Snow protection and removal system

• US 5,550,349 A
• Filed: 06/08/1994
• Issued: 08/27/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fidelis Bomba
• Original Assignee: Fidelis Bomba
• Inventors: Bomba, Fidelis
• Primary Examiner(s): Walberg, Teresa J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): VALENCIA, RAPHA
• Application Number:
  US08/257,002
• Time in Patent Office: 811 Days
• Field of Search: 219/213, 219/522, 219/548, 219/200-201, 392/432, 392/435, 392/436, 392/437, 52/67, 52/69, 52/126.3, 52/126.6, 52/66, 52/74, 52/90.2, 37/196, 37/197, 37/226, 37/227, 126/271.1, 126/271.2 R, D25/34, 248/161, 248/188.5, 248/650
• US Class Current: 219/213
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 7/163 characterised by a pivoting movement of the movable roof parts E04B7/166 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E04D 13/103 De-icing devices or snow melters for drainage outlets E04D13/0409, for gutters E04D13/0762, for down pipes E04D13/08
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/286 the insulating material being an organic material, e.g. plastic

Abstract

An unmanned snow prevention and removal system is provided which prevents or eliminates the accummulation of falling snow in selected ingress and egress passageways on the ground, such as sidewalks and driveways. An array of disposed parallel linear cooperative panels is provided covering such passageways upon which the accumulated falling snow is caught, and is subsequently intermittently and automatically thrown off such panels on wither side of their respective lengths by their sweeping motion through an arc of a circle from an initial near horizontal intersecting position by an electrical motor drive. Removal of accumulated snow from the panel array during their sweeping-throw and return motion as a result of the snow sliding downward of the panels is assisted by the provision of electrical heater elements disposed along the full length thereof and contained within the body of each panel which enables the accumulated snow to slide off the panel more readily. Operation of the system may be controlled by electrical controls at the site of the panel array or by means of a remote electrical control device connected thereto by electrical wiring cables which provide the electrical signals needed to operate the system.

Claims

1. A passageway coverage assembly system for preventing and eliminating the accumulation of fallen snow on ingress and egress passageway at ground level to buildings so as to permit vehicle and pedestrian traffic therealong, said assembly comprising:

a. a plurality of paired array of panels of selected lengths and widths disposed in a cooperative spaced relationship to cover passageways for catching and accumulating fallen snow thereon and the periodic removal of accumulating fallen snow;

b. plurality of drive shaft support assemblies of selected lengths including a drive shaft having a first and second end, a shaft bearing member and a plurality of snap-in panel holders connected to said drive shafts at spaced apart distances along said support assembly adapted to receive and support said panels in substantially fixed spaced relationship along their respective lengths;

c. a plurality of weighted support members disposed at ground level below each of said panels and drive shaft support assemblies fixedly connected to a corresponding plurality of vertically extendable support legs of selected lengths fixedly connected to each of said drive shafts bearing support assemblies at spaced apart positions along the lengths thereof to support said panels and drive shaft support assemblies above and along ingress and egress passageways;

d. an electrical drive device connected to said first end of each of said drive shafts to provide rotational motion of said panels through an arc of a circle, where said drive shafts act as the axis of rotational motion for said panels to thereby effect the periodic removal of caught snow that accumulates on said panels along their respective widths and lengths;

e. an electrical circuit with power input which actuate and control rotational motion and operation of said electrical drive device, drive shaft and panels responsive to selected period signal inputs; and

f. a snow-drift shield having a length corresponding to a length of each drive shaft support assembly and a height corresponding to the extendable lengths of a plurality of vertically extendable support legs, said shield being adjustable to a height corresponding to selected lengths of said support legs, said shield being appropriately affixed to said drive shaft bearing support assembly and disposed vertically to prevent both falling snow and accumulated snow removed from said panels to drift onto covered passageways.

2. The passageway coverage assembly system of claim 1, which include an electrical heater element in each of said panels and said electrical circuit provides electrical signals to said drive devices, heater elements, extendable support leg assemblies and respond to electrical signals from a plurality of sensing devices include in said system.

3. The passageway coverage assembly system of claim 2, in which the height of said panels are manually or electrically actuated for height adjustment.

