KR102714167B1 - Super power saving snowmelting system to prevent accidents caused by freezing(blackice/thinice/freezing) or snowfall on road surfaces - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an ultra-low-power snow melting system for preventing accidents caused by road surface ice (black ice/black ice/freezing) or snowfall, comprising: a heating cable buried in a certain pattern on a road surface in an area where snowfall or ice occurs; an ice detection unit installed adjacent to the heating cable on the road surface where the heating cable is buried to detect an ice point of the road surface and transmit information on the detected ice point of the road surface; a road surface detection unit installed together with the ice detection unit on the road surface where the heating cable is buried to detect a state of the road surface and transmit information on the detected state of the road surface; a control unit which is respectively connectable to the heating cable, the ice detection unit, and the road surface detection unit, controls operation of the heating cable, and receives information detected by the ice detection unit and information detected by the road surface detection unit; And a server unit that can be connected to the control unit, and can analyze and calculate the detection information of the ice detection unit and the detection information of the road surface detection unit transmitted by the control unit, and sets a temperature using the analyzed and calculated information of the freezing point of the road surface detected by the ice detection unit and the temperature deviation of the road surface detected by the road surface detection unit, and operates the output of the heating cable for a set time and with a set amount of power when the temperature gradient of the road surface where the freezing point of the road surface and the temperature deviation of the road surface are other than the set temperature is a downward curve, and when the freezing point of the road surface and the temperature deviation of the road surface maintain the set temperature, adjusts the output of the heating cable downward for a set time and with a set amount of power, and controls the control unit not to operate the output of the heating cable when the temperature gradient of the road surface where the freezing point of the road surface and the temperature deviation of the road surface are within the set temperature is an upward curve; It is a technical feature that includes the removal of ice (black ice/dry ice/freeze) or snow on the road surface by using buried snow melting (heating cables). Not only can excessive power usage be minimized through advance prediction operation, but it also has the effect of efficiently melting snow or ice using the minimum amount of power.

Description

SUPER POWER SAVING SNOWMELTING SYSTEM TO PREVENT ACCIDENTS CAUSED BY FREEZING (BLACKICE/THINICE/FREEZING) OR SNOWFALL ON ROAD SURFACES

The present invention relates to an ultra-power-saving snow melting system for preventing accidents caused by road surface ice (black ice/slime ice/freeze) or snowfall, and more specifically, to an ultra-power-saving snow melting system for preventing accidents caused by road surface ice (black ice/slime ice/freeze) or snowfall, which can remove ice (black ice/slime ice/freeze) or snowfall on a road surface using an installed snow melting (heating cable), thereby minimizing excessive power usage through advance prediction operation and efficiently melting snow or ice using a minimum amount of power.

In general, among traffic accidents that occur on the road, the rate of slipping accidents due to road ice in winter is high, and the frequency of accidents is high in areas with frequent icing, such as steep, curved roads, overpasses, bridge sections, and tunnel entrances and exits.

The number of casualties and massive property damage caused by major and minor traffic accidents due to road ice in winter is increasing every year, and although the initial work is very important for snow removal due to heavy snowfall, if rapid access to the site is not possible for various reasons such as late-night or commuting hours slippery accidents, the snow removal work is delayed, which significantly increases the risk of severe traffic congestion and traffic accidents.

Although the snowmelt effect of light snow resolves over time, fundamental measures for snow accumulation and freezing on paved roads during the transitional period of snowmelt and during rapid drops in nighttime low temperatures have not been established in most cases.

The easiest way to prevent this is to use snow removal vehicles to spray calcium chloride, a widely used de-icing agent. However, the corrosion damage to road facilities and various negative impacts on the environment are constantly pointed out as serious problems by environmental groups and road officials. In particular, research results have been reported that the shortened lifespan of road facilities, vehicle corrosion damage, and roadside tree necrosis and environmental pollution caused by calcium chloride spraying are common, and the welded areas of overpasses and bridges, which are steel structures, corrode 20 to 40 times faster.

Therefore, in addition to early response to snow accumulation on steep slopes of paved roads, overpasses, bridges, tunnel entrances and exits, ramp sections for interchanges, airport aprons and runways, etc. that are vulnerable to snow and ice in winter, an eco-friendly snow removal method is urgently needed to prevent the threat to life caused by confusing traffic accidents for drivers driving on winter roads and the enormous economic loss that increases every year.

However, the current snow removal methods have limitations in removing snow from paved roads due to sudden heavy snowfall in winter. For example, methods for removing snow by directly burying heating media such as electric heating wires in the road surface are being proposed.

The method of burying electric heating wires is to first lay a reinforcing mesh or fixing belt before starting new paving work, then lay and pipe electric heating wires on top of it, fix them, and then pave over it with asphalt or cement concrete.

