US2802286A

US2802286A - Method of removing snow from a line of travel, or an area, and a mechanism to carry out the same

Info

Publication number: US2802286A
Application number: US265256A
Authority: US
Inventors: Wylie Laurence
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1952-01-07
Filing date: 1952-01-07
Publication date: 1957-08-13
Anticipated expiration: 1974-08-13

Description

| WYLIE 2,802,286

Aug. 13, 1957 METHOD OF REMOVING SNOW FROM A LINE OF TRAVEL, OR AN AREA, AND A MECHANISM TO CARRY OUT THE SAME 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 7, 1952 I INVENTOR Laurence h /g///e 12y Q ,a

ATTORNEYS Aug. 13, 1957 L. WYLIE 2,802,286

METHOD OF REMOVING snow FROM A LINE OF TRAVEL. 0R AN AREA, AND A MECHANISM TO CARRY OUT THE SAME Filed Jan. 7, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l I l fig, /2

22 INVENTOR.

'4 alliance hfq/A? United States Patent Laurence Wylie, Seattle, Wash.

Application January 7, 1952, Serial No. 265,256

16 Claims. (Cl. 37-19) My invention relates to a method of removing snow from; a line of travel, or an area, and a mechanism to carry out the same.

More particularly, my invention relates to theme of air moving at high velocity either at atmospheric temperature or heated, in the removal of snow from railroads, highways or air fields and the like.

The difficulties of removing snow from such locations 28.1'6 largely inherent in the nature and character of snow itself.- When it first falls it may be light and porous but due to great volume presents great weight of water in the solid form. At another time, it may be wet and adhere, :and after reaching the ground it may pack so as to become :dense, and this may be further complicated by freezing weather which solidifies the surface portion or the whole mass into crust or ice. Thus, snow removing equipment :must meet many complex and exacting requirements extending over a wide range.

Among these requirements, one of the outstanding difficulties in maintaining transportation schedules is that EOE removing the snow with sufficient speed. In main- .taining schedules, such expeditious removal cannot be too highly emphasized. In this requirement are found the foundations for the steps constituting the method and the-structural elements of my invention.

Particularly great difiiculty and expense have been involved in keeping railroad tracks clear of snow so that :train schedules can be uniformly maintained. Positive :reliability of train schedules is fundamentally important, ;not,only economically, but for safety and security of life itself, individually and nationally.

The operating of trains off-schedule presents serious ;problems and hazards not normally encountered. The :slowness of operation of snow removing equipment of present design and construction, particularly when there :is a heavy fall of snow, results in great delay in traflic movement, serious inconvenience, and great expense both direct and indirect. Business arrangements are interrupted by reason of failure of passengers to maintain schedules. Those requiring hospitalization and medical careof experts are subjected to great risks due to lack of .transportation. There has been little or no critical advance in actual operation in the removal of snow from railroad tracks in the last forty years. Substantially, the only practical change in actual operation has been an Zincrease of engine power as applied to driving the rotary snow plow and other snow removal equipment which is of the same general design of the last many years. Many expensive attempts have been made to improve the equipment but, when actually tried in practical operation, have proven deficient.

By way of emphasis, let it be herein early noted that among the several outstanding features characterizing my invention, is the following: The body of snow immediately ahead of the leading edge of the device of my invention is, first, .air conditioned, i. e., air impregnated, air disengaged from the ground, and air momentarily 2,802,286 Patented Aug. 13, 1957 fioatingly suspended; second, elevated on the mold board, and third, subjected to a high velocity current of air in discharging the snow free of the equipment eitherin the form of snow or vapor--all with'ou't confining or conductin the snow through restricted channels or engage? ment with rotating or moving, separate structural elei ments of the device.

duced. I

The basic type of snow removal equipment now in principal use by the American railroads, and particularly in the mountainous sections where greatest snowfall occurs and conditions of removal are most severe, consists of a plow of a type generally described as a rotary snow plow. With regard to the speed of operation of this type of plow, the following statement appears in the last issue of the Railway Engineering and Maintenance Encyclo pedia. (Page 525, published for the Year 1948 by Simmons-Boardman Publishing Co.) v

The operating speed of a rotary snow plow is governed by the ability of the rotating blades to dispose of the snow. In very heavy snow drifts, the speed may be as low as one mile per hour or less. It is important that the machine should not be pushed into the snow bank faster than the blades can handle the snow otherwise the blades may be damaged.

A primary object of my invention is to provide a method of removing snow from traflic lines and areas, and apparatus to carry out the same which will overcome the many difficulties inherent in the operation. My invention is characterized by its speedof operation in handling the snow and in moving over the track-way itself. Its action is a positive removal of snow to either or both sides of the embankment of the railroador highway, or as a vapor to be wind carried aside, and its operation is characterized by the economy with which it accomplishes its results. Moreover, the snow, when removed as such, is disposed of at a wide distance from the tracks so that the danger of being drifted or falling in sliding back upon the track is greatly lessened. Also, it.is a primary object of my invention to provide for discharging the snow from a line of travel or area as an air field by sweeping it laterally by blowing it with air under high pressure when the snow is not very deep and is light or very porous.

' For clearness of description and illustration, I will set forth my invention, more particularly as applied to a railroad mounting means or carriage. The importance of maintaining train schedules is not only a matter of maintaining the convenience of appointments, but is directed totraflic safety, economy, and national security. The extr'ernely numerous delays to railroad trafiic due to snow conditions of recent years in the face of increasedtrain speed schedules and increased traffic has created a problem of maintaining train schedules of most serious proportions. The enormous expenditures to railroads running into millions of dollars incident to such delays, and the great expense and inconvenienceto the public, have emphasized how greatly is the need for improvement in the operation of snow removal. Of course, the snow conditions are particularly bad in the mountain sections, and therefore these isolated sections constitute especially weak links in the transcontinental traiiic.

One railroad authority has written:

Animportant adverse factor in recent years has been the severity of the winters. The direct charge against removing snow, ice and sand in 1949 was $1,600,000, four times greater than in 1944 when the winter was mild and labor costs less.

This was for one railroad in one year, and it is to be noted that such expenditure is not characterized byany The cross-sectional area of the stream of high pressure air leaving the device is not re" permanent constructive value. Such expense is a continuing annual loss. These figures are greatly increased in some instances. For a mere three months period of one railroad, the increased cost of operation due to snow amounted to $707,595. Moreover, the agricultural economy .of the country has been greatly endangered during the severe winter months. In extremity, the Army has been called upon to fly food to cattle which are caught in isolated sections by reason of snow storms. Hence, the importance of the removal of snow for all railroads, air fields and automobile trafic.

