GB2211531A - Snow/ice clearing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

A snow ice clearing machine has a hover cover 1, hover motor/engine 2, rotor 4, a handle 3 and a switch 5 which operates the hover motor and the technology/machinery for melting the snow and ice. Said technology/machinery may comprise a heating element, a hot air blower, a gas burner, microwaves or deltawaves. If the snow and ice is reasonably flat the machine will hover above the surface until the snow and ice melts. However if the surface is rutted or uneven the rear wheel assembly 9 can be swung down so that the wheels contact the ground. The machine is then tilted by the operator to clear the snow and ice to enable ice and snow to be melted. Anti-freeze can be sprayed onto the treated surface via the anti-freeze pump system 8 handle clips are provided on the hover cover 1 to lock handle 3 in position and with wheel assembly 9 in down position, the machine can be wheeled to and from site. A plastic clip on cover 11 is provided to protect the underside of the machine. <IMAGE>

Description

2 22 111 "", 3 1 SNOW AND ICE CLEARING MACHINE This invention relates to

the clearing of snow and ice from footpaths and driveways.

A machine can be operated in either of two ways depending on surface being cleared.

1) If the surface is flat and even, the hover principle can be applied where the machine will hover above the snow and ice.

2) If the surface is badly rutted or uneven the wheels at the rear of the machine can be locked in position to allow the machine to be wheeled while in cperation.

The invention makes use of a range of technologies and machinery for melting the snow and ice. They are listed as follows:TBCHNOLOGIES/MACHINERY - METHOD OF MELTING SEE DRAWING FIGURES a) Heating Element Radiation/Convection 1-4 b) Hot Air Blower Hot Air/Convection 5-7 c) Gas Burner Direct Heat/Convection 8-10 d) Microwave Exciting Water Molecules 11-13 e) Deltawave Exciting Water Molecules 11-13 The machine uses the hover principle. The hover motor can be powered by the following means:- i) Electrically - From mains voltage eg 240v - 11Ov ii) Electrically - From mains batery eg 6v - 9v - 12v iii) Mechanically - From eg 2 stroke engine 4 stroke engine The water from the melted snow and ice will run off to the nearest drain.

Accessories 1. A wheel assembly 9 on a machine can be locked on 2 positions:- a) In the down position for working on uneven surfaces and moving machine to and from site.

b) In the up, non working, position.

2. A pump 8 for the distribution of anti-freeze solution to prevent reforming of ice.

3. Handle clips are provided to allow machine to be clipped in position for moving to and from site.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described to the accompanying drawing.

2 WITH REFERENCE TO TECHNOLOGIES/MACHINERY FIGURE TECHNOLOGIES/ DESCRIPTION OF VIEW

NUMBER MACHINERY 1 Heating Element Elevation with part section 2 @1 Plan view underside 3 Part plan view of handle and operating mechanisms 4 Enlarged view of part of sectioned portion in figure 1 Hot air blower Elevation with part section 6 99 Plan view underside 7 19 Plan view tcp 8 Gas burner Elevation with part section 9 Plan view underside Plan view tcp 11 Microwave and Elevation with part section Deltawave, 12 Plan view underside 13 Plan view tcp 3 WITH REFERENCE TO HCUER M13TOR MEANS OF POWER FIGURE HOVER MOTOR DESCRIPTION

NUMBER MEANS OF POWER OF VIEW 1 Electric Motor Elevation with eg 11OV 240V part section 14 Petrol Engine eg Elevation with 2 Stroke - 4 Stroke part section is Electric Motor-Battery Operated Elevation with eg 6V, 9V, 12V part section 16 11 Plan view top With reference to the drawing, the machine comprises a basic hover type principle of hover cover 1 hover motor(engine) 2, handle 3, rotor 4, and switch 5. (see figure 1) The insulation 10 is common to all machines. (see figure 4).

Accessories a) The anti-freeze bottle and mechanisms 8 (lever operated pump, anti- freeze dispersant pipe) see figure 3.

b) The wheel arrangement 9. See figures 1 and 2 c) The cover 11 to clip over cover 1.

Additions for particular Technologies and Machinery Heating Element 1. Heating Element 6 figures 1,2,and 4.

2. Grating 7 see figures 1,2, and 4.

Hot Ai r Blower 1. Heating Element 12 figure 5.

