US2104363A

US2104363A - Snow removal device

Info

Publication number: US2104363A
Application number: US78962A
Authority: US
Inventors: James E Devlin
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1936-05-11
Filing date: 1936-05-11
Publication date: 1938-01-04
Anticipated expiration: 1955-01-04

Description

.Fan, 4-, 1938. J. E. DEVLIN SNOW REMOVAL DEVICE Filed May 11, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet l 0 v 1 4 4 x j b 5 M 9% I v w L m .Jmes E136 v/zrz Jan. 4, 1938. J, DEVUN SNOW REMOVAL DEVICE Filed May 11, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jzzaavzf .Emes EBa /Z77 Patented Jan. 4, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 14 Claims.

The present invention relates to a device adapted for the removal of snow from roads, streets, sidewalks and the like.

Snow is generally removed from streets and sidewalks by plowing it into the gutters at opposite sides of the street, where it becomes packed and frozen and inevitably clogs the drains so that the water produced by rains and thaws in the spring, being unable to drain into the sewers, must accumulate in the streets, making driving hazardous and walking unpleasant. The alter native for leaving the snow at opposite sides of the street is to load it into trucks to be carted away, always an expensive proposition, especially where the snow has been allowed to become hard packed.

Devices for melting the snow to allow it to pass directly to the sewers in the form of water, have been developed, but in each instance have been unsatisfactory because of the inability to apply enough heat to melt the snow as rapidly as it is picked up from the street. It has been found that snow melts most rapidly when in direct contact with hot water, and this principle is embodied in the device of the present application, in which the snow is delivered to a tank in which a large number of sprays of hot water are directed, so that the snow is immediately melted. The device incorporates an arrangement by which hard cakes of ice or snow will be broken up so that they are discharged into the tank in very small pieces, and the snow is similarly "directed into the tank in relatively small lumps.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. l is a side elevation of a device embodying the invention, with parts in section to show the construction.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section through the device, along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view along the line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view along the line t-G of Fig. l.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of a modification.

Fig. 6 is a plan view, partly in section, of the modification of Fig. 5. I

Fig. '7 is a plan view of another modification.

Fig. 8 is a side View of the modification of Fig. 7.

Like reference characters refer to like parts in the different figures.

Referring first to Fig. 1,, the device is shown in connection with a truck I, having the usual drivers cab 2. The truck shown has an endless-belt traction-tread 3 for movement of the truck, and the front of the truck is supported on the usual wheels l, which also provide for steering the vehicle. In the modification shown, the truck has a low platform body 5, on which the melting tank and associated equipment are mounted.

Carried by the front end of the truck, for vertical movement relative thereto, as by the links 6, is a scoop 7, preferably of a width at least as great as the usual vehicle lane, and within the scoop is positioned a spiral feeding screw 8 driven as by means of the shaft 9 and gearing Ill from the engine of the truck. A clutch, not shown, of any usual construction, will be provided for allowing the engine to operate without turning the screw 8, and the cooperating gears ll provide a connection between the engine and the shaft 9 so that rotation of the screwv 8 is independent of the forward movement of the truck. The top I2 of the scoop I is preferably mounted at its rearward edge on a hinge l3 so that the top may swing up if the snow is deeper than the normal height of the scoop opening. Suitable provision for elevating the scoop, similar to the well known structure for lifting the familiar snow plow blades may be provided, if desired, and universal joints may be provided in the shaft 9 to allow for the scoop movement.

From the rearward end of the scoop I, is an upwardly extending conduit l3 having positioned therein a feeding screw l4 having a helical fin IE on the outside thereof to provide for movement of the snow toward the upper end of the conduit. The feeding screw 14 is positively driven preferably from the truck engine through a vertical shaft l6 having, on its lower end, a worm gear connection IT with the shaft 9. The shaft l6 has on the upper end thereof, a worm gear connection l8 with a shaft Hi to which the screw M is connected, as bya universal joint 26.

The upper end of the conduit I5 is in alinement with a horizontal conduit 2| located within a tank 22 in which the snow is melted. The conduit 2| has a large number of relatively small holes 23, Fig. 3, throughout its entire surface and through which the snow is forced into the tank. A feeding screw 24, similar to the screw 14, distributes the snow throughout the length of the conduit iii and forces the snow through the holes 23 into the tank. This arrangement causes the snow to enter the tank in small particles which are readily melted when subjected to hot water.

