Snow melting device

Abstract

To provide a snow melting device that can promote snow melting, prevent overflow damage, and smoothly drain melted snow water even when a large amount of snow is thrown in, and can be used more economically by reducing maintenance costs of a facility without using a heater, a hot water supplying device or the like to heat the stored water.SOLUTION: A snow melting device 1 includes: a snow melting ditch 2 that is laid on a snow removing targeted site 100, has a bottom wall 20 and surrounding side walls 21 (210) and a snow throwing port 22 at its upper end; a water supply section 3 that supplies heat source water 8 to the snow melting ditch 2; and a drainage pipe 4 that connects the snow melting ditch 2 to a drainage ditch 200 that is close to the snow removing targeted site 100 with an elevation difference to be downstream of the snow melting ditch 2. The drainage pipe 4 has: a rainwater inlet 40 that opens near the bottom wall 20 of the snow melting ditch 2; a drain plug 41 that closes the rainwater inlet 40 in an openable and closable manner; a melted snow water inlet 42 that is located between the bottom wall 20 of the snow melting ditch 2 and the snow throwing port 22 and opens upward; and an outlet 43 that opens into the drainage ditch 200.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a snow melting technology that melts snow by putting accumulated snow into water, and particularly relates to a snow melting device that puts the snow removed from the snow into temporarily stored water and drains the melted water into a drainage ditch, a snow flow ditch, etc. using the thermal energy of the water.

Background Art

[0002] It is said that a snow flow ditch as a conventional snow removal facility requires a flow rate of at least 100 L / s to flush out the input snow. If only a small water flow rate can be ensured, or if an excessive amount of snow is input beyond the limit without waiting for melting, there is a risk of overflowing to the surrounding area and causing flooding damage. As a solution to overcome the drawbacks of such a snow flow ditch, a melting snow ditch has been developed that puts snow into the stored water and efficiently utilizes the slight thermal energy of the water to melt the snow over time.

[0003] For example, Patent Document 1 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-26614) shows a water stop plate and a snow melting ditch device for a snow melting ditch in which rubber or soft resin packings are attached to the upper and lower ends and the entire width of the lower end of the plate, a water reducing plug is provided near the lower end of the center, and a floating prevention tool is attached to one or both sides of the upper part of the plate so that it can be stored in a storage jig installed on the side surface of the water channel. Patent Document 2 (Utility Model Registration No. 3142301) shows a snow melting water heating circulation type snow melting tank in which a snow melting tank is buried underground, the snow melting water is circulated by a submersible pump while being heated by a submerged heater and a water heater, a pressure pipe is installed in the tank, and pressure water is jetted and scattered using an L-shaped angle material to promote snow melting.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] The snow melting groove device having a water stop plate for a snow melting groove in Patent Document 1 dams the water flow with water stop plates provided at regular intervals in the snow melting groove, and melts the snow blocks thrown in by utilizing the thermal energy of the water. By opening the water reduction plug, the water pressure difference between the upstream side and the downstream side is equalized, and it becomes easy to remove the water stop plate. However, if the amount of snow thrown in is too large, there is a risk that the snow blocks will block the upper part of the water stop plate and cause water to overflow around it.

[0006] The snow melting water heating and circulating type snow melting tank in Patent Document 2 is a snow melting tank that heats and circulates snow melting water without using tap water, and is suitable for areas without snow melting grooves. However, it requires a water heater, a water supply heater, a submersible pump, etc., and the maintenance cost of the equipment is high.

[0007] In view of such circumstances, the present invention promotes snow melting even when a large amount of snow is thrown in, prevents water overflow damage, and can smoothly drain the snow melting water. It is intended to provide a snow melting device that can be used more economically by suppressing the maintenance cost of equipment without using a heater, a water supply heater, etc. for heating the stored water.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0008] The present invention is laid on a snow target site, has a bottom wall and surrounding side walls, a snow melting tank having a snow throwing port at the upper end, a water supply section for supplying heat source water to the snow melting tank, and a drain pipe connecting the snow melting tank and a drain ditch having a height difference closer to the snow removal target site and downstream of the snow melting tank. The drain pipe has a rainwater inlet opening near the bottom wall of the snow melting tank, a drain plug for opening and closing the rainwater inlet freely, a snow melting water inlet opening between the bottom wall and the snow throwing port of the snow melting tank, and an outlet opening in the drain ditch.

