US2617597A

US2617597A - Snow and ice melting device

Info

Publication number: US2617597A
Application number: US260168A
Authority: US
Inventors: Bonilla Ramon
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1951-12-06
Filing date: 1951-12-06
Publication date: 1952-11-11
Anticipated expiration: 1969-11-11

Description

NOV. 11, 1952 R \BON|| LA 2,617,597

snow AND ICE MELTING DEVICE Filed Dec. 6, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. RAMON BONlLLA REF Nov. 11, 1952 R. BONlLLA 2,617,597

' SNOW AND ICE MELTING DEVICE Filed Dec. 6, 1951 .5 Sheets-Sheet 2 4/ STEAM. swan/won OIL BURNER IN V EN TOR. RAMON BONILLA BY Nov. 11, 1952v R. BONILLA SNOW AND ICE MELTING DEVICE Filed Dec. ,6, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Nov. 11, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SNOW AND ICE MELTIN G DEVICE Ramon Bonilla, New York, N. Y.

Application December 6, 1951, Serial No. 260,168

/ 4 Claims. 1

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in devices for preventing the accumulation of snow on street surfaces.

More specifically, the present invention proposes the construction of a device supported at an elevated position above a street so as to melt falling snow to thereafter drop as rain and flow from the street and sidewalk surfaces into the usual catch basin of the sewer system in a manner to eliminate the expense of snow removal, to eliminate personal injury resulting from pedestrians slipping on accumulated snow and to eliminate vehicle skidding resulting in automobile damage and possible personal injury to vehicle passengers and pedestrians.

A further object of the present invention proposes characterizing the snow melting device by a main feeder pipe supported above the street so as not to interfere with vehicle and pedestrian trafiic and from which branch pipes extend in opposite directions so that steam under pressure fed into the main feeder pipe will discharge from apertures formed in the branch pipes to melt the snow before it can fall onto the street and sidewalk surfaces.

Still further, the present invention proposes providing a hollow beneath the sidewalk at one end of the main feeder pipe and within which a steam generator heated by an oil burner 01" similar source of heat is mounted and connected to the said one end of the main feeder pipe in a manner to supply the steam under pressure which is to discharge through the'apertures of the branch pipes for snow melting purposes.

The present invention further proposes the inclusion of manually adjustable means at the outer ends of the branch pipes for controlling the angular discharge of the steam from the apertures at the outer ends of the branch pipes or for completely shutting off the discharge of steam from the outer ends of the branch pipes in a manner to restrict the steam from flowing down the side of buildings and store windows or the like located on opposite sides of the street.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide snow melting devices of the type described, which is simple and capable of being assembled in an economical manner, which is effective for its intended purposes, which is capable of a long trouble free operating life and which can be manufactured and sold at a reasonable cost.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had tothe followingdescription and accompanying drawing, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

On the accompanying drawings forming a material part of the present disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a street intersection provided with a snow melting device constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a partial enlarged vertical sectional View taken substantially on the line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged partial vertical sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged partial vertical sectional view taken on the line 55 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view taken at the junction of one set of branch pipes with the main feeder pipe.

Fig. '7 is an enlarged transverse sectional view of the end of one of the branch pipes taken on the line l! of Fig. 1.

Fig. 8 is a plan View similar to a portion of Fig. 1, but illustrating a modification of the present invention.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of the end of one of the branch pipes shown in Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line Ill-I0 of Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a transverse sectional View taken on the line II--II of Fig. 9.

Fig. 12 is a view similar to Fig. 9, but showing a different position of the parts. v

The snow melting device, according to the f rst form of the present invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to '7, is mounted above a street intersection having crossing street surfaces I5 and I6. The street surfaces I5 and I6 are bounded on their two sides by sidewalks I1 and buildings I8 designated by the sectional portions at the four corners of Fi 1.

The snow melting device includes a main feeder pipe I 9 which is substantially of cruciform shape to have one length of pipe Iil extended parallel to the street surface I5 and a second length of pipe I9 extended parallel to the street surface I6. From Fig. 1, it will be noted that the lengths of pipes I9 and I9 forming the main feeder pipe I9 are disposed above the sidewalks Ill along one of the sides of the street surfaces liand I6.

