Snow removal methods and snow removal systems

Abstract

This invention provides a snow removal method and system for removing snow from the median strip and near guardrails on the shoulder of the road. [Solution] The water truck 200 is equipped with a water tank 201 and a connecting means 203 for pushing the cart 100. The cart 100 is equipped with a water cannon for spraying high-pressure water, a fire pump for drawing water from the water tank 201 of the water truck 200 and supplying it to the water cannon, and a rotating part that can adjust the direction of the water cannon. Using this system configuration, snow removal is performed as follows: The water truck 200 and the cart 100 are connected by the connecting means 203, the water truck 200 pushes the cart 100, the fire pump is driven to draw water from the water tank 100 of the water truck 200, high-pressure water is sent to the water cannon, and high-pressure water is sprayed from the water cannon to blow away the snow. The direction of the water cannon's spray is adjusted as needed using the rotating part.

Description

Technical Field

[0005] , , ,

[0006]

[0001] The present invention relates to a snow removal method and a snow removal system, and more particularly to a snow removal method and a snow removal system using a water cannon.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 describes a snow melting device in which a water tank is provided in a vehicle equipped with an engine, and the water in the water tank is heated by a heat generator driven by the engine or any heat generated from the engine, and the obtained hot water is discharged from a discharge nozzle onto a roof or a road. As described in Patent Document 1, conventionally, it has been known to discharge hot water from a discharge nozzle to remove snow.

[0003] Patent Documents 2 and 3 describe a cart configured to be able to clean a circular water channel with a narrow inlet. In the systems of Patent Documents 2 and 3, a sprinkler truck moves while pushing the cart, supplies water from a water tank provided in the cart, and employs a configuration in which cleaning is performed using a water cannon.

[0004] Specifically, the sprinkler truck is equipped with a water tank and a pump, and these pumps are driven by a PTO (Power Take-Off) connected to the engine of the sprinkler truck. The water in the water tank is pressurized by PTO drive linked to the engine speed, sent to the water cannon of the cart via a hose, and high-pressure water is ejected from the cart to perform the cleaning operation.

[0005] Patent Documents 4 to 6 describe a system in which a water cannon is attached to a base provided on a vehicle body. Patent Document 4 describes using an external engine type or PTO type water pump. Patent Document 5 describes using an engine pump. Patent Document 6 describes using a turbine pump with an independent engine.

[0006] Patent Documents 2 to 6 are merely related to watering and do not describe snow removal. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0007] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 56-082026 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2021-25377 [Patent Document 3] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 10-168847 [Patent Document 4] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2023-119794 [Patent Document 5] Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 54-017216 [Patent Document 6] Japanese Public Gazette No. 53-032338 [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0008] Traditionally, snow removal on roads has been widely carried out using plow-type snowplows. These plow-type snowplows remove snow from roads by using a snowplow mounted at the front to shovel the accumulated snow. However, this method has the problem of being unable to remove snow accumulated in the median strip or near guardrails on the shoulder of the road.

[0009] A median strip is a structure installed in the middle of a road, and its narrow width often prevents snowplows from reaching it. As a result, snow pushed aside by snowplows accumulates in the median strip, and removing it has to be done manually or by small machines.

[0010] Similarly, near guardrails on the shoulder of the road, snow tends to accumulate in the gaps between the snowplow and the guardrail and in the surrounding area due to the structure of the snowplow. If left unattended, snow accumulated near guardrails can freeze and compact, becoming physically hard and difficult to remove. Furthermore, manual snow removal near guardrails poses safety risks to workers and significantly reduces work efficiency.

[0011] Thus, snow removal in median strips and near guardrails on the shoulders of roads is structurally and physically difficult with plow-type snowplows, and new technologies are needed to remove snow efficiently and effectively.

