U.S. patent application number 12/796069 was filed with the patent office on 2010-12-16 for snow removal vehicle.
Invention is credited to Antoine Trubiano.
Application Number | 20100313451 12/796069 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 43305131 |
Filed Date | 2010-12-16 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100313451 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Trubiano; Antoine |
December 16, 2010 |
SNOW REMOVAL VEHICLE
Abstract
A snow removal vehicle is described and it has an enclosed snow
melting chamber provided with a plurality of high pressure steam
jets which are connected to one or more steam generators. The
enclosed snow melting chamber has a water collecting reservoir in a
lower portion thereof below a bottom wall of the snow melting
chamber. The bottom wall has passages to channel water from the
snow melting chamber to the water collecting reservoir. The vehicle
body has a front entry opening communicating with the snow melting
chamber and an auger screw is mounted in the front entry opening to
eject snow inside a forward end of the snow melting chamber. Snow
propelling wheels are secured along at least a front end portion of
the snow melting chamber to propel snow ejected from the auger
along the snow melting chamber for contact by the high pressure
steam to melt the snow. An outlet evacuating valve is provided to
evacuate water collected in the water collecting reservoir. The
vehicle may also be equipped with a hopper shute for use in a
stationary mode to melt snow dumped in the shute.
Inventors: |
Trubiano; Antoine;
(Montreal, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
OGILVY RENAULT LLP
1, Place Ville Marie, SUITE 2500
MONTREAL
QC
H3B 1R1
CA
|
Family ID: |
43305131 |
Appl. No.: |
12/796069 |
Filed: |
June 8, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
37/228 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E01H 5/104 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
37/228 |
International
Class: |
E01H 5/10 20060101
E01H005/10 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 11, 2009 |
CA |
2,670,234 |
Claims
1. A snow removal vehicle comprising a vehicle body having an
enclosed snow melting chamber, said body being supported on
traction means, an operator station in said vehicle, said vehicle
body having a frontal entry opening communicating with said snow
melting chamber, snow removal means in said entry opening to eject
snow inside a forward end of said snow melting chamber, said snow
melting chamber having a water collecting reservoir in a lower
portion thereof below a bottom wall of said snow melting chamber,
passage means in said bottom wall to channel water from said snow
melting chamber to said water collecting reservoir, a plurality of
high pressure steam snow melting jets disposed along said snow
melting chamber to eject hot steam therealong, snow propelling
means along at least a front end portion of said snow melting
chamber to propel snow ejected from said snow removal means in said
entry opening along said snow melting chamber for contact by said
steam to melt the snow, and water evacuating means to evacuate
water collected in said water collecting reservoir.
2. A snow removal vehicle as claimed in claim 1 wherein said entry
opening is a front entry opening provided with adjustable snow
collecting means, said adjustable snow collecting means adjusting
the width of a surface on which snow is collected and directed into
said entry opening.
3. A snow removal vehicle as claimed in claim 2 wherein said
adjustable snow collecting means is constituted by hinged plow side
panels secured to opposed side edges of said front entry opening,
and controllable pistons secured to said hinged plow side panels to
independently position each said hinged plow panels with respect to
said front entry opening.
4. A snow removal vehicle as claimed in claim 3 wherein said hinged
plow side panels have a telescopic frontal section to adjust the
length of said side panels.
5. A snow removal vehicle as claimed in claim 1 wherein there is
further provided one or more monitoring cameras inside said snow
melting chamber to monitor the operation of said snow melting
jets.
6. A snow removal vehicle as claimed in claim 1 wherein said snow
melting jets are secured to one or more steam generators by
conduits, at least some of said conduits having control valves
therein.
7. A snow removal vehicle as claimed in claim 1 wherein said snow
removal means is an auger screw.
8. A snow removal vehicle as claimed in claim 6 wherein said
conduits are provided with control valves controlled by switches
provided on an operator control panel.
