PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR SNOW REMOVAL

Abstract

A process for melting a snow mound located on a ground surface comprises the steps of actuating a heat emitting apparatus and inserting an elongate portion of the heat emitting apparatus into the snow mound so as to emit heat into a central portion of the snow mound, wherein the elongate portion is proximate the ground surface. As the snow melts within the interior or central portion of the snow mound, a cavity forms within the snow mound which creates an insulating container for retaining the emitted heat within the container during the melting process, thereby increasing the efficiency of the heat transfer from the heat emitting apparatus to the snow. A portable heat emitting apparatus is also provided.

Description

FIELD

The present disclosure relates to processes and apparatuses for snow removal; in particular, the present disclosure relates to processes for melting a mound of snow in place, and apparatuses for carrying out such processes.

BACKGROUND

Some populated areas, particularly in northern climates, receive large volumes of snow at times during the year. Depending on climate conditions, it is often the case that the large volumes of snow will accumulate for an extended period of time before the weather warms up sufficiently to melt the snow. Such weather conditions present a problem of needing to remove the snow from roadways, runways, pathways and parking lots, to enable vehicles, pedestrians and airplanes to travel through such areas.

A common solution to this problem is to pile up the volumes of accumulated snow in a selected area of the roadway, runway, pathway or parking lot, or in a selected area that is nearby the roadway, runway, pathway or parking lot. However, when significant amounts of snow have accumulated, there may not be sufficient space for storing the removed snow nearby, therefore necessitating the use of dump trucks and loaders to remove the snow to another location. Such a snow removal process may be costly and may generate significant CO₂ emissions, if the equipment used to re-locate the snow is fueled with gasoline or diesel fuel. When there is sufficient room to store the snow on site or nearby, the selected area where the volumes of snow are being stored may typically not be available for another purpose, at least until the weather warms up and the snow has melted, which in some cases may render the snow storage area unusable for months. For example, a parking lot operator may utilize a number of parking spaces for storing the removed volumes of snow, which may result in a loss of revenue that would otherwise be obtained if those parking spaces were available for parking vehicles.

Another common solution to the problem of accumulated snow volumes is to melt the snow by using a snow melting machine. Snow melting machines typically include large containers or hoppers, for receiving the volumes of snow to be melted, and various heating elements for melting the snow. In some prior art of which the applicant is aware, such as the snow melting machines disclosed on the website of Snow Removal Systems Inc. at www.snowremovalsystems.com and as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,904,708, a burner generates hot gases, which heat a volume of snow to melt the snow and generate water. The melt water is then heated and re-circulated through the system to melt additional snow. Other examples and configurations of snow melting machines include those disclosed on the website of Trecan Combustion Ltd. (www.trecan.com, describing portable snow melting machines such as model nos. CT-15 and 40-PD) and Snow Dragon Snowmelters (www.snowdragonmelters.com and U.S. Pat. No. 7,814,898, disclosing a high capacity snow melting apparatus having a hopper with one or more heater/blower units coupled to a plurality of commingled heat radiant conduits for contact with the snow, and manifolds connected to the conduits for additional heat exchange and to direct the heated air onto the snow in the hopper). Other examples of snow melting machines or vehicles, which include containers or hoppers for holding the snow to be melted, include the apparatuses disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 9,637,880 and 6,736,129.

The applicant is also aware of other types of snow melting apparatuses. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,966,502 discloses a series of interconnected pads of varying dimensions which are heated to a sufficient temperature to prevent snow accumulation, such as on a walkway on which the pads are installed. Japanese patent application no. 2015-203234 discloses a snow melting system including pipes installed beneath a paved surface and circulation pumps, the system exchanging heat between geothermal heat in the ground, and antifreeze that is circulated through the embedded pipes by the circulation pumps. Snow coming into contact with a portion of the pipes exposed above the ground is thereby melted by the geothermal heat. Japanese patent no. 3763048 discloses a system of piping with nozzles embedded into a road shoulder, which system is configured to shoot heated water into a snow pile located on the road shoulder.

