233,078 AUTOMATIC DEVICE FOR PREVENTING ICE FORMATION IN GUTTERS AND DOWNSPOUTS Roman Siemianowski, 1647 N. Paulina St., Chicago 422., Ill. Filed May 6, 1963, Ser. No. 278,107 8 Claims. (Cl. 219-213) This invention relates to la moisture-sensitive devi-ce for automatically creating a liquid now channel in ice clogged drain gutters and associated downspouts when the same becomes dammed up by ice formation therein. More in particular this invention relates to a moisture sensitive electric switch device in combination with a drain gutter or downspout having an electric heating element positioned therein.

Oftentimes accumulated snow on a roof begins to thaw particularly when exposed to direct sunlight even though the shade temperature of the atmosphere is appreciably below the freezing point of water. During such times the liquid water from the melting snow often trickles down the sloped roof into the drain gutter where it freezes into solid ice. Thus the gutter soon becomes dammed with ice and consequently the gutter ceases to function as a drain which often results, during subsequent thawing, in flow of water into the `Open space lbelow the roof through the soiiit of the eave thus rotting the lumber and causes other damage. Also since the water cannot drain down the gutter pipe or downspout it overilows over the edges of the gutter and subsequent freezing causes formation of icicles.

One known means to overcome `the above ditliculty is to position an electrical resistance type of heating element in cable or tape form along the upper surface of the bottom of the gutter and extending it down into the downspouts. Thus when the tape heating element is electrically energized the heat evolved prevents liquid water entering the gutter from freezing therein and the water in liquid form drains and discharges through the downspouts normally. However, this means for overcoming the aforesaid diculty has serious drawbacks for either the tape heating element must be electrically energized constantly throughout the cold weather which wastes electric energy during periods when there is no snow or ice on the roof or, in the alternative, the electric current must be applied by manual operation of a suitable switch. The main disadvantage in the latter case is that one must be weather-observant constantly in order to make such a system economically operative in the performance of its intended function.

The present invention ovencomes the aforestated difiiculty by providing, in combination with a gutter having an electric resistance heating tape, an electrolytic switch which automatically closes the circuit for energizing the electric tape vduring the presence of water and conversely opens the circuit when water is eliminated. It is therefore a prime object of the present invention to provide an electrolytic switch which is in open circuit condition in the absence of water and in closed circuit condition in the presence of water.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide an electric heating system lfor forming a trough or channel in ice formed in gutters and associated downspouts employing the electrolytic switch of the preceding object wherein the system is energized only during a period when liquid water is present.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a water sensitive electrolytic switch which may in a simple manner be adapted for operation with existing drain `gutters and downspouts having an electric resistance heating element for automatically inhibiting the formation of ice dams therein.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide an a-djustable device for forming a channel in the ice in drain gutters according to preceding objects at lowcost.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide automatic means `for energizing an electric heating element in a downspout for forming a channel in the ice therein which is independent of the condition in the associated drain gutter.

These and other desirable and inherent objects will become more apparent from the ensuing description of preferred embodiments of the invention, the appended claims and the annexed drawings wherein:

FIGURE l is a perspective view of a roof having a gutter and downspout, partly broken away, illustrating the electric resistance heating element and electrolytic switch system of this invention in position for operation;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation, partly in section and partly broken away, of one form of the electrolytic switch device of this invention; i

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the electrolytic switch of FIG- URE 2;

FIG. 4 is a bottom elevation of the electrolytic switch of FIGURE 2 showing additional construction details;

FIG. 5 is a sectional View taken on line 5 5 of FIG- URE 3 but positioned in a drain gutter illustrating construction details not apparent from the preceding figures;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view, partly broken away, illustrating one electrolytic switch unit in disassembled form;

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing the electric circuitry of the system shown in the preceding figures;

FIG. 8 is a sectional View taken on line 8-8 of FIG- URE 3 showing an electrolytic switch unit in assembled form on the supporting frame;

FIG. 9 is a side elevation, partly in section and partly broken away, of a modified form of the electrolytic switch device of this invention wherein the distance between the electrolytic switch unit and the bottom of the drain gutter is adjustable;

FIG. 1() is a plan view of the modified form of the device shown in FIGURE 9;

FIG. 11 is a bottom view of the device of FIGURES 9 and 10;

FIG. 12 is an enlarged sectional view, taken on line 12 of FIGURE 10, showing the construction of the electrolytic switch unit thereof;

FIG. 13 is a view, partly in section and partly broken away, of a system for de-icing of a downspout employing another modification of an electrolytic switch device which is operative independent of the condition of its associated gutter;

FIG. 14 is a plan view of a disengageable electric connector adapted for electrically interconnecting the power source to the electric heating element with `the modified form of electrolytic switch electrically interposed in the circuit of the Vsystem illustrated in FIGURE 13;

FIG. 15 is a bottom view of the connector of FIGURE 14; and

FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram showing the electric circuitry of the system shown in FIGURE 13.