9. A snow removal vehicle as claimed in claim 8 wherein water level
sensors are secured in said water collecting reservoir, said
operator control panel having indicator means electrically
connected to said level sensors to monitor the water level in said
water collecting reservoir.
10. A snow removal vehicle as claimed in claim 1 wherein said
propelling means is constituted by two or more elongated snow
propelling wheels, each said elongated snow propelling wheels
having a driven axle supported across opposed side walls of said
enclosed snow melting chamber and spaced above said bottom wall,
said axle having at least two elongated curved flat blades secured
along opposed sides of said axle and extending outwardly therefrom
and oriented to project snow received from said snow propelling
means rearwardly into said snow melting chamber.
11. A snow removal vehicle as claimed in claim 10 wherein said
axles have a driven end secured to drive means for rotating said
axles in unison in a clockwise direction, said curved flat blades
sloping in the direction of displacement of said blade to project
snow disposed on a collection surface thereof upwardly and in a
rearward direction in said snow melting chamber.
12. A snow removal vehicle as claimed in claim 1 wherein said entry
opening is a front entry opening provided with a snow guiding ramp
rearwardly of said snow removal means to guide snow in an upward
direction in said forward end of said snow melting chamber.
13. A snow removal vehicle as claimed in claim 11 wherein said snow
removal means is a driven auger screw supported across said entry
opening.
14. A snow removal vehicle as claimed in claim 6 wherein said snow
melting jets are connected in two or more groups along said snow
melting chamber, each group of snow melting jets being secured to
one or more steam generators associated with each said group, the
operation of said steam generators of each said groups being
controlled by a control panel operated by an operator person.
15. A snow removal vehicle as claimed in claim 14 wherein said snow
melting jets have a connecting end secured to a steam pressure
conduit, a pressure build-up formation in said snow melting jets to
increase the pressure of said steam to a desired output pressure to
rapidly melt said snow, and a pressure nozzle at a free end of said
jets.
16. A snow removal vehicle as claimed in claim 15 wherein said
pressure build-up formation is constituted by a progressively
diminishing passage between said connecting end and said
nozzle.
17. A snow removal vehicle as claimed in claim 16 wherein said
nozzle is a small circular opening at said free end of said jets
providing a beam of hot high pressure steam.
18. A snow removal vehicle as claimed in claim 16 wherein said
nozzle is an outwardly flared narrow passage providing a wide flat
beam of hot high pressure steam.
19. A snow removal vehicle as claimed in claim 15 wherein said
desired output pressure is in the range of from about 20,000 psi to
30,000 psi.
20. A snow removal vehicle as claimed in claim 1 wherein there is
further provided a vacuum suction articulated conduit to suck snow
into a vacuum chamber inside said vehicle at said forward end of
said snow melting chamber and transfer means to discharge said snow
on said snow propelling means.
21. A snow removal vehicle as claimed in claim 20 wherein said
vacuum chamber is constituted by an impeller chamber communicating
with a rear end of said articulated conduit, a high speed impeller
wheel in close fit with a curved inner wall portion of said
impeller chamber to create a suction air flow in said articulated
conduit and to propel snow sucked thereon through an outlet port of
said impeller chamber and onto said snow propelling means.
22. A snow removal vehicle as claimed in claim 1 wherein there is
further provided a metal detector secured at a front end of said
vehicle body and projecting forwardly thereof to detect metal
objects in said snow in the path of said vehicle, said metal
detector providing a signal at said operator station for remedial
action by an operator person to prevent damage to said vehicle.
23. A snow removal vehicle as claimed in claim 1 wherein there is
further provided actuable ice abrading and removal means rearwardly
of said snow removal means to abrade and brake ice formed on a road
surface where snow is being removed and to propel said broken ice
onto said snow propelling means.
24. A snow removal vehicle as claimed in claim 23 wherein said ice
abrading and removal means is reconstituted by a steel brush
actuated by an operator person in said operator station.
25. A snow removal vehicle as claimed in claim 24 wherein said
broken ice is propelled onto said snow propelling means through a
trap door and protective passage to prevent water from melted snow
and ice from leaking out of said snow melting chamber.
