Patent Application
20200399845
The present disclosure relates to processes and apparatuses for snow removal; in particular, the present disclosure relates to processes for melting a mound of snow in place, and apparatuses for carrying out such processes.
Some populated areas, particularly in northern climates, receive large volumes of snow at times during the year. Depending on climate conditions, it is often the case that the large volumes of snow will accumulate for an extended period of time before the weather warms up sufficiently to melt the snow. Such weather conditions present a problem of needing to remove the snow from roadways, runways, pathways and parking lots, to enable vehicles, pedestrians and airplanes to travel through such areas.
A common solution to this problem is to pile up the volumes of accumulated snow in a selected area of the roadway, runway, pathway or parking lot, or in a selected area that is nearby the roadway, runway, pathway or parking lot. However, when significant amounts of snow have accumulated, there may not be sufficient space for storing the removed snow nearby, therefore necessitating the use of dump trucks and loaders to remove the snow to another location. Such a snow removal process may be costly and may generate significant CO2 emissions, if the equipment used to re-locate the snow is fueled with gasoline or diesel fuel. When there is sufficient room to store the snow on site or nearby, the selected area where the volumes of snow are being stored may typically not be available for another purpose, at least until the weather warms up and the snow has melted, which in some cases may render the snow storage area unusable for months. For example, a parking lot operator may utilize a number of parking spaces for storing the removed volumes of snow, which may result in a loss of revenue that would otherwise be obtained if those parking spaces were available for parking vehicles.
Another common solution to the problem of accumulated snow volumes is to melt the snow by using a snow melting machine. Snow melting machines typically include large containers or hoppers, for receiving the volumes of snow to be melted, and various heating elements for melting the snow. In some prior art of which the applicant is aware, such as the snow melting machines disclosed on the website of Snow Removal Systems Inc. at www.snowremovalsystems.com and as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,904,708, a burner generates hot gases, which heat a volume of snow to melt the snow and generate water. The melt water is then heated and re-circulated through the system to melt additional snow. Other examples and configurations of snow melting machines include those disclosed on the website of Trecan Combustion Ltd. (www.trecan.com, describing portable snow melting machines such as model nos. CT-15 and 40-PD) and Snow Dragon Snowmelters (www.snowdragonmelters.com and U.S. Pat. No. 7,814,898, disclosing a high capacity snow melting apparatus having a hopper with one or more heater/blower units coupled to a plurality of commingled heat radiant conduits for contact with the snow, and manifolds connected to the conduits for additional heat exchange and to direct the heated air onto the snow in the hopper). Other examples of snow melting machines or vehicles, which include containers or hoppers for holding the snow to be melted, include the apparatuses disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 9,637,880 and 6,736,129.
The applicant is also aware of other types of snow melting apparatuses. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,966,502 discloses a series of interconnected pads of varying dimensions which are heated to a sufficient temperature to prevent snow accumulation, such as on a walkway on which the pads are installed. Japanese patent application no. 2015-203234 discloses a snow melting system including pipes installed beneath a paved surface and circulation pumps, the system exchanging heat between geothermal heat in the ground, and antifreeze that is circulated through the embedded pipes by the circulation pumps. Snow coming into contact with a portion of the pipes exposed above the ground is thereby melted by the geothermal heat. Japanese patent no. 3763048 discloses a system of piping with nozzles embedded into a road shoulder, which system is configured to shoot heated water into a snow pile located on the road shoulder.
Applicant is also aware of U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,449,113 and 5,181,655 issued to Bruckelmyer, which disclose, respectively, a system for circulating a heated water and antifreeze mixture through a probe, and the probe itself. The probe is inserted into frozen ground so as to thaw the ground. Such a system may be used to thaw frozen ground on a construction site, for example. The probe disclosed in the above patents includes a closed circulation system for circulating heated water and antifreeze through the interior of the probe, so as to transfer heat from the water to the frozen ground surrounding and in contact with the probe. The system and probes disclosed therein may also be used to heat a pile of frozen construction materials to a desired temperature; for example, a brick pile or a sand pile to be used in mixing mortar for laying bricks.
There exists a need for a simplified, portable snow melting process and apparatus. In one aspect, the apparatus may be transported to and used in locations where there may be limited space for maneuvering the apparatus into place and positioning the apparatus for a snow melting job, such as in small or busy parking lots. Additionally, there exists a need for snow melting processes and apparatuses that are energy efficient, relatively small in size so as to require less storage space when not in use, and which do not release hydrocarbon-based fuels into the environment during the melting process.
