US1451027A - Snow-melting apparatus - Google Patents

Description

H. E. OLSEN ELTING AP Apr. w, 1923.

Now M July 15, 197.8

WE/QEJ amm Apr. 10, 1923;

H, E. OLSEN SNOW MELTING APPARATUS F lled July 15 1918 5 sheets-sheet 5 ill Patented Apr. 1G, i923,

entree era":

HALFTEN EUGENE OLSEN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNQR, BY ASS (212 MENTS, TO F. C. AUSTIN MACHINERY CDI'KPANY, A. CORPORATION OF ILLINOIQ.

SNOEV-MELTING APPARATUS.

Application filed July 15,

To all whom it vitog concern:

Be it known that I, HALFTEN EUGENE OL- min, a citizen of the United States of Amen ica, and resident of Chicago, Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Snow-Melting ripparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention contemplates a vehicle, such as a wagon, having a receptacle in which to receive and melt snow taken from the streets. Ordinarily, the snow on the streets is shoveled into wagons and then carted away and dumped, This invention, however, contemplates a method of dispos ing of the snow which will eliminate considerable time and work and expense, and which involves themelting of the snow and the discharging of the water resulting therefrom into the sewers. In this way carting is obviated, except what is necessary to draw the load of snow or water to the nearest opening into the sewer; therefore, as stated, there is a considerable saving, as less time and labor are required.

To these and other useful ends the invention consists in matters hereinafter set forth and claimed, and shown in the accompany ing drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a snow melting wagon embodying the principles of the invention. V

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of said wagon.

Fig; 3, is an enlarged detail sectional view of one of the burners employed for heating the receptacle to melt the snow.

Fig. 4 is a vertical cross section of said wagon on line 4lt in Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section on line 5-5 in Fig. 1.

As thus illustrated, the invention comprises a body fraine or chassis 1 mounted on frontst'eering wheels 2 and rear wheels 3 of any suitable character. The receptacle is in the form of a trough-shaped box, (see Fig-f4), having outer walls 4: and inner walls 5, spaced apart by means of angle irons 6, so that vertically disposed recesses 7 are formed in the hollow sides of the receptacle, these recesses being connected together at their upper ends by the passages 8 in the upper edges of said sides, and communicating at their lower ends with the similar spaces or recesses 9 formed by the transverse I-beams 10, which latter are in alinement with said angle irons. The spaces 1918. semi No. 244,999.

or recesses 9, it will be seen, communicate with the combustion chamber 11 formed in the bottom of said receptacle, which combustion chamber is enclosed by the side walls 12 and the perforated bottom wall 13, so that a proper chainber is formed for the burners 14. distributed along the pipes 15 which extend for substantially the full length of said combustion chamber. These pipes are supported in any suitable or desired manner and are connected to the header .6 at the front end of the vehicle, which latter is in turn connected by vertical pipes 17, having valves 18, to the gasoline tank 19 mounted directly behind the drivers seat 20 at the front end of the wagon. The burners, of course, can be of any suitable, known, or approved character, such, for example, as the one shown (see Fig. 3), in which a needle valve 21 controls the discharge of the oil from the nozzle 22, and in which this nozzle is surrounded by a tube 23 forming a combustion chamber 2-1 therein, with openings 25 around the base of said chamber to admit air. A cup 26 islocated belowthe base of the tube 23 for priming purposes, and the bottom of said tube is provided with small openings 27 to permit the overflow from the nozzle 22 to discharge downwardly into said cup, in starting the burners. This is done by opening one'of the valves 18 and. as soon as the burners are hot the other valve 18 is then opened, to supplythe full quan 'tity of oil to the burners, which latter are located it will be seen, directly below the bottom wall 28 of the box-like receptacle. It will be understood that the front and rear ends 9.9 and 30 of said receptacle can be of any suitable character, and may be either double or single, as maybe desired.

