Platform conditioning systems and methods of operating the same

Abstract

In an aspect, the present disclosure provides a platform conditioning system, the system includes a plurality of ribs extending along a portion of a platform, and at least one fluid warming device positioned at one end of the plurality of ribs transferring heat to a first surface of the platform. The at least one fluid warming device includes a flow inducing device to promote fluid movement to a rib inlet, and a heating device coupled to the flow inducing device to heat the fluid conveyed to the rib inlet.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A platform conditioning system, the system comprising:
 a plurality of ribs extending along a portion of a platform; and   at least one fluid warming device positioned at one end of the plurality of ribs transferring heat to a first surface of the platform, the at least one fluid warming device including:
 a flow inducing device to promote fluid movement to a rib inlet; and 
 a heating device coupled to the flow inducing device to heat the fluid conveyed to the rib inlet. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one fluid warming device includes a first fluid warming device and a second fluid warming device;
 the first fluid warming device positioned at an opposing end of the plurality of ribs from the second fluid warming device to form a closed-loop system, the first and second fluid warming devices including:
 a flow inducing device to promote fluid movement from a rib outlet of one of a pair of ribs of the plurality of ribs to a rib inlet of another of the pair of ribs; and 
 a heating device coupled to the flow inducing device to heat the fluid conveyed from the rib outlet to the rib inlet. 
   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the pair of ribs of the plurality of ribs are separated in a transverse direction of the plurality of ribs by a distance corresponding to a wheel-to-wheel dimension of a vehicle travelling atop the platform. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein two pairs of ribs are separated in a transverse direction of the plurality of ribs by a distance corresponding to a wheel-to-wheel dimension of a vehicle travelling atop the platform and heated in a closed-loops;
 wherein a direction of flow of the first pair of ribs is configured to flow opposite a direction of flow of the second pair of ribs.   
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one fluid warming device includes a first fluid warming device and a second fluid warming device;
 the first fluid warming device positioned at one end of the plurality of ribs and including:
 a flow inducing device to promote fluid movement to an initial rib inlet; and 
 a heating device coupled to the flow inducing device to heat the fluid conveyed to the initial rib inlet; 
   the second fluid warming device positioned along the plurality of ribs and including:
 a flow inducing device to promote fluid movement from a middle rib outlet and to a middle rib inlet; and 
 a heating device coupled to the flow inducing device to heat the fluid conveyed to the middle rib inlet. 
   
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the rib inlet comprises at least two rib inlets and the respective ribs are separated in a transverse direction of the plurality of ribs by a distance corresponding to a wheel-to-wheel dimension of a vehicle travelling atop the platform. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of ribs are positioned successively across the platform in a transverse direction. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of ribs are configured to have a trapezoidal cross-sectional shape. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , comprising insulation on another surface of the platform. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , comprising insulation within an insulation cavity on a second surface of the platform. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the platform comprises a plurality of decks interconnected in a longitudinal direction to provide an elongated rib for receiving the heated fluid. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the platform comprises gaskets positioned between the plurality of decks to provide a substantially fluid-tight seal between the decks when providing the elongated rib for receiving the heated fluid. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the gaskets comprise a rigid frame and a compressible material; and
 a ratio of a width of the rigid frame to a width of the compressible material is based in part on at least one of the size of a gap between the decks, expected thermal expansion of the decks, and expected debris on the platform.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein an end of each deck of the plurality of decks is configured to couple to a transom. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 1 , comprising:
 a plurality of decks wherein each deck comprises a plurality of ribs extending along a portion of a platform; and   wherein at least one deck comprises the at least one fluid warming device to form a closed-loop system transferring heat to a first surface of the platform, the fluid warming device including:
 a flow inducing device to promote fluid movement from a rib outlet of one of a pair of ribs of the plurality of ribs of the deck to a rib inlet of another of the pair of ribs; and 
 a heating device coupled to the flow inducing device to heat the fluid conveyed from the rib outlet to the rib inlet. 
   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the heating device comprises at least one of an electric heater, a heat exchanger, a geothermal exchanger, and a solar heat exchanger. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid inducing device comprises a fan. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid comprises air. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the platform comprises a bridge platform. 
     
     
         20 . A method to condition a platform, the method comprising:
 heating a fluid using a heating device of a fluid warming device; and   promoting fluid movement to a rib inlet and into one end of a rib of a plurality of ribs extending along a portion of the platform using a flow inducing device of the fluid warming device;   wherein the fluid moving through the rib transfers heat to a first surface of the platform.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , comprising:
 heating the fluid using a second heating device of the second fluid warming device;   promoting fluid movement of fluid flowing from the rib outlet of the rib to a second rib inlet and into one end of a second rib of the plurality of ribs using a second flow inducing device of a second fluid warming device;   wherein the fluid moving through the second rib transfers heat to a first surface of the platform; and   promoting fluid movement of fluid from the rib outlet of the second rib to the rib inlet to form a closed-loop.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising:
 determining weather conditions; and   activating the fluid warming device when weather conditions include snow or ice conditions.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 20 , the method comprising:
 determining a current temperature; and   activating the fluid warming device when the current temperature falls below a predefined threshold.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 20 , the method comprising:
 determining a current condition of the first surface of the platform; and   activating the fluid warming device when the current condition includes snow or ice conditions.   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 20 , the method comprising recording activity at the platform using a camera. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 20 , the method comprising selecting the rib from the plurality of ribs based on ice or snow conditions on the portion of the first surface of the platform. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 20 , the method comprising:
 determining at least one of a fluid temperature and a fluid velocity of the fluid warming device;   determining that the fluid warming device is sub-functional based on at least one of the fluid temperature and the fluid velocity; and   generating and sending an alert to an external computing device indicating that the fluid warming device is sub-functional.