In the present disclosure, a novel process and portable apparatus for melting a snow mound located on a ground surface, without having to move the snow, is provided. In one aspect of the present disclosure, a process for melting a snow mound located on a ground surface comprises the steps of actuating a heat emitting apparatus and inserting an elongate portion of the heat emitting apparatus into the snow mound so as to emit heat into a central portion of the snow mound wherein the elongate portion is proximate the ground surface. As the snow melts within the interior or central portion of the snow mound, a cavity forms within the snow mound which creates an insulating container for retaining the emitted heat within the container during the melting process, thereby increasing the efficiency of the heat transfer from the heat emitting apparatus to the snow. Additionally, the heat emitted into and trapped within the insulating container of the snow mound, which heat may be, for example, transferred in the form of a heated medium, such as heated air or other gases, or heated liquids such as water, is contained within the insulating container of the cavity of the snow mound, which container advantageously shields the emitted heat from the outside elements, such as the wind and cold temperatures outside the snow mound.
In another aspect of the present disclosure, a process for melting a snow mound located on a ground surface comprises the steps of:
In another aspect of the present disclosure, a portable apparatus for melting a snow mound positioned on a ground surface comprises: a heat source for generating a heated medium and a heat exchanger for transferring the heated medium through a probe conduit to an elongate heat probe, the elongate heat probe configured to be inserted into the snow mound proximate the ground surface, wherein the heated medium is emitted from the elongate heat probe into the snow mound.
In an embodiment of the present disclosure, a process for melting a snow mound located on a ground surface involves the steps of actuating a heat emitting apparatus and inserting an elongate portion of the heat emitting apparatus, such as a heat emitting probe, into the snow mound so as to emit heat into a central portion of the snow mound. Preferably, the elongate portion of the heat emitting apparatus is inserted into the snow mound so as to locate the elongate portion proximate to the ground, within the central portion of the snow mound, so that as the volume of snow surrounding the elongate portion of the heat emitting apparatus is melted, the elongate portion of the heat emitting apparatus does not travel far, if at all, towards the ground because there is initially little or no snow underneath the elongate portion upon insertion into the snow mound.
As may be viewed in
With reference to
In an embodiment of the present disclosure, a process for melting the snow mound S involves actuating the heat emitting apparatus 10 and inserting a distal end 20a of the elongate portion or probe 20 of the heat emitting apparatus into a central portion of the snow mound S. The order of the process steps may be reversed; for example, the heat emitting apparatus may be actuated before inserting the probe into the snow mound, such that a distal end 20a of probe 20 becomes heated to a certain extent prior to inserting the probe 20 into the snow mound S, which may cause some of the snow to melt and thereby facilitate the insertion step by requiring less force to push the probe into the snow mound. In yet another aspect, the heated probe 20 may be configured to direct a heated medium, such as heated air or other gases, such as steam or exhaust gases, or heated liquids, through a nozzle located in the distal end 20a of probe 20, which stream of a heated medium may be initially directed towards the desired insertion point of the snow mound S, to thereby melt a portion of the snow mound and form a pocket in the outer surface of the mound S. The pocket may then be conveniently used as an insertion point for the probe 20. However, the alternative procedures described above are not intended to be limiting, and it will be appreciated by a person skilled in the art that the probe 20 may alternatively be inserted into the snow mound S prior to actuating the heat emitting apparatus 10.
Once the probe 20 is inserted into, and positioned within, a central portion of the snow mound S and the heat emitting apparatus 10 has been actuated so as to generate heat, such as by generating a heated medium, the heated medium 2 is transferred from the heat exchanging unit 12, through the probe outlet 14 and probe conduit 16 to the probe 20. Once inside the probe 20, which in one aspect may comprise a hollow body defining a cavity, the heated medium 2 may then travel through an array of apertures 24 of the probe 20 and dissipate into the surrounding volume of snow of the snow mound 20, thereby heating and melting the snow as the heated medium 2 comes into contact with the snow surrounding the probe 20. In some embodiments described herein, the heated medium may be a liquid such as water. In some embodiments, the heat emitting apparatus may be configured to receive or collect snow or water, including for example melt water, and heat the snow or water so as to generate a heated medium, such as hot water or steam, to be dispersed into the snow mound S through the probe 20.
