FR2652103A1 - Multipurpose device for clearing snow from surfaces and roadways, intended to equip a mobile vehicle base - Google Patents

Abstract

This device essentially comprises means (4, 11) for collecting snow, which are driven in rotation by a motor (12); means (11b, 15, 16) for channelling and removing snow and means (18, 19, 20, 21) for supplying a solvent (17) acting on the snow during channelling in order to melt it. These means form an integral part of a removable module (1) which can be fitted to all mobile bases of a vehicle (2) using a device for attachment (6, 7) and a device for locking (8, 10) on a framework (5) of the said vehicle (2).

Description

 The present invention relates to a multifunctional device for snow removal from traffic surfaces and lanes, intended to equip a mobile vehicle base.

 Until now, such devices have formed an inseparable whole with the vehicle, specializing the latter in a unique snow removal function.

 Furthermore, various types of transport and handling equipment are known, such as, for example, forklifts widely used in commerce and industry for transporting and distributing heavy loads of goods and which undergo significant downtime. the craft and its operator.

 In addition, it is necessary, especially in the case of large commercial or industrial areas to have two types of gear, specific to each function, which represents a very significant investment in equipment.

 The object of the present invention is to provide a snow removal device allowing its adaptation to any transport or handling machine and more particularly but not exclusively lifting, in order to give them a double function.

To this end, the invention relates to a snow removal device of the aforementioned type, characterized in that it comprises:
means for collecting snow driven in rotation by motor means,
- means of transporting and evacuating snow,
- These means forming an integral part of a removable module adaptable to all mobile vehicle bases by means of a hooking and locking device on a frame of said vehicle.

 The present invention also relates to the characteristics below considered in isolation or according to all their possible technical combinations.

 According to a characteristic of the invention, the snow removal module comprises means for supplying a solvent acting on the snow during transport and capable of transforming it into liquid.

 Such action on the snow collected advantageously avoids the problems of storage and transport of the snow.

 According to another characteristic of the invention, the snow removal module includes means for recycling and treatment of solvent and liquefied snow.

 Thus, recovery is carried out if not integral, but of a large part of the dissolving product used, alone or contained in liquefied snow.

 According to another characteristic of the invention, the device for hooking and locking the snow removal module on the vehicle frame is constituted by at least one anchoring member constituted on the one hand, by a part in the form of a stick arranged in the upper rear region of the module support frame cooperating with a support hook complementary to the vehicle frame and on the other hand, a locking bolt acting in sliding in the lower region of the module support frame under the action of a thrust member for introduction into a keeper of the frame.

 Effective locking is thus ensured. The locking bolt can also be made to slide under the action of a hydraulic cylinder.

 Another characteristic of the invention consists in that the snow collecting means consist of a collector placed at the front of the module in the direction of travel and inside which is capable of being driven in rotation a cutter helical.

 The snow thus collected is conveyed and evacuated by means constituted by the rotary propeller of the cutter capable of driving the mass of snow accumulated in the collector in the manner of an endless screw and conveying it towards an evacuation nozzle. opening into the collector.

 According to another characteristic of the invention, it is precisely at this stage that it is advantageous to liquefy the snow for all or part, that is to say before it leaves the discharge nozzle. To do this, the means of supplying the solvent are constituted by a pump capable of transferring the solvent from a reservoir containing it to at least one injector disposed in the discharge nozzle.

 The dissolvent distribution members, namely the pump, the reservoir and the injector can be connected directly to each other but according to a characteristic of the invention, the solvent is conveyed from the reservoir to the pump and from the pump to the injector via piping.

 This allows the establishment according to an advantageous arrangement of the members on the module.

 According to other characteristics of the invention, the solvent can consist of water loaded with salt or any commercial antifreeze product. The solvent can also be heated to increase its dissolving power.

 According to another characteristic of the invention, the means for recycling and treatment of the solvent after action, and of the liquefied snow consist of a receptacle disposed at the bottom of a tube extending the discharge nozzle substantially at right or at a lower part of the injector and opening into a reserve of regeneration solvent through which the recovery liquid passes before its return to the tank, by gravity effect.

 According to a particular embodiment of the receptacle, it consists of a double internal wall of the evacuation nozzle formed at its lower part and opening into the solvent supply.

 According to a characteristic of the invention, the snow removal module comprises lifting means constituted by the movable deck of a lifting machine on which it adapts by means of the hooking and locking device.

The invention will be further illustrated without being in any way limited by the following description given with reference to the appended drawings in which
Figure 1 shows a multifunctional snow removal device consisting of a module according to the invention seen from the side in section and hung and locked on a mobile lifting machine in the working position.

 Figure 2 shows a front view of the device according to Figure 1, the discharge nozzle of which has been shown in section.

 The device shown in Figure 1 consists essentially of a snow removal module 1 and a transport machine 2 known per se in this case a forklift capable of receiving and moving the module 1 on surfaces and tracks of traffic to be cleared.