Positioned within the tank are a plurality of vertically extending pipes 25 located, for example, at the corners and midway of the sides of the tank, and these pipes have a large number of small perforations 26, Fig. 4. The pipes are all interconnected, as by horizontal pipes 21, also perforated, and these, in turn are connected to a conduit 28 which provides a connection beteween the tank and a pump 29, which forces hot water into the pipes and out of the perforations 26, the latter forming nozzles. The pump, which is of any usual design, is rotated either by an independent gasoline engine, not shown, or by a connection to the truck engine, and accordingly maintains a predetermined supply of water to the pipes in the tank at all times.

The water for the

pipes

25 and 21 is pumped from the water tank 30 preferably located below the melting tank 22 and connected by a pipe 3| to the pump 29. The water in this tank is heated by any suitable heater, which may be, for exam ple, an oil burner 32, the water tank having heating coils 33 positioned therebeneath in a heating chamber 33. A vertical pipe 34 provides an exhaust for the burner. The heater may be provided with any suitable means for controlling the temperature of the water in the boiler, such as the-well known thermostatically controlled devices, not shown, or the burner may be hand controlled, if desired. Water is supplied to the water tank from the bottom of the melting tank 22 through a conduit 35 having, preferably, a float valve 36 for maintaining a predetermined level of water in the water tank at all times, the valve being located in a chamber 3'5 mounted on the tank. A small fuel tank 38 provides fuel for the water heater 32. The water tank 30 has a drain plug 39' and a filling connection 3|, as will be apparent.

The water level in the melting tank 22 is always maintained above the entrance to the tank 31, but after a predetermined depth is reached, any additional water forming in the melting tank as a result of the melting of snow and ice, is allowed to run off through a conduit 39 in which is positioned a pump 49 to assure a positive discharge of the water from the end of the conduit. The latter may be long enough to reach the nearest catch drain so that the water goes directly into the sewer. The water level in the melting tank is maintained below the horizontal pipes 21 and directly above the pipes is located a screen 48' to hold any unmelted snow and ice above the water level where it may be acted upon by the sprays from the

pipes

25 and 21.

In the event that stones or other hard substances are carried up into the horizontal conduit 2| they are discharged at the rearward end of said conduit into a collecting chamber 4| into which the conduit opens and damage to the conduit or to the feeding member 24 is prevented since any hard substances can drop directly into this chamber. The bottom 42 of the chamber is hinged, as at 43, and is located adjacent to a manhole M in the side of the melting tank to permit the removal of articles collected in the chamber. The bottom 43 is also perforated to provide for drainage from the chamber. The covers Q4 of the melting tank are also preferably hinged thereto, for inspection and cleaning of the device.

In operation the truck is driven forward with the feed screw 8 as well as the feeding screws l4 and 2d rotated so that any snow or ice entering the scoop l is picked up by the feed screw and directed into the conduit |3 from which it is carried into the horizontal conduit 2! within. the

melting tank and discharged through the openings in the conduit. It will be apparent that any small chunks of ice will be broken up by the action of the fins on the feed screws, either in the scoop 1 or in the conduit, into pieces small enough to pass through the openings in the horizontal conduit, and any articles, such as rocks, will be carried through the horizontal conduit and into the collecting chamber 4|.

The pump 29 is in operation and provides a continuous spray of hot water through the holes in the spraying pipes 25 and 2'l within the melting tank, and the small particles of snow and ice passing through the holes in the conduit 2| are engaged by these streams of hot water and are immediately melted. Water is continuously supplied to the water tank 38 from the melting tank and is being continuously heated by the burner 32 so that a constant supply of hot water is always ready for use in the melting tank. It will be apparent that the temperature of the water entering the melting tank may be so controlled that no heat is wasted, it being necessary only to melt substantially all of the snow and ice without raising the temperature of the water in the melting tank above freezing. Obviously, on an extremely cold day, when the water in the discharge conduit 39 might freeze before it could have run down through the drain and into the sewer, the

temperature of the hot water entering the melting tank can be raised to such an extent that the temperature of the water in the bottom of the melting tank being discharged through the conduit 39 will be warm enough to prevent freezing.

