Patents by Inventor Robert Laurel Sterling

Robert Laurel Sterling has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Method for thawing frozen road culverts
    Patent number: 5986237
    Abstract: A method for thawing frozen road culverts. The first step involves positioning an electrically conductive cable in a road culvert prior to an ice blockage occurring. A connection end of the electrically conductive cable is anchored in an accessible location. The second step involves connecting a power source to the connection end of the electrically conductive cable after an ice blockage of the road culvert has occurred and supplying power to the electrically conductive cable, such that energy generated by power flowing through the electrically conductive cable causes a flow path to be created through the ice blockage in the road culvert.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1999
    Assignee: Iceworm International Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Laurel Sterling, Rudiger Schmidt