Applicant is also aware of U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,449,113 and 5,181,655 issued to Bruckelmyer, which disclose, respectively, a system for circulating a heated water and antifreeze mixture through a probe, and the probe itself. The probe is inserted into frozen ground so as to thaw the ground. Such a system may be used to thaw frozen ground on a construction site, for example. The probe disclosed in the above patents includes a closed circulation system for circulating heated water and antifreeze through the interior of the probe, so as to transfer heat from the water to the frozen ground surrounding and in contact with the probe. The system and probes disclosed therein may also be used to heat a pile of frozen construction materials to a desired temperature; for example, a brick pile or a sand pile to be used in mixing mortar for laying bricks.

There exists a need for a simplified, portable snow melting process and apparatus. In one aspect, the apparatus may be transported to and used in locations where there may be limited space for maneuvering the apparatus into place and positioning the apparatus for a snow melting job, such as in small or busy parking lots. Additionally, there exists a need for snow melting processes and apparatuses that are energy efficient, relatively small in size so as to require less storage space when not in use, and which do not release hydrocarbon-based fuels into the environment during the melting process.

SUMMARY

In the present disclosure, a novel process and portable apparatus for melting a snow mound located on a ground surface, without having to move the snow, is provided. In one aspect of the present disclosure, a process for melting a snow mound located on a ground surface comprises the steps of actuating a heat emitting apparatus and inserting an elongate portion of the heat emitting apparatus into the snow mound so as to emit heat into a central portion of the snow mound wherein the elongate portion is proximate the ground surface. As the snow melts within the interior or central portion of the snow mound, a cavity forms within the snow mound which creates an insulating container for retaining the emitted heat within the container during the melting process, thereby increasing the efficiency of the heat transfer from the heat emitting apparatus to the snow. Additionally, the heat emitted into and trapped within the insulating container of the snow mound, which heat may be, for example, transferred in the form of a heated medium, such as heated air or other gases, or heated liquids such as water, is contained within the insulating container of the cavity of the snow mound, which container advantageously shields the emitted heat from the outside elements, such as the wind and cold temperatures outside the snow mound.

In another aspect of the present disclosure, a process for melting a snow mound located on a ground surface comprises the steps of:

• a) actuating a heat emitting apparatus so as to emit a heated medium from an elongate heat probe of the heat emitting apparatus;
• b) directing the heated medium towards an outer surface of the snow mound by positioning the elongate heat probe adjacent the outer surface, so as to melt a portion of the snow mound and thereby create a pocket in the outer surface of the snow mound; and
• c) inserting the elongate heat probe into the pocket of the snow mound so as to direct the heated medium emitted from the elongate heat probe into the pocket of the snow mound.

In another aspect of the present disclosure, a portable apparatus for melting a snow mound positioned on a ground surface comprises: a heat source for generating a heated medium and a heat exchanger for transferring the heated medium through a probe conduit to an elongate heat probe, the elongate heat probe configured to be inserted into the snow mound proximate the ground surface, wherein the heated medium is emitted from the elongate heat probe into the snow mound.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic, illustrating the use of a heat emitting apparatus used in a snow melting process, in accordance with the present disclosure.

FIG. 2A is a top plan view of an embodiment of a probe of a heat emitting apparatus, in accordance with the present disclosure.

FIG. 2B is a side elevation view of the portion of the heat emitting apparatus illustrated in FIG. 2A.

FIG. 3 is a cut-away view of an embodiment of a heat exchanger unit of a heat emitting apparatus, in accordance with the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of a portion of a further embodiment of the probe of a heat emitting apparatus in accordance with the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a side elevation view of an embodiment of a probe of a heat emitting apparatus, in accordance with the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a side elevation view of an embodiment of a probe of a heat emitting apparatus, in accordance with the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, a process for melting a snow mound located on a ground surface involves the steps of actuating a heat emitting apparatus and inserting an elongate portion of the heat emitting apparatus, such as a heat emitting probe, into the snow mound so as to emit heat into a central portion of the snow mound. Preferably, the elongate portion of the heat emitting apparatus is inserted into the snow mound so as to locate the elongate portion proximate to the ground, within the central portion of the snow mound, so that as the volume of snow surrounding the elongate portion of the heat emitting apparatus is melted, the elongate portion of the heat emitting apparatus does not travel far, if at all, towards the ground because there is initially little or no snow underneath the elongate portion upon insertion into the snow mound.

