Snow melting system, apparatus, and method

Abstract

A system, method, and apparatus for melting snow. The snow melting system may include a container having a cavity that is at least partially filled with a liquid. There should be a sufficient amount of liquid in the container to submerge a heating section of a heating assembly that is located within the cavity. The heating assembly is operably coupled to a source of steam, such as the steam generated from a boiler or steam generator in an existing building. The heating assembly may also include a condensate recovery section that is configured to flow condensate from the steam back into the liquid in the cavity of the container. The snow melting system also includes a spray assembly that pumps the heated liquid to a plurality of sprayers that then spray the heated liquid back down onto snow placed within the cavity of the container.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62 / 482,267, filed Apr. 6, 2017, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]Large snowfalls can be a nuisance to commuters and others desiring to travel from one place to another. For example, snow on the roadways makes it quite difficult for commuters to get to work safely and on time. Snow on sidewalks makes it difficult for people to get around, including for students at universities to make it to class, for city dwellers to go about their daily routines, and for general daily activities. Conventionally, large snowfalls are dealt with by driving trucks with snow plows coupled thereto along the roads to push the snow off of the roads. Similarly, snow blowers on sidewalks blow the snow from the sidewalks to another location. Individuals also use shovels to move the snow from their driveways and personal w...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention is a snow melting system that uses steam from a boiler or steam generator in an existing building to melt snow. The system includes a container with a cavity that is at least partially filled with liquid, a heating assembly positioned within the cavity, and a spray assembly. The heating assembly includes a heating section that is submerged in the liquid and a condensate recovery section that has an outlet providing a passageway into the cavity. The spray assembly includes a plurality of sprayers located above the liquid in the cavity and a pump for pumping the liquid from the cavity to the sprayers. The system can efficiently melt snow by spraying the heated liquid onto the snow within the cavity.

Problems solved by technology

Large snowfalls can be a nuisance to commuters and others desiring to travel from one place to another.

For example, snow on the roadways makes it quite difficult for commuters to get to work safely and on time.

Snow on sidewalks makes it difficult for people to get around, including for students at universities to make it to class, for city dwellers to go about their daily routines, and for general daily activities.

None of these snow removal techniques actually gets rid of the snow; they simply move the snow from its more burdensome location on the street or sidewalk to a potentially less burdensome location.

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