Referring now to the drawing it will be seen from FIGURE 1 that the numeral 10 indicates generally a building such as a house or home having a sloped roof lll directed downwardly toward a drain gutter 12 having at least one downspout 13 for collecting and conducting rainwater to a suitable discharge point in a conventional manner. The gutter 12 is usually mounted in secured relation to the outer edge portion of eaves formed by the juncture of the roof 11 with the vertical wall 14 as is cornlnonly known. An electric resistance type heating element in tape form 15 is supported upon the upper side of the gutter 12 as is evident from FIGURES 1 and 5 and may also extend downwardly within the downspout 13. It will thus be appreciated that when the heating element 15 is electrically energized the -heat evolved is sucient to prevent freezing of liquid water collected by the gutter 12 prior to the point of discharge directed by the downspout 13. The electrolytic switch device for automatically energizing the heating element 15 during the period when the gutter 12 is collecting water from the roof 11 will now be explained.

The electrolytic switch assembly, generally indicated at 16, comprises a frame 17 which may for convenience be of a substantially trapezoidal or U-shaped cross-section as is evident from FIGURES l and 5. The frame 17 may be but not necessarily constructed of ordinary galvanized iron of the type commonly employed in the construction of gutters. On one end portion of the frame 17 is mounted in secured relation an electric energy receiving male plug indicated at 18. The male plug 18 is of conventional construction having three extending prongs L, N and G (FIGURE 3) adapted to be inserted in a corresponding female receptacle 18 (FIGURE 1) lead- 'ing to a source of electric energy through corresponding lead wires L1, N1 and G1. The prong G is in direct connection with the ground through lead wire G1 for preventing t-he frame 17 and gutter 12 from becoming dangerously charged with electric current. This is accomplished simply by rmly grounding the contact in the power source female receptacle 18 corresponding to the prong G and its lead wire G1. The prong N of the male plug 18 is connected to the neutral side of the source of electric energy and the prong L is connected to the other side of the source of power which is commonly referred to as the hot line. As is evident from FIGURE 7 the prongs G and N are electrically connected together which connection may be conveniently accomplished by a jumper wire on the internally disposed terminals for prongs G and N in the male plug 18. The prongs G and N are connected electrically to the frame 17 through the metal housing 19 and metal mounting means such as rivets two of which are shown at 26 in FIGURES 2 and 3. Thus the frame 17 is electrically grounded through the prongs G and N as described.

Disposed on the other end portion of the frame 17 is a conventional female electric receptacle indicated at' 21 in FIGURE 1 adapted to receive in electric connection a plug 21. The heating element 15 is electrically connected to the internally disposed terminals of the rcceptacle 21 which are designated in FIGURE 3 as A, B and C. Leads or connections A and B lead to the heater element 15 while C is connected in ground relation with the frame 17 and, if of metalr construction, to the gutter 12 by a jumper fixed to the gutter pipe or by contact with the frame 17.

In FIGURE 7 it will be seen that the hot lead L from the source of power is connected directly to one side of the heater element 15. This is accomplished structurally within the assembly 16 by means of insulated wire 22 (FIGURE 4) connecting electrically the prong L of the plug 18 with the terminal A of the receptacle 21. Thus when connected as illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 7 the hot lead L from the power source is connected directly to one side of the heater element 15.