26. A snow removal vehicle as claimed in claim 1 wherein said
traction means comprises three sets of traction wheels, a front and
rear set and an intermediate set, said intermediate set being
supported elevated from said front and rear set and having a
disconnectable drive coupling, said front and rear set being
secured to a displaceable axle assembly wherein said front and rear
set can be lifted to permit said intermediate set to engage a
ground surface and be connected to a drive shaft by said drive
coupling to permit independent operation of the wheels of said
intermediate set to cause said vehicle to maneuver around abrupt
street intersections.
27. A snow removal vehicle as claimed in claim 1 wherein a hopper
shute is secured to said frontal entry opening and having
circumferential side walls, an open top end and a slide wall for
guiding snow introduced from said opening top end to said snow
removal means in said entry opening.
28. A snow removal vehicle as claimed in claim 27 wherein said
slide wall is angulated from a front side wall of said
circumferential side walls to said snow removal means.
29. A snow removal vehicle as claimed in claim 28 wherein snow
removal means is an auger screw.
30. A snow removal vehicle as claimed in claim 27 wherein there is
further provided hinged plow side panels secured to opposed side
edges of said entry opening, displaceable means secured to said
hinged plow side panels to independently position each said hinged
plow panels with respect to said front entry opening, said hopper
shute being securable to said hinged plow panels by detachable
connector means.
31. A snow removal vehicle as claimed in claim 30 wherein said
detachable connector means are clamps interconnecting said hopper
shute to said hinged plow panels with said panels disposed
substantially parallel to one another and on a respective side of
said entry opening.
32. A snow removal vehicle as claimed in claim 31 wherein said
hopper shute circumferential side walls is comprised of said front
side wall, a rear side wall, and parallel transverse side walls
extending between said front side wall and rear side wall and
forming said circumferential side walls rectangular in shape, said
side wall extending between and secured to said parallel transverse
side walls and projecting downwards from a lower edge of said
circumferential side walls and in close fit between said hinge plow
side panels.
33. A snow removal vehicle as claimed in claim 30 wherein said
connector means are latch connectors.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a snow removal road vehicle
using high pressure steam jets to melt the snow inside an enclosed
snow melting chamber of the vehicle.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] Snow removal vehicles or containers are known wherein snow
is collected and dumped into a container which is provided with
conduits through which hot gases flow and which are located close
to a top end of these containers whereby snow positioned thereon
will melt and the water accumulate at the bottom of the container.
Baffle plates are provided so that only water can percolate down
into the reservoir. A disadvantage of these is that the reservoirs
are not displaceable and they are usually positioned in areas where
large parking areas need to be maintained clear of snow. Snow
removal vehicles with articulated buckets are required to transport
the snow to the container. The container usually has a conduit
which connects to the city sewer system to discharge water
therefrom.
[0003] With reference to U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,785,561 and 5,588,231, it
is also known to provide such containers on vehicles whereby to
remove snow from streets and blow the snow into a container which
contains boiler tubes. The boiler tubes, as shown in U.S. Pat. No.
4,785,561 melt the snow and water is evacuated from the vehicle.
However, such snow melting systems have not been found satisfactory
as they are too small and the conduit will clog up with snow
rendering the vehicle's function ineffective. For snow removal
applications on streets, such a vehicle is not practical. Also,
there are insufficient heating means to melt the snow faster than
it is discharged within the chamber. U.S. Pat. No. 5,588,231
describes a similar system although the vehicle is much larger. It
is also provided with a boiler and a heater pipe system to
circulate hot water therein. A snow blower is used to feed snow
into a feeder chute which is of very long length and which
obviously would clog up with snow rendering the entire vehicle
ineffective. This system is deemed to be inoperable because of its
many deficiencies. Further, the melting hopper is too small and
would prevent the vehicle from operating at convenient speeds.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
[0004] It is a feature of the present invention to provide a snow
removal vehicle which utilizes high pressure steam in an enclosed
snow melting chamber of the vehicle to melt snow and wherein the
water produced by the melted snow and condensed steam is collected
in the snow melting chamber.
