Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02895557 2015-06-29
SNOW REMOVAL DEVICE AND METHOD
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention is in the field of snow removal equipment, and more
specifically, to such
equipment having the capability to unfreeze snow.
BACKGROUND
1.0
Snow removal is often necessary after a snowfall to clear roads, walkways,
driveways, parking
lots, airport tannacs and runways, and the like. Keeping these surfaces free
of snow after a
snowfall is important for safer and easier travel. Such snow removal can be
performed by
individuals, private companies, and government institutions alike.
One method of snow removal is through the manual use of shovels or brooms to
clear snow from
surfaces, though this method is very labour intensive and can take significant
amounts of time,
particularly if there has been a heavy snowfall. The amount of physical effort
required to
manually shovel snow can put strain on the back and heart of an individual,
making snow
shoveling somewhat hazardous.
For those that are not interested in engaging in labour-intensive shoveling, a
winter service
vehicle or a plow-bearing vehicle such as skid steers, lightweight tractors,
heavy front-end
loaders, and plow trucks can be used to aid in snow removal. Snow removal
equipment such as
plow trucks and tractors will push snow off to the side of a surface or into a
pile out of the way
of vehicles or pedestrians. Another option is to use snow blowers (also called
snow throwers).
Snow blowers might be of particular interest to those people having long or
large walkways or
driveways or other substantial surfaces requiring snow clearance, or for those
people living in
locations subject to long winters with large amounts of snowfall. Snow blowers
will, rather than
mechanically pushing snow off to the side using a plow or plates, use an
impelling force to blow
snow off to the side of a surface.
CA 02895557 2015-06-29
A disadvantage of using conventional snow clearing vehicles or equipment such
as plows and
snow blowers is that snow will steadily accumulate over the winter into piles
of snow building
up on the sides of roads or on the lawns of properties, for example. These
piles of snow are
sometimes called windrows or snowbanks and they may make it difficult to
further remove snow
adjacent the snowbanks, as it may be difficult to push additional snow onto
already over-piled
snowbanks or to blow snow overtop of the increasingly higher snowbank. These
snowbanks, if
left, can take many months after the winter is over to melt under the sun
because the snow
becomes packed and dense under the weight of snow above and from the force of
the snow plow
or other snow removal device pushing additional snow into the pile. For this
reason, the snow in
snow banks becomes more similar in nature to ice and can thus block driveways
and imprison
parked cars for months. Snowbanks thus need to be removed, though their
density makes it
difficult to remove without labour-intensive mechanical means. Snowbank
removal could
comprise hauling the snowbanks away in trucks to remote locations and dumping
them or
spreading the snowbanks out over open roads when the weather is nice enough to
melt the snow.
However, this type of mechanical snowbank removal is altogether time-
consuming, labour-
intensive, and costly.
Other attempts at snow removal include snowmelt systems. Snowmelt systems heat
the
pavement or other surface below fallen snow and melts the snow after a period
of time. These
systems, however, are expensive to install and operate and require disturbance
of the surface of
the property in its installation. These systems are not cost effective for
large surface areas, as
constantly heating large surface areas throughout the winter to melt the
covering snow may
require a lot of electricity to overcome the low ambient temperature and to
melt copious amounts
of snowfall. Oftentimes snow may collect in certain areas of a surface due to
blowing wind or
the like, and heating the entire surface to melt snow in only one given area
is inefficient and has
a negative impact on the environment. Additionally, oftentimes sewers, storm
drains, and other
drainage devices can become blocked with ice and snow and will not properly
drain vasts
amount of water from melted snow. This may result in melted snow pooling over
a surface, or
worse yet, accumulating on a walkway or road and subsequently freezing, thus
making the
walkway or road very slippery and presenting a navigational hazard.
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SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It would be advantageous to have snow removal equipment that reduces the
accumulation of
snowbanks, is not labour-intensive to use, and is cost effective.
In an aspect, a snow-melting attachment for snow removal equipment comprises
at least one
radiator-heated section coupled to at least one radiator and a channel having
an input end, at least
one exhaust-heated section wrapped by at least one exhaust jacket, the at
least one exhaust jacket
operative to receive engine exhaust gas from an engine of the snow removal
equipment, an
engine-warrned section abutting the engine of the snow removal equipment, and
a discharge end.