Now in order to complete the circuit from the power source to the heating element 15 the embodiment of the assembly 16 as shown in the drawing includes two electrolytic switch units indicated generally at 23 and 24 in FIGURES 2 and 3. As will be seen from the drawing the electrolytic switch unit 23 is relatively large in physical size as compared with unit 24. Therefore the electrolytic switch unit 23 will be described in detail and it may be assumed that switch unit 24 is of identical construction except for size. t

Referring now to FIGURE 6Vit will be seen that the electrolytic switch unit 23 comprises a pair of porous, permeable or moisture-absorbent sheets or strips of

material

26 and 27 which when dry functions as an electrical insulating material or dielectric element. While there are numerous materials available for such purpose it was found that commercially available soft asbestos paper functioned quite adequately in the embodiments of the invention disclosed herein. Sandwiched between the

strips

26 and 27 is a metal plate or electrode 28, such as copper, which plate 28 is electrically connected to the other side of the heating element 15 at B as evident from FIGURE 7. This is structurally accomplished by soldering or welding insulated conductor or wire 29 to one edge portion of the electrode plate 28 as best seen in FIGURE 6. The insulated conductor 29 is connected to prong B of the receptacle 21 as shown in FIGURES 3, 4 and 7. The

strips

26 and 27 with the metal plate electrode 2S sandwiched therebetween as described are secured to the frame 17 compressively by a metal bracket plate 3i) employing conventional securing means such as rivets, two of which are shown at 31 and 32 in FIGURE 4. In this respect it will be seen from FIGURE 6 that in the pile-up or stack-up of

members

17, 26, 27 and 36 the receiving holes therethrough for the rivet 31 are properly sized for reception of the rivet 31 but the corresponding hole 33 in the electrode plate 28 is substantially larger for in assembling the switch unit 23 the securing rivets, such as metal rivet 31, must not be in electrical contact with the electrode plate 28. Should contact of metal rivet 31 be made with the electrode plate 28 the switch unit 23 would be inoperative for as will be seen later and in such event the heating element 15 would be energized constantly which is undesirable. In this respect it is pointed out that the securing means, such as rivet 31, is in contact with the frame 17 which is electrically grounded as previously explained. At this point it will be apparent that the electrolytic switch 23 may, if desired, be comprised of 'a plurality of first and second electrodes positioned alternately with a dielectric element sandwiched between each pair of electrodes in pile-up or stack-up relation. The first electrodes would in such instance correspond electrically to electrode plate 28 and the second electrodes would correspond electrically to bracket plates 30 and frame 17 As will be seen from the drawing the electrolytic switch unit 23 is in elongated form land secured to the underside of the frame 17 in rigid relation thereto. A smaller electrolytic switch unit 24 may be positioned at one end of the assembly 16 to heat the frame 17 when the

dielectric elements

26 and 27 thereof become wet with water. Since the unit 24 is much smaller than unit 23 its internal esistance when wet is greater and hence will generate eat.

FIGURES 9 through 12 illustrate a modified form of the electrolytic switch assembly designated 16. The modilied assembly 16 includes a male plug 18a and receptacle 21a mounted on supporting frame 17. Connected integrally to one end of the frame 17 is a rnetal arm 34 having a looped portion 34 at the outer end thereof as shown best in FIGURE 9. The looped portion 34 may conveniently be made by bending a portion of the metal strip comprising the arm 34 into a loop and securing the end thereof by any conventional means such as rivet 35. Secured as by welding or the like transversely to the bottom of the looped portion 34 is bracket element 36 having yat least one threaded bore therein as at 37. Threadedly iit into one or both of the bores 37 is an adjusting screw 38. From FIGURE 9 it is thus apparent that by rotating the adjusting screw 38 resting on the upper surface of the Hoor of the gutter 12, the looped portion 34 of arm 34 can be positioned at any selected distance from the floor of the gutter 12 for a purpose described later herein.

Within the looped portion 34 of the arm 34 is an electrolytic switch unit 23. The electrolytic switch unit 23 functions in the same manner as that of switch unit 23 but is modified in its construction. The switch unit 23 cornprises a pair of elongated dielectric elements or strips 26a and 27a with a copper electrode plate `28a sandwiched therebetween and another electrode plate 28]) in contact with the opposite side of one of the dielectric elements 26a or 27a. .The Adielectric elements 26a and 27a t0- gether with the electrodes 28a and .28b are wound spirally and then flattened to the elongated configuration shown in FIGURE 9 thus forming a multi-layered switch unit 23' having a cross-section illustrated in FIGURE 12. The plate electrode 28a is electrically connected to B of the receptacle 21a through insulated conductor 29.