[0005] Another feature of the present invention is to provide a
snow removal vehicle having an adjustable front entry opening to
adjust the width of the path of the snow being removed from roads
and wherein the snow is melted by contact with high pressure steam
in an enclosed snow melting chamber of the vehicle, and the
collected water in the chamber is drained therefrom into the public
sewer system once the water collecting reservoir of the vehicle
reaches a predetermined quantity.
[0006] Another feature of the present invention is to provide a
snow removal vehicle which utilizes a single operator for its
operation and reduces the amount of equipment normally required to
clear snow from roads.
[0007] According to another feature of the present invention there
is provided a snow removal vehicle wherein a hopper shute is
removably securable to a frontal entry opening of the vehicle for
guiding snow introduced from an open top end of the hopper shute to
an auger screw permitting the vehicle to be used as a snow melting
and transport vehicle.
[0008] According to the above features, from a broad aspect, the
present invention provides a snow removal vehicle comprising a
vehicle body having an enclosed snow melting chamber. The vehicle
body is supported on traction means. An operator station is
provided for an operator person. The vehicle body has an entry
opening communicating with the snow melting chamber. Snow removal
means is provided in the entry opening to eject snow inside a
forward end of the snow melting chamber. The snow melting chamber
has a water collecting reservoir in a lower portion thereof below a
bottom wall of the snow melting chamber. Passage means are provided
in the bottom wall to channel water from the snow melting chamber
to the water collecting reservoir. A plurality of high pressure
steam snow melting jets are disposed along the snow melting chamber
to eject hot steam therealong. Snow propelling means is provided
along at least a front end portion of the snow melting chamber to
propel snow ejected from the snow removal means in the entry
opening along the snow melting chamber for contact by the steam to
melt the snow. Water evacuating means is provided to evacuate water
collected in the water collecting reservoir.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be
described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
[0010] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the snow removal vehicle of
the present invention;
[0011] FIG. 2 is a perspective transverse section view of the snow
removal vehicle of the present invention;
[0012] FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmented cross-sectional side view
of the snow melting chamber;
[0013] FIG. 4 is a fragmented cross-section view illustrating the
position of the steam jets relative to a snow propelling wheel of
the snow melting chamber;
[0014] FIG. 5A is a side view of a high pressure steam snow melting
jet;
[0015] FIG. 5B is a top view of FIG. 5A;
[0016] FIG. 5C is a cross-section view along cross-section line C-C
of FIG. 5A;
[0017] FIG. 6A is a side view of a further embodiment of a high
pressure snow melting jet;
[0018] FIG. 6B is a section view along cross-section line B-B of
FIG. 6A;
[0019] FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating the function of the
control panel in association with various elements of the snow
removal vehicle;
[0020] FIG. 8 is a transverse section view through the vehicle
showing the construction of the ice removal steel brush;
[0021] FIG. 9 is a transverse section view through the vehicle
showing the displaceable axle;
[0022] FIG. 10 is a simplified schematic side view showing a hopper
shute removably securable to the front entry opening of the snow
removal vehicle;
[0023] FIG. 11A is a perspective view of the hopper shute;
[0024] FIG. 11B is a top view of the hopper shute; and
[0025] FIG. 11C is a side view showing the hopper shute removably
connected to the hinge plow side panels.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0026] Referring to the drawings and more particularly to FIGS. 1
and 2, there is shown generally at 10 the snow removal vehicle of
the present invention. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the front end of
the vehicle has a front entry opening 11 in which an auger means in
the form of an auger screw 12 is mounted and driven at high speed
whereby to eject snow positioned thereagainst rearwardly into the
vehicle body 13. A plurality of steam generators 14 are mounted
integral with the side walls 15 of the vehicle body 13. The vehicle
body 13 defines therein an enclosed snow melting chamber 16 as
shown in FIG. 2 and it communicates with the front entry opening
11. The vehicle body is also insulated. The vehicle 10 is supported
on three sets of wheels 17, 17' and 17'', but could also be
supported on tracks or other propelling means, not shown.