The snow removal module generally consists of a support frame 3 to which a snow collector 4 is fixed and various snow removal means, namely essentially
snow collecting means 4, 11,
- Means of routing and evacuation llb, 15, 16 of the snow.

But also
- means 18, 19, 20, 21 for supplying a solvent 17 acting on the snow during transport to liquefy it,
- Recycling and treatment means 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 40, of the solvent 17 used.

 These various means form an integral part of the removable module 1 which can be adapted to a movable frame or deck 5 of the forklift 2 by means of a hooking and locking device according to the invention, in the form of members d anchor formed on the one hand by a fixed claw 6 of longitudinal cross-shaped section disposed horizontally in the rear upper region 3a of the support frame 3 cooperating with a complementary support hook 7 of the movable deck 5 and on the other hand of movable claws consisting of a locking bolt 8 acting in sliding in the lower region 3b of the frame 3 under the action of a pushing member 9 for introduction into a keeper 10 of the movable deck 5. This pushing member 9 being in the present example of a hydraulic cylinder.

 The snow collection means are used to carry out a first stage of snow treatment and are made up on the one hand by the collector 4 fixed to the support frame 3 by non-visible mechanical elements, which is arranged at the 'front of the module 1 in the direction of travel and having at its open part a flared pavilion 4a with large rectangular opening extending a closed bottom 4b of semicircular profile (Figure 1). The edge 4c of the lower wall 4d of the collector 4 advantageously constitutes a blade for scraping the snow from the ground 50.

 On the other hand, another means contributing to the collection is associated with the action of the collector 4 and consists in placing in the latter, approximately concentrically with its semi-circular bottom 4b, a helical cutter 11, capable of being driven by an electric or hydraulic motor 12 by means of V-belts 13.

 A space 14 provided between the bottom 4b and the periphery of the cutter 11 is intended to prevent the snow from jamming. It is obtained by looking for an eccentricity by a displacement "d" of the axes of the fraisell and of the semi-circular bottom 4b of the collector 4. Thus the snow picked up by scraping of the collector 4 as described above is at the same time brewed by the helix llb of the helical cutter 11.

 The snow conveying and evacuating means are used to carry out a second stage of snow treatment and are also constituted by the helix llbde the mill 11 playing here a second role combined with the previous one and consisting, during of its rotation, to entrain the mass of snow accumulated in the collector 4 during the collection, in the manner of an endless screw discharging the material in which it penetrates in this case snow, towards a discharge nozzle 15 opening into the manifold 4 and extending by a tube 16 of length such as to constitute an exhaust outside the collection zone of the snow removal module 1.

 According to one embodiment of the invention, the device also comprises means for supplying the solvent 17 used to perform a third stage of snow treatment and which are constituted by a pump-compressor group or designated high pressure pump as a whole and capable of transferring the solvent 17 from a reservoir 19 containing it to a series of 2-0 injectors arranged in the tube 16 of the discharge nozzle 15 by the intermediary of piping 21 shown partially.

 Thus, the solvent 17 pumped into the reservoir 19 by the high pressure pump 18, advantageously heated by passing through said pump 18, will be brought to the injectors 20 for projection under pressure onto the snow being exhausted into the part of the horn 16 of the nozzle 15. The injectors 20 are fixed to the wall of the proboscis 16 by means known per se such as nut on a threaded body of the injector 20 also known per se and which we will not describe here.

 It should also be noted that the injectors 20 are oriented in the present nonlimiting example (Figure 2) partly in the direction of evacuation and therefore the projected solvent 17 will not be recovered and partly towards the interior of the nozzle 15 this time to be recovered.

 Means are used to ensure the recycling and treatment of the solvent 17 thus recovered and allow a fourth step to be carried out.

 Indeed, the solvent 17 consisting of water loaded with salt or even per any antifreeze product deserves to be recovered and recycled for all or part for obvious reasons of economy and autonomy of the device.

 For this, and according to the invention, a receptacle 22 is formed by the inlet mouth of a chute 23 formed by a wall 24 doubling the lower part 16a of the proboscis 16 of the nozzle 15. The receptacle 22 is well located heard at least on the right, but more advantageously at a lower part than one of the injectors 20 so as to recover the solvent 17 and at least part of the snow liquefied and therefore charged with said solvent 17.

The recovery product is then channeled through the chute 23 extended by a lower part 23a opening out through a flow end 23b into the tank 19.

 In the present embodiment, the reservoir 19 is surmounted by a compartment 40 containing a reserve of regeneration salt 25 through which the recovery product passes by gravity with a view to its recycling and its return to the reservoir 19 through a water filter 26 capable of retaining the impurities present in the snow collected and thus preventing clogging of the injectors 20.

 We can thus clearly see, by this continuous recycling, the great autonomy in salt water which is available on such a snow removal device. In addition, the part of melted snow loaded with salt not recovered and therefore evacuated by the proboscis 16) will constitute an excellent means of combating the ice by natural return and spreading on the pavement or by means of ramps.

