SYSTEM FOR CLEARING SNOW AND ICE FROM PAVEMENTS AND SIMILAR

SYSTEME PERMETTANT D'ELIMINER LA NEIGE OU LE VERGLAS D'UNE CHAUSSEE OU SIMILAIRE

English Abstract

The invention relates to a system for clearing snow and ice from pavements and similar. The system is located underground and combines at least one main pipe of a gaseous steam flow network, including multiple independent pipe branches with valve means, spaced apart from one another, all of which converge at at least one secondary pipe including a series of sprinklers having snow- or ice-detection sensors, as well as an automatic trigger device for triggering said sprinklers, so as to melt the snow or ice formation.

French Abstract

La présente invention concerne un système permettant d'éliminer la neige ou le verglas d'une chaussée ou similaire, lequel système comprend, sous terre, une combinaison d'au moins une tuyauterie principale d'un réseau de circulation de vapeur sous forme gazeuse et de multiples dérivations de tuyauterie indépendantes dotées de vannes distantes entre elles, tout ce système convergeant au moins sur une tuyauterie secondaire qui comprend une série d'asperseurs dotés de capteurs de détection de présence de neige ou de verglas, ainsi qu'un déclencheur automatique des asperseurs, faisant ainsi fondre la neige ou le verglas formé.

Claims

What is claimed is:
1. A system to remove ice or snow from the pavement and similar surfaces,
characterized by handling underground, the combination of at least one main
network of independent pipes, with valves, having some distance from each
other, with all of them merging to at least one minor plumbing which includes
a
series of sprinklers, that contain sensors that detect the presence of such
snow
or frost, also they have an automatic trigger, to melt the snow or frost.
2. A system to remove the snow or the ice from the pavement and similar
surfaces, according to claim 1, characterized by its cabinet with means to
control and regulate the gas steam flux.
3. A system to remove the snow or ice from the pavement or similar
surfaces, according to claim 2, this system is characterized by having at
least
one cabinet to which an autonomous equipment can be attached to dose the
steam flux, to remove or melt the snow or ice.

Description

CA 02831163 2013-09-24
SYSTEM FOR CLEARING SNOW AND ICE FROM PAVEMENTS
AND SIMILAR
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention refers to a system for removing snow, ice, or frost from
pavement and similar surfaces. The system is specifically conceived and
accomplished to achieve, in a fast and efficient way, the dissipation of snow
or
ice accumulated over pavements, lanes, highways, roads, and motorways.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Generally, and as it is known, climate change is getting more dynamic
and one of the arising problems is the presence of snow, ice, or frost in
different
areas or places, particularly in urban centers.
The approached problem has led to thinking about a solution, by the
development of a system, for removing snow, ice, or frost from pavement and
similar surfaces for the purpose of significantly increasing the safety for
people
and reducing weather-related traffic situations.
It is known in the art the use of a system that throws salt by using a truck
to remove snow and frost from the pavement. Unfortunately, this system not
only implies the use of a vehicle to actually throw the salt, but it also
requires at
least a driver and a workman, therefore, an investment in labor is required.
Adding to these inconveniences, it has to be added the fact that the
pavement deteriorates enormously with the salt, raising the maintenance cost
of
the roads, and also affecting the vehicles.
Another known technique of heating systems is by using infrared rays for
the reduction or annulment of the frost on highways to warm up the pavement

CA 02831163 2013-09-24
=
to defrost and melt the snow (See for example, ES 2 072 216 Bl; ES 2 116 175
B1).
ES 2237257B1 discloses a snowplow truck including a road dryer that
uses a scoop that takes off the snow in the front zone of the cabin. The
reference also discloses an assembly of tubes, with an electric engine in its
interior, that takes high-pressure air through an exit nozzle that faces the
floor.
Another technique is the use of a device to compact and remove snow as
is shown on US 4,454,667 A.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Leading out of the present state and the previous art of the technique
mentioned above, the main objective of this invention is based on a system for
removing snow, ice, or frost from pavement and similar surfaces, providing a
solution to the multiple inconveniences generated in the different cities of
the
world by the accumulation of snow or frost in the winter season. This leads to
millions of losses of money, causing school and work closures, and also
causing traffic accidents that result mainly with terrible casualties.
The goal of the invention is to improve the lifestyle of citizens through a
low cost, by using resources that are already in use today.
The removal of snow, ice, or frost is done by melting, using the steam
pipes of the underground transportation system already being used by cities,
such as New York, Berlin, and London.
In addition, the present invention may remove stagnation from bridges,
tunnels, railroads, airports, highways, covered stadiums, parking lots,
squares,
and parks.
The system, according to the present invention, works with the steam
network system that the city already has for the underground transportation
system. But, as another embodiment, the present invention may work with the
boiler networks of houses, buildings, stores, and industries that are already
in
use for central heating or electricity. It can be turned into power to serve
machines.
The way in which this and other objectives and advantages of the
invention are reached will be explained in the description that follows. This
will
2

CA 02831163 2013-09-24
be an example, with the preferred accomplishments of the invention, and also
with the pictures that follows, in which:
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1, shows a schematic view of the removal system according to an
embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 2, shows a schematic view of the system according to another
embodiment of the present invention showing the cleaning and dewatering of a
ramp for disabled people, which is really important to assure the mobility of
all
citizens and to avoid trials against the Government.
Fig. 3, shows a schematic view of the system according to another
embodiment of the present invention showing a hose to which, optionally, an
equipment could be plugged in to raise the steam pressure, and gain time and
distance of work.
Fig. 4, shows a schematic view of the system according to another
embodiment of the present invention showing other ways to allocate the steam
for the melting of snow or frost by using double function grills, "melting and
drainage", and also by placing radiation panels.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
In all figures, the same reference numbers indicate similar or
corresponding elements, which are:
1. Main piping network of circulation of gas steam fluid.
2. Independent piping branches.
3. Valves.
4. Secondary piping.
5. Sprinklers.
6. Sensors.
7. Cabinet with regulation means and gas steam fluid control.
8. Conduits.
9. Metal sheets.
10. Flexible conduit (hose).
3

CA 02831163 2013-09-24
11. Movable equipment.
C= Curb.
L= Municipal Line.
r = Anti-skid ramp.
n= Accumulated snow or ice.
A= Traffic access.
The system 1 works with the presence of snow or ice, in which the
sensors 6 catch their presence and the sprinklers 5 are automatically
activated,
releasing a hot steam fluid against the pavement, melting or removing the ice
or
snow formation.
The sizing and design of the system of the present invention and the
mobile equipment may be changeable, depending on the geographical situation
and on the cost-benefit-efficiency analysis that each particular case
requires.
According to all the information exposed and illustrated above, it is easy
to understand the practicality and advantages that this system for removing
snow, ice, or frost from pavement and similar surfaces offers. The attached
list
of claims deals with the scope of the invention.
Having described and determined the nature of the invention, and the
way in which it can be put into practice in its prime idea, it is declared an
invention and an exclusive property, as follows:
4

Representative Drawing