[0027] As shown in FIG. 2, the front entry opening 11 is provided
with a snow guiding ramp 18 rearwardly of the snow auger screw 12
whereby to guide projected snow in an upward direction of arrow 19
upwardly into the forward end 20 of the snow melting chamber
16.
[0028] The front entry opening 11 is further provided with variable
snow collecting means in the form of hinged plow side panels 23, as
better shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 which are secured to opposed side
edges 24 of the front entry opening 11. The panels 23 may be
equipped with a telescopic frontal section 23' to adjust the length
of the panels. Pistons 21 are secured to each of these panels
whereby to position the hinge plow panels 23 at a desired angle
with respect to the front entry opening. Each panel 23 is
independently controlled. By controlling the position of the angle
of these side panels an operator person can control the width of a
surface to be plowed, or in this case to clear the snow therefrom
as the snow is not displaced to the sides but is ingested by the
snow removal vehicle 10.
[0029] With specific reference now to FIGS. 2 and 3, the enclosed
snow melting chamber 16 has an intermediate bottom wall 25
supported elevated from the bottom wall 26 of the vehicle. The area
between the bottom wall 25 of the chamber and the bottom wall 26 of
the vehicle defines a water collecting reservoir 27. A plurality of
high-pressure snow melting, high pressure steam turbo-jets 28 are
positioned within the vehicle opposed side walls 15. As shown in
FIG. 4, these jets may also be optionally mounted in the top wall
29 and adjacent the bottom wall 25 and these are identified by
reference numeral 28'. These high-pressure snow melting jets are
connected to suitable conduit means (not shown) to the steam
generators 14 whereby the enclosed snow melting chamber 16 is
filled with high-pressure steam turbulence of about 25 thousand
BTUs, along its entire length or at least concentrated in the front
portion thereof. Jets 28'' may also be fitted with snow propelling
wheels 32. Cameras 30 are also mounted in the enclosed snow melting
chamber 16 to provide visual access thereof from the control cabin
31 at the front end of the vehicle where an operator sits and
controls the vehicle. A control panel 32 is provided in the
conductor cabin 31.
[0030] A plurality of snow propelling means in the form of
propelling wheels 32 are secured in the enclosed snow melting
chamber 16 along at least the forward end portion 20 thereof to
propel snow ejected from the auger screw 12 along the snow melting
chamber and in contact with the high pressure steam from the high
pressure steam ejecting jets 28 whereby to disperse the snow for
contact with the high-pressure hot steam to melt the snow quickly.
Water resulting from the melted snow and condensed steam is
channeled within the water collecting reservoir 27 through openings
35 formed in the bottom wall 25 of the snow melting chamber 16.
These passage openings 35 have a trough-like shaped wall section 36
and a sufficient number of these are provided whereby the water is
evacuated quickly from the snow melting chamber to flow to the
water collecting reservoir. Two or more level sensors 37, see FIG.
3, are secured in a wall of the water collecting reservoir to
detect the water level. A second uppermost one of the sensors,
namely sensor 37', would advise the operator of an approximate
quantity of snow that needs to be collected until a top sensor 37''
gives a signal to the operator that the reservoir needs to be
emptied. This permits the operator to gauge the time remaining to
evacuate the water from the reservoir.
[0031] In order to evacuate the water from the reservoir 27 there
is provided a drain pipe 38, hereinshown mounted in the rear wall
39 of the vehicle and it has a valve 40. A flexible conduit (not
shown) is connected to the drain pipe whereby to channel the water
from the water collecting reservoir into the city sewer system or
elsewhere. Although not shown, one of the steam generators 14 may
have another flexible hose connected thereto together with a
mechanical rod having a control valve whereby to unblock a city
sewer should a sewer be iced-in whereby the reservoir can be empty
under any cold climate condition in the sewer system. The location
of city sewers would also be accessible through stored information
available in the control panel.