In the case of laying electric heating wires, very complex construction is required to ensure safe insulation (leakage prevention), which is the lifeblood of the electric heating wires. Therefore, the construction period is long, a lot of construction costs must be invested, and it is not easy to perform maintenance and repair work in terms of facility management in the future. Therefore, it is not widely used.

Since only the electric heating cable is installed at a depth of about 50 mm from the road surface, it takes a long time for the heat to be transmitted to the road surface due to the enormous heat loss into the ground, making it impossible to quickly remove snow when it snows. In addition, the facility maintenance and management costs are increasing significantly due to the enormous power consumption caused by unnecessary heat loss.

Although various proposals have been made for this method, there have been problems such as the inefficient use of electric energy and the enormous heat loss from the already installed heating wires, which increases the amount of electricity used, and this places a great burden on facility maintenance and management, resulting in significant economic losses.

Related prior art includes Patent Publication No. 10-0394316 (Title of the invention: Road surface ice prevention system, Registration date: July 29, 2003) and Patent Publication No. 10-2304126 (Title of the invention: Heating cable for road ice black ice and snow melting and road ice black ice and snow melting system using the same, Registration date: September 14, 2021).

The present invention has been created to solve the problems of the prior art as described above, and aims at an ultra-energy-saving snow melting system that can prevent accidents caused by ice (black ice/slime ice/freeze) or snow on a road surface by removing ice (black ice/slime ice/freeze) or snow on a road surface using an installed snow melting (heating cable), thereby minimizing excessive power usage through advance prediction operation and efficiently melting snow or ice using a minimum amount of power.

Other objects of the present invention can be understood through the characteristics of the present invention, can be more clearly known through the embodiments of the present invention, and can be realized by the means and combinations shown in the claims.

In order to achieve the above-described problem to be solved by the present invention, the present invention has the following technical features.

The ultra-power-saving snow melting system for preventing accidents due to road surface ice (black ice/black ice/freezing) or snowfall according to the present invention comprises: a heating cable buried in a certain pattern on a road surface in an area where snowfall or ice occurs; an ice detection unit installed adjacent to the heating cable on the road surface where the heating cable is buried to detect an ice point of the road surface and transmit information on the detected ice point of the road surface; a road surface detection unit installed together with the ice detection unit on the road surface where the heating cable is buried to detect a state of the road surface and transmit information on the detected state of the road surface; a control unit which is respectively connectable to the heating cable, the ice detection unit, and the road surface detection unit, controls the operation of the heating cable, and receives information detected by the ice detection unit and information detected by the road surface detection unit; And a server unit which is connectable to the control unit, and is capable of analyzing and calculating the detection information of the ice detection unit and the detection information of the road surface detection unit transmitted by the control unit, and sets a temperature using the analyzed and calculated information of the freezing point of the road surface detected by the ice detection unit and the temperature deviation of the road surface detected by the road surface detection unit, and operates the output of the heating cable for a set time and with a set amount of power when the temperature gradient of the road surface where the freezing point of the road surface and the temperature deviation of the road surface are other than the set temperature is a downward curve, and when the freezing point of the road surface and the temperature deviation of the road surface maintain the set temperature, adjusts the output of the heating cable downward for a set time and with a set amount of power, and controls the control unit not to operate the output of the heating cable when the temperature gradient of the road surface where the freezing point of the road surface and the temperature deviation of the road surface are within the set temperature is an upward curve;

In the ultra-power-saving snow melting system for preventing accidents due to road surface ice (black ice/black ice/freezing) or snowfall according to the present invention, the heating cable, the ice detection unit, and the road surface detection unit are each connectable to the control unit, and are each connected to the server unit according to the settings of the server unit, thereby controlling the operation of the heating cable and receiving detected information of the ice detection unit and detected information of the road surface detection unit.

In the ultra-power-saving snow melting system for preventing accidents due to road surface ice (black ice/snow/freezing) or snowfall according to the present invention, the system further includes: an embedded LED sign unit that is connectable to the control unit or the server unit and is installed on the road surface on which the ice detection unit and the road surface detection unit are installed, and is installed adjacent to the ice detection unit and the road surface detection unit; wherein the embedded LED sign unit is output in different colors according to the first safety stage, the second caution stage, and the third warning stage, respectively, according to a value set by the server unit.

In an ultra-power-saving snow melting system for preventing accidents caused by road surface ice (black ice/black ice/freezing) or snowfall according to the present invention, an LED light source is provided inside the ice detection unit or the road surface detection unit, and the LED light source unit irradiates light generated using supplied electric energy onto the road surface.

In the ultra-low-power snow melting system for preventing accidents caused by road surface ice (black ice/snow ice/freezing) or snowfall according to the present invention, the server unit transmits a warning message in real time to a navigation system installed in a vehicle in motion that has reached a set location near a road in an area where snowfall or ice occurs, a portable terminal carried by a driver of the vehicle, or an electronic display board installed on the road.

