Self-heating transportation network surface for preventing accumulation of snow or ice

Abstract

A self-heating surface, system and method for use in a transportation network are described. The heated surface does not require electricity to generate heat as a heating source. The self-heating surface preferably forms one or more portions or sections of a transportation network, including pedestrian walkways, roads, railways, or airport runways. The self-heating surface comprises an inner heating member which is fully encapsulated by an outer shell material. The self-heating surface is designed to prevent or minimize accumulation of snow or ice upon the surface by providing a heated surface capable of melting any snow or ice falling on, resting on, or forming thereupon.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A heated surface which does not require electricity to generate heat as a heating source comprising:
 an inner heating member configured to self-generate heat; and   an outer shell material, said outer shell fully encapsulating said inner heating member.   
     
     
         2 . The heated surface according to  claim 1  wherein said inner heating member comprises a self-heating material. 
     
     
         3 . The heated surface according to  claim 2  wherein said self-heating material is spent fuel. 
     
     
         4 . The heated surface according to  claim 3  wherein said inner heating member further comprises an outer protective shield material. 
     
     
         5 . The heated surface according to  claim 3  wherein said outer material is concrete. 
     
     
         6 . The heated surface according to  claim 1  further including at least one heat conducting member coupled to said inner heating member. 
     
     
         7 . The heated surface according to  claim 1  wherein said outer member is sized to maintain a predetermine temperature. 
     
     
         8 . The heated surface according to  claim 1  wherein said self-heating material is in sufficient quantity to maintain a predetermine temperature. 
     
     
         9 . A system for preventing accumulation of snow or ice on a surface used for the transportation of people or powered machines from one destination to a second destination comprising:
 a pathway configured to allow a person or a powered machine to move thereon from one destination to a second destination, said pathway having at least one portion containing a heated surface configured to maintain said portion of said pathway at a temperature that prevents the accumulation of snow or ice.   
     
     
         10 . The system for preventing accumulation of snow or ice on a surface used for the transportation of people or powered machines from one destination to a second destination according to  claim 9  wherein said pathway comprises an inner heating member configured to self-generate heat. 
     
     
         11 . The system for preventing accumulation of snow or ice on a surface used for the transportation of people or powered machines from one destination to a second destination according to  claim 10  wherein said inner heating member comprises a self-heating material. 
     
     
         12 . The system for preventing accumulation of snow or ice on a surface used for the transportation of people or powered machines from one destination to a second destination according to  claim 11  wherein said self-heating material is spent fuel. 
     
     
         13 . The system for preventing accumulation of snow or ice on a surface used for the transportation of people or powered machines from one destination to a second destination according to  claim 12  wherein a pathway contains concrete fully encapsulating said inner heating member. 
     
     
         14 . The system for preventing accumulation of snow or ice on a surface used for the transportation of people or powered machines from one destination to a second destination according to  claim 13  wherein the amount of concrete encapsulating said inner heating member determines the temperature of an upper surface of said pathway. 
     
     
         15 . The system for preventing accumulation of snow or ice on a surface used for the transportation of people or powered machines from one destination to a second destination according to  claim 9  wherein said self-heating material is in sufficient quantity to maintain a predetermine temperature. 
     
     
         16 . A method of maintaining a transportation network at a temperature which prevents or minimizes accumulation of snow or ice thereupon comprising:
 providing a pathway configured to allow a person or a powered machine to move thereon from one destination to a second destination, said pathway having at least one portion containing a heated surface configured to maintain said portion of said pathway at a temperature that prevents the accumulation of snow or ice.   
     
     
         17 . The method of maintaining a transportation network at a temperature which prevents or minimizes accumulation of snow or ice thereupon, according to  claim 16 , wherein said inner heating member comprises a self-heating material. 
     
     
         18 . The method of maintaining a transportation network at a temperature which prevents or minimizes accumulation of snow or ice thereupon, according to  claim 17 , wherein said self heating material is spent fuel. 
     
     
         19 . The method of maintaining a transportation network at a temperature which prevents or minimizes accumulation of snow or ice thereupon, according to  claim 18 , wherein said pathway contains concrete fully encapsulating said inner heating member. 
     
     
         20 . The method of maintaining a transportation network at a temperature which prevents or minimizes accumulation of snow or ice thereupon, according to  claim 19 , wherein the amount of concrete encapsulating said inner heating member determines the temperature of an upper surface of said pathway, or said self-heating material is in sufficient quantity to maintain a predetermine temperature.