Vehicular apparatus for removing de-icing liquid

• US 5,630,286 A
• Filed: 10/31/1994
• Issued: 05/20/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fluid Sciences L L C
• Original Assignee: Zenon Airport Environmental Incorporated
• Inventors: Vanderlinden, Glenn M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Johnson, Blair
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHOP, ANDREA MARIE
• Application Number:
  US08/331,923
• Time in Patent Office: 932 Days
• Field of Search: 37/197, 37/209, 37/210, 37/227, 37/228, 37/229, 37/232, 37/233, 37/234, 37/237, 37/238, 37/241, 37/244, 37/248, 15/320, 15/322, 15/340.3, 15/340.4
• US Class Current: 37/227
• CPC Class Codes: E01H 1/001 Treatment of dispersed oil or similar pollution on roads, for instance devices for applying treating agents hydraulic loosening or removal of liquids E01H1/10; from surface of open water E02B15/04
• CPC Class Codes: E01H 1/103 in which the soiled loosening or washing liquid is removed, e.g. by suction removing liquids in general E01H1/108
• CPC Class Codes: E01H 5/104 Removing devices for dislodging snow or ice; followed by melting the removed material removing by suction only and subsequent melting E01H5/106
• CPC Class Codes: E01H 5/108 Devices for melting snow or ice in situ and removing subsequently for the mud or melting water melting in situ E01H5/10; by means of hot gases or steam E01H5/106; removing water or mud E01H1/108

Abstract

A vehicular apparatus adapted for removing fluids including snow and/or ice and de-icing liquids from a surface as the apparatus traverses the surface. The apparatus comprises: a first container for receiving a first portion of the fluids removed from a zone of the surface; apparatus for collecting and transferring the first portion of the fluids from the zone to the first container; a second container for collecting residual fluids remaining on the zone of the surface after the first portion is removed; apparatus for impinging water at high pressure on the zone of the surface to loosen the residual fluids or make them airborne; and an air sweep connected in fluid communication with the second container for drawing or sweeping the loosened residual fluids and water into the second container concurrently with impinging high pressure water on the surface.

Claims

1. A vehicular apparatus adapted for removing fluids including snow and/or ice and de-icing or anti-icing liquids from a surface as said apparatus traverses said surface, the apparatus comprising:

(a) a first container for depositing a first portion of said fluids removed from a zone of said surface;

(b) means for collecting and means for transferring the first portion of said fluids from said zone to said first container;

(c) a second container capable of being maintained at less than atmospheric pressure for depositing residual fluids remaining on said zone of said surface after said first portion of fluids is removed;

(d) a head device connected by a conduit to said second container, the head device being open to said surface and having a forward wall located above said surface to permit entry of said residual fluids into said head device, the head device comprising;

(i) means for impinging water at a high pressure on said surface to loosen said residual fluids;

(ii) side walls connected to a rear wall having a concave curved shape, the side walls and rear wall connected forward of said concave curved shape, said rear wall provided with a wiper blade for contacting said surface for maintaining residual fluids and water in a region defined by said head device for removal to said second container;

(iii) a top wall connected to said side walls and said rear wall, the top wall having a concave-shaped opening therein adjacent said rear wall; and

(iv) said conduit having a lower portion connected to said concave-shaped opening, the lower portion of said conduit defined by a concave-shaped forward wall and a concave-shaped rear wall, said concave-shaped forward wall and said concave-shaped rear wall having edges connected to form said conduit, said concave-shaped rear wall and said concave-shaped forward wall tapered inwardly from said concave-shaped opening to form a conduit having a generally concave shape in cross section at said opening to a substantially circular cross section at an upper portion; and

(e) air sweep means in fluid communication with said second container for drawing said loosened residual fluids and water in said head device through said conduit into said second container.

2. The vehicular apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said conduit has a substantially uniform cross-sectional area from said concave-shaped opening to said substantially circular cross section.

3. The vehicular apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said first container has a heating means for melting snow or ice deposited therein.