In an ultra-low-power snow melting system for preventing accidents caused by road surface ice (black ice/black ice/freezing) or snowfall according to the present invention, one of the ice detection unit and the road surface detection unit is connected to the heating cable to detect current leakage of the heating cable and transmit information on current leakage of the heating cable to the control unit.

In the ultra-power-saving snow melting system for preventing accidents due to road surface ice (black ice/black ice/freezing) or snowfall according to the present invention, the ice detection unit and the road surface detection unit can be respectively connected to the control unit, and the ice detection unit and the road surface detection unit can be connected between the control unit with a signal of a frequency band, and the signal of the frequency band is set in advance by the server unit, and the normal state and abnormal state (failure) of the ice detection unit and the road surface detection unit can be checked according to the pre-set frequency band.

The present invention provides a means for solving the above-mentioned problem by removing ice (black ice/dark ice/freezing) or snow that occurs on the road surface using a snow melting (heating cable) that is installed, and not only minimizes excessive power usage through advance prediction operation, but also has the effect of efficiently melting snow or ice using a minimum amount of power.

In addition, the present invention also has the effect of minimizing traffic accidents and casualties through the action of snow melting.

Other effects of the present invention can be understood through the characteristics of the present invention, can be more clearly known through the embodiments of the present invention, and can be exerted by the means and combinations shown in the claims.

Figure 1 is a drawing of one embodiment of an ultra-low-power snow melting system for preventing accidents caused by road surface ice (black ice/snow/freezing) or snowfall according to the present invention.
Figure 2 is a drawing showing a built-in LED sign unit connected to a control unit or server unit according to Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a perspective view showing a state in which an LED light source unit is provided in the ice detection unit according to Figure 1.
Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing a state in which an LED light source unit is provided in the road surface detection unit according to Fig. 1.
Figure 5 is a drawing showing a state in which a heating cable, an ice detection unit, and a road detection unit according to Figure 1 are connected to a server unit.
Figure 6 is a drawing showing the steps of an ultra-low-power snow melting system for preventing accidents caused by road surface ice (black ice/snow/freezing) or snowfall according to Figure 1.

The detailed description of the present invention set forth below refers to the accompanying drawings which illustrate, by way of example, specific embodiments in which the present invention may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the present invention. It should be understood that the various embodiments of the present invention, while different from each other, are not necessarily mutually exclusive. For example, specific shapes, structures, and characteristics described herein may be implemented in other embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention with respect to one embodiment. It should also be understood that the positions or arrangements of individual components within each disclosed embodiment may be changed without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the detailed description set forth below is not intended to be limiting, and the scope of the present invention is defined only by the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. Like reference numerals in the drawings designate the same or similar functions throughout.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of an ultra-power-saving snow melting system for preventing accidents caused by road surface ice (black ice/slime ice/freeze) or snowfall according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a built-in LED sign unit connected to a control unit or a server unit according to FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state in which an LED light source unit is provided in an ice detection unit according to FIG. 1, FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a state in which an LED light source unit is provided in a road surface detection unit according to FIG. 1, FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a state in which a heating cable, an ice detection unit, and a road surface detection unit according to FIG. 1 are connected to a server unit, and FIG. 6 is a diagram showing steps of an ultra-power-saving snow melting system for preventing accidents caused by road surface ice (black ice/slime ice/freeze) or snowfall according to FIG. 1.

The ultra-low-power snow melting system (100) for preventing accidents caused by road surface ice (black ice/snow/freezing) or snowfall according to the present invention comprises a heating cable (110), an ice detection unit (120), a road surface detection unit (130), a control unit (140), and a server unit (150), as shown in FIGS. 1 to 6.

Heating cables (110) are installed in a certain pattern on the road surface in areas where snow or ice occurs.

A heating cable (110) is composed of a heating element (heat wire) centered on a plurality of insulators, inner and outer braids, and a jacket, and is used to melt snow or ice.

Road surfaces are usually roads where people and vehicles travel, but they can also include parking lots, alleys, runways, etc.

The heating cable (110) is a semi-permanent product with a safe design against leakage and electric shock accidents due to perfect grounding of the inorganic and metal outer sheath, and is preferably a product that can withstand large loads such as vehicles and high external pressure, and minimize cracking of roads paved with ready-mixed concrete cement concrete and asphalt concrete due to thermal expansion.

When snowfall and freezing are detected in the initial stage in the installation area, partial snow melting is possible by selectively operating the snow melting area of the road surface through a heating cable (110).

Heating cables (110) are installed in two rows on the road in a grid, mesh, or zigzag shape using a single line to prevent melting or freezing (black ice/dark ice, etc.) of snow accumulated on the road.

