US2634659A

US2634659A - Snow removal construction

Info

Publication number: US2634659A
Application number: US164071A
Authority: US
Inventors: Jordanoff Assen
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1950-05-25
Filing date: 1950-05-25
Publication date: 1953-04-14
Anticipated expiration: 1970-04-14

Description

April 14, 1953 A JORDANOFF SNOW REMOVAL CONSTRUCTION 2 SHEETS-:SHEET 1 Filed Mag 25. 1950 INVENTOR fls'sen Jordana/f ATTORNEY April 14, 1953 A. JORDANOFF 2,534,659

SNOW REMOVAL CONSTRUCTION Filed May 25. 1950 2 SHEETSSHEET 2 INVENTOR Assen Jordana BY &

%ZTQRNEY Patented Apr. 14, 1953 SNOW REMOVAL CONSTRUCTION Assen Jordanofl, Brookville, N. Y., assignor of one-half to John Hagan, New York, N. Y.

Application May 25, 1950, Serial No. 164,071

2 Claims.

tions and more particularly to snow removal installations of pavements.

My invention is concerned with the problem of maintaining paved rights-of-way, such as airplane runways, bridges, roadways, driveways clear of falling snow, and more particularly to include an installation for treating the surfaces of pavements, roadways, runways and the like areas to prevent the accumulation of falling snow and to assure the serviceability of such traction areas whereby service may be maintained on such areas.

Still more particularly it is contemplated by my invention to provide a roadway construction wherein air blast means may be employed to prevent the accumulation of falling snow on a pavement serving as a traction surface, such as an airport runway, roadway, bridge approaches and throughways, sidewalks and home driveways, which may be continuously exposed to the weather, and through which operation is assured by avoiding the accumulation of water of condensation or melting snow, ice or rain.

Known to me is the proposal to prevent the accumulation of ice and sleet on store front windows and Windshields of airplanes by spraying thereon heated air or air with liquids tendv ing to reduce the melting point of rainwater or melted snow. Such devices have a high order of drainage for melted snow and are not designed or suitable for level surfaces or slow draining areas.

Furthermore, the economics involved in treating extended areas, such as runways with heated air and/or freezing point depressants, as well as the limitation upon drainage have led to the retention of old procedure of removing snow after it has accumulated, to make such passages or area accessible to vehicles.

According to my invention, it is an ob, ect thereof to provide an installation for maintaining exposed areas such as airplane runways, grades of highways, driveways r approaches and runways of bridges clear of snow by an airblast directed thereon under conditions which assure the formation of a blanket of rapidly moving air over the surface to be treated, including a mode of operation which prevents a rise in temperature tending to melt the snow and to take off any water which may accumulate by reason of condensation, whereby the pavement surfaces involved will be kept clear of snow under all conditions, and likewise to prevent the accumulation of water tending to freeze or obstruct the formation of the air blanket over the pavement areas.

To attain these objects and such further objects as may appear herein or be hereinafter pointed out, I make reference to the accompanying drawing forming a part hereof, in which- Figure l is a perspective view diagrammatically 2 illustrating my installation as part of an air plane runway; Figure 2 is a perspective view, partly in section of a portion of the installation shown in Figure 1, magnified to show details;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary section onthe line 3-3 of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a perspective view, partly in section, of another embodimentof my invention.

Summarizing my invention, 1 provide a runway or the like with a conduit substantially flush with the runway area, and project from this conduit a blast of air directed to skim the surface of the driveway and form a blanket preventing the accumulation of falling snow which may be carried off during snowfall and leave a clear area.

More specifically, I provide a conduit substantially flush with the pavement or traction area of a runway, which yields under the weight of a vehicle thereover, Or is so close to it as not to obstruct the same, and to provide a curtain of air through which falling snow may not penetrate, thereby to leave a snow clear pavement area and further to provide a structure in the nature of a road surface, such as a runway or driveway, which serves to prevent the accumulation of melted snow and to prevent spraying this area with water formed by condensation which may, in impinging upon the snow, melt the same and obstruct rather than clear the roadway or pavement of the character described.

Making reference to the drawing, I illustrate an airplane runway l0 along the center of which there is formed a trough l I, having a supporting plate I2 anchored to the concrete or roadbed 13 by anchor bolts or the like l4. Within this trough there is positioned a resilient channel [5, whose branches I6 and I! lie against the side walls I8 and I9, respectively, of the trough, and whose bottom branch 20 lies on -'the plate l2 or is adhesively united to the same. The channel 15 may be made of resilient rubber or similaryieldable material including desirably air pockets 2| where additional resiliency is found necessary. The

ends

22 and 23 of the channel are arranged to lie flush with the surface 24 of the runway or pavement. The pitch of the runway orpaved area is in accordance with the location of the channel. as will be described hereinbelow. Tubes 32 serve to drain condensed liquid into dry Wells 34.