[0012] In the case of the carts described in Patent Documents 2 and 3, water was supplied from the water tank of the water truck to the water cannon of the cart by a PTO (Power Take-Off). Therefore, when using these carts for cleaning, it is necessary to drive the PTO while driving, so the engine output is distributed to both the driving of the water truck and the pump. This results in a decrease in the power supplied to the PTO, which weakens the water pressure from the pump. For this reason, the carts described in Patent Documents 2 and 3 are insufficient in situations where high-pressure water is required, such as snow removal.

[0013] Furthermore, the devices described in Patent Documents 4 to 6 are equipped with an external engine-driven pump other than a PTO. However, most water sprinklers currently in practical use have pumps driven by a PTO. Therefore, even if a water cannon is attached to the base of the water sprinkler, as long as it is PTO-driven, it will only be able to discharge water at a pressure insufficient for snow removal, similar to the carts in Patent Documents 2 and 3.

[0014] Therefore, the present invention aims to provide a snow removal method and snow removal system for achieving snow removal near median strips and guardrails on the shoulders of roads. [Means for solving the problem]

[0015] To solve the above problems, the present invention has the following features. The present invention relates to a method of snow removal using a water truck and a cart, The water sprinkler truck is equipped with a water tank and connecting means for pushing the cart. The cart is equipped with a water gun for jetting high-pressure water, a high-pressure water supply means for sucking up water from the water tank of the water sprinkler truck and supplying it to the water gun, and a rotating part capable of adjusting the direction of the water gun. A snow removal method including the following steps: Connecting the water sprinkler truck and the cart by the connecting means and pushing the cart with the water sprinkler truck. Driving the high-pressure water supply means to suck up water from the water tank of the water sprinkler truck and send the high-pressure water into the water gun. Jetting high-pressure water from the water gun to blow away the snow. Adjusting the jetting direction of the water gun using the rotating part. That's it.

[0016] Further, the present invention is a snow removal system combining a water sprinkler truck and a cart, The water sprinkler truck is equipped with a water tank for storing water and connecting means for pushing the cart. The cart A water gun for jetting high-pressure water, A high-pressure water supply means for sucking up water from the water tank of the water sprinkler truck and supplying it to the water gun, A rotating part capable of adjusting the direction of the water gun, A carriage pushed by the water sprinkler truck, And a driver's seat for an operator to board.

[0017] Preferably, the snow removal operation may be performed while the water sprinkler truck pushes the cart via the connecting means.

[0018] Preferably, the water gun is provided on the right side or the left side of the cart, and the rotating part can adjust the water gun in the vertical and horizontal directions.

[0019] Preferably, the high-pressure water supply means operates without using the PTO of the water sprinkler truck and can independently generate high-pressure water.

[0020] Preferably, the cart is equipped with a stand for mounting a water cannon, The base allows the water cannon to be positioned at a high location. Therefore, snow removal can be performed by spraying high-pressure water onto the road surface from an upward angle using a water cannon.

[0021] Furthermore, the present invention relates to a cart for snow removal by spraying high-pressure water, A water cannon capable of spraying high-pressure water forward, A high-pressure water supply means for driving a water cannon, A hose connection for supplying water to a high-pressure water supply means, The water cannon has an adjustable vertical rotation section and a horizontal rotation section, A driver's seat for the worker to board, A base for positioning the water cannon at a high position, Right mounting part and left mounting part attached to the base, It is equipped with a trolley with wheels that allows for movement.

[0022] Preferably, the water cannon can be positioned to spray high-pressure water onto the road surface from an oblique upward angle.

[0023] Preferably, the system further includes operating means for adjusting the amount of water supplied from the high-pressure water supply means. [Effects of the Invention]

[0024] The present invention provides a snow removal method and snow removal system that combines a water truck and a cart, which removes snow by blowing away snow accumulated in median strips and near guardrails on the shoulders of roads with high-pressure water sprayed from a water cannon.