The ice detection unit (120) is installed adjacent to the heating cable (110) on the road surface where the heating cable (110) is buried, detects the ice point of the road surface, and transmits the detected ice point information of the road surface to the control unit (140) described below.

Specifically, the ice detection unit (120) is installed on the road surface and detects the freezing point of the road surface in real time and transmits information on the detected freezing point of the road surface to the control unit (140). The freezing point is the temperature at which water begins to freeze, and is 0°C under 1 atm.

The ice detection unit (120) directly detects ice where water begins to freeze on the road surface, detects the amount of snow removal material to be sprayed, can predict the freezing point in advance, and also has an alarm function for ice.

By enabling rapid response through advance prediction of the freezing point and an alarm for freezing by the ice detection unit (120), vehicle accidents and casualties can be minimized.

Table 1 below shows the specifications of the ice detection unit.

- Table 1 -

An LED light source unit (121) is provided inside the ice detection unit (120), and the LED light source unit (121) irradiates (outputs) light generated using supplied electric energy onto the road surface.

An LED light source (121) is provided inside the ice detection unit (120), and is provided so as to be rotatable around the center of the ice detection unit (120), so as to rotate according to the road conditions on which the ice detection unit (120) is installed.

In areas where snow or ice occurs, the ice (black ice) must be melted and removed by means of a heating cable (110) installed in the road drawing, but in case the ice (black ice) cannot be removed due to unexpected causes such as weather, the LED light source (121) of the ice detection unit (120) installed on the road is used.

The LED light source unit (121) provided in the ice detection unit (120) is output (irradiated) on the road in different colors according to the first safety stage, second caution stage, and third warning stage, as set by the server unit (150), like the built-in LED sign unit (160) described below.

Drivers driving on the road are easily identified with their eyes during the day, but are difficult to identify with their eyes at night, so they are identified through the light source output from the LED light source (121) of the ice detection unit (120).

The LED light source (121) of the ice detection unit (120) outputs a light source that is green when in the first safety stage, orange when in the second caution stage, and red when in the third warning stage, like a traffic light, depending on the value set in the server unit (150), allowing the driver to identify it.

The LED light source (121) of the ice detection unit (120) does not stay on (ON), but turns on (ON) when a running vehicle reaches a certain distance from the ice detection unit (120), and turns off (OFF) when it moves away from the certain distance.

This not only reduces unnecessary electricity from the LED light source (121) of the ice detection unit (120), but also extends its lifespan.

The ice detection unit (120) is connected to the heating cable (110) to detect leakage current in the heating cable (110) and transmit leakage information of the heating cable (110) to the control unit (140).

Since a means for detecting leakage of the heating cable (110) is provided in the ice detection section without the need for a separate means for detecting leakage of the heating cable (110), the time and cost required for road installation can be saved.

Since the heating cable (110) is structured to be able to conduct electricity for heat generation, it is inevitable that there will be leakage current. If the heating cable (110) is shaken by a strong impact from a vehicle or a large number of people passing over the road surface on which it is installed, the connection becomes unstable, which not only makes the power supplied to the heating cable (110) unstable, but also causes personal accidents such as electric shock to people passing over the heating cable (110) due to the power supplied.

The freezing detection unit (120) equipped with a means for detecting leakage of a heating cable (110) can accurately check abnormal conditions such as leakage of a heating cable (110), thereby enabling rapid post-processing, and thus providing sufficient expandability that is not restricted by the area where it is installed.

The ice detection unit (120) can be connected to the control unit (140), and the ice detection unit (120) can be connected to the control unit (140) using a signal of a frequency band, and the signal of the frequency band is set in advance in the server unit (150), and the normal state and abnormal state (failure) of the ice detection unit (120) can be checked according to the frequency band set in advance.

A plurality of ice detection units (120) are installed on the road, and each ice detection unit (120) is installed on the road while having its own unique code.

The ice detection unit (120) has its own unique code, so that the server unit (150) can check in real time whether the ice detection unit is in an abnormal state, that is, is broken, and respond to it quickly.

The road surface detection unit (130) is installed on the road surface where the heating cable (110) is buried together with the ice detection unit (120), detects the condition of the road surface, and transmits the detected road surface condition information to the control unit (140) together with the ice detection unit (120).

An LED light source unit (131) is provided inside the road surface detection unit (130), and the LED light source unit (131) irradiates (outputs) light generated using supplied electric energy onto the road surface.

An LED light source (131) is provided inside the road surface detection unit (130), and is provided so as to be rotatable around the center of the road surface detection unit (130), so as to rotate according to the road conditions on which the road surface detection unit (130) is installed.

In areas where snow or ice occurs, the ice (black ice) must be melted and removed by means of a heating cable (110) installed in the road drawing, but in case the ice (black ice) cannot be removed due to unexpected causes such as weather, the LED light source (131) of the road surface detection unit (130) installed on the road is used.