While attempts have been made to overcome the difficulties in removing the snow, such attempts have been ineffectual in that in spite of great costs involved, only comparatively very slow operation has been possible, and in sections where the snowfall is particularly heavy, the seriousness of such slow operation is clearly manifest in that promptness of resuming normal traffic over extended trackage is a fundamental requirement. In other words, there is a time element which is not satisfied by snow removing equipment now commonly used. Furthermore, such delay in snow removal involves an increasing difliculty in its removal because the snow becomes more and more compact and as its density increases, further complications due to freezing become involved. Thus, at least two reasons require promptness of removal of the snow(a) to maintain schedules, and (b) to void complications due to packing of the snow and subjecting it to changed weather conditions such as increased freezing or very low temperatures.

The meaning of slow operation is apparent from the following:

The removing of snow from railroad tracks requires great power and, according to present practice, a large number of rotary units. Some figures as to how much power may be required for this type of work are of interest, particularly for snow conditions in the Cascade Mountains in the State of Washington, where the snow may fall at the rate of more than one foot per hour for extended periods. Assuming that snow two feet deep is to be removed from the track for a width of ten feet by use of the commonly employed rotary snow plow, this snow will have to be raised about ten feet above the top of the rail and should be discharged from the vehicle at the rate of about forty feet per second. The weight of this snow will be 500,000 pounds per mile and at five miles per hour the rotor will have to handle 2,500,000 pounds of snow per hour. To perform this work will require about three hundred horsepower at the rotor for each five miles per hour. If it is desired to operate the rotary plow at twenty miles per hour (which is probably much faster than a rotor operating at 150 RJP. M. will handle the snow), then at least 1200horsepower measured at the rotor would be required. As-

1. Section of lineA to B over summit of Cascade Mountains, distance 40 miles;

2. Snowfallone foot per hour for eight hours;

3. Total weight of snowfall per hour on a strip ten feet wide, forty miles long at 250,000 pounds per mile equals 10,000,000 pounds;

. Total weight of snowfall in eight hours equals 80,000,000 pounds;

5. Maximum quantity which can be handled by one rotary snow plow (300 horsepower at rotor) at five miles per hour equals 2,500,000 pounds;

6. Number of rotary hours required to clear this snow from tracks equals 32 hours. This assumes continuous operation of rotary snow plow but due to dispatching, time required for taking water, meeting trains, work equipment, etc., about 64 hours would be required for one rotary to move this snow. To clear the track in eight hours (in other words, keep the track clear) would, on the above basis, require eight rotary snow plows, not including work clearing yards, siding, etc.

The above facts concretely illustrate the great cost involved in removing snow and also illustrates the severity of the problem involved in the requirement as to horsepower and speed of operation.

A primary purpose of my invention is to overcome all of these objections and to meet these requirements by providing a new method and a new apparatus for removing the snow characterized by its speed of operation, CifiCiCHCY and economy of construction.

In brief and in general, and therefore incompletely stated, my invention includes the following:

It involves the employment of currents of air moving at high velocity. This current of air is discharged through openings located near the leading edge of a mold board extending transversely of the track in the form of a scoop. The air may be discharged from these openings directly ahead and parallel to the ground so that it undercuts the snow immediately ahead and impregnates or aerates it with air and may momentarily air-fioatingly suspend the snow so that as the advancing mold board mounted on the front end of a rail truck or carriage engages the snow it is easily elevated up the inclined mold board. In the course of said elevating it is caused to pass over other openings from which there is issuing high velocity currents of air, which currents of air have a controlled, adjustable predetermined direction. Thus, the stream of snow up the mold board is discharged to one side or to both sides of the trackway either in the form of snow or in the form of vapor without the said snow stream being restricted in confined channels which slow down its movement, or without engagement with separate rotating or moving structural elements of the device. Also, my invention provides certain forms of the invention to be used in those cases where snow falls on areas, especially as on air fields, for blasts of air to be laterally directed to sweep, as it were, the snow to one side when it is porous and not very deep.

In the above, the phrase without the said snow stream being restricted, as well as the term unconfined, is to be construed as meaning that the stream of snow is not appreciably impeded in its speed by reason of confining channels, that is, the stream of air or snow is not reduced cross-sectionally considered as it leaves the face of the equipment. The forward portion of the mold board of my device does have mounted lateral wing members which determine the lateral boundaries of the snow stream but which do not confine and restrict the upward and outward movement of the snow so as to appreciably" slow down the stream. Serious objections obtain to any bringing of the snow to a restricting and impeding channel or passageway or to engagement with rotating blades or moving parts as all such operate to slow down the snow removal due to inherent character istics. Such high velocity current of air may be at atmospheric temperature or may be of highly heated temperature so that the snow may be either displaced as snow when atmospheric temperature is employed, or as vapor when high temperatured currents of air are employed. The providing of a device which so employs high velocity currents of air is a primary object of my invention.

As respects speed of operation, it is an object of my invention to remove the snow at a sufficiently high rate which will permit the equipment to travel at a fair rate of speed, in general, such as twenty to fifty miles per hour depending upon the depth of the snow involved, severity of the weather and character of track being traversed.

A principal object of my invention is to clear snow from the track quickly rather than to permit a heavy accumulation of snow on the tracks which can then only be removed with great difficulty and attendant delay and an interruption of train schedules.

in short, a primai-y object of my invention is to provide for the trains to operate on the block system. The operating trains may follow closely upon the snow removal equipment without excessive delay to the train. The present operation involves the snow equipment to move on ahead of a given train by several hours as it operates at extremely slow speed so that it proceeds in advance by a considerable period of time and this introduces the ditficulty of falling snow accumulating after the passage of the snow plow so that the following train does not have a clean track. In short, a slow speed snow removal equipment and a fast train cannot be synchronized.

It is also a primary object of my invention to free the switch parts of the track and flanges of the track rails of snow' and ice simultaneously with the removal of the snow.

While my invention is designed primarily for the removal of snow, nevertheless it may be used for the removal of loose drifted sand, dirt or loose material.