[0009] According to the above configuration, the following operations can be obtained. The snow melting device of the present invention opens the drain plug of the rainwater inlet from spring to autumn. Rainwater and the like flowing into the snow melting tank are drained into the drainage ditch from the rainwater inlet of the drain pipe through the outlet. In winter, the rainwater inlet is closed with a drain plug. The water supply section continuously supplies heat source water to the snow melting tank. When snow accumulation within the snow removal target site is removed and introduced into the heat source water in the snow melting tank from the snow throwing port, it melts by receiving the thermal energy of the heat source water. The melt water is drained into the drainage ditch from the outlet through the melt water inlet.

[0010] A grating, a lid made of metal or concrete, etc. can be installed at the snow throwing port of the snow melting tank. The grating or lid can be detachably fitted to the snow throwing port, or can be installed so as to be openable and closable with an opening and closing hinge. The drain plug can be constituted by a detachable lid, plug, cap, etc. at the rainwater inlet. Also, it can be replaced with an opening and closing valve that can be opened and closed without detachment. Since the melt water inlet opens upward, it prevents being blocked by snow lumps that float and press against the heat source water. Since it has the drain pipe, a trap for blocking snow lumps at the drainage location to the drainage ditch becomes unnecessary. In particular, the inner diameter of the drain pipe can be 10 mm or more and 150 mm or less, and a filter or a trap structure can be provided in the flow path of the drain pipe.

[0011] The melt water inlet opens between the bottom wall of the snow melting tank and the snow throwing port, preferably near the snow throwing port. Such a melt water inlet may open upward, horizontally, or downward. Also, if its diameter is made sufficiently small compared to the inner width and depth of the snow melting tank and the drainage ditch, clogging and closure by snow lumps can be more reliably prevented. For example, when the width of the snow melting tank is 150 to 600 mm, more specifically 400 mm, the diameter (nominal diameter) of the melt water inlet can be 13 to 150 mm, more specifically 40 mm.

[0012] In the flow path of the drain pipe, such as the snowmelt water inlet, it can be provided with a dust-proof net, a dust-proof filter, a strainer, etc. that can prevent blockage due to foreign matter inflow in a detachable manner. At the snowmelt water inlet, a chrysanthemum split lid, a wire dust bin, a bowl-shaped trap, etc. that can prevent the intrusion of dust and snow can be installed. Near the snowmelt water inlet and the rainwater inlet in the snowmelt tank, a snow-proof fence such as a wire partition wall or a lattice fence that can prevent the approach of snow blocks to the snowmelt water inlet and the rainwater inlet and allow water to pass through can be installed.

[0013] The diameter of the snowmelt water inlet can be set according to the amount of water per unit time and the heat content of the heat source water supplied by the water supply section 3. When the amount of water and the heat content are large, the diameter can be set large to melt and drain a larger amount of snow. When the amount of water and the heat content are small, the diameter can be set small to reduce the drainage volume per unit time and melt the snow slowly over time. The heat source water can be at least one of groundwater, domestic wastewater, rainwater or snowmelt water stored in a storage tank, tap water, etc.

[0014] The present invention relates to the snowmelt device in which the drain pipe includes a horizontal pipe portion connecting the rainwater inlet and the outlet, a middle portion of the horizontal pipe, and a vertical pipe portion connecting the snowmelt water inlet. According to the above configuration, the drain pipe has a simple shape consisting of a horizontal pipe portion and a vertical pipe portion connected to the middle portion thereof, and can be installed more economically and easily.

[0015] The present invention relates to the snowmelt device in which the snowmelt tank is internally provided with at least one water pipe having a plurality of water passing holes drilled in a scattered manner in the middle portion.

