System for removing snow and ice from a surface

• US 7,231,140 B2
• Filed: 07/07/2005
• Issued: 06/12/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Edward Gerard Iii Dolton
• Original Assignee: Edward Gerard Iii Dolton
• Inventors: Dolton, Edward Gerard III
• Primary Examiner(s): Campbell; Thor S.
• Application Number:
  US11/176,541
• Publication Number:
  US 20060083493A1
• Time in Patent Office: 705 Days
• Field of Search: 392379-385, 392/360, 392363-369, 219/213, 372/27, 372/30, 371/97, 454/233, 454/228, 165/108
• US Class Current: 392/379
• 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 first 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, 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 said housing, and wherein said heat reclamation means 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 said housing; and

a power source means for powering said first and second 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 &

surface.

6. 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 at least one heating element.

7. The system according to claim 6, wherein the hole disposed within the top section of said housing is located between said fan 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 and at least one heating element.

9. The System according to claim 6, 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.