The LED light source unit (131) provided in the road detection unit (130) is output (irradiated) onto the road in different colors according to the first safety stage, second caution stage, and third warning stage, as set by the server unit (150), similar to the built-in LED sign unit (160) described below.

Drivers driving on the road are easily identifiable with their eyes during the day, but are difficult to identify with their eyes at night, so they are identified through the light source output from the LED light source (131) of the road surface detection unit (130).

The LED light source (131) of the road detection unit (130) outputs green light when it is the first safety stage, orange light when it is the second caution stage, and red light when it is the third warning stage, just like the color of a traffic light that changes according to the value set in the server unit (150), allowing the driver to identify it.

The LED light source (131) of the road surface detection unit (130) does not stay on (ON), but turns on (ON) when a vehicle in motion reaches a certain distance from the road surface detection unit (130), and turns off (OFF) when it leaves the certain distance.

This not only reduces unnecessary electricity from the LED light source (131) of the road surface detection unit (130), but also extends its lifespan.

Table 2 below shows the specifications of the road surface detection unit.

- Table 2 -

The road surface detection unit (130) is connected to the heating cable (110) to detect leakage current in the heating cable (110) and transmit leakage information of the heating cable (110) to the control unit (140).

Since a means for detecting leakage of the heating cable (110) is provided in the road surface detection unit (130) without the need for a separate means for detecting leakage of the heating cable (110), the time and cost required for installing the road can be saved.

Since the heating cable (110) is structured to be able to conduct electricity for heat generation, it is inevitable that there will be leakage current. If the heating cable (110) is shaken by a strong impact from a vehicle or a large number of people passing over the road surface on which it is installed, the connection becomes unstable, which not only makes the power supplied to the heating cable (110) unstable, but also causes personal accidents such as electric shock to people passing over the heating cable (110) due to the power supplied.

The road surface detection unit (130) equipped with a means for detecting leakage of a heating cable (110) can accurately check abnormal conditions such as leakage of a heating cable (110), thereby enabling rapid post-processing, and thus providing sufficient expandability that is not restricted by the area where it is installed.

In the present invention, the ice detection unit (120) and the road detection unit (130) that detect leakage current of the heating cable (110) are exemplified as being selectively connected to the heating cable (110), but in some cases, both the ice detection unit (120) and the road detection unit (130) are simultaneously connected to the heating cable (110) so that abnormal conditions such as leakage current of the heating cable (110) can be detected first, thereby enabling a quick response.

The road surface detection unit (130) can be connected to the control unit (140), and the road surface detection unit (130) can be connected to the control unit (140) through a signal of a frequency band, and the signal of the frequency band is set in advance in the server unit (150), and the normal state and abnormal state (failure) of the road surface detection unit (130) can be checked according to the frequency band set in advance.

A plurality of road surface detection units (130) are installed on the road, and each road surface detection unit (130) is installed on the road while having its own unique code.

The road surface detection unit (130) has a unique code, so that the server unit (150) can check in real time whether the road surface detection unit is in an abnormal state, that is, is broken, and respond to it quickly.

Table 3 below shows the road surface conditions and freezing point status.

- Table 3 -

Table 4 below shows the road surface condition and freezing point analysis (when the heating cable is in operation).

- Table 4 -

The control unit (140) can be connected to each of the heating cable (110), the ice detection unit (120), and the road detection unit (130), controls the operation of the heating cable (110), and receives information detected by the ice detection unit (120) and information detected by the road detection unit (130).

Specifically, the control unit (140) can be electrically connected to the heating cable (110), the ice detection unit (120), and the road surface detection unit (130), respectively, and can control the operation of the power supply to the heating cable (110) according to a signal applied from the server unit (150) described below, such as cutting off the power or the amount of power (amount of current) and the time of power supply, and receives information on the freezing point of the road surface detected by the ice detection unit (120) and information on the state of the road surface detected by the road surface detection unit (130).

In the present invention, the control unit (140) can be connected to the heating cable (110), the ice detection unit (120), and the road detection unit (130), respectively, and according to the settings of the server unit (150), the heating cable (110), the ice detection unit (120), and the road detection unit (130) can be connected to the server unit (150), respectively, thereby controlling the operation of the heating cable (110) and receiving the detected information transmitted from the ice detection unit (120) and the detected information transmitted from the road detection unit (130).

This is to prepare for unexpected problems occurring in the control unit (140) that controls the heating cable (110), ice detection unit (120), and road detection unit (130), and allows a manager who remotely monitors from the server unit (150) to quickly respond to the on-site situation.