[0016] According to the above configuration, even when a large amount of snow blocks are put into the snow melting tank, the water pipe ensures the water passage for the heat source water and the snow melting water, promotes the heat exchange between the heat source water and the snow blocks, and can drain water from the snow melting water inlet more smoothly. The water pipe can be installed on the inner bottom wall or side wall of the snow melting tank. The water through holes can be drilled in the peripheral wall portions other than the installation (joint) portions of the water pipe on the bottom wall or side wall of the snow melting tank and the portions that may come into contact with the put-in snow blocks so as to allow smooth water passage. For example, when the water pipe is installed on the bottom wall of the snow melting tank, the water through holes can be opened in at least one of the upward, obliquely upward, or lateral directions. Also, when the water pipe is installed on the side wall of the snow melting tank, the water through holes can be opened in the downward, obliquely downward, or lateral directions other than upward which may be closed by contact with the put-in snow blocks.

[0017] The present invention relates to the snow melting device in which the snow melting tank is a snow melting groove formed by a U-shaped groove having water stop walls at both ends and an upper end opening as a snow throwing port, and a downstream end thereof is connected to the drainage groove, and the heat source water of the water supply section is groundwater. According to the above means, an existing U-shaped groove can be utilized to install the snow melting tank more efficiently. By using groundwater as the heat source water, a water heater, fuel, etc. are not required, and it can be used more economically.

[0018] The present invention relates to the snow melting device in which the downstream end of at least one rainwater drainage groove laid for rainwater drainage on the snow removal target site is connected to the upstream end of the snow melting tank. According to the above means, the drain plug of the rainwater inlet is opened from spring to autumn. Rainwater and the like flowing in from the rainwater drainage groove can be drained through the snow melting tank. The snow melting tank can be installed more efficiently within the limited snow removal target site. In winter, the drain plug of the rainwater inlet is closed. In addition to rainwater and snowmelt water flowing directly from the ground surface of the snow removal target site into the snow throwing port, rainwater and snowmelt water flowing in from the rainwater drainage groove can be stored in the snow melting tank as the heat source water.

Effect of the Invention

[0019] According to the snow melting device of the present invention, even when a large amount of snow is input, it is possible to prevent water from overflowing to the surroundings, smoothly drain the melted snow water, suppress the maintenance cost of the equipment, and provide a snow melting device that can be used more economically, achieving an excellent effect.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0020]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0021] Hereinafter, with reference to the drawings, the snow melting device according to the present embodiment will be specifically described. In particular, in this embodiment, a snow melting groove 2 as a snow melting tank with both ends of a U-shaped groove closed by a water stop wall 210 is installed between the downstream end of a rainwater drainage ditch 9 laid in a snow removal target site 100 and a snow flow ditch 200 as a drainage ditch adjacent to the snow removal target site 100.

[0022] The snow melting device 1 is laid on the snow removal target site 100, has a bottom wall 20 and surrounding side walls 21(210), and has a snow melting groove 2 with a snow throwing port 22 at the upper end, a water supply part 3 for supplying heat source water 8 to the snow melting groove 2, the snow melting groove 2, and a drain pipe 4 connecting the snow melting groove 2 and a drain groove 200 having a height difference downstream of the snow melting groove 2 and close to the snow removal target site 100. The drain pipe 4 has a rainwater inlet 40 opening near the bottom wall 20 of the snow melting groove 2, a drain plug 41 for opening and closing the rainwater inlet 40 freely, a snow melting water inlet 42 opening upward between the bottom wall 20 and the snow throwing port 22 of the snow melting groove 2, and an outlet 43 opening into the drain groove 200.

[0023] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a snow flow groove 200 as the drain groove is installed along one side of the boundary of the snow removal target site 100. The snow melting device 1 is installed along the other side adjacent to the one side within the boundary of the snow removal target site 100 such that the downstream end of the snow melting groove 2 joins the middle part of the drain groove 200. The bottom wall 20 of the snow melting groove 2 is installed higher than the bottom wall of the snow flow groove 200 and has a downward gradient toward the snow flow groove 200. The snow melting groove 2 is buried such that its upper edge (snow throwing port 22) is flush with the ground surface (pavement surface, etc.) of the snow removal target site 100, and snow masses 201 pushed and moved on the ground by a snowplow or the like can be smoothly input.

[0024] At a position close to the snow melting groove 2 of the snow removal target site 100, there is a water supply part 3 for pumping up groundwater 8 as the heat source water. The water supply part 3 has a pump 30 for pumping up groundwater 8 and a drive source such as its motor, and a water supply pipe 32 for supplying the groundwater 8 pumped up by the pump 30 to the snow melting groove 2 is connected.