As illustrated in
As the snow mound S is melted by the processes described herein, the volume of snow surrounding the probe 20 of the heat emitting apparatus may melt to such an extent that the probe 20 is no longer surrounded by snow. When this occurs, in some embodiments the probe 20 may be manipulated, such as by use of a directional valve or by moving the probe itself, so as to re-direct the heated medium 2 towards any remaining snow of the snow mound S. In other embodiments, the process may include collecting the remaining snow, such as by using a shovel, so as to re-form a snow mound S to be further melted by positioning the probe 20 within the snow mound S.
Advantageously, in an aspect of the present disclosure, once a significant portion of the snow mound S has melted, objects and/or particles within the snow mound S may remain on the ground surface G, from where the objects or particles may be readily gathered and removed from the site. For example, particles such as gravel and/or sand, which may accumulate over a season of snow falls due to the use of the gravel and/or sand to provide traction on an amount of accumulated snow or ice, may be readily recovered from the ground G and may be re-used to provide traction after future snow falls have occurred. As well, various objects which may have been unintentionally lost or left behind in the snow, such as gloves, toques, keys, jewellery and other items, may be gathered up from the ground G and either returned to their owner, donated to charity or put to some other use.
The probe 20 may preferably have a length L in the range of approximately one to eight feet. The probe 20 may advantageously be of modular construction, wherein a plurality of probe sections may be assembled so as to form an elongate probe 20 of designed length L. Such modular construction would advantageously make the probe easier to transport and store when not in use. A diameter X of the probe 20 may be in the range of two to eight inches. The dimensions provided above are examples of configurations of the probe 20, but it will be appreciated by a person skilled in the art that these dimensions are not intended to be limiting, and that the size of the probe 20 may be scaled up or down as may be required for different applications, and such dimensions are not intended to be limiting.
In another aspect of the present disclosure, the heat emitting apparatus 10 may, as illustrated in
Furthermore, a series of heat baffles 44 are disposed within and across the interior cavity 33 of the heat exchanging unit 12, which heat baffles 44 are also configured to absorb heat radiated from the interior conduit 40 and interior exhaust conduit 18a. In some embodiments, the heat baffles 44 may comprise a plurality of metal strips, the metal strips having a plurality of tabs 44a cut into the strip 44 and bent out of the plane of strip 44 to thereby increase the surface area of the heat baffles 44 without significantly restricting the flow of air as it travels past the baffles 44. A blower 39 is configured to draw air from outside the unit 12 and force the air through interior cavity 33, where the forced air contacts multiple heated surfaces such as the interior conduit 40, interior exhaust conduit 18a and heat baffles 44 to thereby transfer the heat to the forced air. The forced air, thus heated, is then directed through the probe outlet 14 to the probe conduit 16 and the probe 20. In this manner, the heated air forced into and through the probe 20 to melt the snow mound S is clean air free of the exhaust gases that are emitted by burner 36 of the unit 12. It will be appreciated by a person skilled in the art that the above description of a heat exchanging unit 12 is merely an example of a heat exchanging unit and that other configurations of heat exchanging units, for providing heated air and/or heated gases and/or heated liquids to a probe 20, are meant to be included in the scope of the present disclosure.
As illustrated in
In some embodiments, the distal end 20a of the probe 20, which is inserted into the snow mound S, may be tapered or pointed so as to facilitate insertion of the probe 20 into the snow mound. The probe body 21 may be generally cylindrical in shape; however, it will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that other shapes and geometries of the probe body 21 would also work, so long as the probe body 21 is elongate to facilitate insertion into the snow mound, and also to facilitate delivery of the heated medium 2 deep into the central portion of the snow mound so as to substantially evenly heat the interior, central portion of the snow mound S and thereby gradually form an interior cavity within the mound. In some aspects, as the snow melting process is carried out, the heated medium 2 emitted from the probe 20 may gradually form a cavity SC within the mound S so as to form a type of snow cave or snow container, which cavity SC advantageously may either partially or fully contain the heated medium 2 within the snow mound S during the snow melting process. Such a configuration may thereby increase the overall efficiency of the snow melting process by reducing the amount of heat energy that escapes the snow mound S prior to effecting a melting of the snow. Advantageously, the process described herein somewhat replicates the advantages of providing a container or hopper on a snow melting machine so as to contain both the snow and the heat energy applied to melting the snow, but without necessitating the provision of the container or hopper, which typically results in producing a larger and heavier apparatus that is more difficult to store and transport, as compared to the relatively small size of the heat-emitting apparatus 10, which for example may be sized so as to be able to fit several units into the back of a small pickup truck. It will be appreciated by a person skilled in the art that although a preferred embodiment of the heat emitting apparatus 10 may be sized so as to be transported in a pickup truck or similar passenger vehicle, the apparatus disclosed herein is not meant to be limited to a particular size and that the apparatus may be scaled up or down, as may be required, for different applications.