[0025] A high-pressure water supply system mounted on the cart draws water from the water tank of a watering truck, and the high-pressure water is sprayed from the water cannon, enabling efficient snow removal in areas that are difficult to reach with plow-type snowplows, such as median strips and near guardrails. In addition, the spray direction can be adjusted by the rotating part of the water cannon, allowing for flexible snow removal work tailored to the target area.

[0026] Furthermore, by using a high-pressure water supply system mounted on the cart, stable water pressure can be maintained even when the watering vehicle is traveling at low speeds, enabling efficient snow removal and solving the problems associated with PTO drive.

[0027] The water cannon is mounted on either the right or left side of the cart and can be adjusted vertically and horizontally via a rotating mechanism, allowing high-pressure water to be sprayed at the appropriate angle. This enables flexible snow removal to areas that could not be reached with fixed water cannons.

[0028] Because the high-pressure water supply system operates independently without using the water truck's PTO, the engine load is reduced even when the water truck is traveling at low speeds, ensuring stable water pressure. This makes it possible to perform snow removal work in median strips and near guardrails stably for extended periods.

[0029] The cart is equipped with a stand that allows the water cannon to be positioned at a high location, enabling high-pressure water to be sprayed from the cannon towards the road surface from an upward angle. This configuration efficiently removes snow accumulated in median strips and near guardrails, significantly reducing the burden of manual work.

[0030] By incorporating a control mechanism for adjusting the water volume, snow removal becomes possible while adjusting the water volume according to the snow conditions.

[0031] As described above, the present invention, by combining a watering vehicle and a cart and using a high-pressure water supply means mounted on the cart, can efficiently and reliably remove snow accumulated in median strips and near guardrails on the road shoulders, which was difficult to handle with conventional plow-type snowplows.

[0032] The purpose, features, structure, operation, and effects of the present invention and its embodiments will become even clearer from the following detailed description in reference to the accompanying drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0033] [Figure 1] Figure 1(a) is a front view of cart 100, Figure 1(b) is a side view of cart 100, and Figure 1(c) is a top view of cart 100. [Figure 2] Figure 2(a) is a plan view showing the cart 100 and the water truck 200 connected by a connecting means 203, with the cart 100 being pushed by the water truck 200, and Figure 2(b) is a side view thereof. Figures 1 and 2 show the water cannon 101 attached to the right side in the direction of travel. [Figure 3] Figure 3(a) is a front view of cart 100, Figure 3(b) is a side view of cart 100, and Figure 3(c) is a top view of cart 100. [Figure 4] Figure 4(a) is a plan view showing the cart 100 and the water truck 200 connected by a connecting means 203, with the cart 100 being pushed by the water truck 200, and Figure 4(b) is a side view thereof. Figures 3 and 4 show the water cannon 101 attached to the left side in the direction of travel. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0034] As shown in Figures 1 and 3, the cart 100 is a mobile light vehicle that enables efficient high-pressure water spraying in snow removal work, and is equipped with a water cannon 101, an operating lever 102, an up-and-down rotating part 103, a left-and-right rotating part 104, a driver's seat 105, a trolley 106, wheels 107, rails 108, a support base 108a, a right mounting part 108b, a left mounting part 108c, and a fire pump 109.

[0035] The water cannon 101 is equipped with a hose connection 101a for receiving water supplied from the fire pump 109. This hose connection 101a employs a structure that allows for easy attachment and detachment, improving work efficiency. The water cannon 101 serves to blow away snow by spraying high-pressure water. The operating lever 102 is used to control the operation of the water cannon 101. The water cannon 101 is equipped with an up-and-down rotating part 103 and a left-and-right rotating part 104, which allow the water cannon 101 to be adjusted in the vertical and left-and-right directions.

[0036] The driver's seat 105 is a seat for the operator to sit in and operate the cart, and it is designed to be adjustable. The ability to adjust the seat position and angle allows it to accommodate various work environments and the operator's physique, improving comfort and operability. Additionally, a canopy 105a is provided above the driver's seat 105.

[0037] The trolley 106 forms the base of the cart 100 and supports the other components. The trolley 106 is equipped with wheels 107, which allows the cart 100 to move.