[0025] As shown in Fig. 1(A), the drain pipe 4 has a horizontal pipe portion 5 connecting the rainwater inlet 40 and the outlet 43, a middle portion of the horizontal pipe 5, and a vertical pipe portion 50 connecting the middle portion of the horizontal pipe 5 and the snowmelt water inlet 42. A detachable drain plug 41 is attached to the rainwater inlet 40. The horizontal pipe portion 5 and the vertical pipe portion 50 can be formed, for example, by connecting two or three straight pipes to a T-shaped (90-degree Y) pipe joint made of vinyl chloride or metal to form an upside-down T-shape.

[0026] The middle portion of the horizontal pipe portion 5 penetrates horizontally through the water stop wall 210 that separates the snowmelt groove 2 and the snow flow groove 200, or with a slight downward gradient such that the outlet 43 side is lower. The vertical pipe portion 50 erected in the middle portion of the horizontal pipe portion 5 within the snowmelt groove 2 has its snowmelt water inlet 42 at the upper end coinciding with a full water level 420 slightly lower than the snow throwing port 22 of the snowmelt groove 2 and is open with a horizontal end.

[0027] As shown in Fig. 1(B), the drain pipe 4 can be separated into upper and lower parts. It consists of an L-shaped upper pipe 6 formed by connecting two straight pipes to an elbow joint to connect the snowmelt water inlet 42 and the upper outlet 430, and a lower pipe 60 consisting of a single straight pipe connecting the rainwater inlet 40 and the lower outlet 431. The lower pipe 60 is arranged to contact the bottom wall 20 of the snowmelt groove 2, penetrates the water stop wall 210, and has a drain plug 41 detachably attached to the rainwater inlet 40. The upper pipe 6 is arranged above the lower pipe 60 and penetrates the water stop wall 210. The upper pipe 6 is responsible for draining snowmelt water in winter, and the lower pipe 60 is responsible for draining rainwater from spring to autumn.

[0028] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, particularly FIGS. 2(B) and (C), at least one water pipe 7 with a plurality of water passing holes 70 drilled in a scattered manner in the middle part is installed inside the snow melting groove 2. The water pipe 7 is arranged along the upstream side to the downstream side of the snow melting groove 2 and is fixed to the bottom wall 20 or the side wall 21 of the snow melting groove 2 via a plurality of fixing bands (not shown). Among the water passing holes 70, those fixed to the bottom wall 20 can be opened horizontally or upward, for example, opened only in the left - right direction so as not to be blocked by the snow mass 201 thrown into the snow melting groove 2. Among the water passing holes 70, those fixed to the side wall 21 can be opened vertically or toward the center of the snow melting groove 2 (diagonally horizontal or horizontal), and opened downward or diagonally downward so as not to be blocked by the snow mass 201 thrown into the snow melting groove 2.

[0029] The water pipe 7 can have an outer diameter that does not prevent the snow 201 thrown into the snow melting groove 2 from being immersed in the heat source water 8 and enables the heat source water to circulate and drain more smoothly. For example, it can have an outer diameter less than 1 / 3 of at least one of the width or depth dimensions inside the snow melting groove 2. In other words, the caliber of the water pipe 7 can be the same as the caliber of the snow melting water inlet 42. When a plurality of water pipes 7 are installed, the caliber of the water pipe 7 can be made to match the value obtained by dividing the caliber of the snow melting water inlet 42 by the number of installed water pipes 7. The sum of the calibers of the plurality of water pipes 7 can be made to match the caliber of the snow melting water inlet 42.

[0030] As shown in FIG. 3, the snow melting device 1 can be installed within the snow removal target site 100. Within the snow removal target site 100, a building 110 such as a house or an office is arranged on the north side, and a parking lot 111 is provided on the south side. On the north - south sides of the building 110, there is a rainwater drainage pipeline 112 composed of a drainage pipe and a sump, and on the west side of the building 110, a north - south rainwater drainage ditch 9 is laid. The north - south rainwater drainage pipelines 112 connect their downstream ends to the rainwater drainage ditch 9. The upper - end opening of the rainwater drainage ditch 9 has a grating 90 or a concrete side - ditch cover. A rainwater sump 91 is provided on the downstream - end side, which is the south end of the rainwater drainage ditch 9.