The control unit (140) compares (analyzes and calculates) the freezing point information of the ice detection unit (120) and the road condition information of the road detection unit (130) before snowfall or freezing occurs, and melts and removes black ice by preheating it through power supply to the heating cable (110).

The control unit (140) controls the amount of power or time supplied to the heating cable (110) to melt and remove black ice that occurs on the road surface at its source. However, in some cases, if the black ice cannot be removed at its source, the built-in LED sign unit (160) described below or the LED light source units (121, 131) provided in the ice detection unit (120) and road surface detection unit (130) respectively output colors so that a driver driving on a road surface where black ice remains can check and take action.

The control unit (140) controls the power of the heating cable (110) based on the temperature set by the server unit (150). For example, if there is a risk of freezing on the road surface, power is not supplied to the heating cable (110), and if freezing occurs, power is supplied to the heating cable (110).

The control unit (140) controls the heating cable (110) to cut off power supplied to the heating cable (110) when the road surface is freed from the frozen state based on the temperature set by the server unit (150) in the frozen state where power is supplied to the heating cable (110).

The method of supplying (applying) power to the heating cable (110) buried in the road is to supply power through the control unit (140) or, in some cases, through the server unit (150). That is, a manager monitoring the site in real time from the server unit (150) can judge the on-site situation and apply a control signal to the control unit (140) to selectively supply power to the heating cable (110).

The control unit (140) can detect leakage current in the heating cable (110) by using information transmitted from the ice detection unit (120) or the road detection unit (130). When leakage current occurs in the heating cable (110), the control unit (140) quickly cuts off the power to the heating cable (110) and transmits information about the leakage current in the heating cable (110) to the server unit (150), so that an administrator located in the server unit (150) can quickly respond by manually cutting off the power to the heating cable (110).

The server unit (150) can be connected to the control unit (140), and the control unit (140) can analyze and calculate the detection information of the ice detection unit (120) and the detection information of the road surface detection unit (130) received, and the temperature is set based on the information analyzed and calculated from the freezing point of the road surface detected by the ice detection unit (120) and the temperature deviation of the road surface detected by the road surface detection unit (130), and when the temperature gradient of the road surface where the freezing point of the road surface and the temperature deviation of the road surface are outside the set temperature is a downward curve, the output of the heating cable (110) is operated for a set time and with a set amount of power, and when the freezing point of the road surface and the temperature deviation of the road surface maintain the set temperature, the output of the heating cable (110) is adjusted downward for a set time and with a set amount of power, and when the temperature gradient of the road surface where the freezing point of the road surface and the temperature deviation of the road surface are within the set temperature is an upward curve, the output of the heating cable (110) is turned on. Control the control unit (140) so that it does not operate.

Specifically, the server unit (150) can be electrically connected to the control unit (140), and controls the control unit (140) by analyzing and calculating the road surface freezing point information detected by the ice detection unit (120) and the road surface condition information detected by the road surface detection unit (130) through a program transmitted from the control unit (140), comparing and analyzing the freezing point information and the road surface condition information, and calculating the information.

The server unit (150) analyzes and calculates the information from the ice point detection information of the ice detection unit (120) and the road surface condition detection information of the road surface detection unit (130) received from the control unit (140), so that the manager located in the server unit (150) can understand the road surface condition of the relevant area.

The server unit (150) is a control center where the administrator is located. The administrator can check in real time using a monitor provided in the control center or can check in real time from outside the control center using a portable terminal such as a cell phone.

An administrator located in the server section (150) can remotely monitor the situation in an area where snowfall or freezing occurs, and remotely control the heating of the heating cable (110) or power supply.

The server unit (150) can remotely control the heating cable (110)'s heating and power supply, and can also remotely control the ice detection unit (120) and road detection unit (130).

The server unit (150) transmits a real-time warning message to a navigation system installed in a vehicle driving at a set location near a road in an area where snow or ice occurs, or to a portable terminal carried by a driver of the vehicle, or to an electronic display board installed on the road, so that a response can be made.

In the present invention, the server unit (150) is exemplified as analyzing and calculating the freezing point detection information of the ice detection unit (120) and the road condition detection information of the road surface detection unit (130), but in some cases, the control unit (140) may perform the analysis and calculation and transmit the analyzed and calculated information to the server unit (150).

In the past, people used to rely on weather forecasts from the Korea Meteorological Administration to estimate whether roads in that area would be frozen, but there were many cases where the roads in that area did not freeze.

Accordingly, based solely on the weather forecast information from the Korea Meteorological Administration, snow melting, that is, heating cables were operated to address the freezing of road surfaces in the area, but for some reason, no freezing occurred on the road surfaces in the area, resulting in unnecessary waste of electricity for the operation of heating cables.

