AUTOMATED DE-ICING SYSTEM

DURING THE WINTER OF 1972--73 THE NEW YORK DOT WILL FIELD TEST A NEW METHOD OF SNOW AND ICE CONTROL ON A FOUR-LANE UPSTATE BRIDGE. AN ELECTRONIC SENSING DEVICE CONTINUOUSLY MONITORS TEMPERATURE AND HUMIDITY AT THE PAVEMENT LEVEL. WHEN THE READINGS INDICATE THAT SNOW IS FALLING OR ICE IS FORMING, THE SENSOR ACTIVATES A SERIES OF NOZZLES THAT SPRAY A SPECIAL FLUID, CALLED "ISOLV," ONTO THE DECK. THE FLUID IS MORE EFFECTIVE THAN SALT, DOES NOT CORRODE METAL OR DEGRADE CEMENT, AND WORKS AT MUCH LOWER TEMPERATURES THAN SALT. SINCE IT TENDS TO SOAK INTO THE PAVEMENT SURFACE, "ISOLV" PREVENTS FURTHER ICING FOR SEVERAL HOURS AFTER APPLICATION. THE SYSTEM IS CONNECTED TO TRAFFIC SIGNALS AT EITHER END OF THE BRIDGE SO THAT TRAFFIC IS HALTED DURING THE 30-SECOND APPLICATION PERIOD. THE LIQUID, WHICH CONTAINS NO PHOSPHATES, IS BELIEVED TO HAVE NO ENVIRONMENTAL SIDE EFFECTS.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • VOL 51 NO 3 PP 32, 34
• Publication Date: 1972-7

Media Info

• Serial:
  • American Highways
  • Volume: 51
  • Issue Number: 3
  • Publisher: American Highway Users Alliance

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bridge decks; Deicers (Equipment); Deicing chemicals; Detection and identification; Detectors; Electronic equipment; Ice; Snow; Snow and ice control
• Uncontrolled Terms: Deicers
• Old TRIS Terms: Electronic devices
• Subject Areas: Highways; Maintenance and Preservation; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00219049
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: May 7 1973 12:00AM