At the point where the lengths of pipe I a and I9 forming the main feeder pipe I9 cross one another, they are joined by a four-way pipe fitment 20. Each'of the lengths of pipe le and I9 is made up of a plurality of end aligned lengths of pipe joined together by four-way pipe fitments 2| and mounted on three outer ends of the lengths of pipe H3 and I9 there are T- shaped fitments 22. Threaded into the fitments 2| and 22, to extend in opposite directions from the main feeder pipe l3 and parallel to the street surfaces l5 and I6, there are

branch pipes

23 and 24. The. four-Way connections 2P; located above two'corn-ers 'of'the sidewalks H; are similar in construction to the four-way connection 20 as will become clear as this specification be-- comes clear. length of pipe l9 is provided with an elbow fitment 25 for a purpose which will also become clear as this specification proceeds.- I

Referring now to Figs. 2 and5, the four-way fitment 20 and each of the four-way fitments 2| is formed at its bottom with a depended internally-threaded socket 2.6. Vertically extend--- ed' p0sts--2'| are threaded-at theirfitop. ends .into, the sockets 26.. Mounted:;'on.-thebottom nds-of:

the posts 21, there; arefoot. portions 28. which are bolted to the sidewalks? Mounted onthe" lengths of pipe. I9. and I92; inwardly of the: T-

shaped fitments 22, there-are coll-ars 29 that-fit snugly aboutthelengthsrof pipe :1 9 and: 9?. At

are of equal length'andcombinetosupport-the main feeder pipe IS:- and the.- branch pipes: 23 and 24 at a: levelabove: the street surfaces l5 and I6 so as not to interfere withivehicular'traffic. on the street surfaces'andpedestrian traflieon the sidewalks=|'|. a

The branch pipes 23 are longer-than the branchpipes 24 andextendcompletelynacross thestreets and stop short-of-the.-buildingss |8-..at:the: opposite side of the street. extend justto-the adjacentbuildingsd8= at the sides otthe streets :on which .the lengthsof. pipe H3 and l9 of the main feeder pipe are located; The outer. ends of.branchpipes.23..and'24are closed by caps 33 that arethreadedintoposition. Alon 'their lengths, thebranch pipes-23 and 24 have spaced apertures-34. Asbestshown in Fig. '7, the-apertures .34iarearranged 'in-sets of two apertures.. 'I'hetwo. apertures otroneset arelocated at either end .-of -the horizontal diametral axisand.the.two.apertures.of, the other set are diverged,outwardandnpward on opposite sides of the vertical. diametral: axis. of the branch pipes... The. apertures-34. are of' relae tively small diameter. to; discharge steamrunder pressure. in a.fine spray. to melt theefalling snow before it can fall on the street surf-acesgl5ca'nd.

I 6 and thesidewalkst, It is-appreciated-of course, the spray; of, steam: under. pressure will the. discharged upward and outward and; laterally out-l ward -in opposite directions from: either side: of

the branch pipe=23 and 2:45

The branch pipe 23 'which extends .from the one four-way fitment Z "is formed 50f end aligned pipe sections joined'together by three-way. or T-' shaped fitments 35; see Fig; 1. There =is one 1T-" shaped fitment for'each of the" branch pipes 23 extended fromthe length of pipe I 9 between the four-way fitment 20 and the 'other four way fitment 2 I and those branch pipes-23 are'joined' The remaining outeri -end of the The branch pipes 24.

4 at their ends remote from the length of pipe Is to the T-shaped fitments 25.

In all other respects, the

branch pipes

23 and 23 are similar to the branch pipes 23, with the exception that the outer ends of the branch pipes 23 are joined to the T-shaped fitments 35rather than being closed by end caps 33.

Mounted in each of the

branch pipes

23, 23 23 and 24', closely adjacent their connections withthe lengths of pipe |9 and" l9 there is a manually operable valve 36. The valves 36 are normally open, but provide a means for individually. shutting off the branch pipes wherever it becomes necessary to repair or replace one ofxthe .branch pipes without requiring the shutting ofi of the entire system.