 A working distance "t" will be respected between the lower wall 4d of the collector 4 forming a blade and the ground, and is ensured by means of the follower wheel 28 which is fixed to it at its rear part, the adjustment of which is ensured by the raising or lowering of the deck 5 of the forklift 2. The control of the bearing force necessary on the ground for a good scraping is controlled on the sliding table 29 by means of an electronic unit 30 which is connected to a sensor force 31 installed on the axle of the wheel 28 to provide indications on the sliding table 29 fixed to the original dashboard 32 of the carriage 2.

 An electrical plug 27 is plugged into a socket (not shown) for recharging the accumulator battery of the electric forklift truck 2 and thus makes it possible to supply, by means of an invisible electrical box of the module 1, all the mechanisms necessary for proper operation of the snow removal system.

 In the case of adaptation of the device on a thermal forklift with mechanical or hydrostatic transmission, all the hydraulic energy necessary for the proper functioning of the device will be ensured by additional diversions of the existing hydraulic circuits on the forklift. The motor 12 will then be a hydraulic motor.

 In the exemplary embodiment of the multi-functional snow removal device described above, the mobile base L chosen by way of example is an elevating machine but it is understood that subject to some simple and inexpensive adaptations, the d sic; f can be easily adapted to part of any agricultural tractor currently in service.

 The reference signs inserted after the technical characteristics mentioned in the claims are intended only to facilitate the understanding of the latter, and in no way limit their scope.

Claims (16)

 1. Multifunctional snow removal device for surfaces and ciruclating tracks intended to equip a mobile vehicle base (2), characterized in that it comprises  - snow collecting means (4, 11) / driven in rotation by motor means,  - means for transporting and removing snow (llb, 15, 16),  - These means forming an integral part of a removable module (1) adaptable to all mobile vehicle bases (2) by means of a hooking device (6, 7) and locking (8, 10) on a frame (5) of said vehicle.  2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the snow removal module (1) comprises means for supplying (18, 19, 20, 21) of a solvent (17) acting on the snow during transport and able to transform it into liquid.  3. Device according to claim 1 and 2, characterized in that the snow removal module (1) comprises means for recycling and treatment (22, 23, 24, 40, 25, 26) of the solvent (17) and the liquefied snow.  4. Device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the attachment and locking device of the snow removal module (1) on the frame (5) of the vehicle (2) consists of at least one member anchor consisting on the one hand, by a butt-shaped part (6) disposed in the upper rear region (3a) of the support frame (3) of the module (1) cooperating with a complementary support hook (7) of the frame (5) of the vehicle (2) and on the other hand, a locking bolt (8) acting in sliding in the lower region (3b) of the support frame (3) of the module (1) under the action a thrust member (9) for introduction into a keeper (10) of the frame (5).  5. Device according to claim 4, charac terized in that the locking bolt (8) acts in sliding under the action of a hydraulic cylinder (9).  6. Device according to one of claims 1 to 5 characterized in that the snow collecting means consist of a collector (4) disposed at the front of the module (1) in the direction of travel and at the 'inside which is likely to be rotated a helical cutter (11).  7. Device according to claim 6, characterized in that the means for conveying and evacuating the snow consist of the rotary propeller (llb) of the cutter (11) capable of driving the mass of snow accumulated in the manifold (4) in the manner of an endless screw and convey it to a discharge nozzle (15) opening into the manifold t / t) ^  8. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the means for supplying the solvent (17) consist of a pump (18) capable of transferring the solvent (17) from a reservoir (19 ) the container to at least one injector (20) disposed in the discharge nozzle (15).  9. Device according to claim 8, characterized in that the solvent (17) is conveyed from the reservoir (19) to the pump (18) and from the pump (18) to the injector (20) via piping (21).  10. Device according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the solvent (17) consists of water loaded with salt.  11. Device according to one of claims 1 to 9 characterized in that the solvent (17) is an antifreeze product.  12. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the solvent (17) is a heated liquid body.  13. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the means for recycling and treatment of the solvent (17) after action and of the liquefied snow consist of a receptacle (22) disposed at the part lower (16a) of a trumpet (16) extending the evacuation nozzle (15) substantially at right or at a lower part of the injector (20) and opening into a reserve (25) of regeneration solvent through from which the recovery liquid passes by gravity before it returns to the tank (19).  14. Device according to claim 13, characterized in that the receptacle (22) consists of a double internal wall (24) of the discharge nozzle (15) formed at its lower part (16a) and opening into the reserve ( 25) of solvent (17).  15. Device according to claims 13 and 14, characterized in that the bottom of the reserve (25) of solvent (17) is provided with a filter (26).  16. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the snow removal module comprises lifting means constituted by the movable deck (5) of a lifting machine (2) on which it is adapted via of the hooking and locking device (6, 7, 8, 10).