[0031] Along the southern end of the parking lot 111, a snow - runoff groove 200 as the drainage groove is laid. At the western end of the parking lot 111, the snow - melting groove 2 of the snow - melting device 1 is laid. The upstream end, which is the northern end of the snow - melting groove 2, is connected to the rainwater cistern 91, and the downstream end, which is the southern end of the snow - melting groove 2, is connected to the middle part of the snow - runoff groove 200 respectively. Inside the parking lot 111 near the snow - melting groove 2, a pump 30 (driving source 31) of the water supply section 3 and a water supply pipe 32 are buried.

[0032] In the seasons with rainfall (spring to autumn), the snow - melting device 1 shown in FIGS. 1(A), 2 and 3 removes the drain plug 41 at the rainwater inlet 40 to open it. Rainwater from the building 110 flows into the rainwater drainage groove 9 through the rainwater drainage pipeline 112. In the rainwater drainage groove 9, rainwater on the ground surface within the snow - removal target site 100 also flows in through the grating 90. The rainwater flowing down the rainwater drainage groove 9 flows into the snow - melting groove 2. Rainwater from the parking lot 111 flows into the snow - melting groove 2 from the snow - throwing port 22. The rainwater flowing into the snow - melting groove 2 is drained from the rainwater inlet 40 of the drain pipe 4 through the outlet 43 into the snow - runoff groove (drainage groove) 200.

[0033] In the seasons with snowfall (winter), the snow - melting device 1 shown in FIGS. 1(A), 2 and 3 installs and closes the drain plug 41 at the rainwater inlet 40. The snow - melting water from the building 110 flows into the rainwater drainage groove 9 through the rainwater drainage pipeline 112. In the rainwater drainage groove 9, snow - melting water on the ground surface within the snow - removal target site 100 also flows in through the grating 90. The snow - melting water flowing down the rainwater drainage groove 9 flows into the snow - melting groove 2. Snow - melting water from the parking lot 111 flows into the snow - melting groove 2 from the snow - throwing port 22. The snow - melting water flowing into the snow - melting groove 2 is stored in the snow - melting groove 2. When the water level in the snow - melting groove 2 reaches the snow - melting water inlet 42 (full - water level 420) of the drain pipe 4, it is drained from the snow - melting water inlet 42 through the outlet 43 into the snow - runoff groove (drainage groove) 200. It should be noted that it is also possible to provide a stop valve instead of the drain plug 41, but in order to make the horizontal pipe part 5 closely adhere to the bottom wall 20 of the snow - melting groove 2, it is desirable to use the drain plug 41.

[0034] When starting the snow removal operation, start the pump 30 and supply the groundwater 8 as the heat source water from the water supply section 3 into the snow melting groove 2 at a flow rate that does not cause overflow. When snow removed from the building 110 into the snow removal target site 100 and from the parking lot 111, i.e., the snow 201, is put into the snow melting groove 2 through the snow input port 22, the put-in snow 201 receives the thermal energy of the groundwater 8 and melts. Even when the snow 201 fills up, the water pipe 7 ensures water flow to promote snow melting. When the put-in snow 201 has melted, repeat the operation of putting in newly removed snow 201, and the snow 201 on the building 110 and in the parking lot 111 within the snow removal target site 100 can be removed and melted. Since only the melted snow water is drained from the snow melting groove 2 of the snow melting device 1 into the snow flow groove 200, the flow rate of the snow flow groove 200 can be increased, the flow of the snow put into the snow flow groove 200 can be promoted, clogging of snow blocks can be prevented, and overflow damage to the upstream and downstream can be prevented.

[0035] The supply of the groundwater 8 can continuously supply a water volume that can be continuously drained (without causing overflow) from the snow melting water inlet 42. Also, the supply volume of the groundwater 8 is set at the full water level 420 of the snow melting groove 2 to stop the pump 30, and when the water level rising due to the increase in the melted water of the snow 201 put into the snow melting groove 2 exceeds the snow melting water inlet 42, it is drained through the outlet 43. When the water temperature in the snow melting groove 2 drops, the pump 30 can be started again to adjust to increase the thermal energy of the water stored in the snow melting groove 2.