In the removal of snow from country roads, or cross country traffic routes, where the snow may be left at the sides of the road, the device provides for spreading the snow somewhat away from the side of the road, so that there is not the objectionable mound of snow left by the usual snow plow. To this end, the device is used without the tank 22, as shown, for example in Fig. '7. In this arrangement, the horizontal conduit 2|, instead of extending longitudinally of the truck I, extends transversely thereof, being supported by any suitable bracket 45, which provides for swinging movement of the conduit about an axis coinciding substantially with the axis of the vertical shaft I6, which drives the feed screw 26. The worm and worm gear connection 8, permits swinging movement without interfering with the positive drive of the feed screw 24', and a second universal joint 46 cooperates with the universal joint 20 to provide for driving of the feed screw l4, independently of the relative positions of the conduits I3 and 2|. Any suitable provision may be made for locking the conduit 2| against swinging movement, while in operative position, and since it projects laterally of the truck, any snow carried through the conduit will be discharged through the end of the conduit at a point away from the edge of the road. In the construction shown the bracket is mounted to turn on the shaft l6 and rests on the floor of the truck body, but any other arrangement may be used.

In the modification of Figs. 5 and 6, is. shown a device adapted for use with the well known snow loaders, now in use for loading snow on the trucks, by which it is hauled away. Referrin to these figures, the snow loading device is attached to a truck 41 and has a scoop 48 on the front end thereof, in which is positioned the lower end of a conveyor 49, by which the snow is elevated to a point high enough to be loaded into a truck,.or the like, at the back of the: truck 41. The conveyor is driven by any suitable mechanism, not shown, and the upper end of the conveyor is supported in the arrangement shown, by a suitable bracket 50 extending upwardly from the cab 51, or other parts of the truck.

When used in connection with a loader of this character, the device of the invention comprises a tank 52, having a hopper 53 at the top thereof, adjacent to the front end of the tank. The lower end of the hopper communicates with one or more horizontal conduits 54, positioned within the tank, and in each of these conduits is positioned a feed screw 55, similar to the feed screw 24 above referred to. The shaft 56 of the feed screw extends beyond the end. of the tank, and has a gear 57, by which the feed screw may be positively driven, as fromv the truck. engine. At the rearward end of the conduit is positioned a collecting chamber 58, corresponding tothe chamber 4|, and the tank preferably has a hinged cover 58 to provide for access to the collecting chamber and to the inside of the melting tank.

Eachconduit 54 has a plurality of small openings 59 therein for the discharge of snow therethrough, and the tank is also provided with the perforated vertically and horizontally positioned pipes 60 to provide for a. spray of water within the tank. Hot water is supplied to these pipes by a mechanism similar to that disclosed in Figs. 1 and 2, this mechanism being preferably a functionally integral part of the device by being mounted thereon, as shown. That is to say, the water supply tank 61 is secured to the under side of the melting tank 52, and the burner 62 and heating coil 63 are also attached to the under side of the melting tank. The pump 64, corresponding to the pump 29, above referred to, is mounted on the front wall of the melting tank 52, and a second pump 64', corresponding to the discharge pump 40, is also mounted on the front of the melting tank.

In the arrangement shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the device is intended to accommodate a large amount of snow and accordingly, two conduits 54 are provided, see Fig. 6, and in addition to the vertical supply pipes at opposite sides of the tank, there is also a row of these vertical pipes extending centrally of the tank between the two conduits. The device operates, in this arrangement, in a manner similar to that pointed out in connection with Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive.

In the arrangement of Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, and of Figs. 5 and 6, the melting tank, water tank and heating chamber are preferably insulated by any suitable insulation to avoid loss of heat to the atmosphere. The use of insulation is known and its application to the present device will be readily apparent.

From. the foregoing it will be apparent that the invention provides a device which is intended to melt the snow by the use of a supply of water which comes in contact with the snow within a melting tank, so that none of the heat from the water is wasted. The device is arranged to discharge the snow into the tank in small particles to assure rapid melting. The melting snow and ice provides a continuous supply of water, which is constantly being heated by a suitable water heater, and is then pumped back into the tank for melting more snow and ice. The melting tank has a provision for discharging excess water therefrom, and this discharge includes a pump,

so that the surplus water may be forced to the nearest drain into the sewer.

I claim:

1. In a device of the class described, a tank, means having a plurality of small openings, means associated with said first means for forcing snow through the openings for discharging,

snow and ice in small particles into said tank, means for providing a spray of water throughout the greater part of the tank for melting the snow coming in contact therewith, said last means including a pump and a connection to the tank for drawing Water therefrom and means for heating the water before it is discharged into the tank.