[0032] As more clearly illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, the propelling
wheels 32 have a driven axle 45 which is supported across the
opposed side walls 15 of the vehicle across the snow melting
chamber 16 and this is done by conventional mechanical means. The
snow propelling wheels 32 are also supported elevated above the
bottom wall 25. To each of the axles 45 there is secured a drum 45'
having at least two, herein a plurality of elongated flat blades 46
and extending along opposed sides of the drum and projecting
outwardly therefrom. The blades 46, when seen in cross-section,
have an elongated curved profile 47 which slopes in the direction
of the blade, herein in the clockwise direction as indicated by
arrow 48 to project snow disposed on a collection surface 49
thereof upwardly and in a rearward direction, as shown by arrows
48', within the snow melting chamber 16 for contact with the
high-pressure steam being ejected by the jets 28. The axles 45 may
have a sprocket adjacent an end thereof and driven by a drive chain
which is secured to an electric motor whereby to drive these
propelling wheels in a clockwise direction. Accordingly, snow from
the auger is fed inwardly into the first propelling wheel 32' and
it ejects snow upwardly in the direction of arrows 50 for contact
with the hot steam. Any snow that has not melted is then deposited
onto the following snow propelling wheel 32 and so on until there
is no snow, or very little snow, within the enclosed snow melting
chamber. Any snow falling on the bottom wall 25 will melt quickly
due to the heat generated by hot water collected within the chamber
16 and the jets. Alternatively, the bottom wall 25 can be heated by
running the conduits (not shown) from the steam generators 14 in
contact under the wall 25.
[0033] It is also pointed out that the snow melting jets 28 may be
connected in two or more groups along the snow melting chamber 16.
Each group of snow melting jets may be secured to one or more steam
generators 14. Each steam generator of each of the groups of jets
is controlled through the control panel 32 in the cabin 31. This is
accomplished, as shown in FIG. 7, by controlling valves 51
associated with each steam generator 14. As shown in FIG. 4, the
drum 45' of the propelling wheels 32 may also be equipped with jets
28''.
[0034] Referring now to FIGS. 5A to 6B, there will be described the
construction of two types of the snow melting jets 28. As shown in
FIGS. 5A to 5C, a first type of the snow melting jets is identified
by reference numeral 60 and it has an outer conical shape 61
whereby to form a pressure build-up formation 62 on its inner
conical passage 61'. As shown in FIGS. 5B and 5C, flanges 63 having
an arcuate shape project inside the conical passage 61' and these
are of reduced size and create resistance to the high pressure
steam line connected to the connector end 64 of the jet 60. This
progressively diminishing passage extends to an open nozzle end 65
where the hot steam is ejected at an increased pressure of about
20,000 to 30,000 psi and in the form of a beam.
[0035] In the embodiment of FIGS. 6A and 6B, the high pressure
steam snow melting jet 70 is differently shaped and it has a
pressure build-up section 71 of reduced cross-section as
hereinshown whereby pressure from the conduit connected at its
connecting end 72 will build-up and be directed through a narrow
bottom opening 73 into a flared narrow passage created in the
flared section 74 providing a wide flat beam of high pressure steam
whereas in the embodiment of FIGS. 5A to 5C the hot steam is
ejected as a very narrow thin-shaped beam. These types of nozzles
are directionally mounted to permit the construction of a snow
melting chamber producing hot steam beams which are of a flared
profile and beam-shaped profile and oriented such as to prevent the
accumulation of snow within the snow melting chamber.
[0036] As shown in FIG. 7, the control panel also controls motors
52 coupled to the axles of each of the snow propelling wheels 32
and these can also be controlled independently, as will be
described later. As shown in FIG. 1, a control panel 52 may also be
mounted exteriorly of the vehicle body 13 to monitor part of the
system such as to provide a signal to the operator that the water
collecting reservoir 27 is empty as the operator is outside the
vehicle to evacuate collected water into the city sewer system. Of
course, this can also be sensed or made visible by a transparent
section of the conduit connected to the pipe 38 when water stops
flowing. A submersible pump, not shown, may also be mounted in the
water-collecting reservoir to evacuate water therefrom at high
speed whereby the vehicle does not remain idle for a long period of
time to discharge the water collected in the reservoir. A GPS
system may also be integrated with the control panel to indicate a
route for the operator of the vehicle and the status of the streets
on which snow has to be collected or has already been cleared.