2. Fan 13 Figure 5 3. Cover 14 figures 5 and 6.

4 Gas Burner 1. Burners 15 figures 8 and 9.

2. Bush 16 figure 8.

3. Gas containers 17 figures 8 and 10.

4. Hover cover 1 modified to accommodate gas containers (figures 8 and 10).

Microwave and Deltawave 1. Microwave or Deltawave unit 18 figure 11.

2. Hover cover 1 modified to accommodate microwave or deltawave unit, slot 19 in cover 1 - figure 12 allows waves into bottom area of cover as indicated by arrows in figure 11 - figures 11,12 and 13.

Hover Motor (Engine) 2 means of powering hover la) Electric motor 2 can be normal mains voltage 240V or 11OV figure 1.

b) Electric motor 2 - Battery operated 6V,M12V, Battery 21 - Figure 15 and 16 Batter Cover 22 - Figure 15 Hover cover 1 modified to accommodate battery. Figure 15 and 16.

2. Mechanical - 2 Stroke and 4 Stroke engine 2 Stroke or 4 Stroke engine 20 figure 14 Hover cover 1 modified to accommodate the engine 20 figure 14.

Operating instructions with reference the drawing When switch 5 is depressed this will activate the machine and it will hover above the snow and ice. The machine must be moved slow enough to allow it to melt the snow and ice.

The anti-freeze solution can be dispersed from the container by the pump 8 to the pipe at the rear of the machine whereupon it its sprayed on to the treated surface to prevent the reforming of ice.

If the surface to be treated is heavily rutted or uneven the wheel assembly 9 can be swung down and locked in position. The operator will tilt the machine to just clear the snow and ice. Adjustment to rear wheel assembly 9 must not be carried out if the machine has been used or is hot. It must be left to completely cool down.

If snow falls are heavy or severe cold conditions prevail repeat treatment as before.

Specific operating instruction relating to Tecbnologies/Machinery 1. Heating Element The element 6 requires a short time to achieve cperational temperature. When cperational temperature is reached a relay switch (part of element and assessories 6) will activate the rotor 4. When rotor 4 operates, machine can now be used for clearing snow and ice. To prevent over heating of the element a transistorised circuit is controlled by a remote prcbe. It will also keep element at cptimum cperating temperature.

2. Hot Air Blower A similar electronic arrangement, as in heating element technology above, will be used to protect heating element 12.

3. Gas Burner Turn on gas slightly at gas container 17. Ignite the gas burners 15. Place machine down in cperating positian. Turn gas up to high. This should be followed immediately by activating hover 4 by depressing switch 5.

Note: Gas bottle when empty can be replaced by full bottle. They are screwed into bush 16.

4. Microwave/Deltawave Metal surfaces must be avoided as prolonged contact can damage the machine.

Specific instructions relating to Hover Motor 2 Stroke and 4 Stroke engines will be started by pull cord or electric starter.

Storage Accessories After use plastic cover 11 can be clipped in position. The machine must be completely cooled before replacing cover.

The wheel arrangement 9 can be swung to the down position, the handle located in the handle clips at the front of the hover cover 1. The eperator can now wheel the machine to and from the site.

6

Claims (6)

CLAIS

1. An ice and snow melting machine consists of a hover type machine which uses one or all of the following tecbnologies/machinery for the melting of snow and ice.

TECENO=/K=NERY hCMD OF MELTING a) Heating Element Radiation/Convection b) Hot Air Blower Hot Air/Convection c) Gas Burner Direct Heat/Convection d) microwave Exciting Islater Molecules e) Deltawave Exciting Water Molecules

2. An ice and snow melting machine with wheels as in Claim 1 with the exception of (b) the gas burner method.

3. An ice and snow melting machine as in Claim 1 or Claim 2 in which the 'hover motor is powered by mains voltage 11OV or 240V or battery 6V,9V, or 12V or mechanically by an engine 2 Stroke or 4 Stroke.

4. An ice and snow melting machine as in Claim 1 or Claim 2 or Claim 3 which has a means of dispresing anti-freeze solution or salts.

5. An ice and snow melting machine as in Claim 1, Claim 2, Claim 3, Claim 4 which provides a wheel arrangement to allow removal to and from site.

6. A snow and ice melting machine is substantially described herein with reference to the drawing figures 1 to 16.

3MMF aed19 atThe Ltent Oltce, State House, 66171 High Rolburn, London WC1R 4TP. Furthercopies maybe obtained from The Patent Office. Sales Branch, St Mary Cray, Orpington, Kent BRS 3RD. Printed by Multiplex techniques ltd, St Mary Cray, Kent, Con. 1187