System and method of snow and ice removal

Abstract

The system is provided with has a light head and a light source is mounted in the light head that radiates visible light. An optical train is mounted in the light head adjacent the light source to focus the visible light to a concentrated light beam line that is directionally focused and has a concentrated power density.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system comprising:
 a housing;   a light source mounted in the housing and radiating visible light;   at least one optic lens mounted in the housing adjacent the light source to focus the visible light to a light beam having a concentrated power density to provide a heat output.   
     
     
         2 . The system according to  claim 1  wherein the housing has an elliptical reflector,
 wherein the light source radiates generally diffuse visible light, the elliptical reflector reflecting the diffuse visible light from the light source toward the at least one optic lens. 
 
     
     
         3 . The system according to  claim 2  wherein light reflected from the elliptical reflector is partially spatially coherent. 
     
     
         4 . The system according to  claim 2  wherein the light source comprises a halogen bulb. 
     
     
         5 . The system according to  claim 2  wherein the housing has a tube portion extending from the elliptical reflector, wherein the at least one optic lens is positioned in the tube portion. 
     
     
         6 . The system according to  claim 1  wherein the at least one optic lens collimates and focuses the light to the concentrated power density. 
     
     
         7 . The system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a controller programmed to operate the light source based on at least one external environmental condition. 
     
     
         8 . The system according to  claim 7 , wherein the controller is programmed to receive information of the external environmental condition comprising at least one of a weather forecast, an outside temperature, an outside humidity or precipitation. 
     
     
         9 . The system according to  claim 7 , further comprising a plurality of light heads, each light head having a light source and an optic lens, wherein the controller is in communication with each of the light heads. 
     
     
         10 . The system according to  claim 7 , further comprising at least one sensor for sensing the external environmental condition and providing a sensor signal to the controller, wherein the controller is programmed to operate the light source based on the sensor signal. 
     
     
         11 . The system according to  claim 1  wherein the concentrated power density at a focal distance from the at least one optic lens is at least 40% more concentrated than before the at least one optic lens. 
     
     
         12 . The system according to  claim 1  wherein the concentrated power density at a focal distance from the at least one optic lens is at least 200% more concentrated than before the at least one optic lens. 
     
     
         13 . The system according to  claim 1  wherein the at least one optic lens comprises a first optic lens and a final optic lens, wherein the concentrated power density at a focal distance from the final optic lens that is greater than a first power density at the first optic lens. 
     
     
         14 . The system according to  claim 13 , wherein the first optic lens comprises a lens to receive the diffuse visible light from the light source and project a spatially semi-coherent light beam toward the final optic lens. 
     
     
         15 . The system according to  claim 13 , wherein the first optic lens has a first focal distance that is less than the final focal distance. 
     
     
         16 . The system according to  claim 13  wherein the first optic lens is mounted a distance from the final optic lens based on the final optic lens focal distance. 
     
     
         17 . The system according to  claim 13 , further comprising a second optic lens mounted in the housing between the first optic lens and final optic lens, the second optic lens projecting a second power density greater than the first power density, wherein the final power density is greater than the second power density. 
     
     
         18 . A method comprising:
 providing an optic train to focus visible light to a light beam having a concentrated power density to provide a heat output;   receiving at least one external environmental condition; and   operating the light source based on at least one external environmental condition.   
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein the external environmental condition comprises one of a weather forecast, an outside temperature, an outside humidity or precipitation. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 18 , further comprising:
 receiving a prediction of precipitation; and   setting a timer to operate the light source forecast in advance of the prediction of accumulation.