In another aspect of the present disclosure, as may be viewed in
In some embodiments of the probe 20, the distal end 20a of probe 20 may include a selectively closable opening 20b, as illustrated in
In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the elongate member or probe 20 may include a support base 22, for supporting the elongate probe 20 when it is inserted into a snow mound S. In some embodiments, the support base 22 may include a base 22a and a plurality of roller bearing assemblies 22b, the roller bearing assemblies configured to slidingly couple the probe 20 on the base 22a. The base 22a may include a distal curved portion 22c proximate to the distal end 20a of the probe 20, the curved portion 22c configured to enable easier insertion of the probe 20 when coupled to the support base 22 into a snow mound S.
The support base 22 serves to support the probe 20 when inserted into a snow mound S, providing a barrier between the probe 20 and the ground G when the probe 20 is inserted into the snow mound S. As the snow S′ beneath the probe 20 and base 22 melts during the snow melting process, the snow S′ will also melt and eventually turn into water, thereby causing the probe 20 and base 22 to move downwardly towards the ground, eventually coming to rest on the ground G at some time during the snow melting process. When this occurs, the support base 22 serves to protect the probe 20 from damage by rubbing along the ground G, and may also protect or shield the apertures 24 from debris, such as dirt or gravel, that may be on the ground G when the probe 20 eventually comes to rest on the ground. The support base 22 further provides for sliding the probe in and out of the mound S, in direction E, relative to the base 22a of the support 22 during the snow melting process. The ease of sliding the probe 20 in and out of the mound S, in direction E, may assist for example in positioning the apertures 24 adjacent portions of the snow mound S that require melting, thereby allowing the user to direct the heated medium 2 towards a selected portion of snow mound S.
Other embodiments of the probe, 120 and 220, are illustrated in
The sleeve 122 includes an end wall 122a. Thus, when the sleeve 122 is coupled to the probe body 121, the heated medium 2 travels through the exhaust 121a, and then is deflected by the end wall 122a of the sleeve 122 so as to be re-directed through the sleeve 122 in direction J, exiting through the sleeve opening 122b of the sleeve 122 to escape into the surrounding environment, such as a snow pile S. A similar embodiment of the probe 220, illustrated in
Advantageously, the embodiments of the probes 120 and 220, illustrated in
In some aspects of the present disclosure, the snow melting process may be accelerated, or otherwise made more efficient, by usefully directing the heat energy contained in the exhaust gases emitted by the heat source 36 of the heat-emitting apparatus 10. For example, in an embodiment of the processes disclosed herein and as shown in
In another alternative embodiment, the distal end 19a of exhaust conduit 19 may be placed within the snow mound S, adjacent to or proximate the probe 20, so as to direct additional heat energy, in the form of the heated exhaust gases 3, into the center of the snow mound S, thereby accelerating the melting of the volume of snow. In such a process, so as to prevent the potentially dangerous build-up of exhaust gases within the snow mound, and to allow continual flow of oxygen through the heat source 36, which may for example be a burner configured to combust a hydrocarbon-based fuel such as gasoline, diesel or propane, an exhaust hole would need to be created in the snow mound S, extending from the cavity SC of the snow mound to the outer surface of the snow mound S. Once the exhaust hole has been created in the snow mound S, the distal end 19a of exhaust conduit 19 may then be inserted into the central portion of the snow mound S, allowing heated exhaust gases 3 to effect melting of the snow mound, alongside the heated medium 2 emitted from the probe 20.
It will be appreciated by a person skilled in the art that variations of the processes and apparatuses described herein are intended to be included in the scope of the present disclosure.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3046913 | Jun 2019 | CA | national |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62863008 | Jun 2019 | US |