At its rear end the receptacle thus constructed is provided with an outlet connection 31 having a valve and a hose-pipe connection 33, so that the water resulting from the melting of the snow in said recep-- tacle can be drained off into the sewer. It will be seen that this connection 31 is disposed a distance above the bottom of the receptacle, so that a certain volume of hot water will always be carried in the lower portion of the receptacle. For the purpose of totally draining the receptacle, another outlet connection 34 is provided at the rear end thereof, below the connection 31, so that when this connection 34: is opened, all of the till water in the receptacle will be discharged therefrom.

It will be seen, therefore, that the invention contemplates a method and apparatus for disposing of snow on the streets by melting it in receptacles and then discharging the water into the sewers. Instead of: carting the snow away, and dumping it at some distance, it is simply melted on the streets and discharged into the sewers, and in this way long hauls are unnecessary, as the only trans portation required is that which is necessary to bring the wagon to the nearest opening into the sewer.

lVhen the burners are started, it will be seenthat the heat generated. in the combustion chamber 11 will. enter the spaces 9, and from the latter will pass upwardly into the soaces or recesses 7 in the hollow sides otthe box or trough-like receptacle, the passages 8 permitting free circulation of the heat from one compartment or recess to the other, whereby the sides as well as the bottom of the receptacle are heated to thoroughly and quickly melt the snow. The apparatus thus constructed can be made of any suitable materials, such as heavy sheet iron or steel. The heating instrui'nentalities shown and described are suitable for the purpose, but it will be understood that the construction can be changed or varied to suit the requirements of different cases, as may be desired, and without departing from the spirit of the invention.

lVhat I claim as my invention is 1. In a portable snow-melting apparatus, the combination of a vehicle, an open top receptacle having water-tight and continuous bottom and sides mounted on said vehicle to receive the snow, instrumentalities for heating the bottom and sides of said receptacle, and means -for drawing off the water resulting from the melting of the snow, said receptacle having a combustion chamber at the bottom thereof, and having double. walls forming separate spaces which communicate with said combustion chamber, the upper ends of said spaces communicating with each other to provide free circulation of the heat.

2. In a portable snow-melting apparatus, the combination of a vehicle, an open top receptacle having water-tight and continuous bottom and sides mounted on said vehicle to receive the snow, instrumentalh ties including walls substantially parallel with said bottom and sides and forming a heating chamber for heating the bottom and sides of said receptacle, and means for drawing off the water resulting from the melting of the snow, said means comprising a valved hose-pipe connection disposed a distance above the bottom of the receptacle, so that a volume of hot water is maintained in said receptacle to receive the snow, and another outlet to drain off the entire contents of the receptacle.

3. In a vehicle for collecting and melting snow, the combination of an open-top body having a bottom and sides and ends, a heating chamber below said bottom, said body being adapted to receive the snow and hold the water resulting from the melting thereof, outer walls for applying the heat from said chamber to all parts of the sides of said body, so that the water will be kept heated at any height in said body, and a draw-ofi' for discharging the water from said body.

i. A structure as specified in claim 5, said draw-off being disposed at the. rear end of the body a distance above said bottom to maintain a quantity of heated water in the body.

5. A structure as specified in claim 5, comprising spacers extending upwardly between said walls and sides to form spaces for the heat, with a circulating passage connecting the upper ends of said spaces at each side of the body.

6. A structure as specified in claim 5, in combination with longitudinal members extending under said body at opposite sides of said heating chamber, transverse supporting members for said bottom, resting on said longitudinal members, and means for supporting said members on the street.

7. A structure as specified in claim 5, and a drain below said draw-off at the rear end of the body.

8. A portable. snow-melting apparatus, comprising a vehicle, a trough-like receptacle mounted on said. vehicle and having spaced and'substantially parallel wall parts forming a heating chamber therebetween. and a plurality of heating devices disposed beneath said receptacle and adapted to supply heat to all parts of said chamber.

HALFTEN EUGENE OLSEN.

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