Devices and Methods for Antifouling

Abstract

A method of clearing a surface of an object contaminated with a polar material includes the steps of: providing an object having a surface with a plurality of spaced apart electrodes, the electrodes being connected with a voltage source and capable of sustaining a time-varying charge; inducing a first electric field on the plurality of electrodes of a magnitude and for a duration to induce drops of the polar material to take a first dimensional aspect; and inducing a second electric field on the plurality of electrodes of a magnitude and for a duration to induce the drops of the polar material to take a second dimensional aspect. With this method, surfaces such as the head window of a periscope can be cleaned/cleared of contaminants without requiring a manual cleaning and without the use of problematic coatings.

1 . A method of clearing a surface of an object contaminated with a polar material, comprising the steps of:
 providing an object having a surface with a plurality of spaced apart electrodes, the electrodes being connected with a voltage source and capable of sustaining a time-varying charge;   inducing a first electric field on the plurality of electrodes of a magnitude and for a duration to induce drops of the polar material to take a first dimensional aspect; and   inducing a second electric field on the plurality of electrodes of a magnitude and for a duration to induce the drops of the polar material to take a second dimensional aspect.   
   
   
       2 . The method defined in  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of electrodes are arranged in alternating first and second sets, wherein the first set takes a positive charge under the first electric field and the second set takes a negative charge under the First electric field. 
   
   
       3 . The method defined in  claim 2 , wherein the first set of electrodes takes a negative charge under the second electric field. 
   
   
       4 . The method defined in  claim 2 , wherein the first set takes a neutral charge under the second electric field. 
   
   
       5 . The method defined in  claim 1 , wherein the electrodes are generally linear and extend across the object surface. 
   
   
       6 . The method defined in  claim 1 , wherein the object surface is transparent. 
   
   
       7 . The method defined in Clam  1 , wherein the polar material comprises water. 
   
   
       8 . The method defined in  claim 1 , further comprising the step of introducing a cleaning fluid to the object surface prior to the inducing steps. 
   
   
       9 . A method of clearing a surface of an object contaminated with a polar material, comprising the steps of:
 providing an object having a surface with a plurality of spaced apart electrodes, the electrodes being connected with a voltage source and capable of sustaining a time-varying charge;   inducing a first electric field on the plurality of electrodes arranged in alternating first and second sets, wherein the first set takes a positive charge under the first electric field and the second set takes a negative charge under the first electric field, the electric field being induced at a magnitude and for a duration to induce a drop of the polar material to take a first dimensional aspect; and   inducing a second electric field on the plurality of electrodes in which at least one electrode in the first set takes a neutral or negative charge and at least one electrode in the second set takes a neutral or positive charge, with the result that the drop of polar liquid moves along the object surface.   
   
   
       10 . The method defined in  claim 9 , wherein each of the electrodes is capable of taking a positive, negative and neutral charge. 
   
   
       11 . The method defined in  claim 9 , further comprising repeating the steps of inducing a first electric field and inducing a second electric field in order to continue to move the drop of polar liquid along the object surface. 
   
   
       12 . The method defined in  claim 9 , wherein the electrodes are generally linear and extend across the object surface. 
   
   
       13 . The method defined in  claim 9 , wherein the object surface is transparent. 
   
   
       14 . The method defined in Clam  9 , wherein the polar material comprises water. 
   
   
       15 . The method defined in  claim 9 , further comprising the step of introducing a cleaning fluid to the object surface prior to the inducing steps. 
   
   
       16 . A method of clearing a surface of an object contaminated with a polar material, comprising the steps of:
 providing an object having a surface with a plurality of spaced apart electrodes, the electrodes being connected with a voltage source and capable of sustaining a time-varying charge;   inducing a first electric field on the plurality of electrodes arranged in alternating first and second sets, wherein the first set takes a positive charge under the first electric field and the second set takes a negative charge under the first electric field, the electric field being induced at a magnitude and for a duration to induce a drop of the polar material to take a first flattened shape;   ceasing the induction of electric field on the plurality of electrodes, with the result that the drop of polar liquid takes a second relaxed shape;   repeating the inducing and ceasing steps to cause the drop of polar liquid to alternately switch between the first and second shapes and provide a scrubbing action to the object surface.   
   
   
       17 . The method defined in  claim 16 , wherein the electrodes are generally linear and extend across the object surface. 
   
   
       18 . The method defined in  claim 16 , wherein the object surface is transparent. 
   
   
       19 . The method defined in  claim 16 , wherein the polar material comprises water. 
   
   
       20 . The method defined in  claim 9 , further comprising the step of introducing a cleaning fluid to the object surface prior to the inducing and ceasing steps. 
   
   
       21 . An object with anti-fouling capability, comprising:
 a surface with a plurality of spaced apart electrodes, the electrodes being capable of sustaining a time-varying charge;   a voltage source connected with the electrodes; and   a controller for controlling the voltage of the electrodes, the controller configured to (a) induce a first electric field on the plurality of electrodes of a magnitude and for a duration to induce drops of a polar material on the object surface to take a first dimensional aspect, and (b) induce a second electric field on the plurality of electrodes of a magnitude and for a duration to induce the drops of the polar material to take a second dimensional aspect.   
   
   
       22 . The object defined in  claim 21 , wherein the surface is a transparent surface. 
   
   
       23 . The object defined in  claim 21 , wherein the object is a submersible vehicle. 
   
   
       24 . The object defined in  claim 21 , wherein the electrodes are generally linear and extend across the object surface. 
   
   
       25 . The object defined in  claim 21 , further comprising a source for applying a cleaning fluid to the surface.