The foregoing general objects of my invention, together with others inherent in the same, are attained by the device illustrated in the following drawings throughout which like reference numerals indicate like parts:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation (partly diagrammatic) of a railroad carriage or truck provided with the snow-removing plow of my invention, parts being shown in dotted lines and parts being broken away;

Fig. '2 is a view of the same partly in plan and partly in section taken substantially on broken line 2--2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a front elevation view of the same;

Fig. 4 is a view in cross-sectionof the revolvable ring mounting inclined louvers and adjusting means, taken substantially on broken line 44 of Fig. 2, and on a larger scale than Fig. 2; i

Fig. 5 is a detached view in cross-section of the center board and means for operating same;

Fig. 6 is a view in elevation of the telescopically mounted movable hood;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the leading edge portion of the scoop member of the mold board;

' Fig. 8 is a plan view of the flange plow for cleaning the rail flange-ways and removing snow from between .the rails and under the moving machine;

Fig. 9 is a view in front elevation of said flange plow and means for controllably adjustably positioning the .same;

Fig. 10 is a view in side elevation of said flange plow :and said means for controllably adjusting the same;

Fig. 11 is a view in side elevation (partly diagrammatic) of a modified form of my device, parts being shown in dotted line and parts being broken away;

Fig. 12 is a plan view of said modified form;

Fig. form;

Fig. 14 is an enlarged view, partly in section and partly in elevation, of the transversely disposed shutters or louvers and means for controllably adjusting the angle of the same;

Fig. 15 is a fragmentary view of a modified form of the invention partly in plan and partly in section of the front portion of the scoop member of the mold board;

Fig. 16 is a fragmentary view of another modified form of the invention, partly in plan and partly in section, of the front portion of the scoop member of the mold board;

Fig. 17 is a fragmentary view taken substantially on broken line 1717 of Fig. 16;

Fig. 18 is a fragmentary view of still another modified form of the invention, partly in plan and partly in section, of the front portion of the scoop member of the mold board;

Fig. 19 is a sectional view taken substantially on broken line 19-19 of Fig. 18;

13 is a front elevational view of said modified Fig. 20 is a schematic view in side elevation of a modified form of the scoop member without any plow portion;

Fig. 21.is an isometric view ofthe modified form shown in Fig. 20; and

Fig. 22is a schematic view of a modified form of the arrangement of the openings in the scoop member.

A railroad car truck or carriage 30 is driven over the tracks 31 on ties 32 by means of a locomotive or dieselpowered locomotive which may be connected to carriage 30 by means of drawbar 33. On the front end of said carriage is a mold board 34 consisting of a scoop portion 35 and an upper plow portion 36. The scoop portion forms an upwardly inclined plane proceeding rearwardly of the leading edge (see Fig. 1). This scoop portion extends directly transversely of the axis of the device; that is, it has no plow dividing form which plow mechanism is disposed in the upper portion 36 of the mold board 34. Rearwardly of and underneath the scoop portion 35 is a compressed air chamber 37. The scoop portion 35 has adjustable

upright wing members

38 and 39 laterally disposed, said wing members being pivoted at centers 40 and 41 respectively, and having flanged bottom or

floor members

38a and 39a respectively, which extend the face of scoop 35 and prevent wedging of solids be tween said wings and scoop. The said wing members function to cut a channel in the snow wider than the width of the mold board proper so as to provide for additional clearing width of snow on curves or at other points as may be desired. These wing members may be adjusted for a given operation by air cylinder means 42 and 43. The leading edge portion of said scoop (see enlarged view Fig. 7) is provided with a cutting edge 44 above which is a series of ports 45 communicating with the compressed air chamber 37. This leading edge is also preferably provided with a shoe member 46 which may ride on the rail 31 when a particularly heavy load is imposed upon the leading edge but which normally is free of contact with said rail.

Preferably a device is provided for varying the area of the openings 45 through which air discharges from the nose of the scoop member 35. One device which may be used for this purpose (see Fig. 7) comprises a longitudinally adjustable damper-type valve or slide 53 having notches 54 therein for selective registration or non-registration with the openings 45. Means are provided for adjusting the slide 53. One such adjusting means may be in the form of an adjusting screw 55, see Fig. I 1, lower right, which may be reached through an opening in the wing member 39.

In the upper portion of the scoop member 35 are openings 47 and 48 (see also Fig. 4). In each of these openings is revolvably mounted a ring 49 of the following character: A ring 49 is provided with louver boards 50 disposed at an angle to direct the pressure of air from the compressed air chamber 37 at a desired upward angle with respect to the surface of the scoop member 35.

As operating means to revolve said ring 49 .a gear ring 51 is secured to said ring 49 and meshes with a worm pinion 52. The pinion 52 may be actuated by a hand wrench or crank 52a (see Fig. 2).

A ring member 49 is located in each of the

openings

47 and 48. The louver boards 50 leave openings 57 which may connect directly with the compressed air chamber 37.

In some instances, it may be desirable to restrict or close the openings between the louver boards 50 in order to increase the air pressure for the nose jets or other'openings. One way to accomplish this is to connect the end portions of each louver member 50 with the ring 49 by pivot members 39 and to provide each louver member 50 with a downwardly extending rigidly attached lever 27. The lower end portion of each lever 27 is connected by a pivot 28 with a longitudinally movable operating bar 26. One means which may be used to longitudinally move the bar 26 and thus open and close or adjust the louver boards 50 comprises a pneumatic cylinder 25 having therein a piston 24 connected by a piston rod 23 with a bracket arm 22 which is rigid with the bar 26. The end of the cylinder 25 remote from the bracket arm 22 is connected by a pivot 21 with a bracket which is rigid with the ring 49. The cylinder moves rotatively with the ring 49 and has fluid pressure conduits 19 connected therewith.

The plow member 36 of the mold board 34 divides at the axis of the machine and its surface curves rearwardly forming

plow members

58 and 59. These throw laterally any snow that may escape the blowing action of the air current issuing from openings 47 and 43. A center board 60 is mounted on a post 61 which is pivotly mounted and is provided with an extension 62 (see Fig. 5) which is engaged by a piston rod 63 of a piston 64 disposed in a pneumatic cylinder 65. Said cylinder has

conduits

66 and 67 connected with a source of compressed air. This center board may be mounted in the axis of the machine and may be disposed to swing laterally of said axis in order to direct the snow ascending the mold board 34 to either right or left of the machine as may be required when the trackway is located on a shelf of a steep slope so that the snow will be directed on the side of the rightof-way sloping downwardly from the track. More fully stated, the center board 60 functions to discharge such portion of the snow not discharged by compressed air to the right or left of the device and thus makes the plow doubly efficient, as said board 60 renders the plow capable of discharging the snow wholly to one side or the other. Or when the center board 60 is axially disposed the

plow members

58 and 59 may discharge the snow both to the right and left in the normal operation of said plow member. A retractable hood 70 extends laterally of the center board 60 and provides for deflecting the snow to the

plow members

58 and 59 so that the snow will be deflected to one side. Such hood 70 functions to protect trolley wires or other overhead structures, The retractable hood is preferably telescopically mounted in the top portion 71 of the carriage (see Fig. 6). Said hood may be operated by a pneumatically mounted piston 72 disposed in a pneumatic cylinder 73 which cylinder communicates with a source of pneumatic pressure by conduits 74 and 75. Instances when it would be desirable to prevent the snow from rising straight up the mold board would be when the device is used over trackways having trolley lines or overhead wires above the tracks or when the device is operated over tracks located on a city street.