In a further aspect, a snow removal apparatus comprises a snow-collecting
portion having an
engine and a discharge chute and a snow-melting portion having at least one
radiator-heated
section coupled to at least one radiator and an input end in fluid
communication with the
discharge chute, at least one exhaust-heated section wrapped by at least one
exhaust jacket, the at
least one exhaust jacket operative to receive engine exhaust gas from the
engine, an engine-
warmed section abutting the engine, and a discharge end.
In yet a further aspect, a method of disposing of snow removed from a surface
comprises the
steps of directing at least one of snow and water removed from the surface to
a channel, the
channel having at least one of an engine-warmed section warmed by the body
heat of a snow
removal apparatus and at least one exhaust-heated section warmed by at least
one engine exhaust
jacket, whereby at least a portion of the snow is melted into water by the at
least one of the
engine-warmed section and the at least one exhaust-heated section, and
directing the at least one
of snow and water removed from the surface to at least one radiator-heated
section coupled to at
least one radiator, whereby at least a portion of the snow and water is
vapourized to water
vapour, and expelling the water vapour from the channel into the atmosphere.
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The present invention can take up snow from surfaces and melt it using heat
generated from the
snow removal equipment's engine. The resulting water can be vapourized and
discharged into the
air, effectively removing the snow from the surface without causing a pile up
of snow in a
snowbank while making use of the engine's heat that might otherwise be wasted.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
While the invention is claimed in the concluding portions hereof; example
embodiments are
provided in the accompanying detailed description which may be best understood
in conjunction
with the accompanying diagrams where like parts in each of the several
diagrams are labeled
with like numbers, and where:
Fig. 1 is a schematic view of a snow-melting attachment for snow removal
equipment in
an aspect; and
Fig. 2 is a flowchart in a method of removing snow from a surface.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS
A snow-melting attachment for snow removal equipment is provided. The snow-
melting
attachment can be installed on snow removal equipment such as a snow blower.
The snow
removal equipment can direct snow removed from a surface into the snow-melting
attachment
where it can be melted and vapourized, then discharged from the snow-melting
apparatus.
Fig. 1 is a schematic of a snow-melting attachment 10 for snow removal
equipment being used in
conjunction with the discharge chute 22 of a snow blower 20, in an aspect.
The snow removal equipment could be any type of equipment that forcibly blows
or directs snow
into a given direction. In the aspect shown, the snow removal equipment is a
snow blower 20
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driven by an engine 24. The snow blower 20 can be a typical snow blower known
in the art
having a high-speed impeller driven by a motor. The impeller may be on the
front end of the
blower 20 and can be formed of two or more curved paddles that move snow
toward the
discharge chute 22. When the impeller spins via operation of the motor, an
impeller force is
created that forces snow in front of or under the impeller upward into the
discharge chute 22, the
outlet of which may be pointed in any direction, typically upward and off to
the side of the
blower 20 so as to blow the snow out of the way of the snow blower 20 and onto
snowbanks.
Optionally, the snow blower 20 could be a two-stage snow blower that breaks up
the snow using
metal augers prior to the impeller forcing snow out of the chute 22. In some
aspects, the snow
1.0 blower 20 could use an auger-type spiral blade, a vacuum, a conveyor,
or the like to transfer
snow from the street or ground into the chute 22. In some aspects, the snow
blower 20 could be
a push or "walk-behind" snow blower, or could be a self-propelled snow blower
having a seat
and an engine for driving, which could be the same or a different engine than
the one used for
operating the blower 20.
The snow-melting attachment 10 comprises a channel 30 having an input end 32
and a discharge
end 34. The channel 30 can be defined by one or more pipes made out of
suitable materials to
withstand heat and to provide sufficient heat transfer capabilities. For
example, these pipes
could be made out of iron, copper, aluminum, or various alloys.
A pre-heating section 40 of the channel 30 is surrounded by an exhaust jacket
42 that can receive
engine gas exhaust from the engine 24. In the aspect shown, the exhaust jacket
42 is a coil that
may receive engine gas exhaust and that is wrapped around the pre-heating
section 40, though in
some aspects the jacket 42 may be an annular layer around the pre-heating
section 40 that
receives engine gas exhaust so as to maximize contact and thus heat transfer
between the jacket
42 and the pre-heating section 40. The jacket 42 may receive exhaust from the
engine 24 at one
end, and can discharge the exhaust to the atmosphere at the other end or
otherwise through an
exhaust system. In some aspects, the jacket 42 could flow through to a second
jacket 43 to keep a
further portion of the channel 30 warm before it is expelled through an
exhaust system.
