Method and apparatus for melting snow and ice

An apparatus for de-icing, melting and thawing surfaces, snow, ice, and frozen ground, comprising:

• a boiler filled with aqueous liquid adapted to be heated;
• an outlet hose adapted to move liquid from said boiler;
• an inlet hose adapted to return liquid to said boiler;
• a series of pipes and nozzles connected to said outlet hose;
• a circulating pump adapted to move said liquid from said boiler through said outlet hose, said pipes and nozzles, and thereafter, said inlet hose and said boiler;
• a plenum-type housing adapted to contain said pipes and nozzles;
• a blower adapted to introduce ambient air to said plenum-type housing;
• said air in operation being forced through heated liquid emitted as a spray in fine droplet form from said nozzles;
• an air outlet connected to said plenum-type housing and an air outlet duct;
• said duct being adapted to direct warm, moisture-laden air outwardly from said plenum to a delivery head structure;
• said delivery head structure bringing said warm moisture-laden air in contact with said surfaces, ice, snow and frozen ground, thus causing melting and thawing.

A method of de-icing, melting and thawing surfaces and frozen ground comprising:

• heating a liquid in a boiler until it becomes vaporized into steam;
• directing a first portion of said steam through a series of enclosed coils in a plenum-type housing;
• directing a second portion of said steam through a series of nozzles located in said plenum-type housing;
• introducing and blowing ambient air through said plenum, past said nozzles and said coils;
• and directing moisture-laden air out of said plenum-type housing to a duct and delivery head;
• thereby melting ice, snow or frozen ground.

An apparatus for melting snow, ice and frozen ground comprising:

• a boiler adapted to heat a liquid to a temperature below the boiling point;
• a first circulating pump;
• an outlet line;
• an inlet line;
• a series of enclosed coils adapted to carry said liquid through a plenum-type housing;
• a separate water supply and a second circulating pump adapted to carry water to nozzles and direct said water at said enclosed coils;
• a blower adapted to introduce ambient air past said nozzles and said enclosed coils to an outlet of said plenum and into a delivery duct and delivery head located proximate a surface to be melted;
• and also comprising a reservoir adapted to catch used water and direct it back to said second circulating pump.

An apparatus for melting snow, ice and frozen ground comprising:

• a boiler adapted to heat a liquid to a temperature below the boiling point;
• a first circulating pump;
• an outlet hose;
• an inlet hose;
• a series of enclosed coils located in a plenum-type housing and adapted to carry said liquid;
• a means to wet said coils with water;
• a blower adapted to move ambient air past said nozzles and said enclosed coils to an outlet of said plenum-type housing and through a delivery duct and delivery head located above a surface to be melted;
• and also comprising a reservoir adapted to catch used water and direct it back to said means to wet said coils.

An apparatus for melting snow, ice and frozen ground comprising:

• an elongated plenum-type housing;
• a blower attached to one end of said plenum-type housing;
• said blower, in operation, adapted to force ambient air into said housing;
• said apparatus further comprising:
• an open flame heat source located in said plenum-type housing proximate to said blower;
• a fine water spray applicator located in said plenum-type housing downstream from said open flame heat source;
• wherein, in operation, incoming ambient air is heated to a high temperature by said heat source and thereafter, cooled and moistened by said fine water spray applicator, thereby producing warm moisture-laden air at a temperature less than 200° F., which exits said plenum-type housing at an opposite end from said blower to a delivery head proximate the snow and ice to be melted.