ln the above, reference has been made to pneumatic cylinders such as 65, 73, and so forth. These and all such cylinders may be preferably connected to a source of pneumatic pressure provided in the locomotive or diesel engine means which is connected to drawbar 33 when the plow is in use. in other words, it is connected to a standard air line of the locomotive but, of course, such standard air compressor may be installed on the snow plow carriage 30 itself.

A customary flanger plow of conventional design may be disposed beneath the carriage 30 in order to remove the snow beneath the level of the rails 31 (see Figs. 1, 8, 9 and 10). This plow is mounted on guide members 81 and S2 and may be controlled in its plane of operation by a piston cylinder means 83.

In Figs. 1 and 2, a driven blower or turbo compressor 85 is driven by engine 86. The turbo compressor or blower is standard equipment in extensive use and forms no part of this invention except as a source of compressed air. Parenthetically, of course it will be understood that on electrified railroads and, in general, where electric traction is employed, electric motors may be used as prime movers to drive the mechanism herein disclosed. By such conventional equipment, pressures up to thirty pounds or more pcr square inch can be obtained for the purpose of removing snow with the plow as herein disclosed. However, in general, and under ordinary conditions herein involved, a sustained pressure of two to six pounds per square inch would provide air at sufficient velocity to give effective results. The compressed air from compressor 35 is discharged directly into the conduit 87 which leads directly into chamber 37 beneath the scoop member 35. Conduits 88 lead from such conduit 87 to clear the snow from the flanges of the rail 31. Also, conduits 89 lead from said conduit 87 to direct the air against the flanges of said rails 31 to clean the same. The heated blast from nose openings 45 and flanger ducts 88 and 89 also serves to thaw out rail switches over which the equipment could be caused to run slowly to permit of the necessary thawing of the snow and ice which has lodged in such portion of the trackway.

To increase the temperature of the compressed air after passage through compressor 85, heat from a flame of an auxiliary fuel burner 8511 may be injected into chamber 37 preferably near the point of discharge from blower or compressor 85. Such heat will expand the air, giving more volume, pressure, and velocity to the air and will assist in keeping the device free of snow and ice and in removing ice from said flanges and switches.

The inlet 90, Fig. 1, conducts air from chamber 91 to the turbo compressor 85. The inlet to chamber 91 is preferably provided with louvers 92. These serve not only to lessen the amount of snow that would be taken in by the current of air passing to chamber 91 but also serve as protection means for preventing accidents to operators.

The exhaust from the diesel engine 86 may be conducted by pipe 93 to inlet and thereby employed to heat the compressed air.

With the turbo compressor or blower not only is a stream of air supplied under relatively high pressure but also a stream of air at increased temperature due to compression.

A modified form, Figs. 1] and 12, of my invention is shown wherein a mold board has scoop member 101 and plow member 102 somewhat similar to that shown in Fig. 1. However, in this modified form, an opening 103 is provided transversely of the upper portion of the scoop member and this also is provided with two sets of shutters 104 and 104' (both being of similar construction) which are adjustably mounted on links 105 and 1.05 mounted on bars 106 and 106' which are connected to pneumatic cylinder means 107 and 107. The scoop member 101 has

lateral wing members

108 and 109 pivoted on hinges 110 and 111, said wing members being controllably operated by pneumatic piston and cylinder means 112 and 113 respectively beneath the scoop member 100.

In Figs. 11 and 12, a standard turbo-jet engine 114 is diagrammatically shown. This may be of any standard make. Such an engine as manufactured by General Electric Company is shown as Model L4? in National Geographic Magazine, volume 98, No. 3, page 314, issued February 1950. Likewise, turbo-jet engines of similar principle are manufactured by the Westinghouse Company and other concerns.

The plow member 102 of the mold board 100, in Figs. 11 and 12, is disposed at a more upright angle than the scoop member 101 and the diverging portions of the plow serve to deflect the snow right and left of the trackway; that is, such portions of the snow as may not previously have been directed to one side or the other of the trackway by the shutter or louver board means 104 and 104' (see Fig. 14). The air inlet chamber 115 provides for the admission of air to the jet engine 114. The opening 116 to chamber 115 is preferably provided with louver boards 116' which also act as a grating for the opening 116 thereby obviating danger to operators who might inadvertently fall or be drawn into the chamber 115. The outlet for the gases developed in the jet engine 114 are led into the outlet chamber 117 which leads to the opening 103. Also leading from chamber 117 is the conduit 118 which leads to the openings 119 in the leading edge portion 120 havingknife member 121. Leading from conduit 118 are

lateral conduits

122, 123, 124 and 125 which conduct portions of the air stream to the flanges of the track 31 whereby the flanges of the trackway as well as switch parts, are freed of snow. Likewise, conduits 126 lead from chamber 117 to the trackway to further clear the track flanges of snow. A headlight 127 may be mounted on the upper portion of the plow member 102. v

The standard flanger plow 128, similar to the flanger plow 80 shown in Figs.- 1, 8, 9 and .10, is provided heneath the engine 114 for removing snowbetween the trackways. In this modified form of the plow, the shutters 104 may be disposed at such angle as may be desired to deflect the blast of air from outlet chamber 117 at such angle as to deflect the snow to the right or left of the trackway or to divide the stream of snow ascending the mold board 100 to deflect the same right and left of the trackway. I

In the modified form shown in Fig. 15, a scoop portion 140 of the mold board is provided on its front edge portion with two rotary air control valves 141 and 142 having an

air passageway

143 and 144, respectively. Air passageways 143 and 144 communicate withan air chamher 139 within scoop member 140 corresponding substantially to chamber 37 of Figs. 1 and 2. 7

Valve 141 may be. operated by an air cylinder 145 through piston rod 146 as one convenient form of actuating means, while valve 142 may be operated by an air cylinder, 147 through piston rod 148 as one convenient form of actuating means. Air passageways 149 across on the leading edge portion of the scoop member permit the air to be directed straight ahead of the device. Valves 141 and 142 may be directed at various angles, for example, forwardly and laterally, and thereby a light snow may be swept forwardly and laterally of the machine in clearing an area such'as an air field. The rotary valves 141 and 142 may be used in connection with the louvers 50 of Fig. 2 or without said louvers.