The looped portion 34 of the arm 34 being in electrical contact with the frame 17 and electrode 28b is grounded to the prongs G and N in the same manner as that described for assembly 16. Thus the electrical connections for the assembly 16' are the same as that for assembly 16 shown in FIGURE 7. However, the added advantage of assembly 16 over that of assembly 16 is the adjustability lby means of screw 38 for controlling selectively the distance of the electrolytic switch 23 from the tloor of the gutter 12. As will be apparent later herein this arrangement permits i'low of liquid water in the gutter 12 to a predetermined depth without activating the electrolytic switch 213 thus avoiding the closing of the circuit to the heating element 15 when the gutter 12 is not dammed with ice but draining the water normally.

For operation the

electrolytic switch assembly

16 or 16 is positioned within a section of the gutter 12 as indicated in FIGURES 5 and 9. The assembly 16 or 16' preferably should be positioned adjacent to a downspout for rain gutters are slightly sloped toward a downspout to ensure complete drainage of water collected from the roof. The

assembly

16 or 16 is electrically connected as described consistent with the diagram of FIGURE 7.

Now when it rains, sleets or snows the moisture contacts the

electrolytie switch unit

23, 23 or 24, the porous material

dielectlic elements

26, 27 or 26a, 27a (eg. asbestos paper) absorbs the moisture forming or completing an electrolytic cell which immediately commences to conduct electric current from the metal electrode plate 2S and 28a to the

frame

17 or 17 through the bracket plate electrode 30 or, in the case of `assembly 16', through the looped portion 34 of the arm 34, thus closing the electrical circuit to the heating element 15. The heating element 15 thus energized begins to heat and causes the ice and/ or snow to melt at the point of contact with the heating element 15 to create a channel for the liquid water to flow to the downspout. Water passing over the heating element 15 portion beneath the frame 17 permeates the electrolytic switch 23 either by immersion or water creepage (migration) along the walls of frame 17 and the switch 23 being electrically inv parallel relation with switch 24 thus further decreasing the electrical resist ance of the connection between the heating element 15 and the source of power. Also the switch 24 being activated warms the frame 17 thereby keeping the ice and snow from encasing the frame 17.

When all water collected by the gutter 12 is completely drained the water in the `dielectric elements (

strips

26 and 27 or 26a and 27a) begins to drain and evaporate. As removal of water from the dielectric elements progresses the electrical resistance therethrough correspondingly increases and the switch unit (e.g. switch 23) itself begins to heat which increases the rate of water removal therefrom. When all water from the dielectric elements is thus removed the current flow therethrough terminates and the temperature of the switch returns to ambient temperature. Therefore the heating element 15 is no longer energized and no power loss is experienced until the

assembly

16 or 16 is again subjected to the presence of water as above described.

It should be understood that the electrolytic switch 24 may be omitted if desired since the operation of

switch

23 or 23 does not depend on the operation of switch 24.

It should also be understood that the

assembly

16 or 16 may contain any desired number' of electrolytic switches. Obviously the

assembly

16 or 16 must contain at least one electrolytic switch unit to function according to this invention. It should also be apparent that the assembly 16 or 16' will function equally as well in wooden gutters as in metal gutters for the gutter does not serve as an electric conductor for operating the device.

Sometimes ice will iirst begin to form in a downspout adjacent to the point of discharge. The opening progressively gets smaller until closure results which acts like a plug in the downspout and the downspout soon fills and freezes. This is particularly the case when at least the lower portion of the downspout is in the shade and thus, in the manner previously explained, the trickling water freezes as it cornes into contact with the colder portion thereof. In such case the assembly 16 or 16' would function to energize the heating element 15 after the downspout became plugged with ice and the water becomes dammed up in the gutter. The net result is that the entire heating element 15 in either or both the gutter and downspout is belatedly energized. It thus becomes desirable in some applications to suspend an electrolytic switch unit within the downspout for energizing the heating element 15 disposed in the downspout which, if desired, may function entirely independent of an

assembly

16 or 16 in the gutter, or in the alternative may in some instances serve in place of

assembly

16 or 16. Thus in FIGURE 13 the downspout 13 connected with gutter 12 is provided with an electrolytic switch assembly generally indicated at 39 suspended on an insulated three-conductor cable 51. vOne end of the cable 51 is attached electrically to a male plug 50 removably inserted in receptacle 44 of a connector member generally indicated at 43. The connector member 43 comprises a pair of

electric receptacles

42 and 44 mounted side-by-side on a support member 45 in rigidrelation. The support member 45 may conveniently be constructed similar to frame 17 or 17'. In addition a male plug 46 similar to plug 18 is rigidly secured to the support member 45.