[0038] Furthermore, a rail 108 is provided at the front of the bogie 106, and this rail 108 functions as a mechanism for adjusting the mounting position of the support base 108a left or right. A right mounting base 108b and a left mounting base 108c are provided on the upper part of the support base 108a. The right mounting base 108b and the left mounting base 108c are locations for attaching the water cannon 101, and their position can be changed to the left or right depending on the location of the work object.

[0039] The base of the water cannon 101 is bifurcated and connected to a hose connection part 101a and vertically rotating parts 103, 103 such as swivel joints. The vertically rotating parts 103 are mechanisms for smoothly rotating the water cannon 101 in the vertical direction, and allow for fine adjustment of the spray angle. This enables appropriate water discharge to snow removal targets with varying elevations.

[0040] The left and right rotating section 104 can be attached to the right mounting section 108b and the left mounting section 108c, and is a mechanism for rotating the water cannon 101 in the left and right directions, operating in conjunction with the operating lever 102. This allows the operator to efficiently clear snow over a wide area.

[0041] The fire pump 109 has an independent engine and draws water from the water tank 201 on the water truck, pressurizes it using an internal high-pressure generator, and then supplies it at high pressure to the water cannon 101. This high-pressure generator employs, for example, a piston-type pump to achieve efficient supply while maintaining a constant flow rate and pressure.

[0042] As shown in Figures 2 and 4, the watering vehicle 200 is a mobile water supply vehicle for supplying water to the cart, and is equipped with a water tank 201, a pump 202, and a connecting means 203.

[0043] Water tank 201 is a large-capacity water container that supplies water to the cart's fire pump 109. The interior of water tank 201 is constructed of corrosion-resistant material and is designed to prevent deterioration of water quality.

[0044] Pump 202 is the main drive unit for drawing water from the water tank 201 in the watering cart 200 and supplying it to the cart. It features efficient operation and high durability.

[0045] The connecting means 203 is a metallic structure designed to connect the water truck 200 and the cart, and is built to be strong. A hose is provided on the connecting means 203 to supply water from the water tank 201 to the fire pump 109.

[0046] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, if it is desired to blow away snow on the right side of the water truck 200, for example, the median strip, the water cannon 101 is attached to the right mounting section 108b. The right mounting section 108b extends out from the right side of the cart 100 when the support leg 108a moves to the right on the rail 108. As a result, the water cannon 101 extends out from the right side of the cart 100.

[0047] Similarly, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, if it is desired to blow away snow on the left side of the water truck 200, for example, on the shoulder of the road, the water cannon 101 is attached to the left mounting section 108c. The left mounting section 108c extends out from the left side of the cart 100 when the support leg 108a moves to the left on the rail 108. This causes the water cannon 101 to extend out from the left side of the cart 100.

[0048] Note that the structure that protrudes to the left and right is optional.

[0049] The snow removal method is carried out using the cart 100 and water truck 200 shown in Figures 1 to 4. In this method, water stored in the water tank 201 of the water truck 200 is used as a supply source to drive the fire pump 109 of the cart 100, and high-pressure water is sprayed from the water cannon 101 to blow away the snow.

[0050] To begin snow removal work, the cart 100 is connected to the water truck 200 using the connecting means 203. The worker gets into the driver's seat 105 and adjusts the direction of the water cannon 101 using the operating lever 102. Next, the fire pump 109 is activated to draw water supplied from the water tank 201 of the water truck 200 and send the pressurized water to the water cannon 101. The high-pressure water sprayed from the water cannon 101 makes it possible to efficiently remove snow and compacted snow.

[0051] When snow removal is to be carried out on the median strip, the water cannon 101 is attached to the right mounting section 108b, and the cart 100 is pushed by the water sprayer 200 while the work is carried out. By adjusting the spray direction using the vertical rotation section 103 and the left and right rotation section 104 of the water cannon 101, snow removal work can be carried out according to the thickness and extent of the snow accumulation. On the other hand, when snow removal is to be carried out on the shoulder of the road, the water cannon 101 is attached to the left mounting section 108c and the work is carried out in the same manner.