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An engine-warmed section 50 may be disposed in fluid communication with the
pre-heating
section 40 and can be adjacent thereto. In some aspects, the pre-heating
section 40 is adjacent the
input end 32 of the channel 30, while in other aspects, the engine-warmed
section 50 may be
adjacent the input end 32 of the channel 30, depending on the specific
configuration of the snow
blower 20. The engine-warmed section 50 can be configured to abut the engine
24 to allow
emanating heat from the engine 24 to transfer to the engine-warmed section 50,
further providing
heat to the channel 30.
In fluid communication with the pre-heating section 40 and the engine-warmed
section 50, there
can be disposed an evaporator section 60. The evaporator section 60 can be
coupled to a radiator
62 that can heat the evaporator section 60 so as to vapourize snow or water
therein. The radiator
62 could provide heat by means of hot water circulating through the engine, or
through other
means.
In some aspects, a drying section 70 can be provided adjacent the evaporator
section 60 and in
fluid communication therewith. The drying section 70 can be coupled to a
heating element 72
such as a heating lamp, electrical wire, or the like, to further heat the
channel 30 and so as to
ensure full vapourization of any residual water or snow from the evaporator
section 60.
The snow-melting attachment 10 could be a removable attachment for the snow
blower 20, being
fitted over the discharge chute 22 of the same: In some aspects, however, the
snow-melting
attachment 10 could be integral to the snow blower 20, being semi-permanently
or permanently
mounted on the snow blower 20. Snow picked up by the snow blower 20 can be
discharged
from the discharge chute 22 directly into the input end 32 of the channel 30
for melting and
vapourizing the snow. The connection point between the discharge chute 22 and
the input end 32
of the channel 30 can be provided with an isolation system to ensure a secure
connection
therebetween and can further be insulated to keep heat from escaping from the
channel 30. In
some aspects, the isolation system could comprise insulating curtains. As the
snow passes
through the channel 30, it is heated and thus can. melt and turn to water and
eventually water
vapour. The water vapour can then be expelled through the discharge end 34 of
the channel 30.
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The pre-heating section 40 of the channel 30 can be heated by the heat of the
snow blower's
engine exhaust pipe, which feeds into the exhaust jacket 42 surrounding the
pre-heating section
40. This may be sufficient heat to melt the snow introduced from the discharge
chute 22. In this
way, snow discharged from the chute 22 can be melted in the channel 30 from
the heat of the
exhaust jacket 42, which may be a more energy-efficient method of melting the
snow by
capitalizing on the heat already generated by the engine 24. The heat
generated by the engine 24
can be further used to heat the engine-warmed section 50. The engine-warmed
section 50 can
abut the snow blower's engine 24 and can be warmed directly by the snow
blower's engine body
heat, thus also heating the contents of the channel 30. In this way, thermal
energy is provided to
the pre-heating section 40 and the engine-warmed section 50 through the heat
already generated
by the engine 24 in operation of the snow blower 20.
The snow can be discharged from the pre-heating section 40 and the engine-
warmed section 50
into the evaporator section 60. In some cases the thermal energy of the engine
24 and exhaust
jacket 42 may have provided sufficient heat to the channel 30 to at least
partially turn the snow
into water at this point. The evaporator section 60 can use the radiator 62 to
which it is coupled
to provide yet additional heat to the channel 30. This heat can be sufficient
to allow snow or
water passing therethrough to vaporize.
As the snow, water, or vapour are further blown through the channel 30, they
can pass through
the drying section 70 which can ensure greater vapourization of any residual
snow or water
through the provision of additional heat by means of the heating element 72 to
which it is
coupled.
When the snow, water, and vapour have passed through the pre-heating section
40, the engine-
warmed section 50, the evaporator section 60, and the drying section 70 of the
channel 30, the
resulting water vapour can be expelled out of the discharge end 34 of the
channel 30.
In some aspects, the channel 30 may be curved with, for example, the pre-
heating section 40 and
engine-warmed section 50 being disposed at a higher level than the evaporator
and drying
sections 60, 70. This could allow the water that results from snow melting in
the pre-heating
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section 40 and engine-warmed section 50 to run naturally via the force of
gravity into the
evaporator section 60 and/or drying section 70 to be vapourized. The discharge
end 34 of the
channel 30 could be curved upwardly to allow the heated vapour to move
naturally out through
the upper open discharge end 34 of the channel 30 into the surrounding
atmosphere. The
availability of this type of configuration and the specific curvature of the
channel 30 will, of
course, depend on the specific configuration of the snow blower 20 to which
the snow-melting
attachment 10 is coupled and with due regard given to safety of the equipment
and the need to
minimize how cumbersome the attachment 10 will be to use and maneuver.