Means is provided'for supplying steam under pressureqinto the main feeder pipe to discharge from the apertures 34 of the branch pipes. The steam, supply. means is housed within a hollow 31, see Fig. '3; formed in ,theside'walk'il below the end of the. main feeder. pipe. .lsuwhichhasthe elbow 25; mounted thereon; Thetop wallof the hollow. 3]. has anentrance opening 38. which.

opens .upward through. the. sidewalk,v The en-. trance opening .38 isclosedbya pivotallymounted trap. door.39;which .has= its. top .face flush with the. sidewalk. l 1.. Mounted. on the. onewall of.

erator 4| mounted'inposition over an oil .burner.

42 that rests on the.fioorotthehoHow.37;. Water is supplied .to.,-the.steam generator. through a pipe 743 which extends. from. thehollow 31 and is.

connectedto. a source. offwaterunder. pressure. A valve. 44 mountedpinpthepipe43 controlsthe flow of water through the pip e.43 into-thesteam generator. 4|

Steam produced. within the. generator 4|. is

conveyed therefrom by, a..pipe.45.1 The pipe 45.

exits through the top wall 'of thehollow 3flland is connected atits top end. to the. elbow fitment25 mounted on'the, end ofithelength'of pipe, [9 of,

the. main feeder pipetlS. The steamgenerator 4|is providedwith thegusual,safety valve 43, pressure gauge 41. andsight glass 48 in which the water level withinpthe steam generator 4| can be-determined': Mounted. in the exit pipe 45, within the hollow 31; there is: amanually operable valve 49.

The. oil burner 4251s supplied withoil from a storage tank 50 mounted inan elevated position.on a pedestal .51.. At its'top, the storage tank 50"is provided with a' filler spout ,52closed bya removablecap 5.3; The filler spout 521 is exposed within the; entrance opening 38 so that when thetrap door;39"is opened the supply of oil within-thegtank 50 can b'e'replenishedthrough the fillerspoutr.

The-bottom ofjthe storagetank 50"is connected to theoil burnerby means Of'BiIli-DB 54; Mounted in the pipe there ,is amanually'operable valve 55 which can be shut'ofi cutting off the supply of oil tothe oil burner";

Extending from'the back of. theoil burner 42 there is a flue pipe 56*for-carrying away the gases of combustion; The top end'of the flue pipe 56 exits through the topwall of the hollow "31 closely adjacent the pipe 45, see Figs. 2 and 3: Supported above the outer end of the flue pipe 56, there is:a-hood 5-'| 'for closing the-top end of the pipe. Theend'of-the flue pipe-56 extends a'sufticient distance above the sidewalk I! so that water:

flowing on the sidewalk will not enter the top end of the flue pipe and fiow down into the oil burner 42.

The operation of the snow melting device is as follows:

When a snow storm is expected or at the moment the snow starts falling, someone enters the hollow 31 through the open trapdoor 39 and starts the oil burner 42. The valve 49 is closed and the gauge 41 is watched. When the desired pressure is built up within the steam generator 4|, as determined by the gauge 41, the valve 49 is reopened so that the steam under pressure can discharge from the pipe 45 and into the endof the main feeder pipe I9. .The steam will flow through the lengths of pipe Ill and 19 forming the main feeder pipe and then into the various branch pipes. From the branch pipes the steam will be discharged in a fine spray through the apertures 34 to melt the snow as it falls through the spray of steam. The melted snow will then fall as rain and be carried away by the usual sewage system. The oil burner 42 is allowed to operate as long as the snow continues to fall. When the snow fall stops, the oil burner 42 is again shut off.

The modification of the invention shown in Figs. 8 to 12 is characterized by the provision of means for independently controlling the flow of steam under pressure from the outermost apertures 34 of the branch pipes 23 and 2 5. This means is provided for keeping the steam from contacting the surfaces of the buildings It! and especially from dirtying the windows of the buildings. The control means is characterized by a sleeve 69 rotatively mounted on the outer end of each of the branch pipes 23 and-24. The

sleeves 60 are restricted to rotate through substantially one-sixth of a complete turn relative to the

branch pipes

23 and 24 by means of pins 6| extended radially from the branch pipes and through elongated circumferential slots formed in the sleeves 6U. l

Extended radially from the sleeves 50, there are bosses 63 through whichclamp screws 64 are threadedly engaged. The clamp screws 6'3 function to secure the sleeves 63 in the desired rotative positions on the

branch pipes

23 and 24. When the clamp screws 66 are loosened, they provide a convenient grip by which the sleeve 6d can be turned in one direction or the other relative to the branch pipes.