The channel 15 has spaced between the branches l6 and H a conduit 25 which may desirably be formed oblong incross section, and is designed to have its upper wall 26 project slightly above the surface 24. Side walls 21 and 28 are formed near the

round elbows

29 and 30 with perforations or air nozzles 3!. These nozzles are spaced slightly above the pavement surface 24 and their position over this area may be adjusted 3 by the adjustment on the anchoring pipes 32 which press through the drill hole 33 of the plate I 2 to adry well or the like 34. An adjusting member, such as a-nut 35, may engage the plate ii! to control the upward projection of the conduit 25.

The anchoring pipe 32 has a connecting passage 35 leading to the chamber 3'! of the conduit 25. A counterboring 38 permits movement of the nut 35 thereinto while restraining the movement of the pipe through the boring 33 of the plate !2. Connected to the conduit 25 is a pipe line 39 which leads to a source of air under pressure (not shown). This may be a localized air pumping station as from a wind tunnel or sirocco fan, whereby air at high velocity is projected into the conduits. The source of such air driven at high velocity through the conduit 25 is not shown. However, it may be generated by the propeller of an airplane engine or the exhaust of a jet turbine engine, with cocling'means to reduce the temperature whereby cold air which is found desirable is projected into the conduit. Where extended stretches of runway are encountered, tendingto form a drop in air velocity, there may be-additionally provided booster stations ":16 and f5! having conduits 42 and 43 leading into the conduit 25- which overcome the drop in velocity to the more distant points.

By the" installation which has been described, the runway i0 is operated during the falling of show and is preferably initiated before any accumulation of snow occurs. The direction of the airblast through the nozzles 3! is calculated to furnish a curtain of rap-idly moving air at temperatures preventing melting of the snow and tending to disperse'the snow flakes as they reach the area of the runway. It is my explanation that the rough concrete forms deflecting areas of desirable effect but I do not wish to be bound by "this explanation. During heavy snowfall the "curtain of air having a drift off of the same maintains the runway clear by preventing the accumulation on the runway, the snow being driven to one side of the runway where, as the velocity of the air diminishes, the snow flake will be free 'to drop.

By anchoring of the conduit, warping of the conduit above the plane of the surface FM is minimized. The'rounded corners 29 and 39 form no obstruction to the wheels of an airplane or any other vehicle. The weight of the airplane will compress the conduit 25 into the resilient channel I 5, depressing. the anchoring nut into the countor-boring 38'. Water of condensation formed in the conduit 25 is drained off into a dry well 33'or sewer, assuring that the air emanating from the nozzles does not spray water over the runway, and that during the falling of snow, air free, from water-is emitted to provide the protective air curtain.- 1 i While I have shown and described a runway with the conduit 25 along its center and with the nozzles directed in opposite directions, it will be understood that I-may provide a pair of these conduits along the side edges in parallelism, with the air nozzles operating in the same direction, .to have one stream supplement the other in carrying the drift of air and the snow with it ed the pavement area under consideration.

It will also be understood that while I have tion indicated embodied therein to form a curtain of air thereover, to disperse the snow flakes and prevent accumulation thereof in dangerous drifts or layers. It will be understood, also, that while I. have described and illustrated a yieldable support with drainage provision whereby no obstruction is formed on the road surface, and avoiding the formation of major eddies or currents tending to form drifts, it will be understood that I may, under certain circumstances, embody theconstruction as'pa'rt of a curb,- such as a parting curb on bridges or highways.

It is understood that while the devices may be put into action when snow is encountered by vigilant observation, it is contemplated by me to have sections of the highways or runways of airplanes self-patrolled so that as snow begins to fall, these devices will be put into operation without involving' the human factor.

Figure 4 shows a modification of Figure 2 wherein a conduit 25a of circular cross section is supported on curb base 23a and air is supplied under pressure through pipe line 39a. It will be apparent that a series of drain lines may be used to extend into dry wells orother run-off means as in the prior embodiment. The side walls of the curb base 23a are arcuate and merge gradually into the plane of the roadway surface Isa. The series of slots cm are positioned adjacent the surface of the curb base 23a to direct the stream of air along and parallel to the contiguous surface of the curb base and the roadway or pavement surface, as shown by the arrows 3lb.

- In other respects the principle of the prior embodiment is substantially retained as will be readily understood.

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

1. An open air pavement, a conduit partially "embedded in the surface of saidpavement, the

walls of which conduit have nozzles which project above said surface in a series along said surface and means to supply air to said conduit under pressure for projection through said nozzles across the surface of the pavement to deflect falling snow.

2. An open air pavement in accordance with claim 1 wherein said surface is provided with a trough within which said conduit rests, a resilient channel in said trough supporting said conduit,

a portion of said conduit projecting above said surface of the pavement having said nozzles extending therefrom.

ASSEN JORDANOFF.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 956,395 Gothan Aug. 2, 1910 1,656,653 Von Keller Q. Jan. 17, 1928 1,945,810 Holtz' Feb. 6, 1934 2,148,773. Ozias Feb. 28, 1939 2,229,179 Langdon Jan. 21, 1941 2,483,704

Leigh Oct. 4, 1949