System for removing snow and ice from a surface

• US 20060083493A1
• Filed: 07/07/2005
• Published: 04/20/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Edward Gerard Iii Dolton
• Original Assignee: Edward Gerard Iii Dolton
• Inventors: Dolton, Edward Gerard III
• Granted Patent: US 7,231,140 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 392/384
• CPC Class Codes: E01H 5/106 Clearing snow or ice exclusively by means of rays or streams of gas or steam, or by suction with or without melting E01H5/108 takes precedence; drying by means of gas streams, blowing- off dirt E01H1/0809; sucking-off dirt E01H1/0827

Abstract

A system for removing snow and ice from a surface that includes a fan and a heating element contained within a hollow cavity open at one end, and a hollow duct positioned above the hollow cavity. The hollow duct is open at both ends; one end is positioned directly above the open end of the hollow cavity, while the other end leads back into the hollow cavity through a hole on the other side of the heating element contained therein. The fan blows air past the heating element and out the open end of the hollow cavity. The heated air melts any snow or ice with which it comes into contact. At least some of the heated air that does not contact any snow or ice is drawn into and through the hollow duct, and back into the hollow cavity where it may be reused.

Claims

1. A system for melting snow and ice comprising:

a housing defined by a top section, a bottom section, a rear section, two side sections, and a substantially hollow cavity;

a fan means, rotatably mounted within the substantially hollow cavity of said housing, for blowing air toward an open front end of said housing;

a heating means, mounted within the substantially hollow cavity of said housing between said fan means and the open front end of said housing, for heating air blown by said fan means;

a heat reclamation means for recapturing at least some of the heated air blown out of said housing by said fan means and directing the recaptured air back into said housing; and

a power source means for powering said fan means and said heating means.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the rear section of said housing defines a plurality of vents disposed therein.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein said heating means comprises at least one electric heating element.

4. The system according to claim 3, further comprising at least one handle means, mounted to an outer surface of one of said housing and said heat reclamation means, for facilitating handling and maneuverability of said system.

5. The system according to claim 3, further comprising at least one wheel means, rotatably attached to an outer face of the bottom section of said housing, for facilitating movement of said system across a surface.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein said heat reclamation means comprises a substantially hollow duct, an open front end of which is positioned substantially above the open front end of said housing, and an open back end of which leads into a hole disposed within the top section of said housing.

7. The system according to claim 6, wherein the hole disposed within the top section of said housing is located between said fan means and the rear section of said housing.

8. The system according to claim 6, wherein the hole disposed within the top section of said housing is located between said fan means and said heating means.

9. The system according to claim 8, wherein said heat reclamation means further comprises a second fan means, rotatably mounted within the substantially hollow duct of said heat reclamation means, for blowing air toward the hole disposed within the top section of said housing.

10. A system for melting snow and ice comprising:

a housing defined by a top section, a bottom section, a rear section, two side sections, and a substantially hollow cavity, said rear section defining a plurality of vents disposed therein;

a fan rotatably mounted within the substantially hollow cavity of said housing;

at least one heating element mounted within the substantially hollow cavity of said housing between said fan and an open front end of said housing;

a substantially hollow duct, an open front end of which is positioned substantially above the open front end of said housing, and an open back end of which leads into a hole disposed within the top section of said housing;

at least one handle mounted to an outer surface of one of said housing and said duct; and

a power source means for powering said fan and said heating elements.

11. The system according to claim 10, wherein the hole disposed within the top section of said housing is located between said fan and the rear section of said housing.

12. The system according to claim 10, wherein the hole disposed within the top section of said housing is located between said fan and said heating elements.

13. The system according to claim 10, further comprising a second fan rotatably mounted within said hollow duct and positioned so as to blow air toward said hole disposed within the top section of said housing.

14. A method for melting snow and ice comprising:

blowing air past a means for heating said air, toward and through an open end of an otherwise enclosed and substantially hollow cavity, and onto said snow and ice;

recapturing at least some of some of said heated air, after it has been blown out of said hollow cavity, by drawing said heated air into a first open end of a means for recycling said heated air; and

returning said recycled heated air, through a second open end of said heated air recycling means, and through a hole disposed within said hollow cavity, to a position in said hollow cavity which is on a side of said heating means opposite a side facing the open end of said hollow cavity.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein said means for heating the air comprises at least one electric heating element mounted within said hollow cavity.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the air is blown past said electric heating element by a fan rotatably mounted within said hollow cavity.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein said means for recycling the heated air comprises a substantially hollow duct, the first open end of which is positioned substantially above the open end of said hollow cavity.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the recycled heated air is returned to said hollow cavity on a side of said fan opposite said electric heating element.

19. The method according to claim 17, wherein the recycled heated air is returned to said hollow cavity between said fan and said heating element.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein said hollow duct further comprises a second fan, rotatably mounted therein and positioned to assist in the recapture and return of recycled heated air.