Accordingly, the present invention compares and analyzes the freezing point information detected by the freezing detection unit (120) and the road surface condition information detected by the road surface detection unit (130) and calculates the amount of power required to thaw the heating cable (snow melting) and the time required to thaw the start of black ice (freezing/black ice), the thickness of black ice, etc., so that it is much more accurate than the existing weather forecast information from the Korea Meteorological Administration.

The server unit (150) controls the control unit (140) and transmits the analyzed and calculated information to the manager who manages the roads in the area where snowfall or freezing occurs.

The server unit (150) operates the output of the heating cable (110) for a set time and power amount when the freezing point of the road surface detected by the ice detection unit (120) and the temperature difference of the road surface detected by the road surface detection unit (130) are set temperatures and the temperature gradient of the road surface is a downward curve, and adjusts the output of the heating cable (110) downward when the freezing point of the road surface and the temperature difference of the road surface maintain the set temperature, and does not operate the output of the heating cable (110) when the temperature gradient of the road surface is an upward curve.

The server unit (150) sets the temperature based on the information analyzed and calculated from the freezing point of the road surface detected by the ice detection unit (120) and the temperature difference of the road surface detected by the road surface detection unit (130), and if the temperature gradient of the road surface where the freezing point of the road surface and the temperature difference of the road surface are outside the set temperature and are in a downward curve, the output of the heating cable (110) is pre-operated at the set time and the set power amount (contents regarding predictive operation), and if the freezing point of the road surface and the temperature difference of the road surface maintain the set temperature, the output of the heating cable (110) is adjusted downward at the set time and the set power amount (contents regarding operation to minimize power usage without freezing), and if the temperature gradient of the road surface where the freezing point of the road surface and the temperature difference of the road surface are within the set temperature and are in an upward curve, the control unit (140) is controlled not to operate the output of the heating cable (110) (contents regarding operation to minimize power usage without freezing). (Contents about operation).

All conditions of the present invention are such that the heating cable (110) does not operate (work) under any circumstances when the road surface is wet.

The embedded LED sign (160) can be connected to the control unit (140) or the server unit (150), and is installed on the road surface where the ice detection unit (120) and the road surface detection unit (130) are installed, at least one or more of which are adjacent to the ice detection unit (120) and the road surface detection unit (130), and the embedded LED sign (160) is output (irradiated) on the road in different colors according to the first safety stage, the second caution stage, and the third warning stage, depending on the value set in the server unit (150).

The built-in LED sign (160) is one of the safety indicators installed on the road. It is installed on the center line of the road, the lane boundary line, the safety zone of a branched road, a crosswalk, a speed prevention section, etc., and is used to promote safe driving and to secure the driver's view (visibility) of the lane when driving at night, thereby promoting safe driving.

Drivers driving on the road are able to easily identify the sign with their eyes during the day, but it is difficult for drivers to identify the sign with their eyes at night, especially when it snows, so they identify the sign with the light source emitted from the built-in LED sign (160).

In areas where snow or ice occurs, black ice must be melted and removed using heating cables installed on road drawings. However, in case black ice cannot be removed due to unexpected causes such as weather, an embedded LED sign (160), which is one of the safety indicators installed on the road, is used.

The embedded LED sign (160) is electrically connected to the control unit (140) or server unit (150) so that a color is output on the road surface where ice remains due to the control of the control unit (140) or a color is output on the road surface where ice remains due to the remote control of a manager located in the server unit (150) so that a driver driving on the road can check it and take action to prevent accidents such as slipping.

The built-in LED sign (160) outputs a light source that is green when in the first safety stage, orange when in the second caution stage, and red when in the third warning stage, similar to the color of a traffic light that changes according to the value set in the server unit (150), so that the driver can identify it.

The built-in LED sign (160) does not stay on (ON) but turns on (ON) when a running vehicle reaches a certain distance from the built-in LED sign (160) and turns off (OFF) when it moves away from the certain distance.

This not only reduces unnecessary electricity from the built-in LED sign (160), but also extends its lifespan.

As shown in Fig. 6, the ultra-low-power snow melting system, which prevents accidents caused by road surface ice (black ice/snow/freezing) or snowfall, is divided into a general control mode and a predictive control mode.

Normal control mode is when the road surface is not wet, i.e. dry, and there is no cause for black ice or freezing.

Q is the deviation setting temperature (℃), which is the road temperature (℃) - the freezing point temperature (℃).

For example, if the deviation setting temperature (℃) is set to 2.0℃, if the deviation setting temperature approaches 0℃, black ice or freezing may occur, and if it is lower than the deviation setting temperature, black ice or freezing may occur, so the road surface temperature is quickly increased by operating the heating cable (110) 100% to maintain the deviation setting temperature (℃) at 2.0℃.

The fact that the deviation setting temperature can be maintained after the heating cable (110) is 100% operated means that the road surface temperature rises or falls gradually, and it is judged that the situation where there is a risk of black ice or freezing has been resolved, and the output of the heating cable (110) is flexibly adjusted according to the rise or fall of the road surface temperature.