4. The passageway coverage assembly system of claim 3, in which said electrically actuated extendable legs are actuated by a hydraulic driven device.

5. The passageway coverage assembly system of claim 3, which includes a remote electrical control unit for operation of the system.

6. The passageway coverage assembly system of claim 5, which includes a plurality of sensor devices adapted to provide signals to actuate said devices and extendable leg assemblies.

7. The passageway coverage assembly system of claim 5, in which said passageways are driveways.

8. The passageway coverage assembly system of claim 7, which includes a switching device at the panel assembly site for manually interrupting or starting the operational cycle of said system.

9. The passageway assembly system of claim 8, in which said panels have a non-adherence plastic outer covering material.

17. The passageway coverage assembly system of claim 1, in which passageways are driveways.

10. A passageway coverage assembly system for preventing and eliminating the accumulation of falling snow on ingress and egress passageways at ground level to buildings so as to permit traffic flow therealong, said assembly comprising:

a. single row of one or more panels of selected length and width connected end to end and disposed to cover passageways for catching and accumulating falling snow thereon and for periodic removal of accumulating of fallen snow;

b. a single row of one or more drive shaft support assemblies of selected lengths, including a drive shaft having a first and second end, a shaft bearing member, and a plurality of snap-in panel holders connected to said drive shafts at spaced apart distances along said length of said support assemblies adapted to receive and support said panels in a single row along their respective lengths;

c. a first plurality of weighted support members disposed at ground level below said panels and drive shaft support assemblies fixedly connected to a corresponding plurality of vertically extendable support legs fixedly connected to a drive shaft bearing support assembly at spaced apart positions along the lengths thereof to support said panels and drive shaft bearing support assembly above and along ingress and egress passageways;

d. an electrical drive device connected to said first end of each of said drive shafts to provide rotational motion of said panels through an arc of a circle, where said drive shafts act as an axis of rotational motion for said panels to thereby effect the periodic removal of caught snow that accumulates on said panels along their respective widths and lengths;

e. an electrical circuit with power input which actuate and control the rotational motion and operation of said electrical drive, drive shaft and panels responsive to selected periodic signal inputs;

f. a snow-drift shield having a length corresponding to a length of each drive shaft support assembly and a height corresponding to the extendable lengths of said vertically extendable support legs, said shield being adjustable to a height corresponding to selected lengths of said support legs, said shield being appropriately affixed to said drive shaft bearing support assembly and disposed vertically to prevent both fallen snow and accumulated snow removed from panels to drift onto said covered passageways; and

g. a second plurality of weighted support members disposed at ground level opposite each of said first plurality of weighted support members and below a horizontally disposed stop-support member that is fixedly connected to a corresponding plurality of vertically extendable support legs fixedly connected to said stop-support member at spaced apart positions along a selected length thereof so as to provide a stop position for said panels during each sweep-throw rotation cycle of a panel assembly.

11. The passageway coverage assembly system of claim 10, in which the height of panels and stop-support members are manually actuated for height adjustments.

12. The passageway coverage assembly system of claim 11, in which said electrically extendable legs are adjusted by hydraulic driven devices.

13. The passageway coverage assembly system of claim 12, which includes a remote electrical control circuit unit for operation of the system.

14. The passageway coverage system of claim 13, which includes a plurality of sensor devices which provide signals to actuate said drive devices and extendable leg assemblies.

15. The passageway coverage assembly system of claim 14, which includes an electrical heater element in each panel and said electrical circuit provides electrical signals to said drive device, heater element and sensors.

18. The passageway coverage assembly system of claim 10, in which the height of panels and stop-support members are electrically actuated for height adjustments.

16. A method for preventing falling snow from accumulating on ingress and egress ground traffic passageways, the steps comprising:

a. covering a selected length of said ingress and egress ground traffic passageway surfaces with an array of panels disposed along and above said selected lengths thereof;

b. disposing and adapting panel array along said selected passageway surfaces so as to catch falling snow before it reaches covered passageway surface;

c. providing support means for holding and varying the height of said panels above said surfaces; and

d. providing electrical circuit means connected to a panel array for actuating said panel through an arc of a circle so as to periodically remove snow therefrom which may be caught and accumulated thereon.