Snow-disposal unit and method
OwnerPatrick H. Jacksoninventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A mobile snow-disposal unit having a vehicle including a sealable snow-collection receptacle having a water-holding internal compartment and an engine for propelling the vehicle utilizes a vacuum pump for lowering the internal pressure of the receptacle, when sealed, and a heat exchange system for routing waste heat from the engine to the internal compartment. By lowering the internal pressure of the receptacle so that the boiling temperature of water held by the internal compartment is about equal to the temperature of the waste heat entering the internal compartment, water held within the internal compartment is converted to steam for readily melting the collected snow.
Claims20
A method for melting snow for disposal comprising the steps of:
- providing a vehicle including a sealable snow-collection receptacle having a water-holding internal compartment and an engine for propelling the vehicle;
- collecting snow in said receptacle;
- sealing said receptacle;
- lowering the internal pressure of said receptacle to thereby lower the boiling point of the water held by said internal compartment;
- routing waste heat from the engine to said internal compartment for boiling the water held therein and thereby readily melting the collected snow.
A mobile snow-disposal unit comprising:
- a vehicle including a sealable snow-collection receptacle having an internal compartment for holding water;
- vacuum means including a vacuum pump associated with said receptacle for lowering the internal pressure of said receptacle, when sealed, to thereby lower the boiling temperature of water held by said internal compartment;
- engine means for propelling said vehicle;
- and
- means for routing waste heat from said engine means to said internal compartment so that when the boiling temperature of water held by said internal compartment is lowered by said vacuum pump to about the temperature of waste heat routed to said internal compartment, water held by said internal compartment is converted to steam for readily melting the collected snow.
A mobile snow-disposal unit comprising:
- a vehicle including a snow-collection receptacle having an opening through which snow is directed into said receptacle, a removable cover being securable over said receptacle opening to sealingly close said receptacle, and an internal compartment for holding water;
- vacuum means including a vacuum pump associated with said receptacle for lowering the internal pressure of said receptacle, when sealed, to thereby lower the boiling temperature of water held by said internal compartment;
- engine means associated with said vehicle and said vacuum pump for propelling said vehicle and powering said vacuum pump, said engine means including a water-cooled engine through which a coolant is circulated;
- and
- a heat exchange system including a heat exchanger mounted within said internal compartment and means for routing heat collected by the coolant from said engine to said heat exchanger for transfer to said internal compartment so that when the boiling temperature of snow collected within said receptacle is lowered by said vacuum pump to about the temperature of the coolant entering said heat exchanger, water held by said internal compartment is converted to steam for readily melting the collected snow.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.