The reason for controlling power consumption at 50% or more, which can reduce costs compared to existing facilities, is that the closer it is to 0%, the longer the response time to a rapid decrease in road surface temperature becomes.

If the road surface temperature continues to drop, it is judged that the deviation setting temperature cannot be maintained and a black ice or freezing situation may occur, so the heating cable (110) is operated at 100% output.

When the road surface temperature rises while maintaining the deviation setting temperature, it is determined that the black ice or freezing risk situation has been eliminated and the heating cable (110) operation is stopped.

In predictive control mode, the road surface temperature drops below a certain temperature when it is greater than the deviation setting temperature and approaches the deviation setting temperature depending on the decreasing speed.

At this time, the heating cable (110) is operated at 50% in advance to slow down the approach speed, and this is a mode to delay black ice or freezing situations due to sudden temperature drops as much as possible and prevent accidents.

As a power control method, a power regulator (TPR, Thyristor Power Regulator) is used and operated by controlling it from 0 to 100% by the program.

Although the present invention has been described above based on preferred embodiments, the technical idea of the present invention is not limited thereto, and it will be apparent to a person skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains that modifications or changes may be made within the scope described in the claims, and such modifications or changes shall fall within the scope of the appended claims.

100: Ultra-low-power snow melting system to prevent accidents caused by road surface ice (black ice/snow/freezing) or snowfall
110 : Heating Cable
120: Ice detection unit
121: LED light source
130: Road surface detection unit
131: LED light source
140 : Control Unit
150 : Server section
160: Built-in LED sign

Claims (7)

Heating cables buried in a certain pattern on the road surface in areas where snow or ice occurs;
An ice detection unit installed adjacent to the heating cable on the road surface where the heating cable is buried to detect the freezing point of the road surface and transmit information on the detected freezing point of the road surface;
A road surface detection unit installed on the road surface where the heating cable is buried together with the above ice detection unit to detect the condition of the road surface and transmit information on the condition of the detected road surface;
A control unit that can be connected to the heating cable, the ice detection unit, and the road detection unit respectively, controls the operation of the heating cable, and receives information detected by the ice detection unit and information detected by the road detection unit; and
A server unit capable of being connected to the control unit, capable of analyzing and calculating the detection information of the ice detection unit and the detection information of the road surface detection unit transmitted by the control unit, and setting the temperature based on the analyzed and calculated information of the freezing point of the road surface detected by the ice detection unit and the temperature deviation of the road surface detected by the road surface detection unit, and operating the output of the heating cable for a set time and with a set amount of power when the temperature gradient of the road surface where the freezing point of the road surface and the temperature deviation of the road surface are outside the set temperature is a downward curve, and controlling the control unit so that the output of the heating cable is adjusted downward for a set time and with a set amount of power when the freezing point of the road surface and the temperature deviation of the road surface maintain the set temperature, and not operating the output of the heating cable when the temperature gradient of the road surface where the freezing point of the road surface and the temperature deviation of the road surface are within the set temperature is an upward curve; comprising:
An LED light source is provided inside the above ice detection unit or the above road surface detection unit, and the LED light source unit irradiates light generated using the supplied electric energy onto the road surface.
The above server unit transmits a real-time warning message to a navigation system installed in a vehicle in motion that reaches a set location near a road in an area where snowfall or freezing occurs, to a portable terminal carried by the driver of the vehicle, or to an electronic display board installed on the road.
One of the above-mentioned ice detection units or the above-mentioned road surface detection units is connected to the heating cable to detect leakage of the heating cable and transmit leakage information of the heating cable to the control unit.
The above ice detection unit and the road surface detection unit can be connected to the control unit, respectively, and the ice detection unit and the road surface detection unit can be connected to the control unit with a signal of a frequency band, and the signal of the frequency band is set in advance in the server unit, and the normal state and abnormal state (failure) of the ice detection unit and the road surface detection unit can be confirmed according to the frequency band set in advance.
The heating cable, the ice detection unit, and the road detection unit can be connected to the control unit, respectively, and can be connected to the server unit according to the settings of the server unit, thereby controlling the operation of the heating cable, and receiving the detected information of the ice detection unit and the detected information of the road detection unit.
A super energy-saving snow melting system for preventing accidents caused by road surface ice (black ice/black ice/freezing) or snowfall, wherein the embedded LED sign is connected to the control unit or server unit and is installed on the road surface on which the ice detection unit and the road surface detection unit are installed, and at least one or more are installed adjacent to the ice detection unit and the road surface detection unit, and wherein the embedded LED sign is output in different colors according to the first safety stage, the second caution stage, and the third warning stage according to the value set by the server unit. delete delete delete delete delete delete