Vehicle Rooftop Snow and Ice Removal Device and Method
Embodiments of the disclosed technology comprise a device for removing precipitation from the top of a vehicle. The device is mounted on the top of a vehicle and comprises a blade operatively connected to first and second side rails, the side rails adapted for fixed engagement with an upper portion or top of a vehicle, the blade configured to move along the rails. In this manner, the blade, as it moves along the top of a vehicle, removes the ice, snow, and/or debris on the vehicle. The vehicle may be a truck, trailer, sport utility vehicle (SUV), minivan, van, train, or the like. The blade may be moved along the rails using a configuration of sprockets and chains, cables and pulleys, and/or racks and pinions. The device may be powered by a motor or operated manually.
The disclosed technology relates generally to cleaning a motor vehicle. More specifically, the disclosed technology relates to removal of snow and ice from the top of a motor vehicle.
BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSED TECHNOLOGYThe accumulation of snow and ice on the top of vehicles can be very dangerous. During winter driving, entire sheets of snow/ice may fly off the roof of a vehicle and smash into a vehicle travelling behind it. Some states, such as New Jersey, require vehicle operators to clear the snow and ice off the roof of their vehicle before driving.
However, removing the snow/ice from larger vehicles is difficult. The bigger the vehicle, the more difficult the undertaking becomes. On sport utility vehicles (SUVs) and vans, drivers typically use shovels to accomplish this task, reaching upwards (if they can) to try and scrape the shovel against the ice and snow to be removed. Some vehicles, such as trucks, tractor trailers, and train cars, may be up to thirteen feet in height and perhaps fifty-three feet in length. While some solutions involve fixing a blade to a lintel of two posts attached to the ground, such systems are expensive and stationary. In many instances, a truck would have to break the law and cause danger to other motorists before reaching such a blade attached to posts in the ground. The alternative is to send a worker to climb on top of a truck in the cold to remove ice and snow with conventional tools. This presents a danger to the worker, if one willing to complete such a task is available, and would send insurance rates skyrocketing.
What is needed in the art is a device and method to remove snow which is more convenient, less expensive, and will not cause danger to human life.
SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSED TECHNOLOGYThe disclosed technology described herein addresses a need unfulfilled in the prior art by providing a device for removing frozen precipitation from an automobile, truck, van, sport utility vehicle, or tractor trailer.
Accordingly, it is an object of the disclosed technology to provide a device which enables a vehicle user or owner to remove snow, ice, and debris from the top of a vehicle with relative ease.
It is also an object of the disclosed technology to provide a device which automatically removes snow, ice or debris from a vehicle by using a power source.
It is a further object of the disclosed technology to provide a precipitation removal device for a vehicle roof which is aerodynamic, ergonomic, and adds little bulk or height to a vehicle.
Therefore, described herein is a device which employs a sliding plow-like blade to remove snow, ice and debris from the roof/top of a vehicle or trailer.
In an embodiment of the disclosed technology, a scraping device to be used on the top of a vehicle is provided. The scraping device's components include two parallel side rails and a blade/plow (hereinafter “blade”). The blade is connected to the first and second side rails with its cutting end extending towards the top of the vehicle. The blade is operable to move along the side rails to displace snow or ice from the top of the vehicle. In an embodiment of the disclosed technology the blade has at least one wheel mounted to it at the juncture between the blade and the first and second side rails. The wheel is adapted to roll along the side rails. A “vehicle,” for the purposes of this specification, is defined as a car, truck, van, sport utility vehicle, railcar or semi-trailer. Certain embodiments may be specifically designed for use on, for example, a sports utility vehicle or a semi-trailer.
In one embodiment of the disclosed technology the scraping device uses a passive pulley, a drive pulley, and a continuous wire. A “wire,” for the purposes of this specification, includes any length of metal, fibers, rope or the like. The wire is connected to the blade between the passive and drive pulleys to enable movement of the blade.
In an alternative embodiment, the scraping device uses a passive sprocket, a drive sprocket, and a continuous chain. The chain is connected to the blade between the passive and drive sprockets. At least two or more sprockets may be used in embodiments of the disclosed technology. Furthermore, movement of the blade may be triggered by a motor rotating one of the sprockets, causing the chain to move and the blade to slide.
In another embodiment of the disclosed technology, a vehicle precipitation removal device is provided. The device employs a blade operatively connected to a first and a second side rail. The first and second side rails are parallel to each other and are affixed to the top of a vehicle. The device also employs a means for sliding the blade along the first and second side rails. The movement of the blade is relegated to one dimension (i.e., the blade may only move back and forth horizontally).