For each of the endmost apertures 34 of the branch pipes 23 and 2d, the sleeves 6% have a pair of

apertures

65 and 66 and an unapertured portion all within a sixteen degree are of the sleeves E5. The apertures 65, see Fig. 9, are extended radially through the sleeves 6b concentric with the apertures 3%. When the apertures 55 are aligned with the apertures B t the steam will be permitted to discharge in sprays projected at right angles to the lengths of the

branch pipes

23 and 24 as though the sleeves E513 were not present. The apertures 65 are aligned with the apertures 34 when the pin ti is located at the one end of the slot 62.

When the sleeves E9 are turned to a position in which the pins iii are located intermediate the ends of the slots 62, the apertures 66 become aligned with the apertures 34, as shown in Fig. 12. The apertures 66 are angled at substantially forty-five degrees from the caps 33 that close the free ends of the

branch pipes

23 and 24. The inner ends of the apertures '65 are concentric with the outer ends of the apertures 34" to cause the steam discharging from the apertures 36 to be directed away from the buildings I8 so as not to flow down the buildings and dirty the windows thereof.

When the sleeves 60 are turned still further in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figs. 10 and 11, the pins 6| will be located at the ends of the slots 62 remote from the ends in which they are located when the apertures 65 are aligned with the apertures 34*. In those positions of the sleeves 6!], the apertures 34 will be completely closed so that no steam will be discharging from the apertures 35 at the outer ends of the

branch pipes

23 and 24.

In all other respects, the modification of the invention shown in Figs. 8 to 12 is similar to the first form and like reference numerals are used to identify like parts.

On the drawings, the snow melting device is shown in use in connection with urban streets; however, it is appreciated that the device can also be used in connection with rural roads. When being used on rural roads, some difiiculty may be encountered from wind blown drifts and that can be dealt with by depending apertured pipes from the outer ends of the

branch pipes

23 and 24 which is all within the scope and intent of the present invention.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. A device for preventing the accumulation of snow on a street, comprising a main feeder pipe supported in an elevated position above the street so as not to interfere with the movement of vehicular and pedestrian traffic on the street, branch pipes extended laterally in opposite directions from said feeder pipe and parallel to the street surface, caps closing the outer ends of said branch pipes, apertures in said branch pipes arranged in alternate sets at spaced positions along the length thereof, one set of apertures being located at either end of the horizontal diametral axis, the other set of apertures being extended upward and outward on opposite sides of the vertical diametral axis of said branch pipes, and means for generating steam connected to one end of said feeder pipe so constructed and arranged that steam fed into said main feeder pipe will discharge through said apertures to melt falling snow before it reaches the street surface, said branch pipes having means at their ends remote from said main feeder pipe for controlling the angle of discharge of the steam or for completely preventing the discharge of steam from the apertures at the outer ends of the branch pipes, said control means for said branch pipes comprising sleeves snugly fitted onto the outer ends of said branch pipes to be turned relative'thereto, means restricting rotation of said sleevesrelative to said branch pipes to substantiallyone-sixth of a complete turn, said sleeves having for each of the respective apertures of said branch pipes a set of spaced apertures and an unapertured portion, and means for holding said sleeves in a desired rotative position in which either one of said apertures or the unapertured aerator;

portions;- are aligned with the apertures of the branch pipesz 2: A device forpreventing theaccumulation of snoW- on a-street; comprisinga mainfeederpipe: supported in an elevated position above the-streetaxis, the other set of: aperture being extended upward andoutward onopposite sides of the verticaldiametral axis ofsaid branch pipes, and