As may be viewed in FIG. 1, a volume of snow, forming a snow mound S, is positioned on a ground surface G. The snow mound S may be conveniently and conventionally located near a storm drain D, such that when the snow mound eventually melts, either due to warming weather or due to snow melting processes, the water W produced by the melting snow mound S may be directed towards the storm drain D with relative ease.

With reference to FIGS. 1-4, an example of a heat emitting apparatus 10, without intending to be limiting, includes a heat exchanging unit 12, the heat exchanging unit 12 having a probe outlet 14 and an exhaust outlet 18. A probe conduit 16, which may be, for example, a durable, flexible hose or pipe, is coupled to the probe outlet at one end, and to the elongate probe 20 at the other end of the probe conduit 16. An exhaust conduit 19, which may also be a flexible hose or a pipe, is coupled to the exhaust outlet 18 of the heat exchanging unit 12.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, a process for melting the snow mound S involves actuating the heat emitting apparatus 10 and inserting a distal end 20a of the elongate portion or probe 20 of the heat emitting apparatus into a central portion of the snow mound S. The order of the process steps may be reversed; for example, the heat emitting apparatus may be actuated before inserting the probe into the snow mound, such that a distal end 20a of probe 20 becomes heated to a certain extent prior to inserting the probe 20 into the snow mound S, which may cause some of the snow to melt and thereby facilitate the insertion step by requiring less force to push the probe into the snow mound. In yet another aspect, the heated probe 20 may be configured to direct a heated medium, such as heated air or other gases, such as steam or exhaust gases, or heated liquids, through a nozzle located in the distal end 20a of probe 20, which stream of a heated medium may be initially directed towards the desired insertion point of the snow mound S, to thereby melt a portion of the snow mound and form a pocket in the outer surface of the mound S. The pocket may then be conveniently used as an insertion point for the probe 20. However, the alternative procedures described above are not intended to be limiting, and it will be appreciated by a person skilled in the art that the probe 20 may alternatively be inserted into the snow mound S prior to actuating the heat emitting apparatus 10.

Once the probe 20 is inserted into, and positioned within, a central portion of the snow mound S and the heat emitting apparatus 10 has been actuated so as to generate heat, such as by generating a heated medium, the heated medium 2 is transferred from the heat exchanging unit 12, through the probe outlet 14 and probe conduit 16 to the probe 20. Once inside the probe 20, which in one aspect may comprise a hollow body defining a cavity, the heated medium 2 may then travel through an array of apertures 24 of the probe 20 and dissipate into the surrounding volume of snow of the snow mound 20, thereby heating and melting the snow as the heated medium 2 comes into contact with the snow surrounding the probe 20. In some embodiments described herein, the heated medium may be a liquid such as water. In some embodiments, the heat emitting apparatus may be configured to receive or collect snow or water, including for example melt water, and heat the snow or water so as to generate a heated medium, such as hot water or steam, to be dispersed into the snow mound S through the probe 20.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the probe 20 is preferably inserted into the snow mound S so as to be situated proximate to the ground surface G upon which the snow mound S is located. Such positioning enables the positioning of the probe 20 within snow mound S to be substantially stable, in that the probe will not move downwardly much, if at all, towards the ground G as the snow S′ located underneath the probe 20 melts during the snow melting process. In one aspect, the distance H between the lowermost portion of probe 20 and the ground G may be in the range of 0-12 inches, although it will be appreciated that the distance at which the probe 20 is initially positioned may be greater or lesser than that range and is intended to fall within the scope of the process presently disclosed herein. Advantageously, with the probe positioned close to or resting upon the ground G, heat radiated from the probe 20 may additionally radiate heat towards the melt water W so as to maintain the melt water W in a liquid state as it is diverted towards the storm drain D.