The means for sliding the blade may be a configuration of a passive pulley, a drive pulley, and a continuous wire. The wire is connected to the blade between the passive and drive pulleys to enable movement of the blade. In further embodiments, the means for sliding the blade may also include a motor to rotate the drive pulley and cause the wire and blade to move. Alternatively, the means for sliding the blade may be a configuration of a passive sprocket, a drive sprocket, and a continuous chain. The chain is connected to the blade between the passive and drive sprockets.
In yet another embodiment of the disclosed technology a device is provided which employs a first and a second side rail, a blade, and a drive mechanism. The first and second side rails are adapted for engagement with the top of a vehicle. The blade is operatively connected to the first and second side rails. A drive mechanism is engaged with the blade, and causes the blade to move in at least two directions to displace precipitation from the top of the vehicle. In one embodiment, the drive mechanism is a configuration of a chain, gears and sprockets. In a second embodiment, the drive mechanism uses a rack and pinion arrangement to move the device.
In one embodiment, the drive mechanism has a worm shaft, a worm gear, a column portion, a sprocket and a chain, the worm gear and sprocket being fixed in parallel to the column portion along the column's axis. The worm shaft drives the device, and is in rotational communication with the worm gear. The chain is connected to the blade and wrapped around the sprocket. Thus, when the worm shaft rotates, the column containing the worm gear and sprocket is caused to be rotated, which translates the rotation to the chain and finally the blade. In embodiments of the disclosed technology, the worm shaft is fixed to a motor or a manually operated crank or pulley system. In a further embodiment, a second worm gear, column portion, sprocket and chain are configured in a similar arrangement, with the second worm gear being in rotational communication with the first worm gear, thereby enabling the drive shaft to cause the first and second worm gears to rotate at the same frequency (in opposite directions).
In a second embodiment, the drive mechanism has a first toothed rack, a second toothed rack, and an axle with a gear and pinions. The first toothed rack is disposed within the first side rail, and the second toothed rack is disposed in the second side rail. The axle is longitudinally disposed within the blade. Each of the ends of the axle is fitted with two pinion gears (a first and a second pinion gear). The pinion gears are in rotational communication with the respective first and second toothed rails. A third gear is fixed about the axle in between, and parallel to, the first and second pinions. The third gear is in rotational communication with a drive pinion. The drive pinion is fixed to a motor which causes it to rotate.
In embodiments of the disclosed technology, the longitudinal cross-section of the blade forms a tractrix shape. Generally, the tractrix blade has a pointed top and concave sloping curved leading edges on one or both sides thereof.
In accordance with these and other objectives which will become apparent hereinafter, the disclosed technology will now be described with particular reference to the drawings.
The technology is a vehicle rooftop de-icer mounted on the top of a vehicle and comprising a blade operatively connected to first and second side rails, the side rails adapted for fixed engagement with an upper portion or top of a vehicle, the blade configured to move along the rails. In this manner, the blade, as it moves along the top of a vehicle, scrapes at or just above the top of the vehicle and removes ice, snow, and/or debris on the vehicle. The vehicle may be a truck, trailer, sport utility vehicle (SUV), minivan, van, train, or the like. While a trailer may possess no independent ability to propel itself, for purposes of this disclosure, it is considered to be part of a vehicle.
Electronic control systems to direct the blade (or sled) to move along the top of a vehicle may be employed, and a switch to control same may be placed within the cabin of a vehicle. The blade or sled may be a tractrix shape blade, which is defined further with reference to
Referring still to
Tractrix is defined as having a constant distance from a point P on a curve to the intersection of the y-axis and the tangent line at P. The tractrix might be regarded in a multitude of ways. 1. It is the geometric place of the center of a hyperbolic spiral rolling (without skidding) on a straight line. 2. The evolvent of the function is described by a fully flexible, inelastic, homogeneous string attached to two points and subjected to a gravitational field. It has the equation: y(x)=ach(x/a) (note: the evolvent of the function has a perpendicular tangent to the tangent of the original function for the same x-coordinate considered). 3. The trajectory determined by the middle of the back axle of a car pulled by a rope at a constant speed and with a constant direction (initially perpendicular to the vehicle). The function admits a horizontal asymptote. The curve is symmetrical to Oy. The curvature radius is r=actg(x/y).
It should be understood that the exact dimensions of the devices of the disclosed technology will vary with the rooftop of the vehicle. It may be designed for a rooftop of an SUV (approximately 6 foot long by 4 foot wide) up to a 53 foot by 8 foot tractor trailer. The rail may be produced from steel, aluminum, or other metal, or even a hard plastic. In one embodiment, the rail is 2 inches by 2 inches, with a 1 inch by 1 inch inwardly jutting rail.