[0036] The drain pipe 4 shown in Fig. 1(B) is opened by removing the drain plug 41 from the rainwater inlet 40 of the lower pipe 60 in the seasons with rainfall (spring to autumn) to smoothly drain rainwater. In the seasons with snowfall (winter), the drain plug 41 is attached to and closes the rainwater inlet 40 of the lower pipe 60, and it can be drained into the snow flow groove (drainage groove) 200 from the upper outlet 430 through the snow melting water inlet 42 of the upper pipe 6.

[0037] As shown in Fig. 2(B), a water pipe 7 is installed at a position half of the width dimension of the bottom wall 20 of the snow melting groove 2 and extends along the length direction of the snow melting groove 2 over substantially the entire length of the snow melting groove 2 excluding the installation range of the drain pipe 4. Since it has a plurality of water passing holes 70 spaced at regular intervals along its length direction, even if the snow mass 201 introduced into the snow melting groove 2 contacts the peripheral wall of the water pipe 7, water passing can be ensured, heat exchange can be promoted, and overflow of water outside the snow melting groove 2 can be prevented.

[0038] As shown in Fig. 2(C), the water pipes 7 arranged at intervals above and below the side wall 21 of the snow melting groove 2 and installed in the length direction of the snow melting groove 2 can ensure more water passing paths than in the case of a single pipe, promote snow melting more effectively, and prevent overflow of water to the periphery.

Industrial Applicability

[0039] The snow melting device of the present invention can be used for snow removal and snow melting on the ground site to be snow-removed, or on the roofs and rooftops of buildings to be snow-removed, etc.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0040] 1 Snow melting device 2 Snow melting groove (snow melting tank, U-shaped groove) 20 Same bottom wall 21 Same side wall 210 Same water stop wall 22 Same snow throwing port 3 Water supply part 30 Same pump 31 Same drive source 32 Same water supply pipe 4 Drain pipe 40 Same rainwater inlet 41 Same drain plug 42 Same snow melting water inlet 420 Same full water level 43 Same outlet 430 Same upper outlet 431 Same lower outlet 5 Horizontal pipe part 50 Same vertical pipe part 6 Upper pipe 60 with the lower pipe 7-way water pipe 70 with the water through-hole 8 Groundwater (heat source water) 9 Rainwater drainage ditch 90 with the grating 91 with the rainwater box 100 Snow-removal target site 110 with the building 111 with the parking lot 112 with the rainwater drainage pipeline 200 with the snow runoff ditch (drainage ditch) 201 with the snow

Claims

1. A snow melting tank laid on a site to be snow-removed, having a bottom wall and surrounding side walls, and having a snow-throwing port at the upper end; A water supply section for supplying heat source water to the snow melting tank; A drain pipe connecting the snow melting tank and a drain gutter that is close to the site to be snow-removed and has a height difference downstream from the snow melting tank; The drain pipe Has a rainwater inlet opening near the bottom wall of the snow melting tank; A drain plug for opening and closing the rainwater inlet freely; A snow melting water inlet opening between the bottom wall and the snow-throwing port of the snow melting tank; An outlet opening into the drain gutter And a snow melting device characterized by having the above.

2. The drain pipe Has a horizontal pipe section connecting the rainwater inlet and the outlet; A vertical pipe section connecting a middle part of the horizontal pipe and the snow melting water inlet And the snow melting device according to Claim 1.

3. The snow melting tank has at least one water pipe with a plurality of water passing holes drilled in a scattered manner in the middle part, and the snow melting device according to Claim 1.

4. The snow melting tank has water stop walls at both ends, is a U-shaped groove with an upper end opening as a snow-throwing port, and is a snow melting groove with a downstream end connected to the drain gutter; The heat source water of the water supply section is groundwater; The snow melting device according to Claim 1.

5. The snow melting device according to Claim 1, wherein the downstream end of at least one rainwater drain gutter laid for rainwater drainage on the site to be snow-removed is connected to the upstream end of the snow melting tank.

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