US145822A - Improvement in machines for removing snow and ice from roadways - Google Patents

Description

I C. G. ,WAT EBBUBY.' Machines for Removing Snow and In from Roadways.

Patented Dec. 23,1873.

UNITED STATES PATENT CHARLES Gr. XVATERBURY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN MACHINES FOR REMOVING SNOW AND ICE FROM ROADWAYS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 145,822, dated D cember23, 1873; application filed March 22, 1873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES Gr. \VATER- BURY, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Means for Removing Snow and Ice from Streets and Drying Mud, of which the following is a specification:

The invention will first be fully described, and then pointed out in the claims.

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of apparatus, illustrating one plan by which my invention can be carried out and Fig. 2 is partly a plan view and partly a horizontal section.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

A represents an iron box, which may be of any suitable size or form, adapted to be mounted on four wheels, B, for drawing it along the street, with a furnace or fire-place, (J, at the front end, inclosed on the sides and top, but open at the bottom, the front side D, and the two sides, E, at right angles thereto, extending down considerably below the rear side, which terminates at F, and said sides E extending rearward the whole length of the apparatus, to confine the heat and form a long channel for the escape of the heat, in such manner as to confine it to the work as much as possible, and, if need be, a hood, G, may be at tached to the rear to prolong the channel, and the hood may be hinged to the rear end of the box, and suspended by a chain, H, and drum I, to raise and lower it, as may be required. The furnace is surrounded by an inner wall, K. Between these two walls is a water-space, J, which extends to the bottom of sides D and E, and is prolonged at L to the rear end of the box, both in the sides E and over the upper wall M of the heat-channel, under a floor, N, in the rear part of the box, over which there is another floor, O, to protect the operators and the contrivance above from the heat. The cover M of the channel has several depressions, P, to prevent the escape of the heat too rapidly, and throw it down on the snow and ice. Q represents the rate-bars, which will consist of tubes when the heat is blown down from the fire between them, and have connec tion with the water-space, so that the water will circulate in them and protect them from the heat. It is a charger, consisting of a large vertical tube or box rising up from the top of the furnace and com munieatin g with it, through which to introduce the fuel. It is provided with two slide-doors, S and T, so that, by having the lower one closed and the upper one opened, it canbe filled without allowing the blast to escape, and, by closing the upper one and opening the lower one, the charge can be delivered into the furnace also without allowing the blast to escape. U is a coil of pipe, having small perforations arranged around the interior walls for injecting hydrocarbon fuel from a tank, V, with which it is connected outside of the furnace, said tank being arranged in the rear portion of the box A, so that the oil will flow in, the pipe having a cock, NV, to regulate the flow. X is a rotary fan arranged in the rear part of the box A, and having its discharge-pipe enter the furnace above the grate, to blow the heat down to the surface of the ground. This fan may be driven by a system of belts, Z, and pulleys connected with the hind axle of the machine, or a special steam-engine may be employed for the purpose. A is a water-tank for the supply of the water-space J, with which it is connected by the pipe B, which has a regulating-cock, C. D represents the pipe for conducting the steam from water-space J down to the fire below the grate, for adding its heat to that of the fire for melting the snow, &c.

In Fig. 3, the fan-blower discharges into an inclosed space, E, below the fire, and passes up through it over a bridge-wall, F, and then down through an open space, G, at one side of the fire, so that ordinary grate-bars H may be used. This arrangement will be best for burning hard fuel only, which in the other plan probably will not burn well without hydrocarbon fuel in combination with it, and which it will probably be found best to use, either alone or in combination with the hard fuel, for it will be desirable to produce as much flame as possible, and the difference in cost will be more than compensated for by the advantages gained by the greater flame produced, and the more perfect combustion, whereby less smoke is produced. The interior heat, which can in this way be brought to direct contact with the snow and ice, will quickly melt the surface portions and convert the Water into steam, which will be superheated, and become a powerful agent, which, in combination with the heat from the furnace, will melt away the snow more quickly than any other mamier by which heat can be applied, and will remove it cheaper than it can be done in any other Way.

The machine will be drawn along the street next to the gutters first, to open them for the escape of the water, and next alongside of the already cleaned strip, passing up one side of the street and down the other until the Whole space has been worked over.

I am aware of a patent granted to Mullay for a machine in which hot 'air and steam are applied in combination; but, by using steam in direct contact with fire heat, I secure the advantage of superheated steam.

Having thus described my invention, I

G. G. WATERBURY.

\Vitncsses A. P. THAYER, T. B. Mosnnn.

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