The electrolytic switch assembly 39 may comprise a metal tube 47 open at the bottom end having a male plug 48 rigidly attached thereto. The plug 48 is constructed electrically in the same way as the plugs 46-18 having ground neutral jumper connection. The male plug 48 is inserted into the female receptacle 49 of a three-wire electrical extension cord 51 of standard construction, having hot, neutral and ground conductor wires. The male plug 50 of extension cable 51 is inserted into receptacle 44 of connector member 43. Thus conductors 51a, 51b and 51C connect the metal tube 47 and the switch unit 39a therein to connector member 43 and terminal B of receptacle 42 as shown in FIG. 16.

Inserted in the receptacle 42 is the male plug41 of the heating cable 15. The conductor 15" of the heating cable 15 electrically connects contact A of receptacle 42 to one side of the heating element 15 and theother conductor 15" electrically connects Vcontact B of receptacle` 42 to the other side of the heating element 15 as indicated in dotted lines in FIGURE 16. The plug 46 is electricallyv connected to the source of electric energy by receptacle 52, shown in phantom lines in FIGURE 13', in the same manner as that described for the plug 18.

Referring now to FIGURE 16 it will be seenthat the hot line L of plug 46 is connected to terminal A of receptacle 42 through conductor 53 which in turn is connected to one side of the heater element 15 through conductor l. The other side of the heater element 15 through conductor electrically connects with terminal B of receptacle 42. The terminal B of receptacle 42 is electrically connected through conductor 54 to terminal D of receptacle 44. Terminal D of receptacle dd is electrically connected to the electrode plate 28a of electrolytic switch 39a through conductors Sib and 56. The outer metal element 55, corresponding to the loop portion 34 of arm 34 in assembly 16', of the electrolytic switch unit 39a, is grounded and also connected to terminal E of receptacle 44 through conductor 51a of the cable 51. The terminal E of receptacle 44 is grounded by an internally disposed jumper to terminal F which is grounded at H in the same manner as prongs N and G of plug 46 are grounded. Thus it will be seen that if moisture enters the dielectric elements of electrolytic switch 39a it closes the circuit thereby energizing the heating element 15' in the same manner as that described for switch 23 of assembly lo or switch 23 of assembly 16. The electrolytic switch unit 39a in the metal tube 47 as shown in FIGURE 13 is constructed in the same manner as switch 23 of assembly 16 previously described, the outer metal element 55 grounded at E, H and G as shown which also of course grounds the metal tube 47.

Having thus described preferred embodiments of the invention it can thus be seen that the objects of the invention have been fully achieved and it must be understood that modifications may be made which do not depart from the spirit of the invention as described in the specification and drawing herein and the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination with a drain gutter and drain downspout therefor having an electric heating element connectable to a source of electric energy for inhibiting the formation of ice therein an electrical circuit, an electrolytic switch device positioned in said drain, said device being sensitive to the presence of water for closing the electric circuit between said heating element and said source, said device comprising a support means, a rst electrode secured to said support means and electrically connected to one side of said source, a second electrode mounted in secured relation to said support means and electrically connected to one electrical side of said heating element, the other electrical side of said heating element being electrically connected to the other side of said source, a water permeable dielectric element disposed between said electrodes in abutting relation, said dielectric element being at least partly exposed to the atmosphere -whereby atmospheric moisture permeating said dielectric element completes the formation of an electrolytic cell for conducting electric current between said electrodes to close said circuit thereby energizing said heating element to inhibit the freezing of water in said drain, and a housing for said dielectric element having top and side Walls only, allowing water access to said switch by water rising in said drain gutter.

2. For a drain gutter having an electric heating element connectable to a source of electric energy in energizing relation for inhibiting ice formation in said gutter, an electrical circuit, an electrolytic switch device sensitive to the presence of water for closing said circuit comprising a rst electrode electrically connected to one side of said circuit and a second electrode electrically connected to the other side of said circuit, a water permeable dielectric element disposed between said electrodes in abutting relation and at least partly exposed to the atmosphere whereby water from said atmosphere permeating said dielectric element completes the formation of an electrolytic cell for conducting electric current between said electrodes to close said circuit, and a housing for said dielectric element having top and side walls only,

yallowing water access to said switch by water rising in said drain gutter.