2. In a device of the class described, a tank, means having a plurality of small openings, means associated with said first means for forcing' snow through the openings for discharging snow and ice in small particles into said tank, and means for providing a spray of hot water throughout the greater part of the tank for melting the snow coming in contact therewith, said last means including a water heater, a pump for delivering the water to the tank, a connection from the lower part of the tank to the heater for supplying water to the heater and a plurality of perforated pipes mounted in a fixed position within the tank and communicating with the pump.

which delivers the water to. the tank.

3. In a device of the class described, a tank, means having a plurality of small openings, means associated with said first means for forcing snow through the openings for discharging snow and ice in small. particles into said tank, and means for providingv a spray of hot water throughout the greater part of the tank for melting the snow coming in contact therewith, said last means including a water heater, a pump for delivering the water to the tank, and a connection from the lower part of the tank to the heater for supplying water to the heater, and a discharge for the tank located above the connection from the tank to the heater.

4. In a device of the class described, a tank, means within the tank for melting snow, and means for discharging snow and ice in small particles to the tank, said last means including a perforated pipe within the tank, and a feed screw within the pipe.

5. In a device of the class described, a tank, means within the tank for melting snow, means for discharging snow and ice in small particles to the tank, said last means including a perforated pipe within the tank, and a feed screw within the pipe, and means for driving the feed screw.

6. In a device of the class described, a tank, means within the tank for melting snow, meansfor discharging snow and ice in small particles to the tank, said last means including a perforated pipe within the tank, and a feed screw within the pipe, and a collecting chamber at the end of the pipe to collect articles too large to pass through the perforations.

'7. In a device of the class described, a tank, means within the tank for melting snow, means for discharging snow and ice in small particles to the tank, said last means including a perforated pipe within the tank, and a feed screw within the pipe, a collecting chamber at the end of the pipe to collect articles too large to pass through the perforations, said chamber having a discharge opening therein, and a manhole in the tank wall adjacent said opening.

8. In a device of the class described, a tank, means having a plurality of small openings, means associated with said first means for forcing snow through the openings, thereby discharging snow and ice into small particles in said tank adjacent the top thereof and over substantially the entire area of the tank, and means for providing a spray of water throughout the greater part of the tank for melting the snow coming in contact therewith, said last means including a plurality of nozzles within the tank, and a pump for supplying water to said nozzles.

9. In a device of the class described, a tank, means having a plurality of small openings, means associated with said first means for forcing snow through the openings, thereby discharging snow and ice into small particles in said tank adjacent the top thereof and over substantially the entire area of the tank, and means for providing a spray of water throughout the greater part of thetank for melting the snow coming in contact therewith, said last means including a plurality of nozzles within the tank, a pump for supplying water to saidnozzles, and a heater for heating the water before itenters the nozzles.

10. A device for use with snow loaders and the like,"comprising a tank, a hopper thereabove to receive snow from the loader, a perforated pipe within the tank and connected at one end to the hopper, a feed screw within the pipe, and means within the tank for melting the snow passing through the perforations.

11; A device for use with snow loaders and the like, comprising a tank, a hopper thereabove to receive snow from the loader, a perforated pipe within the tank and connected at one end to the hopper, a feed screw within the pipe, a plurality of nozzles within the tank, and means for supplying water to said nozzles.

12. A device for use With snow loaders and the like, comprising a tank, a hopper thereabove to receive snow from the loader, a perforated pipe within the tank and connected at one end to the hopper, a feed screw Within the pipe, a plurality of nozzles within the tank, a pump for supplying Water to said nozzles and a heater for heating the water.

13. A device for use with snow loaders and the like, comprising a tank, a hopper thereabove to receive snow from the loader, a perforated pipe within the tank and connected at one end to the hopper, a feed screw Within the pipe, a plurality of nozzles within the tank, means for supplying water to said nozzles, a discharge pipe for the tank for discharging the water resulting from the melting of the snow and ice, and a pump in said discharge pipe.

14. In a device of the class described, a tank, means having a plurality of small openings, means associated with said first means for forcing snow through the openings, thereby discharging snow and ice into small particles in said tank adjacent the top thereof and over substantially the entire area of the tank, and means for providing a spray of water throughout the greater part of the tank for melting the snow coming in contact therewith, said last means including a plurality of connected pipes each having a large number of perforations forming nozzles, and a pump for supplying water to said pipes.

JAMES E. DEVLIN.