As the snow mound S is melted by the processes described herein, the volume of snow surrounding the probe 20 of the heat emitting apparatus may melt to such an extent that the probe 20 is no longer surrounded by snow. When this occurs, in some embodiments the probe 20 may be manipulated, such as by use of a directional valve or by moving the probe itself, so as to re-direct the heated medium 2 towards any remaining snow of the snow mound S. In other embodiments, the process may include collecting the remaining snow, such as by using a shovel, so as to re-form a snow mound S to be further melted by positioning the probe 20 within the snow mound S.

Advantageously, in an aspect of the present disclosure, once a significant portion of the snow mound S has melted, objects and/or particles within the snow mound S may remain on the ground surface G, from where the objects or particles may be readily gathered and removed from the site. For example, particles such as gravel and/or sand, which may accumulate over a season of snow falls due to the use of the gravel and/or sand to provide traction on an amount of accumulated snow or ice, may be readily recovered from the ground G and may be re-used to provide traction after future snow falls have occurred. As well, various objects which may have been unintentionally lost or left behind in the snow, such as gloves, toques, keys, jewellery and other items, may be gathered up from the ground G and either returned to their owner, donated to charity or put to some other use.

The probe 20 may preferably have a length L in the range of approximately one to eight feet. The probe 20 may advantageously be of modular construction, wherein a plurality of probe sections may be assembled so as to form an elongate probe 20 of designed length L. Such modular construction would advantageously make the probe easier to transport and store when not in use. A diameter X of the probe 20 may be in the range of two to eight inches. The dimensions provided above are examples of configurations of the probe 20, but it will be appreciated by a person skilled in the art that these dimensions are not intended to be limiting, and that the size of the probe 20 may be scaled up or down as may be required for different applications, and such dimensions are not intended to be limiting.

In another aspect of the present disclosure, the heat emitting apparatus 10 may, as illustrated in FIG. 3, include a heat exchanging unit 12. The heat exchanging unit 12 may include a housing 30, which may be constructed of a heat shielding material, such as tin, aluminum or any other heat shielding material appropriate for constructing a housing 30 of heat exchanging unit 12, as is known to a person skilled in the art. Between the housing 30 and an inner wall 32 of the heat exchanging unit 12 is disposed an insulating material 34, such as for example pink fiberglass insulation, ceramic insulation, or any other suitable insulation to retain the generated heat within the heat exchanging unit 12. The inner wall 32, which may also be made of a heat shielding material such as tin or aluminum, which serves to protect the insulating material 34 from damage by flames that may be emitted by heat source 36, defines an interior cavity 33 of the heat exchanging unit 12. A heat source 36, such as a burner configured to combust a fuel, is supplied by a fuel source 38 through a fuel line 38a. The heat source 36 is in fluid communication with the interior cavity 33 of the heat exchanging unit, for example through a burner outlet conduit 36a, through which a heated medium, such as heated air or other gases, is transferred from the heat source to an interior conduit 40. Disposed within the interior conduit 40 is a plurality of fire baffles 42, which are configured to slow down the flow of the heated gases travelling through the interior conduit 40 and to absorb heat from the heated gases, For example, the fire baffles 42 may be a series of curved blades disposed within the interior conduit 40. The heated gases emitted by the heat source 36, such as a burner, flow from interior conduit 40 through passageway 45 into an interior exhaust conduit 18a and then through the exhaust outlet 18 leading to the exhaust conduit 19. The heated gases thereby transfer heat to the interior conduit 40, fire baffles 42 and exhaust conduit 18a when the heated gases are resident in the conduits 40 and 18a.

