Method and apparatus for disposing of accumulations of snow
OwnerKevin Molyneauxinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for disposing of accumulations of snow. A first step involves providing a receptacle which is adapted to hold and retain liquids, has a loading mouth, heat pipes which melt accumulations of snow positioned within the receptacle and a drain. A second step involves connecting a liquid conduit from the drain of the receptacle to an access opening to a municipal sewer system. A third step involves dumping loads of snow into the receptacle with a front end loader. A fourth step involves melting the snow within the receptacle to convert the snow to water. A fifth step involves draining the water through the drain of the receptacle and the liquid conduit for disposal in the municipal sewer system.
Claims24
An apparatus for disposing of accumulations of snow, comprising:
- a receptacle which is adapted to hold and retain liquids;
- a loading mouth for the receptacle, the loading mouth being adapted to allow snow carried in a loading bucket of a front end loader to be dumped into the receptacle;
- means for melting accumulations of snow positioned within the receptacle, thereby converting the snow to water;
- and
- a drain for draining water from the receptacle.
The apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein the access doors are biased by biasing means into the closed position moving to the open position when the weight of a load of snow overcomes the biasing force of the biasing means.
An apparatus for disposing of accumulations of snow, comprising:
- a receptacle which is adapted to hold and retain liquids, the receptacle having a bottom and a peripheral sidewall;
- a loading mouth for the receptacle, the loading mouth being adapted to allow snow carried in a loading bucket of a front end loader to be dumped into the receptacle;
- a plurality of heating pipes adapted to receive a circulation of hot fluids positioned within the receptacle, thereby melting the snow and converting the snow to water;
- and
- a drain for draining water from the receptacle, the drain extending through the peripheral sidewall in spaced relation to the bottom of the receptacle, such that liquid rises in the receptacle until the drain is reached and liquid reaching the drain flows from the receptacle, thereby maintaining a minimum liquid level within the receptacle.
An apparatus for disposing of accumulations of snow, comprising:
- a receptacle which is adapted to hold and retain liquids, the receptacle having a bottom and a peripheral sidewall;
- a loading mouth for the receptacle, the loading mouth being adapted to allow snow carried in a loading bucket of a front end loader to be dumped into the receptacle;
- a plurality of heating pipes adapted to receive a circulation of hot fluids positioned within the receptacle, thereby melting the snow and converting the snow to water;
- a drain for draining water from the receptacle, the drain extending through the peripheral sidewall in spaced relation to the bottom of the receptacle, such that liquid rises in the receptacle until the drain is reached and liquid reaching the drain flows from the receptacle, thereby maintaining a minimum liquid level within the receptacle;
- and
- a circulating pump to agitate liquids within the receptacle.
A method for disposing of accumulations of snow, comprising the steps of:
- providing a receptacle which is adapted to hold and retain liquids, the receptacle having;
- a loading mouth;
- means for melting accumulations of snow positioned within the receptacle, thereby converting the snow to water;
- and
- a drain for draining water from the receptacle;
- connecting a liquid conduit from the drain of the receptacle to an access opening to a municipal sewer system;
- dumping loads of snow into the receptacle with a front end loader;
- melting the snow within the receptacle to convert the snow to water;
- and
- draining the water through the drain of the receptacle and the liquid conduit for disposal in the municipal sewer system.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.