[0052] In this way, the snow removal system combining the cart 100 and the water sprinkler 200 enables highly efficient and flexible snow removal operations. This snow removal system has the effect of significantly reducing the workload in areas with heavy snow accumulation or in places where manual snow removal is difficult.

[0053] The cleaning carts described in Patent Documents 2 and 3, which are referenced as prior art, employ a system that uses a PTO (Power Take-Off) mounted on a water-spraying vehicle as the driving source to spray water from a water cannon. If snow removal is performed using this system, it is necessary to keep the PTO running. However, when the PTO is run while traveling at low speed, the power supplied to the PTO decreases due to the distribution of engine output, resulting in a problem where the water pressure weakens.

[0054] In particular, in areas with heavy snowfall or where high-pressure water is required, a decrease in water pressure can prevent sufficient snow removal. To solve this problem, a method of driving the PTO while adjusting the travel speed using partial clutch operation can be considered, but the water pressure is insufficient. Moreover, partial clutch operation is burdensome for the driver and places a long-term overload on the water truck's clutch and transmission, carrying the risk of reduced mechanical reliability.

[0055] In contrast, the snow removal system of the present invention solves these problems by mounting a fire pump 109 on the cart 100. By using the fire pump 109, it becomes possible to spray high-pressure water without using the PTO of the water sprinkler, which not only reduces the engine load of the water sprinkler but also ensures stable water pressure even when driving at low speeds.

[0056] The fire pump 109 draws water from the water tank 201 of the water truck 200 and supplies it at high pressure to the water cannon 101 of the cart 100. Therefore, snow removal can be efficiently carried out using a stable high-pressure water supply, regardless of the water truck's speed or engine output. In particular, the reliability of the entire system is improved because it does not overload the water truck even during long periods of continuous operation.

[0057] Thus, the present invention significantly improves snow removal performance and effectively solves the problems of the conventional technology by equipping the cleaning cart described in Patent Document 1 with a fire pump that can supply high-pressure water without using a PTO.

[0058] The high-pressure water supply means in this invention is not necessarily limited to a specific fire pump, but can take various forms. For example, various water pressure generating devices can be applied, such as piston pumps, rotary pumps, electric pumps, hydraulic pumps, and even devices that generate high-pressure water using compressed air. Furthermore, by mounting these high-pressure water supply means on the cart 100, the efficient snow removal work targeted by this invention can be achieved.

[0059] Specifically, if an electric pump is used, power can be supplied from the battery mounted on the cart 100, allowing for independent operation from the watering truck 200. Alternatively, a hydraulic pump can be used to efficiently pressurize water by utilizing the pressure of the hydraulic system. Furthermore, a system using compressed air can be made lightweight and highly portable by incorporating an air tank.

[0060] Thus, the specific configuration of the high-pressure water supply means can be selected to be optimal according to the usage environment and application, and the present invention is applicable to any of these configurations. In short, the technical feature of the present invention is that the high-pressure water supply means is mounted on the cart 100, thereby enabling the supply of high-pressure water without using a PTO-driven pump mounted on the watering vehicle 200, and achieving efficient snow removal work.

[0061] In this embodiment, it is preferable to make the amount of water output from a high-pressure water supply means such as a fire pump 109 adjustable by an operating device provided in the driver's seat of the cart 100. This operating device controls the output of the fire pump 109 from the driver's seat of the cart 100. In the case of the carts described in Patent Documents 2 and 3, it was not possible to adjust the amount of water while observing the situation from the driver's seat of the cart. However, in this embodiment, since the amount of water can be adjusted from the driver's seat of the cart, it is possible to spray an appropriate amount of water from the water cannon 101 according to the snow conditions.