3. In combination with a drain gutter having an electric heating element connectable `with a source `of electric energy in electric circuit relation for inhibiting the formation of ice in said gutter, an electrical circuit, an electrolytic switch device sensitive to the presence of water, said electrolytic switch device being positioned in exposed relation to the atmosphere in said drain gutter whereby water contacting said device completes the formation ot an electrolytic cell thereby closing said electric circuit for energizing said heating element, when water rises in said drain gutter, and a housing for said electrolytic switch having top and side walls only.

4. In combination with a drain gutter and drain downspout therefor having a heating element connectable to a source of electric energy for inhibiting the formation of ice therein, an electrical circuit, an electrolytic switch device sensitive to the presence of water for closing an electric circuit between said heating element and said source comprising a `frame having top and side walls only, a rst electrode secured to said frame and electrically connected to one side of said source, a second electrode mounted in secured relation to said frame and electrically connected to one side of said heating element, the other electrical side of said heating element being electrically connected to the other side of said source, and a water permeable dielectric element disposed between said electrodes in abutting relation, said dielectric element being at least partly exposed to the atmosphere, and within said frame, whereby atmospheric moisture rising in said drain permeating said dielectric element completes the formation of an electrolytic cell for conducting electric current between said electrodes to close said circuit thereby energizing said heating element to inhibit the freezing of water in said drain.

5. The combination according to claim 4 wherein the position of said electrodes with said dielectric element is adjustable in height with respect to said gutter.

6. The combination according to claim 4 wherein said rst and second electrodes with said dielectric elements are wound spirally to increase the area of surface contact of said electrodes with said dielectric element to decrease electric resistivity -of said switch when moisturized.

7. In combination with a downspout associated with a drain gutter having a heating element connectable to a source of electric energy in energizing relation for inhibiting ice 'formation in said downspout, an electrical circuit, an electrolytic switch device disposed in a closed tubular member open only at the bottom suspended in said downspout, said electrolytic switch device being sensitive to the presence of water for closing said circuit, said switch device comprising a first electrode electrically connected to one side of said circuit and a second electrode connected to the other side of said circuit, and a water permeable dielectric element disposed between said electrodes in abutting relation and at least partly exposed to the atmosphere whereby water from said atmosphere rising in said downspout permeating said electric element completes the formation of an electrolytic cell for conducting electric current between said electrodes to close said circuit.

8. The combination of an electrolytic switch device according to claim 7, including a connector member having a male plug connected electrically to said source of electric energy, a rst receptacle on said connector member electrically connected to said heating element, a second receptacle on said connector member electrically connected to said electrolytic switch device, said plug and said receptacles being interconnected electrically whereby said heater element is electrically connected to said source when w-ater permeates said dielectric element of said electrolytic switch device for energizing said heating element.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Miller 219--213 Nutter 20G- 61.05 X Ellison 200-61.05 Michaels 219--213 Ohlheiser 340,-234 X Kroening 20G-611.05

RICHARD M. WOOD, Primary Examiner.

Claims

3. IN COMBINATION WITH A DRAIN GUTTER HAVING AN ELECTRIC HEATING ELEMENT CONNECTABLE WITH A SOURCE OF ELECTRIC ENERGY IN ELECTRIC CIRCUIT RELATION FOR INHIBITING THE FORMATION OF ICE AND IN SAID GUTTER, AN ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT, AN ELECTROLYTIC SWITCH DEVICE SENSITIVE TO THE PRESENCE OF WATER, SAID ELECTROLYTIC SWITCH DEVICE BEING POSITIONED IN EXPOSED RELATION TO TO THE ATMOSPHERE IN SAID DRAIN GUTTER WHEREBY WATER CONTACTING SAID DEVICE COMPLETES THE FORMATION OF AN ELECTROLYTIC CELL THEREBY CLOSING SAID ELECTRIC CIRCUIT FOR ENERGIZING SAID HEATING ELEMENT, WHEN WATER RISES IN SAID DRAIN GUTTER, AND A HOUSING FOR SAID ELECTROLYTIC SWITCH HAVING TOP AND SIDE WALLS ONLY.