Snow Removal Device with Melting and Collection System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for clearing snow from track-bound vehicle areas, such as railway tracks, are inefficient and often result in snow accumulation on adjacent tracks and switches, making it difficult to achieve effective and time-efficient snow removal.
Innovation Solution
A device comprising a snow collection aggregate with rotating brushes and feeder screws, coupled with a snow melting unit and a liquid container, allows for wide snow clearance and volume reduction, utilizing side brushes to sweep snow into a conduit for melting and subsequent storage in the container, enabling efficient snow removal and transport.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional ploughing is used to clear snow from tracks, then snow can be removed from the track, but snow accumulates on adjacent tracks and switches
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the snow removal function from traditional ploughing and relocates it to a centralized collection system. The side brushes extract snow from adjacent tracks and feed it into a collection hopper, preventing snow from being deposited on neighboring tracks while maintaining effective clearance of the primary track.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces an intermediary collection system between the ploughing action and the final snow disposal. The side brushes and collection hopper act as intermediaries that capture and redirect snow, preventing direct deposition on adjacent tracks while enabling controlled removal from the track area.
2Productivity
If wide snow clearance is achieved using collection devices, then more snow can be removed efficiently, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention segments the snow collection function into modular components: side brushes for snow engagement, feed screws for snow transport, and a collection hopper for accumulation. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function efficiently while maintaining overall system manageability and reducing complexity through functional decomposition.
Solution Approach 2:
The collection device is designed with multi-functionality, where the side brushes serve both as snow collection tools and as feed mechanisms, the feed screws transport snow while compacting it for volume reduction, and the hopper serves as both collection and temporary storage. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated components, thereby reducing overall device complexity.
3Quantity of substance
If collected snow is transported without volume reduction, then transport capacity is maintained, but energy consumption and freezing risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the physical parameters of the collected snow by applying mechanical compression through feed screws and the hopper structure. This compression reduces the volume of snow, increasing its density, which in turn reduces the space required for transport and minimizes exposure to cold temperatures, thereby lowering energy consumption and freezing risks during transport.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution enables time-effective snow collection and removal with volume reduction, offering both technical and economic advantages by allowing for increased snow clearance width and efficient snow melting and transport, reducing energy consumption and freezing risks.
Implementation Method 1
The friction between the brush bristles and snow particles enables the rotating brushes to effectively sweep and collect snow onto the track
Implementation Method 2
The feeder screws utilize mechanical force to convey and compress snow into the melting device, reducing snow volume
Implementation Method 3
The snow melting device efficiently melts the collected snow, transforming it from solid to liquid state for convenient transport and disposal
Implementation Method 4
The melting device applies thermal energy to the snow, raising its temperature above the freezing point to facilitate phase change
Implementation Method 5
The liquid container is designed to store the melted snow water, utilizing gravitational force for passive accumulation and reduced energy consumption
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a method for the removal of snow from tracks or track areas for track-bound vehicles. The snow is transported by a snow collection device (10) to a snow melting device (50) where the snow is melted down to water, after which the melt water is transported to a liquid container (70) from which the melt water is tapped off as required. The invention also relates to a device.