While the disclosed technology has been taught with specific reference to the above embodiments, a person having ordinary skill in the art will recognize that changes can be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and the scope of the disclosed technology. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. All changes that come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope. Combinations of any of the methods, systems, and devices described hereinabove are also contemplated and within the scope of the disclosed technology.
Claims
1. A scraping device comprising:
- parallel first and second side rails adapted for fixed engagement with a top of a vehicle;
- a blade operatively connected to said first and second side rails, wherein a cutting end of said blade extends towards said top of said vehicle; and
- said blade is operable to move along said first and second side rails and displace precipitation on said top of said vehicle.
2. The scraping device of claim 1, wherein said blade further comprises at least one wheel mounted to said blade at a juncture between said blade and said first and second side rails, said wheel adapted to roll along said first and second side rails.
3. The scraping device of claim 2, further comprising:
- a passive pulley;
- a drive pulley; and
- a continuous wire, said wire connected to said blade between said passive pulley and said drive pulley.
4. The scraping device of claim 2, further comprising:
- a passive sprocket;
- a drive sprocket; and
- a continuous chain, said chain connected to said blade between said passive sprocket and said drive sprocket.
5. The scraping device of claim 1, wherein said blade moves via a chain and at least two sprockets.
6. The scraping device of claim 5, wherein movement of said blade is caused by a motor rotating a said sprocket.
7. The scraping device of claim 1, wherein a cross-section of said blade is a tractrix shape.
8. The scraping device of claim 1, wherein said first and second side rails are adapted for fixed engagement with a semi-trailer.
9. The scraping device of claim 4, wherein said first and second side rails are adapted for fixed engagement with a roof of a sports utility vehicle.
10. A vehicle precipitation removal device, said device comprising:
- a blade operatively connected to a first and a second side rail, said first and second side rails being parallel to each other and affixed to the top of a vehicle; and
- a means for sliding said blade along said first and second side rails, wherein said sliding is relegated to movement in one dimension.
11. The vehicle precipitation removal device of claim 10, wherein said means for sliding said blade comprises:
- a passive pulley;
- a drive pulley; and
- a continuous wire, said wire connected to said blade between said passive pulley and said drive pulley.
12. The vehicle precipitation removal device of claim 11, wherein said means for sliding said blade further comprises a motor operable to rotate said drive pulley to cause said wire to move and said blade to slide.
13. The vehicle precipitation removal device of claim 10, wherein said means for sliding said blade comprises:
- a passive sprocket;
- a drive sprocket; and
- a continuous chain, said chain connected to said blade between said passive sprocket and said drive sprocket.
14. The vehicle precipitation removal device of claim 10, wherein a cross-section of said blade is a tractrix shape.
15. The vehicle precipitation removal device of claim 10, wherein said first and second side rails are adapted for fixed engagement with a semi-trailer.
16. A device comprising:
- a first and a second side rail adapted for engagement with a top of a vehicle;
- a blade operatively connected to said first and second side rails;
- a drive mechanism engaged with said blade; and
- said blade operable to move in at least two directions to displace precipitation on said top of said vehicle by way of said drive mechanism.
17. The device of claim 16, wherein said drive mechanism further comprises a worm shaft, said worm shaft in rotational communication with a worm gear;
- said worm gear affixed to a column portion having a column axis;
- said column portion further comprising a sprocket disposed along said column axis in parallel with said worm gear;
- said sprocket in rotational communication with a chain operable to move said blade along said side rails.
18. The device of claim 17, wherein said drive mechanism further comprises:
- a second worm gear in rotational communication with said first worm gear;
- said second worm gear affixed to a second column portion having a second column axis;
- said second column portion further comprising a second sprocket disposed along said second column axis in parallel with said second worm gear; and
- said second sprocket in rotational communication with a second chain operable to move said blade along said side rails.
19. The device of claim 16, wherein said drive mechanism comprises:
- a first and a second toothed rack longitudinally disposed within said first and second side rails;
- an axle longitudinally disposed within said blade, said axle comprising a first and a second pinion gear in rotational communication with said first and second toothed racks;
- said axle further comprising a third gear; and
- said drive mechanism further comprising a drive pinion, said drive pinion in rotational communication with said third gear.
20. The device of claim 16, wherein said first and second side rails are adapted for fixed engagement with a roof of a sport utility vehicle.
Type: Application
Filed: Nov 1, 2010
Publication Date: May 5, 2011
Inventors: Mario Jakus , Troy DePillis
Application Number: 12/916,697
International Classification: E01H 5/08 (20060101); E01H 5/06 (20060101);