Some sections of the channel 30 may have an interior surface that is highly
reflective with low
heat transfer capabilities and may be insulated from the atmosphere using
StyrofoamTm or the
like so as to minimize heat loss out of the channel 30 and to allow for the
temperature within the
channel 30 to build up as high as possible. For example, the evaporator
section 60 and the
drying section 70 could have such insulating and reflective properties.
In some aspects, each of the pre-heating section 40, engine-warming section
50, evaporator
section 60, and drying section 70 are equipped with separate thermometers for
monitoring
temperature, and could also have their own separate controls. For example, if
the pre-heating
and engine-warmed sections 40, 50 are found to have insufficient heat to melt
the snow passing
therethrough, use of the evaporator section 60 and maybe the drying section 70
could be
triggered, depending on how much heat is needed to melt the remaining snow
and/or evaporate
any resulting water. The amount of heat used by each section could vary,
depending on ambient
temperatures and how effective each section is at melting or vapourizing snow
and water. The
water vapour could then be expelled from the channel 30.
The power supplied to the snow-melting attachment 10 could be the same power
source used to
fuel, operate and/or propel the snow blower 20, such as gasoline or diesel, or
in some cases could
be electrically powered. The attachment 10 could tie into the power source of
the blower 20 so
that separate power sources are not required. However, in some aspects, the
attachment 10 may
have its own power supply and in some further aspects, each section of the
channel 30 having a
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heating element could have its own power supply. For example, the radiator 62
and the heating
element 72 could operate using the same or different power sources.
Fig. 2 is a flowchart in a method of disposing of snow removed from a surface
100. In a method
of disposing of removed snow 100, snow is directed to a channel having at
least one of an
engine-warmed section warmed by the body heat of a snow removal apparatus and
a pre-heating
section warmed by an engine exhaust jacket at step 110. At step 120, the snow
and resulting
water from step 110 is directed to an evaporator section of the channel heated
by a radiator
capable of vapourizing at least a portion of the water or snow/water mixture.
Optionally, at step
130, the resulting snow, water, and vapour mixture can be directed to a drying
section of the
channel that is heated by an additional heating element and that further
ensures vapourization of
remaining snow and water. At step 140, the resulting water vapour can be
expelled from the
channel into the atmosphere.
In a further aspect of a snow removal attachment 310 shown in Figures 3 and 4
attached to snow
removal equipment 320, snow can first enter an isolated area exposed to a pre-
heating radiator
312 to melt the snow prior to the snow and/or resulting water entering into
channel 330. The
snow or water can then enter into a pre-heating section 340 of the channel 330
that is surrounded
by an exhaust jacket 342 that can receive engine gas exhaust from the engine
324. Water can
then enter an evaporator section 360 of the channel 330 that can also be
surrounded by an
evaporator exhaust jacket 362 that can receive engine gas exhaust from the
engine 324 and
exhaust jacket 342. Exhaust from the exhaust jacket 362 can be expelled
through an exhaust
system. The evaporator exhaust jacket 362 can heat the evaporator section 360
so as to vapourize
snow or water therein, which can escape to the atmosphere. In some aspects, at
least one
additional evaporator radiator 350 could be coupled to the channel 330 at the
evaporator section
360 or subsequent to the evaporator section 360 to further support melting
and/or evaporation of
snow and water. In some aspects, radiator 312 and any further radiators 350
used to heat the
channel 330 could be heated via heated water circulated to them from the
engine 324. In some
aspects, warm water can be circulated from the engine 324 first to the
radiator 312 and then to
subsequent radiators 350, and back to engine 324 to be re-heated.
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In use, snow can be introduced into the isolated area exposed to the pre-
heating radiator 312 or
can be introduced directly into the input end of the channel 330 from a
discharge chute 322 of a
snow blower or other snow removal equipment 320. The force used to move the
snow, water,
and water vapour through the channel 330 and discharge it out the same can be
provided solely
by the snow remover's impeller and engine, though in some aspects, a separate
fan may be
provided to further force the snow to move along through the channel 330 and
out the discharge
end.
The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the
invention. Further, since
numerous changes and modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the
art, it is not desired
to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and
described, and
accordingly, all such suitable changes or modifications in structure or
operation which may be
resorted to are intended to fall within the scope of the claimed invention.
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