[0037] FIGS. 1 and 2 show an articulated boom 75 formed of rigid
vacuum conduit sections 76 and a rectangular suction port 77 to
suck snow from side walls, roofs and other areas difficult to
access. The boom 77 connects to an impeller chamber 78 inside the
vehicle where a discharge wheel 79 releases the snow onto a
propelling wheel 32 through an opening 80. The impeller wheel 79 is
driven at high speed to create a suction air flow in the
articulated conduit 75 and direct snow thereon to be propelled
through the opening 80 at the end of the curved side wall section
81.
[0038] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, it can be seen that the snow
removal vehicle 10 of the present invention is further provided
with a metal detector assembly 85 which is comprised of a boom 86
having a metal detector sensor 87 secured to a free forward end
thereto. The support frame 86 projects forwardly of the vehicle to
detect metal objects in the snow in the path of the vehicle. This
metal detector 87 provides signals to the control panel 32 in the
operator station 31 whereby to alarm the operator of a metal object
in its path to be removed.
[0039] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 8, also provided with the snow
removal vehicle of the present invention is an operator actuable
ice abrading and removal steel brush 90 which is secured rearwardly
of the auger wheel 12 to abrade and brake ice formed on the road
surface where snow is being removed. The brush is lowered and
retracted by a pair of cylinders 92 secured at opposed ends of the
brush axle 93. The abraded and broken ice is propelled by the high
speed rotating brush 19 into the snow propelling wheel 32 through a
trap door 91 which can also be operated from the cabin. The door 91
also forms a protective passage when open, not shown, to prevent
water from the melted snow in the snow melting housing from leaking
out therethrough. The brush 90 is a steel brush having stiff
bristles capable of abrading and cutting ice.
[0040] With reference to FIGS. 1 and 9, it is pointed out that
there are three sets of traction wheels, namely traction wheels 17,
17' and 17''. The front and rear sets 17 and 17'' are driven in
tandem whereas the intermediate set is independently driven. The
intermediate set of wheels 17' is also supported elevated from the
front and rear sets 17 and 17'' by cylinders 95 and is provided
with a disconnectable drive coupling, of a type well known in the
art. The intermediate set 17' has a displaceable axle 94 to which
the cylinders 95 are secured whereby this set can be lowered to
engage the ground surface and be connected to a drive shaft by its
drive coupling to permit independent operation of the wheels of the
intermediate set whereby to cause the vehicle to maneuver around
abrupt street intersections by the use of the intermediate set of
wheels.
[0041] Referring now to FIG. 10, there is shown a fragmented front
view of the vehicle and to which is removably secured a hopper
shute 80 whereby snow can be dumped in the hopper by a front end
loader vehicle having an articulated bucket 81 whereby snow can be
processed by the vehicle and melted with the water collected while
the vehicle is stationary. Such is desirable when it is necessary
to evacuate mounds of snow from large parking spaces, for example
in shopping plazas, thereby liberating the parking area.
Accordingly, a front end loader-type vehicle would gather the snow
and dump it in the hopper shute 80 while the snow removal vehicle
10 is stationary close to the snow pile. In order to minimize fuel,
the snow removal vehicle 10 can be relocated to different locations
where, for example, snow has been piled so that the front end
loader vehicles do not have to travel long distances to dump snow.
It can be appreciated that with the snow removal vehicle 10 having
this retrofit hopper shute that it is no longer required to
accumulate large mounds of snow in large parking areas or any other
areas. Also, this use of the snow removal vehicle 10 obviates the
need of having to transport accumulated snow by the use of dumper
trucks which often have to travel very large distances to snow
dumps, again expending fuel and polluting the air and also forming
unsightly mountains of snow in city dump areas. This snow removal
system is also very expensive.