[0062] The present invention provides a configuration that enhances the flexibility and efficiency of the entire system by mounting the high-pressure water supply means on the cart 100, thereby pressurizing water in close proximity to the snow removal target and spraying the high-pressure water.

[0063] Although the present invention has been described in detail above, the above description is merely illustrative in all respects and is not intended to limit its scope. Needless to say, various improvements and modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. Each constituent element of the invention disclosed herein shall stand as an independent and standalone invention. Inventions that combine each constituent element in any way shall also be included in the present invention. The specific expressions in this specification are merely illustrative, and the present invention shall also include conceptualizations of such illustrative expressions. [Industrial applicability]

[0064] The present invention relates to a snow removal method and a snow removal system, which are industrially applicable. [Explanation of symbols]

[0065] 100 items in the entire cart 101 Water cannon 101a Hose connection 102 Operating lever 103 Up and down rotating part 104 Left and right rotating part 105 Driver's seat 105a Canopy (above the driver's seat) 106 bogies 107 Wheels 108 rails 108a Standing leg 108b Right mounting section 108c Left mounting section 109 Fire pump 200 water trucks 201 Water Tank 202 Pump (for watering trucks) 203 Connection means (for connecting a watering truck and a cart)

Claims

1. A method of snow removal using a water truck and cart, The watering vehicle is equipped with a water tank and a coupling means for pushing the cart. The cart is equipped with a water cannon for spraying high-pressure water, a high-pressure water supply means for drawing water from the water tank of the watering vehicle and supplying it to the water cannon, and a rotating part that can adjust the direction of the water cannon. Snow removal method including the following steps: The steps include connecting the watering truck and the cart using the connecting means, and pushing the cart with the watering truck, The steps include: driving the high-pressure water supply means to draw water from the water tank of the water truck and sending the high-pressure water to the water cannon; The step of spraying high-pressure water from the water cannon to blow away the snow, A step of adjusting the spray direction of the water gun using the rotating part, A snow removal method characterized by including the following.

2. A snow removal system combining a water truck and a cart, The watering vehicle is equipped with a water tank for storing water and a coupling means for pushing the cart. The aforementioned cart is A water cannon for spraying high-pressure water, A high-pressure water supply means for drawing water from the water tank of the water sprinkler and supplying it to the water cannon, The water cannon has a rotating part that can adjust the direction of the water cannon, A trolley pushed by the aforementioned water sprinkler, A snow removal system equipped with a driver's seat for the operator to board.

3. The snow removal system according to claim 2, characterized in that the watering vehicle performs snow removal work while pushing the cart via the connecting means.

4. The snow removal system according to claim 2, characterized in that the water cannon is provided on the right or left side of the cart, and the rotating part is capable of adjusting the water cannon in the vertical and horizontal directions.

5. The snow removal system according to claim 2, characterized in that the high-pressure water supply means operates without using the PTO of the watering vehicle and can generate high-pressure water independently.

6. The cart is equipped with a support base for attaching the water cannon, The aforementioned support base allows the water cannon to be positioned at a higher location. The snow removal system according to claim 2, characterized in that the water cannon sprays high-pressure water onto the road surface from an oblique upward angle to remove snow.

7. A cart for removing snow by spraying high-pressure water, A water cannon capable of spraying high-pressure water forward, A high-pressure water supply means for driving the water cannon, A hose connection for supplying water to the aforementioned high-pressure water supply means, The water cannon is equipped with an adjustable vertical rotation section and a horizontal rotation section, A driver's seat for the worker to board, A base for positioning the water cannon at a high position, The right mounting portion and the left mounting portion are attached to the aforementioned support base, A cart characterized by comprising a trolley equipped with wheels that enable movement.

8. The cart according to claim 7, characterized in that the water cannon can be positioned to spray high-pressure water onto the road surface from an oblique upward angle.

9. The cart according to claim 7, further comprising an operating means for adjusting the amount of water supplied from the high-pressure water supply means.

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