Device and a method for melting snow and ice of a railway

Abstract

A device for heating of railway tracks is provided. The device comprises a magnetic field generator fed with a low-frequency current. The magnetic field generator is formed by a device without a circuit returning a magnetic flux generated by the magnetic field generator. Hereby the magnetic flux can be returned via a heater. The heater is a material generating heat when placed in the magnetic field. The heater can be the railway tracks or a plate provided in conjunction with the railway tracks.

1 . A device for melting snow and ice of a railway, the device comprising a magnetic field generator fed with a low-frequency current and adapted to generate a magnetic flux, the device further comprising a heat element located in the magnetic flux generated by the magnetic field generator generating heat when a magnetic flux goes through the heat element. 
     
     
         2 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the temperature in the heat element is controlled by a heating sensor. 
     
     
         3 . The device according to  claim 2 , wherein the heating sensor is a thermostat. 
     
     
         4 . The device according to  claim 1  wherein the frequency of the low-frequency current is the same as the frequency of the current used by trains running on the railway tracks. 
     
     
         5 . The device according to  claim 4 , wherein the low-frequency current is 16, 50 or 60 Hertz. 
     
     
         6 . The device according to  claim 1  wherein the magnetic field generator comprises a core and at least one coil generating a magnetic flux in the core when fed with the low frequency current. 
     
     
         7 . The device according to  claim 6  wherein the core of the magnetic field generator is generally E shaped. 
     
     
         8 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the temperature of the heat element is controlled by the physical properties of the heat element. 
     
     
         9 . The device according to  claim 6 , wherein a plate is provided and the plate forms at least a part of the heat element. 
     
     
         10 . The device according to  claim 9 , wherein the plate is located under the railway tracks. 
     
     
         11 . The device according to  claim 10 , wherein the plate is located between the sleepers of the railway tracks. 
     
     
         12 . The device according to  claim 9 , wherein the plate is located under the switch points of a railway switch. 
     
     
         13 . The device according to  claim 9 , wherein the plate is made of aluminum. 
     
     
         14 . The device according to  claim 9 , wherein the plate is provided with holes and or slits. 
     
     
         15 . The device according to  claim 9 , wherein the plate is located in an area between a tongue and a support rail. 
     
     
         16 . A method for melting snow and ice of a railway, the method comprising feeding a magnetic field generator with a low-frequency current, and generating a magnetic flux, the magnetic flux passing through a heat element located under the railway tracks and thereby generating heat in the heat element wherein the temperature of the heat element is controlled by selection of the heat element. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the temperature is selected by selecting one or more of the following parameters of the heat element:
 the length, width, thickness of the heat element, the geometric shape including provision of holes or slits in the heat element, selection of material and combination of materials in the heat element.   
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the heat element is formed as a plate.