In the still further modified form of Figs. 16 and 17, a scoop portion 150, substantially similar in all respects to the scoop member 35 of Figs. 1 and 2, is provided with an angularly movable air discharge nozzle 151. This is in addition to the louvers 162 and 163 and to the air outlets 45. This nozzle is operated by'a cylinder 152 through piston rod 153. The nozzle 151 operates to discharge the snow laterally as well as forwardly of the device in clearing a field such as an air field. The nozzle 151 communicateswith the air chamber 154 inside of the scoop 150.

In the still further modified form of the invention shown in Figs. 18 and 19, scoop member or portion 155 is provided with a nozzle portion 156 which is'angularly movable so that it may direct the entire blast of air either forwardly or at a sidewise angle to the right or left side. Nose portion 156 is pivotly mounted onpivot 157 and is actuated by cylinder 158'through piston rod 159 as one convenient form of actuating means. In the leading edge portion of thenose'are ports 160 through which the air under high pressure is discharged. The nose member 156 communicates with chamber 161 in scoop member 155 p p The modified forms are characterizedrby the capacity to direct the air blasts either forwardly or laterally of the longitudinal axis of the device.

In the modified form shown in Figs. and 21, a mold board is in the form of a scoop member 170 which may be provided without any plow construction adjacent its upper portion. In other words, it is a scoop member from its leading edge portion to its rear edge portion. That is, it extends at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the machine throughout its length. Said scoop member functions to lift the snow and cause it to move up the inclined face of the mold board or scoop member 170.

It is preferably provided with a plurality of air openings '171, 172, 173 and 174. It is also preferably provided with adjustable hinge mounted lateral air current deflecting vanes 175 and 176 and also it is preferably provided with a hinge mounted medial air deflecting vane 177.. Such deflecting means forms a simple and convenient; means of adjustably governing and directing the high velocity current or stream of air from said openings.

The deflector members or

vanes

175, 176 and 177 may beprovided with locking means as follows: A rod 178 connects all three members by being hingedly secured to their top portions. A bar 179 with notches throughout its length is revolvably mounted on fixed frame 180 of the plow so that it may engagedeflecting vane 177 by one of its several notches in locking the vanes in a desired angular position. The above describes one convenient form of manually operated locking means. If desired, adjustably controlled louver boards as shown in other forms herein may be provided in said openings as optional means for controlling the direction of the stream or blasts of air.

At this point, it is desired to direct attention to the fact that specific construction shown in one form of the invention may be substituted in other forms of the invention. For example, the adjustable louver board construction of Fig. 4 may be embodied in the

openings

171, 172, 173 and 174. Likewise, in Fig. 20 the nose portion of the scoop member 170 may or may not be provided with the ports 45 of Figs. 1 and 2.

The construction of Figs. 20 and 21 is characterized by its simplicity and economy of fabrication and yet it embodies the functional feature of means for lifting the snow and applying to the snow while so lifted a blast or stream of high pressure air which may be controlled as to its direction in directly discharging the snow in a predetermined direction and at the same time such stream of air performs its function in an unconfined manner; that is, the cross sectional area of the stream is not reduced. Throughout all the forms of my invention, it is characterized by this feature of having the stream orcurrent of high pressure air unconfined; that is, unreduced in cross-sectional area as it moves away from the face of the mold board or scoop member in attaining maximum efficiency for the invention. 7

In the modified form of my invention shown in Fig. 22, the air discharge openings and 191 in the scoop member 192 may be disposed in the form of a cross so that the body of snow being elevated on the scoop member 192 may be engaged by'a high velocity air current impinging thereon as the snow rises on said scoop 192. These openings are preferably provided with louver boards 193 which may be adjustably controlled as herein set forth for the other forms.

Mode of operation The snow is first undercut by the force of high velocity air issuing from openings 45. The snow is thus released or detached from the ground and as the air pressure builds up under the snow the mass of snow immediately in front of the snow plow becomes aerated or impregnated with air and becomes more porous. Thus the snow, so air conditioned, isreadily lifted and carried away or caused to flow up the incline of the scoop member 35 of the mold board 34. Which of these courses will be followed by the snow will depend, in general, upon the depth and character of the snow and the speed of forward travel of the plow. As soon as the snow reaches

openings

47 and 48, it receives the blast of high velocity air which is directed upwardly and simultaneously to the right orleft or to both right and left. The snow plow member 36 of the mold board 34 tends to shove the snow not previously blown clear to either side of the trackway. In deep snow, most of the snow will be discharged right and left of the trackway or to the right or to the left or straight up by the blast of air. In the latter instance the, wind may carry it to one side or the other. This directing of the snow blast is determined by the adjustment of the louvers. With the wind blowing, it is manifest that the snow may be carried a long distance from the trackway before it is deposited and thus danger of its being drifted back upon the track is minimized. If any portion of the snow is not thus disposed of by the blasts of compressed air, the plow member will discharge the same to the right and left.

i It is manifest that the snow has a free course and an unconfined or substantially unchanneled course up the mold board and is discharged without first being impinged upon any rotary mechanism or through any confined channels or any structural element separately movable. It is this free and unconfined treatment of the snow in discharging it from the line of travel that in large measure provides for the great capacity and speed and efficiency of snow removing by my invention.

Since the snow is aerated or air conditioned in the first place, it is substantially broken up and put in condition to be blown by the blast of compressed air issuing from the machine as well as to be carried away by the wind, if any. While the main body of the snow is being thus discharged above the equipment, the flanges of the rails are being cleaned by the blast directed and caused to impinge upon the rail flanges. In previous forms of equipment involving channeling of the snow into conduits in the act of discharging or channeling into compartments there to be melted, inherently there is a lowering of elficiency and a slowing of operation, because the capacity for high speed operation cannot be provided by such mechanism. In contrast with all such arrangements, my invention is characterized by the unconfined flow of the snow stream, the snow having been released from its contact with the ground and being caused to be buoyant as it were by being aerated and then immediately caused to slide up the incline of the scoop member of the advancing plow where it meets the blast of the high velocity air stream which further drives the snow as an open unconfined stream in a predetermined direction. This direction when the trackway is on the shelf of a mountain side would of course be down the slope in order to dispose of the snow where it would not drift back upon the track.

Under certain circumstances, as where there is a light fall of new snow, the snow may be entirely discharged free from the line of travel by the blast of air from the nose ports 45 without reaching the upper part of mold board or plow 36. On the other hand, during severe winter weather snow in the high mountain passes traversed by the railroads and by the highways, often reaches a depth of ten or twelve feet. As the snow is cleared from the railroad tracks or highways, it is piled up along the route of travel and the depth adjacent to the tracks or roadway may be fifteen or twenty feet. With such conditions, a snow plow, to be effective, must be able to raise the snow to considerable height in order to clear the high bank of snow resulting from clearing of previous snowfall. Obviously the pusher type of snow plow which would be effective for clearing a path in snow one or two feet deep is wholly unsuited and ineffective for clearing a roadway or area where the snow must be lifted to considerable height and thrown to the right or left side.

The device disclosed herein will throw snow to any reasonable height, or to any angle with respect to the line of travel, and do this efficiently and speedily. By its speed of snow removal, the invention makes it possible to cut down the number of machines required for snow removal and the investment in this type of work equipment is thereby greatly reduced. For example: A snow plow which will satisfactorily clear the line of travel and move at a speed of forty miles per hour will do the same work as eight machines of a different type which could only travel at a speed of five miles per hour.

The term air conditioning, as employed herein, includes: First, to refer to the snow as being undercut in advance of the nose or leading edge of the scoop, and/or, second, to refer to the snow as being aerated, i. e., impregnated with air so that it is made more porous or buoyant or broken into small bodies. The term elevating the snow includes raising the snow by the stream of air issuing from the ports 45 and/ or mechanically raising the snow by the inclined face of the scoop 35.

When the device of the invention is not mounted on a railroad carriage, it may be secured to an automobile truck with or without endless track tread, or to a type of construction machine commonly referred to as an endless track tractor.

The air stream by the very operation of its being compressed will cause it to be a heated stream. In addition to this, I have provided that the heat of the engine exhaust may be added to the air stream to cause it to be further expanded and therefore accelerated. In the case of the turbo-jet engine, the blast of air would be highly heated and may serve upon discharge to cause the stream of snow passing over the openings 103 of Figs. 11 and 12 or

openings

47 and 48, if form of Figs. 1 and 2 is adopted, to vaporize and to be blown aside as vapor by wind currents.

During periods of heavy snowfall, particularly in the mountains, snow accumulates on the tracks or roadways at a rate in excess of the ability of snow removal equipment of presently employed types to dispose of it.

The speed of operation of my invention, except in very extreme conditions, will be such as to permit the very close following of the snow removing equipment by railroad trains. Thus, the speed of the snow removing equipment will be such that the train schedules normally may be very closely followed, and this without danger of becoming snow-bound. This is in definite contrast with the present operation of snow removing equipment where it often occurs that a train is held at a given station until a sufficient trackage is supposed to be cleared for further operation of the train. However, the snow removing equipment operates so slowly that the track once cleared becomes clogged again by snow before the train can proceed. This results in attempting to operate trains in and through snow of such depth as to greatly impede the progress of the train or cause it to be stalled by the snow, with resultant delay to freight shipments or discomfort to passengers.

The method of operation of my invention disclosed herein, as well as the mode of operation of the structure devised to carry out said method, reveals the explanation for the high speed snow removal involved. The said method and structure are capable of putting to etficient and effective use a far greater magnitude of horse power than is possible in any presently employed snow removal equipment. As an example of the practical maximum horse power which can be employed effectively by my discovery and invention for the removal of snow from railroad tracks, the following figures are pertinent:

(1) Power in compressed air from turbo-jet engine or engine-driven compressor may equal 5000 horse power;

(2) Power from the pusher engine, that is, moving the plow along the track and into the snow may equal 3000 horse power;

(3) Combined power for displacing and removing the snow may thus equal 8000 horse power.

No other known snow removing equipment can efficiently and effectively employ such a magnitude of power for snow removal as a unitary assembly.

By use of two such machines as described above, that is, the snow plow and pusher engine working in unison, a total of eight thousand horse power can be applied at the point of impact of the snow plow with the snow to be removed. This total amount of power may be efiiciently and effectively applied in the act of removing the snow when applied in accordance with the discovery of the method and structure of the device herein disclosed.

Relative mode of operation, furthermore, snow can be cleared from more than one track simultaneously by means of this invention, that is, by using the form of the plow with jets directed to the side as in Fig. 15, such a plow can move along the middle track of a five-track yard and, with one passage of the machine, can clear snow from the track over which it operates and at the same time clear'the snow from one or more tracks on either side of the track on which the machine is operating. Speed of operating the rotary plow is positively limited by reason of the fact that it is subject in discharging the snow to confining and restricting the snow in channels and thereby compacts the snow on the outer shell of the plow housing due to centrifugal force as the snow must be carried around from the lower part of the propeller periphery to the upper part where the snow is free to be discharged from said housing. The amount of such load that is pressed upon the propeller blades imposes a definite limitation of the amount of horse power which effectively may be applied, that is, something of the order of several hundred horse power applied at the wheel. On the other hand, in my discovery and invention the amount of the horse power which may be applied effectively is practically unlimited.

Moreover, in connection with method, and mode of operation, it previously has been pointed out that much of the difliculty in removing snow is due to the inherent nature of the snow. Its nature renders it subject to being readily compacted and any procedure of confining or pressing the snow results obviously in compacting it. The fact that my invention and discovery operates in a manner in removing the snow which does not confine or press the snow into reduced channels is in direct contrast with snow removing equipment heretofore commonly used, i. e., in my invention the area of the stream or air current cross-sectionally considered is not reduced as said stream proceeds from the face of the scoop 35 or mold board 34.

In connection with the above, the feature of my invention comprising applying a high velocity current of air to the snow functions to disintegrate or pull apart the very crystals of the snow itself, or in some cases, break the consolidated snow into small bodies, thus reducing the snow crystals to most minute particles or the snow into small bodies when compacted which are easily carried away by the current of high velocity air provided by my invention. According to my invention, the snow is aerated and then subjected to disintegrating forces. As the stream or current of air departs from the snow plow or face of the mold board, the stream expands and thus the velocity gradually diminishes, particularly on the peripheral portions of the stream, but at the same time the snow crystals or flakes have been pulled apart by the action of the current of air and their size is reduced to such minute bodies that the current of air is sufficient for their transporting. The snow as it moves up the incline of the scoop 35 is engaged by the strong high velocity current and then as it proceeds further and further from the face of the scoop 35 in its flight to a place laterally of the trackway, the pressure is quickly reduced and therefore there is an augmented tendency to pull apart the snow flake or crystals as they pass from a high pressure area to a low pressure area.

Finally, there is a condition of snow removal which is confronted in certain states of the West where sand or dust storms develop. In railroad cuts, the snow may be falling at the same time that sand is being blown from high ground wind-exposed areas with the result that the snow and dust or soil, in a very short time of the order of three or four hours, may form a solid mass of a character that often requires explosives to be employed for its removal. The use of steam has been employed in the removal of such material, because the melting of the snowby the steam breaks up the very diflicult combination of frozen snow and sand or soil and then the snow plow can operate to remove the composite of snow and soil or dust. The injection of the heated high velocity air of my invention from the vents 45 in the leading edge of the scoop member 35 thus provides an eflicient means for the removal of this very serious condition of cuts filled with such combined snow and sand or soil.

I claim:

1. A device of the character described comprising a mounting carriage; a mold board mounted on the advancing end of said carriage having an upwardly inclined lower scoop member and a plow member above and adjacent to said scoop member, said scoop member being open to the atmosphere frontally, upwardly, and laterally; a series of air discharge vents transversely disposed in the leading edge portion of said scoop in close proximity to the ground surface; an opening in the upper portion of said scoop in the path of snow which is being moved over the face of said scoop for discharging a high velocity air current; adjustable louvers disposed in said opening; a high velocity air current developing means mounted rearwardly of said mold board; conduits connecting said air current developing means with said vents and said opening for discharging therethrough a high velocity air current which is of a magnitude which physically tears the snow apart.

2. A device of the character described comprising a carriage; a mold board mounted on the advancing end of said carriage having an upwardly inclined lower scoop member and a plow member above and adjacent to said scoop member over which mold board snow is caused to pass; a series of air vents transversely disposed in the leading edge portion of said scoop through which a high velocity air current may be discharged, said air current being characterized by being of a force which permeates the snow in advance of the vents and makes it more porous, said snow being permeated in situ as it has fallen; an opening in the upper portion of said scoop for discharging a high velocity air current; direction imparting means disposed'in said opening by which said high velocity air current may be directed in a predetermined direction; a high velocity air current of not less than snow melting temperature developing means mounted rear wardly of said mold board by which said high velocity air currents are produced; and conduits connecting said air current developing means with said vents and said opening in discharging the snow from the mold board face in a cominuted stream, the cross section of which discharge stream is continually expanding as the snow leaves said face.

3. A device of the character described comprising a carriage; a mold board mounted on the advancing end of said carriage; air vents in the leading edge of said mold board through which vents a high velocity air current is discharged into the snow in situ as i has fallen positioned in advance of said vents, said air current having a magnitude of force which permeates and makes more porous the said snow; wing members adjustably mounted on the lateral edge portion of said mold board determining the width of a stream of snow to be passed over said mold board While so permeated with air; an opening in said mold board which opening is in spaced relation to said leading edge; directional means in said opening imparting a predetermined direction to said stream of snow; a high velocity air current developing means mounted rearwardly of said mold board and in communication with said vents and said opening, said current having a magnitude of force that comminutes the snow and discharges the same to areas remote from the path of travel in a discharge stream, the cross section of which discharge stream is continually expanding upon being engaged by said air current; and conduits connecting said air current developing means with said vents and said opening.

4. A device of the character described comprising a carriage; a mold board mounted on the advancing end of said carriage having upwardly inclined lower scoop member and a plow member above and adjacent said scoop member which scoop member lifts snow from its position in situ as it has fallen and passes the snow over the face of said scoop member; an adjustable hood mounted above and adjacent said plow member for deflecting said stream of snow laterally against said plow member and preventing the snow from rising vertically above said mold board; an opening in the upper portion of said scoop member; a high velocity air current developing means mounted rearwardly of said mold board, said current being of a magnitude of force which comminutes and discharges the snow to areas remote from the path of travel in a stream, the cross section of which discharge stream is continually expanding upon being engaged by said air current; and conduits connecting said air current developing means with said opening.

5. A device of the character described comprising a railroad carriage, for travel on flanged rails; an unhoused upwardly, rearwardly inclined scoop member mounted on the advancing end of said carriage which scoop member lifts snow from its positon in situ as it has fallen and passes the snow over the face of said scoop member; an opening in the upper portion of said scoop member; a high velocity air current developing means mounted rearwardly of said scoop member, said current being of a magnitude of force which comminutes and discharges the snow to areas remote from the path of travel in a stream, the cross section of which discharge stream is continually expanding upon being engaged by said air current; and conduits connecting said air current developing means with said opening and leading to points above and adjacent to the rail flanges for causing said air current to discharge outwardly from said points to dispose of the snow remaining on said rails laterally to areas remote from said rails in a stream, the cross section of which is continually expanding and for directing a portion of said stream of air to the rail flanges in freeing the same of snow.

6. In a device of the character described the combination of a carriage and mold board having an open, rearwardly, upwardly inclined scoop member causing a stream of snow to rise and pass over said mold board from its position in situ as it has fallen; a center'board pivotally mounted on said mold board; an opening in said scoop member in spaced relation to its leading edge, said opening being variable both as to direction and as to crosssectional area; and a high velocity air current developing means mounted rearwardly of said mold board and in communication with said opening, said current being of a magnitude of force that the snow is cornminuted and discharged in a stream to areas remote from the path of travel as laterally directed by said center board, the cross section of which discharge stream is continually expanding upon being engaged by said air current.

7. A device of the character described comprising a carriage; a. mold board mounted on the advancing end of said carriage which lifts in a stream snow from its position in situ as it has fallen and passes said snow over the unconfined face of said mold board; an opening in said mold board in spaced relation to the leading edge; means mounted in said mold board adjacent the leading edge and the path of travel and laterally adjustable for discharging high velocity air current laterally of said path of travel; a high velocity air current developing means mounted rearwardly of said mold board, said current being of a sufficicnt magnitude of force which comminutcs and discharge the snow to areas remote from the path of travel in a stream, the cross section of which is continually expanding upon being engaged by said air current; and conduits connecting said air current developing means with said opening and with said means mounted in said mold board adjacent the leading edge and the path of 16 travel for clearing the area laterally of the path of travel of snow to prevent the building up of high banks of snow in said lateral area.

8. In a device of the character described, the combination of a carriage and mold board having an open, rearwardly, upwardly inclined scoop member which lifts snow in a stream over said mold board from its position in situ as it has fallen; an opening in said scoop member in spaced relation to the leading edge thereof, said opening being variable both as to direction and as to crosssectional area; a jet reaction means developing a high velocity air current mounted rearwardly of said mold board and in communication with said opening, said air current being of a temperature and magnitude of force so that the snow is cornminuted and at least in part vaporized and prepared to be carried laterally to areas remote from the path of travel in discharging the snow in a stream, the cross-section of which discharge stream is continually expanding upon being engaged by said air current emerging from said opening.

9. The method of snow removal from a path of travel at substantial speed comprising the following steps in sequence, moving the discharge of a high velocity air current at substantial speed, said discharge emerging in a plane substantially parallel and adjacent to the ground while engaging the lower portions of the fallen snow in the path of travel, said current entering said snow as the first stage for preparing the same to be finally discharged laterally of the path of travel; immediately elevating the said snow in a stream at an inclined angle to path of travel; and subjecting said stream of snow to another current of high velocity air characterized by being upwardly directed and of a magnitude of force which physically tears the snow apart in further preparing the same for removal to areas laterally remote from the path of travel.

10. The method of snow removal from a path of travel at substantial speed comprising the following steps in sequence, moving the discharge of a high velocity air current at substantial speed, said discharge emerging in a plane substantially parallel and adjacent to the ground while engaging the lower portions of the fallen snow in the path of travel, said current entering said snow as the first stage for preparing the same to be finally discharged laterally of the path of travel; immediately elevating the said snow in a stream at an inclined angle to the path of travel; and subjecting said stream of snow to another current of high velocity air characterized by being up wardly directed and of a magnitude of force which physically tears the snow apart in further preparing the same for removal to areas laterally remote from the path of travel.

11. The method of snow removal from a path of travel at substantial speeds comprising the following steps in se quence, moving the discharge of a heated high velocity air current, said discharge emerging in a plane substantially parallel to and adjacent the ground in having its discharge engage the lower portions of the snow in undercutting the snow and aerating the same as the first step of preparing the same to be finally discharged laterally of the path of travel; immediately elevating the aerated snow in a stream at an inclined angle to the path of travel; and subjecting said snow after being formed into a stream to another current of high velocity air characterized by being substantially upwardly directed and of a magnitude of force which physically tears the aerated snow apart in a discharging stream, the cross-section of which stream is continually expanding upon being engaged by said air current. 7

12. The method of snow removal from a path of travel at substantial speeds comprising the following steps in sequence; forming a stream of snow by cutting and scooping a channel into a layer of fallen snow; simultaneously moving the discharge of high velocity air current of not less than snow melting temperature at substantial railroad schedule-keeping speeds against said layer of fallen snow said discharge emerging in a plane substantially parallel and adjacent to the ground in having its discharge engage the lower portions of the snow in undercutting the snow and aerating the same as the first step of preparing the snow for being finally discharged upwardly into the air; immediately elevating the aerated snow in a steam at an inclined angle to the path of travel; and subjecting said stream of snow to another current of high velocity air characterized by being substantially upwardly directed .and of a magnitude of force which tears the areated snow apart in discharging upwardly the snow away from all further contact with mechanical structure, said stream continually expanding upon being engaged by said air current and the movement of said snow being maintained throughout in a generally upward direction.

13. A device of the character described for removing snow from a path of travel comprising a carriage; a scoop member mounted on the front of said carriage and having .an open face disposed at an upward angle to the path of travel over which face snow is caused to pass in being elevated from its ground supported position; an opening in said scoop member in spaced relation to its leading edge; a high velocity air current developing means mounted rearwardly of said scoop member; conduits connecting said air current developing means with said opening, the said current being directed by said opening for discharging said snow into the open atmosphere directly upward and away from the open face of said scoop member, the snow laden discharge current continually freely expanding as it rises above said face.

14. A device of the character described for removing snow from a path of travel along a surface of travel comprising a carriage; a scoop member mounted on the front of said carriage and having an inclined face fully open directly to the atmosphere, over which face snow moves in a stream while being elevated from its surface supported position; an air current opening in said scoop member in spaced relation to its leading edge; a high velocity air current developing means mounted "on said carriage; a conduit connecting said air current developing means with said air current opening, said opening delivering the high velocity air current into engagement with said snow stream, deflecting the same above and away from said scoop member directly into the open atmosphere.

15. The method of snow removal from a path of travel comprising moving a scoop with its face directly open to the atmosphere into snow in the path of travel at substantial speed, causing elevation of said snow in a stream over the open face of said scoop at an inclined angle to the path of travel from its ground supported position; and discharging a high velocity air current into accelerated, lifting, engagement with said stream of snow while being elevated over the scoop face, such discharge-diverting and blasting the stream of snow While flowing over said scoop face directly, upwardly and away from the open face of the scoop into the open atmosphere above said scoop, the snow laden air current continually freely, radially expanding as it rises and discharges from said path of travel into the open atmosphere substantially above the area of initial engagement of the high velocity air current with the stream of snow.

16. The method of snow removal from a path of travel comprising the following steps; moving a scoop into the snow at substantial speed, causing elevation of said snow in a stream from its initial position; and discharging a high velocity air current into lifting engagement with said elevated stream of snow, said air current directly discharging the stream of snow upwardly and away from said scoop into the open atmosphere thereabove, said air current continually freely expanding while rising and being of a magnitude physically tearing the particles of snow apart, facilitating their removal to remote areas.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 178,172 Mabbs May 30, 1876 227,011 Horton Apr. 27, 1880 281,752 Church July 24, 1883 1,153,776 Gebhart Sept. 14, 1915 1,515,553 Cummings Nov. 11, 1924 1,594,709 Bubb et a1 Aug. 3, 1926 1,747,258 ONeil Feb. 18, 1930 2,067,575 Meyerhoefer Jan. 12, 1937 2,222,437 Lykken Nov. 19, 1940 2,404,287 Greer July 16, 1946 2,436,956 Du Pras Mar. 2, 1948 2,516,600 Shipley et a1 July 25, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS 42,571 Denmark June 30, 1930 54,955 Germany Jan. 7, 1891 58,364 Norway Sept. 6, 1937