4. The vehicular apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said first container contains filter means for filtering liquids in the first container.

5. The vehicular apparatus in accordance with claim 1 including means for transferring fluid in liquid form from said first container to said second container.

6. The vehicular apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said air sweep means is used for maintaining said second container at less than atmospheric pressure.

7. The vehicular apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said means for impinging water is capable of impinging water at a pressure in the range of 250 to 10,000 psi and said air sweep means is capable of flowing air into said second container at a rate of 8,000 to 20,000 CFM.

8. The vehicular apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said second container has a first end and a second end, the first end positioned substantially opposite said second end and at least one vacuum fan which is said air sweep means in communication with the first end of said second container, said vacuum fan operable to maintain said second container under said less than atmospheric conditions.

9. The vehicular apparatus in accordance with claim 8 wherein said second container has a baffle means substantially opposite an entrance of said conduit, said baffle means providing separation of fluids from air in said second container.

10. The apparatus in accordance with claim 8 wherein said vacuum fan comprises:

(a) a cylindrical housing having a first end in axial alignment with a circular opening in said first end of said second container, said cylindrical housing having a second end substantially opposite said first end of said housing; and

(b) an impeller comprised of a circular plate axially aligned in said cylindrical housing, said plate mounted to rotate in an axis of said housing, said plate having blades mounted perpendicular to said plate and extending generally radially from a center of said plate, said impeller designed to rotate and ingest air axially from the second container, then radially, and expel said air from said cylindrical housing.

11. The apparatus in accordance with claim 10 wherein said blades are curved backwardly from the direction of rotation.

12. A vehicular apparatus adapted for removing fluids including snow and/or ice and de-icing liquids from a surface as said apparatus traverses said surface, the apparatus comprising:

(a) a first container for depositing a first portion of said fluids removed from a zone of said surface;

(b) means for collecting and means for transferring the first portion of said fluids from said zone to said first container;

(c) a second container having a first end and a second end, the first end positioned substantially opposite said second end and at least one vacuum fan in communication with the first end of said second container, said vacuum fan operable to maintain said second container under less than atmospheric pressure;

(d) a head device connected by a conduit to said second container, the head device being open to said surface and having a forward wall located above said surface to permit entry of residual fluids into said head device, the head device comprising;

(i) means for impinging water at a high pressure on said surface to loosen residual fluids;

(ii) side walls connected to a rear wall having a concave curved shape, the side walls and rear wall connected forward of said concave curved shape, said rear wall provided with a wiper blade for contacting said surface for maintaining residual fluids and water in a region defined by said head device for removal to said second container;

(iii) a top wall connected to said side walls and said rear wall, the top wall having a concave-shaped opening therein generally parallel to said rear wall; and

(iv) said conduit having a lower portion connected to said concave-shaped opening, the lower portion of said conduit defined by a concave-shaped forward wall and a concave-shaped rear wall, said forward wall and said rear wall of said conduit having edges connected to form said conduit, said rear wall and said forward wall of said conduit tapered inwardly from said concave-shaped opening to form a conduit having a generally concave shape in cross section at said opening to a substantially circular cross section at an upper portion; and

(e) an air sweep generated by said vacuum fan, said air sweep in fluid communication with said second container for drawing said loosened residual fluids and water in said head device through said conduit into said second container.

13. The apparatus in accordance with claim 12 wherein said vacuum fan is mounted on said first end of said second container.

14. The apparatus in accordance with claim 12 wherein said vacuum fan comprises:

(a) a cylindrical housing having a first end in axial alignment with a circular opening in said first end of said second container, said cylindrical housing having a second end substantially opposite said first end of said housing; and

(b) an impeller comprised of a circular plate axially aligned in said cylindrical housing, said plate mounted to rotate in an axis of said housing, said plate having blades mounted perpendicular to said plate and extending generally radially from a center of said plate, said impeller designed to rotate and ingest air axially from the second container, then radially, and expel said air from said cylindrical housing.

15. The apparatus in accordance with claim 12 wherein said blades are curved backwardly from the direction of rotation.