[0042] As shown in FIGS. 10 to 11C, the hopper shute 80 is provided
with a circumferential side wall comprised of a front side wall 82,
a rear side wall 83 and parallel transverse upper side walls 84, as
better seen in FIGS. 11A and 11B, extending between the front side
wall 82 and rear side wall 83.
[0043] A slide wall 85 extends between and is secured to the
parallel transverse side walls 84 by means such as welding along
welds 86 and projecting downwards from a lower edge 84' of the side
walls 84.
[0044] As shown in FIG. 11C, the hopper shute 80 is secured to the
frontal entry opening 11 by attachment to the hinge plow side
panels 23, as previously described. A connector means in the form
of latch connectors 87 provides for detachable securement thereto
with the hinge plow side panels positioned substantially parallel
to one another on each side of the front entry opening 11. The
hinge plow side panels are positioned and retained in proper
alignment by the pistons 21, in a fashion as previously described.
Accordingly, snow dumped into the open top end 88 of the hopper
shute is guided directly into the hopper screw 12 which projects
the snow in an upward direction as shown by arrow 19 into the
forward end 20 of the snow melting chamber whereby to be propelled
rearwardly by the propelling wheel 32 as previously described. A
vibrator motor (not shown) could be incorporated to vibrate the
slide wall 85. Once the reservoir of the vehicle is full, the water
is dumped in the closest city sewer, thus economizing on fuel and
time.
[0045] As shown in FIGS. 11A to 11C, the slide wall 85 slopes
rearwardly from a top edge 82' of the front wall 82 and inwardly to
terminate at a lower end 82'' a predetermined distance form the
auger screw 12.
[0046] It is within the ambit of the present invention to cover any
other obvious modifications of the preferred embodiment described
herein provided such modifications fall within the scope of the
appended claims. For example, it is contemplated to construct small
versions of the vehicle to remove snow from driveways of
residential housings and parking lots of shopping centers to
prevent the accumulation of snow on valuable space or on city
streets or residential land where homeowners would be required to
hand shovel. Snow shoveling has been found to be hazardous to the
health of certain individuals having weak heart or spinal chord
problems. The smaller vehicle would also be equipped with a hose to
evacuate water from the reservoir into the city sewer system. It
would also be equipped with a small steam boiler and a vacuum
boom.
[0047] Further, the smaller snow removal vehicle may have the back
wheels articulatable as are the front wheels whereby the vehicle
can maneuver around sharp corners. The snow removal vehicle 10, as
hereinshown, is also particularly, although not exclusively,
adapted to clear snow from main arteries where the roads are wide,
long and straight. Also, a scraper means, in the form of a
mechanical scraper or water jets, may be mounted adjacent the
bottom wall 26 of the reservoir 27 to remove any accumulated sand
or debris collected with the snow and transferred therein, and
evacuated through a trap door provided in the bottom wall 26.
Although not shown, water from the collecting reservoir can be
recirculated into the steam generator to maintain the generators in
operation.
[0048] Although the hopper shute as shown in the drawings is shown
secured to the hinge plow side panels 23, it is also intended that
if such side panels are not provided on the snow removal vehicle,
the hopper shute can be secured otherwise to the front end of the
snow removal vehicle, as is obvious to a person skilled in the art
and again by a removable connection. Still further, the hopper
shute can be secured to a pair of lift arms, one secured on each
side of the hopper shute and of the vehicle, and which may be
piston operated by the operator of the vehicle whereby the hopper
shute can be displaced to a storage position over the front end of
the vehicle, such as on top of the cab of the vehicle, and be
brought down in front of the vehicle when necessary to utilize the
snow removal vehicle with the hopper shute. This provides for a
vehicle which can be quickly and easily converted for its use as a
plow or as a stationary snow melting vehicle.
* * * * *