means for-generating steam connectedto one end of said feeder pipe so constructedand arranged that; steam fed into said main feeder pipe will discharge through said-apertures to melt falling snow before it reachesthe-street surface, said branch pipes having means at their ends remotefronrsaid: mainfeeder pipe for controlling the angle of discharge of-the steam or-for completely preventing the discharge of steam from the apertures at the-outer ends of the-branch pipes, said control means for said branch I pipes comprising sleeves-snuglyfitted onto the outerends of saidbranchpipes-to be turned reliativethereto, means restricting rotation of said sleeves-relative to said branch pipes-tosubstantially-one-sixth of 'a complete-turn; saidsleeves having for each of the respective apertures-of saidbranch pipes-a set of spaced apertures and an unapertured portion, and means for holding-said-sleeves in-a desired rotative position in whiche-ither one of saidaperturesor the unapertured portions are aligned' with the apertures of the branch pipes, said-rota-' tion restricting means comprising pins extended from said branch pipesandipassing through elongated 1 peripheral slots formed in said sleeves.

3.-'A'- device for preventin the accumulation off snow on a-street, comprising a main feeder pipe supported in an elevated position above the street so as not to interfere'withthe movement of vehicular andpedestrian traffic on the street, branchpipes extended laterally in opposite directions from said feeder pipe and parallel to the-street surface, caps'closing the outer ends of said branch pipes, apertures in said branch pipesarranged in alternatesets-at spaced positions along the length thereof, one set of apertures being located at either end of the horizontal diametral axis, the other set of apertures being extended upward and outward on opposite-sides of the verticaldiametralaxis of said branch pipes, and means for generating steam connected to one end of said feeder pipe so constructed and arranged that steam fed into said main feeder pipe willdischarge through said apertures tomelt falling snow before it reaches the street surface,- saidbranch pipes ha-vingmeans at their ends remote from said main feeder-pipe for controlling theangle of discharge of the'steam or for completely preventing-the discharge of steam from the apertures at theouter-ends ofthe branch pipes, said controlmeans for said branch pipes comprising sleeves snugly fitted onto the outer ends ofsaid branchpipestobe turned relative thereto, means restricting; rotationzofzsaid; sleeves; relative to said branchpipesgtosubstantially; one-sixth of a completeaturn', said sleeves having for each, of the respective apertures of said branch pipes a set. rof spaced aperturesiand an, unapertured portion, and means for holding said sleeves in adesired rotative position: in which either one of said apertures: or the; unapertured portions are alignedwiththe apertures of the branch pipes,

one aperture" of; each set of spaced aperturesbeing radially extendedconcentric with the apertures: of? said: branch pipes and the other, aperture': being angled; from. the outer ends of the apertures-v of: said? branch pipes and away from the closedouter ends of said branch pipes at an angle of substantially forty-five degrees.

41A device for preventing the accumulation of snow on astreet, comprising a main feeder pipesupported 1 in an elevated 1 position above the street-so as not tointerfere with the movement ofvehicularand pedestrian trafiic on the street, branch pipes extended laterally in opposite directions from said feeder pipe and parallel to thestreet'surface, caps closing the outer ends of A said-branch pipes, apertures in said branch pipes arranged in'a-It'ernate sets at spaced positions along the length thereof, one set of apertures beinglocatedat either endof the horizontal diametral axis, the other'set' of 'apertures being extended upward and outward on opposite sides ofthe-vertical diametral axis of said branch pipes, and means for generating steam connected to one; end of said feeder pipe so constructed and} arranged that steam fed into said main feeder pipe willdischarge through said apertures to melt falling snow'before it reaches the street surface, said branch pipes having means at their ends remotefrom said main feeder pipe for controlling the angleof dischargeof the steam-0r for completely-preventing the discharge ofsteam from theapertures at the outer ends of the branch pipes, said control means for said branch pipes comprising sleeves snugly fitted onto the outer ends of said branch pipes to be turned relative thereto,- meansrestricting rotation of said sleeves relative'to said branch pipes to substantially one-sixth, of acomplete turn, said sleeves having for each of the respective apertures of said branch pipes a'set of spaced apertures and an unapertured portion, and means forgholding said sleeves in a desired rotative position in which either one of'said apertures or the unapertured portions are; aligned with the apertures of the branch pipes, said holdin means,

comprising clamp screws threaded through apertured bosses formed onsaid sleeves torbe tightened againstsaid branch pipes.

RAMON 'BONILLA.

REFERENCES, CITED The following 7 references are; of record in: the file-of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS