JP2002285508A - Snow-melting device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a snow-melting device, which displays snow-melting performance optimum for snowfall characteristics in a cold district and treats snow lumps generated in case of snow removal in a short time, in which power saving is attained and which has excellent snow-removal workability. SOLUTION: The snow-melting device has a heating coil 35 induction-heating a surface plate 33 arranged to the upper section of a surface-shaped heating element 1 and an inverter 5 supplying the heating coil 35 with a high-frequency current. When removed snow is melted, snow-removal works are conducted in the short time by setting a snow-removal operating mode concentrically conducting electricity through the specific surface-shaped heating element.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a snow melting apparatus for efficiently melting snow in the premises of ordinary households and shops, and more particularly to a structure for efficiently melting a snow lump generated by a snow removing operation. is there.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a cold region with a lot of snow, snow removal work on public roads as well as on the premises of ordinary households and shops, particularly from the sidewalk to the entrance, garage or parking space of ordinary households, is carried out during the snowy season. It has been a major problem in everyday life.

In order to solve this problem, there is a snow melting apparatus in which a heating wire, a hot water pipe, or the like is buried in the ground of the premises as a heating element and a road surface is heated to melt snow. The “heating wire” generates heat by Joule heat when energized, and the “hot water pipe” generates heat by circulating hot water (actually, antifreeze) heated by combustion of a kerosene boiler as a heat medium. Generally, the road surface temperature is raised by these heatings to melt snow on the road surface.

[0004]

In the above-described conventional snow melting apparatus, since a heating wire or a hot water pipe as a heating element is buried in the ground, even if the operation is started, snow accumulated on the surface of the ground is not removed. It takes time to melt snow. In addition, the construction requires a long construction period, and since the site shapes and areas of individual houses are different, it is designed exclusively, and the installation construction cost for that is high. In addition, it takes a long time to melt a snow lump generated when snow is removed from a roof or a place where a snow melting device is not installed because of a lack of heat. Furthermore, if snow melting is continued with insufficient heat, the snow melting water freezes again in the non-heated area, causing slippery road surfaces. There is a problem about the melting performance of the snow mass which was made.

[0005] The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems of the conventional snow-melting apparatus by reducing the time required for snow-melting and conserving power by exhibiting optimal driving performance for life in cold regions. As well as having the ability to melt snow mass removed,
The maintenance and management is easy, the construction area of the snow melting equipment can be changed freely after construction according to the site shape and actual use, and
It is an object of the present invention to provide a snow melting device using a planar heating element that can be saved.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, a snow melting apparatus according to the present invention comprises an inverter for supplying a high-frequency current, and a surface plate connected to the inverter and arranged above a planar heating element. A plurality of heating coils for induction heating, a switching means for switching connection / disconnection of the heating coil provided on the sheet heating element to the inverter, and a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the sheet heating element, Control means for controlling the temperature of the surface plate to a temperature suitable for snow melting based on the measured temperature is provided, and a snow removing operation mode is provided in which a specific planar heating element is energized and energized.

[0007] Thus, when the snow mass generated by the snow removing operation is melted and flown into the drain, the high temperature current is supplied from the inverter to the specific sheet heating element, so that the surface temperature becomes lower than in the normal operation. Since the snow melting effect is maintained at a high level, the snow removing operation can be performed in a short time. That is, since the living in a cold region can be made comfortable, it is possible to provide a snow melting device with excellent commercial value.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The invention according to a first aspect of the present invention provides an inverter for supplying a high-frequency current, a plurality of heating coils connected to the inverter and for inductively heating a surface plate disposed above a planar heating element. Switching means for switching connection / disconnection of a heating coil provided to the sheet heating element to an inverter; a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the sheet heating element; and a temperature of the surface plate based on the measured temperature. And a control means for controlling the temperature to a temperature suitable for snow melting, and by providing a snow removing operation mode in which a specific planar heating element is energized and energized, snow removing operation can be easily performed, and the commercial value is improved.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the switching means is housed in a housing for housing the inverter, and the connection state of the heating coil can be freely changed. You.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, a small amount of electric power is also supplied to the sheet heating element adjacent to the sheet heating element performing the snow removing operation to prevent re-freezing of the snow melting water and to remove the snow more safely. Can do work.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the running cost can be further reduced by providing a tray mounted on the upper part of the planar heating element for use. According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, by providing a snow melting tray having a heating coil separate from the planar heating element, it is possible to enhance the melting ability of snow mass removed from snow.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

(Embodiment 1) FIG. 1 is a circuit block diagram of a snow melting apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an external view showing an installation place of the apparatus, and FIG. It is.

As shown in FIG. 1, an inverter 5 is composed of a combined inductance of the heating coils 2a to 2c in the sheet heating elements 1a and 1b, a resonance capacitor 3 and a switching element 4, and a commercial power supply 6 is connected to a rectifier circuit 7 Rectified voltage is supplied. The inverter 5 is controlled by the control means 8 to operate at a predetermined frequency. Reference numeral 9 denotes a temperature sensor.
Inverter 5 so that the surface temperature of 1b becomes a predetermined temperature value.
Turn on and off to adjust the temperature. 10 is a DC power supply, 11 is a temperature setting means, 12 is an operation switch, 13 is a distribution line, 1
4 is a heating coil 2a provided on the planar heating elements 1a and 1b.
A switching means 14a for switching connection to non-connection of the inverters 5 to 2c, and 14a is a connector 14a of the switching means 14. The temperature setting means 11 includes a semi-fixed resistor, a jumper wire, a dip SW, and the like, and presets a temperature suitable for snow melting. The control means 8 comprises a logic circuit or a microcomputer. As shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of the above-mentioned sheet heating elements are combined to form a heating unit 20, and a plurality of heating units 20 each having an inverter 5 (not shown) are installed on a road surface to form a sidewalk 21. To form a snow melting device laying portion 24 including an approach from the entrance to the entrance 22 and the parking space 23.

In the present invention, as shown in FIG. 3 (a), a resin member 32 is first fitted to a bottom plate 31 which is in contact with a road surface 30, and the surface plate 33 is mounted. And fix it with screws (not shown).
Heating coils 35a and 35b using insulated wires are accommodated in the guide grooves 34 provided in 2. In the partially cutaway plan view of FIG. 3B, reference numeral 36 denotes a distribution line to the sheet heating element 1, reference numeral 37 denotes a seal for a lead-out portion of the distribution line 36, reference numeral 38 denotes switching means, and 38a.
Is a connector 38a provided in the switching means 38. According to the present invention, since a gap is formed between the heating coils 35a and 35b and the upper surface plate 33, a large external force is applied to the heating coil 35 even when a heavy object is loaded so that they can be elastically deformed. Will not join. Further, a double insulating structure is formed by the insulating material of the electric wire and the gap. That is, the heating coils 35a and 35b are always protected and are not damaged, and it is possible to provide a high-strength, durable and highly insulating snow melting apparatus. In addition, the surface plate 33 can be efficiently heated by the induction heating, and the heat conduction from the bottom plate 31 is reduced by the air heat insulation effect of the air gap, so that the heating efficiency is improved.

In the present invention, the surface plate 33 is made of a material which can be induction-heated, such as a metal material or a composite material of a metal material and a resin, and the bottom plate 31 is made of a magnetic stainless steel thin plate to have a magnetic shielding effect. . 1 to 3
The operation method of the snow melting apparatus shown in FIG. For easy understanding, the user himself / herself judges that there is snowfall, and turns on the operation switch 12, whereby the snow melting apparatus starts operating. The control means 8 includes the heating coils 2a to 2d
And the surface plate 33 is induction-heated. Since the surface heating element 1 has a small heat capacity and is installed on a surface such as a pavement road, the temperature of the surface plate 33 rises in a short time with a predetermined amount of power consumption. The subsequently supplied thermal energy is used as melting heat to turn it into snowmelt water as soon as the snowfall accumulates on the surface of the snowmelting device laying section 24, so that the snowmelt is performed in a short time.

If the user determines that the snowfall has stopped, the user may stop driving immediately. Of course, automatic operation of the above series of operations can be performed based on a signal from the sensor. Then, in order to remove snow on the roof or remove snow on a road surface on which a snow melting device is not installed to melt a snow lump, the connector 38a in the switching means 38 is removed, and the heating coil 35b and the inverter 5 are connected. Since the operation is performed in the disconnected state, the high-frequency current is supplied only to the heating coil 35a, and the snow melting ability of the sheet heating element 1 increases. Therefore, if the removed snow lump is placed on the heating coil 35a side of the surface plate 33 and left as it is, it is possible to melt it in an extremely short time.

Actual snowfall rarely occurs continuously for 24 hours, but often falls intermittently, such as falling from night to early morning and not falling during the day. Accordingly, the operation of the snow melting device becomes intermittent and the road surface temperature decreases, but the temperature of the planar heating element 1 having the above configuration can be increased in a short time. In addition, since the snow removal operation is performed about once every two to three days during the day, the total amount of power consumption of the heating unit 20 can be small, and the running cost of the snow melting device is also low.

(Embodiment 2) FIG. 4 is a circuit block diagram of a snow melting apparatus according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. In this embodiment, the basic configuration of the snow melting apparatus is the same as that of the first embodiment, and the description of the basic configuration will be omitted. The second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in the configuration in which the switching means is housed in the housing for housing the inverter, and this point will be mainly described. 4, reference numeral 40 denotes control means, 41 denotes a housing for housing the inverter 5, and 42a and 42b constitute switching means by relay contacts provided in the housing 40. 43
Reference numerals a and 43b denote relay coils for driving the relay contacts 42a and 42b. When the user sets the operation switch 12 to the normal operation mode, the relay coil 43a, 43b is energized by the control means 40, and the relay contacts 42a, 42b
Is driven, a high-frequency current is supplied to all of the heating coils 2a to 2d, and a snow melting operation is performed.

Next, when the left side snow removal mode is set, the control means 40 energizes only the relay coil 43a, and the relay contact 42
is driven, a high-frequency current is supplied to the heating coils 2a to 2b, and the melting operation of the snow mass removed from the snow is performed. Next, when the right side snow removal mode is set, the control means 40
Only 3b is energized, the relay contact 42b is driven, a high-frequency current is supplied to the heating coils 2c to 2d, and the melting operation of the snow mass from which snow has been removed is also performed. In the left side or right side snow removal mode, the high-frequency power value supplied per unit area of the planar heating element 1 increases, so that it is possible to easily melt the snow mass from which snow has been removed. The operation switch 12
Thus, any part of the planar heating element 1 can be selectively heated, so that the workability is improved.

In the second embodiment, the heating coil is switched by a relay contact through which a high-frequency current can flow, but other methods may be used.

(Embodiment 3) FIG. 5 is a circuit block diagram of a snow melting apparatus according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention. In this embodiment, the basic configuration of the snow melting apparatus is the same as that of the first embodiment, and the description of the basic configuration will be omitted. The third embodiment is different from the first and second embodiments in that a small power is also supplied to the sheet heating element adjacent to the sheet heating element performing the snow removing operation to prevent re-freezing of the snow melting water. It is different, and this point will be mainly described. In FIG. 5, when the user sets the operation switch 12 to the snow removal mode, the control means 50 energizes the relay coil 52, de-energizes the relay coil 53, and sets the relay contact 54
Is closed and the relay contact 55 is opened to control the inverter 5. Therefore, the heating coils 2a to 2b and the air-core coil 56
And the heating coils 2c to 2d are connected in parallel to supply a high-frequency current. Since the inductance value of the heating coils 2c to 2d is smaller than the combined inductance value of the heating coils 2a to 2b and the air-core coil 56, most of the high-frequency current flows through the heating coils 2a to 2b and the planar heating element 1
Melts the snow mass on the right side of the snow. Part of the high-frequency current also flows through the series circuit of the heating coils 2a to 2b and the air-core coil 56, and the left side of the sheet heating element 1 is kept small enough to prevent re-freezing of the snow melting water. The calorie is supplied.

Accordingly, the snow removal operation can be performed more easily, and the freezing of the road surface due to the re-freezing of the snow melting water can be prevented, so that the snow removal operation can be performed more safely.

Incidentally, the method of supplying the small electric power may be a method of changing the energization ratio of the heating coil.

(Embodiment 4) FIG. 5 is a sectional view and a plan view of a snow melting apparatus according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention. In this embodiment,
The basic configuration of the snow melting apparatus is the same as that of the first embodiment, and the description of the basic configuration will be omitted. The fourth embodiment is different from the first to third embodiments in that a tray provided on the sheet heating element 1 and used is different from the first to third embodiments, and this point will be mainly described. In FIG. 5, reference numeral 60 denotes a tray placed on the sheet heating element 1, and 61 denotes a drain port opened in the tray 60. The snow mass generated during snow removal is put into the tray 60, and the operation switch is turned on. Heating coil 3 on the lower surface of tray 60
When the high-frequency current is supplied to 5 and the surface plate 33 is heated, the tray 60 is also heated by the conduction heat, and the snow chunk can be melted.

By providing the tray 60, it is possible to prevent the snowmelt water from flowing to the adjacent panel, to process more snow chunks, and to improve the efficiency of the snow removal operation.

(Embodiment 5) FIG. 7 is a circuit block diagram of a snow melting apparatus according to Embodiment 5 of the present invention. In this embodiment, the basic configuration of the snow melting apparatus is the same as that of the first embodiment, and the description of the basic configuration will be omitted. The fifth embodiment is different from the first to fourth embodiments in that the configuration in which a tray for melting snow chunks at the time of snow removal having a heating coil separate from the planar heating element 1 is provided is different from the first to fourth embodiments. I will explain mainly. In FIG. 7, 70 is a melting tray, 71 is a tray heating coil disposed below the tray, 72 is the tray heating coil 71 and the heating coils 2a to 2d for the sheet heating element 1, and an inverter. 5 is a connection unit for connecting to the control unit 5.

During normal snow melting, the connection 72 is switched so as to supply a high-frequency current to the sheet heating element 1. To melt the snow mass generated during snow removal, use the tray heating coil 71.
Is switched to connect the inverter 5. By providing a heating coil separately on the melting tray 70, the inductance value can be freely designed and the supplied power can be increased, so that a large amount of snow mass can be processed in a shorter time and the efficiency of the snow removing operation can be further improved. It is possible to increase.

[0029]

As described above, according to the first to fifth aspects of the present invention, by energizing and energizing a specific planar heating element, it is possible to efficiently melt a snow lump generated during snow removal. This makes it possible to provide a snow melting device which is capable of performing a snow removing operation easily and has excellent merchantability.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a circuit block diagram of a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an external view showing an installation state of the snow melting apparatus of the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view and a partially broken plan view of a main part of the sheet heating element of the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a circuit block diagram according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a circuit block diagram according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view and a plan view of a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a circuit block diagram according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1a-1d Planar heating element 2a-2d Heating coil 5 Inverter 6 Commercial power supply 7 Rectifier circuit 8 Control circuit 9 Temperature sensor 11 Temperature setting means 12 Operation switch 13 Distribution line 14 Switching means 20 Heating unit 21 Sidewalk 22 Entrance 23 Parking space 24 Snow melting device laying part 31 Bottom plate 32 Resin part 33 Surface plate 34 Guide groove 35 Heating coil 36 Distribution line 37 Seal 38 Switching means 41 Housing 42a, 42b Relay contact 43a, 43b Relay coil 52, 53 Relay coil 54, 55 Relay contact 56 Air core coil 60 Tray 61 Drain outlet 70 Tray 71 Tray heating coil 72 Connection

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Masaki Yura 1006 Kazuma Kadoma, Osaka Pref. Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. Terms (reference) 2D026 CL02 CL03 CN00 2D051 AA08 AC01 AF12 AG11 AH01 AH02 GA01 GB03 GB09 GC01

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An inverter for supplying a high-frequency current, a plurality of heating coils connected to the inverter and induction-heating a surface plate disposed above a planar heating element, and a heating coil provided on the planar heating element Switching means for switching between connection and non-connection to the inverter, a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the planar heating element, and control for controlling the temperature of the surface plate to a temperature suitable for snow melting based on the measured temperature. And a snow removal operation mode in which a current is concentrated and applied to a specific planar heating element. 2. The snow melting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the switching means is housed in a housing for housing the inverter, and the connection state of the heating coil can be freely changed. 3. The sheet heating element adjacent to the sheet heating element performing the snow removing operation is also supplied with a small electric power to prevent re-freezing of the snowmelt water. Snow melting equipment. 4. The snow melting apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a tray mounted on and used above the planar heating element. 5. The snow melting apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a snow melting tray having a heating coil separate from the sheet heating element.