Furthermore, a series of heat baffles 44 are disposed within and across the interior cavity 33 of the heat exchanging unit 12, which heat baffles 44 are also configured to absorb heat radiated from the interior conduit 40 and interior exhaust conduit 18a. In some embodiments, the heat baffles 44 may comprise a plurality of metal strips, the metal strips having a plurality of tabs 44a cut into the strip 44 and bent out of the plane of strip 44 to thereby increase the surface area of the heat baffles 44 without significantly restricting the flow of air as it travels past the baffles 44. A blower 39 is configured to draw air from outside the unit 12 and force the air through interior cavity 33, where the forced air contacts multiple heated surfaces such as the interior conduit 40, interior exhaust conduit 18a and heat baffles 44 to thereby transfer the heat to the forced air. The forced air, thus heated, is then directed through the probe outlet 14 to the probe conduit 16 and the probe 20. In this manner, the heated air forced into and through the probe 20 to melt the snow mound S is clean air free of the exhaust gases that are emitted by burner 36 of the unit 12. It will be appreciated by a person skilled in the art that the above description of a heat exchanging unit 12 is merely an example of a heat exchanging unit and that other configurations of heat exchanging units, for providing heated air and/or heated gases and/or heated liquids to a probe 20, are meant to be included in the scope of the present disclosure.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the elongate heat emitting probe 20 comprises a body 21 defining a hollow interior cavity (not shown). An array of apertures 24 on the body 21 of the probe extend from the hollow interior cavity to the outside of the probe 20. In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the array of apertures 24 may be substantially located on an upper half 21a of the probe's housing 21, so as to assist in directing the heated medium 2 emitted from probe 20 in a generally upwardly direction C, in a direction opposite the ground G and the support base 22 of the probe 20.

In some embodiments, the distal end 20a of the probe 20, which is inserted into the snow mound S, may be tapered or pointed so as to facilitate insertion of the probe 20 into the snow mound. The probe body 21 may be generally cylindrical in shape; however, it will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that other shapes and geometries of the probe body 21 would also work, so long as the probe body 21 is elongate to facilitate insertion into the snow mound, and also to facilitate delivery of the heated medium 2 deep into the central portion of the snow mound so as to substantially evenly heat the interior, central portion of the snow mound S and thereby gradually form an interior cavity within the mound. In some aspects, as the snow melting process is carried out, the heated medium 2 emitted from the probe 20 may gradually form a cavity SC within the mound S so as to form a type of snow cave or snow container, which cavity SC advantageously may either partially or fully contain the heated medium 2 within the snow mound S during the snow melting process. Such a configuration may thereby increase the overall efficiency of the snow melting process by reducing the amount of heat energy that escapes the snow mound S prior to effecting a melting of the snow. Advantageously, the process described herein somewhat replicates the advantages of providing a container or hopper on a snow melting machine so as to contain both the snow and the heat energy applied to melting the snow, but without necessitating the provision of the container or hopper, which typically results in producing a larger and heavier apparatus that is more difficult to store and transport, as compared to the relatively small size of the heat-emitting apparatus 10, which for example may be sized so as to be able to fit several units into the back of a small pickup truck. It will be appreciated by a person skilled in the art that although a preferred embodiment of the heat emitting apparatus 10 may be sized so as to be transported in a pickup truck or similar passenger vehicle, the apparatus disclosed herein is not meant to be limited to a particular size and that the apparatus may be scaled up or down, as may be required, for different applications.

In another aspect of the present disclosure, as may be viewed in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the array or plurality of apertures 24 of the probe 20 may optionally be provided with a sliding valve assembly 26, for selectively opening and closing the array of apertures 24. In the example of a sliding valve assembly 26 shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the assembly includes an array of openings 26b and an array of shutters 26a. When it is desired to cover the apertures 24, for example during transport of the probe 20 to prevent dirt or debris from falling into and clogging the apertures 24, the assembly 26 may be slid in direction A until the shutters 26a cover the apertures 24. Then, when it is desired to open the apertures 24, for example to allow the heated medium 2 to escape the probe 20 and dissipate into a surrounding snow mound S, the assembly 26 may be slid in direction A until the openings 26b align with the apertures 24. The assembly 26 may also be used to control the amount and direction of the heated medium emitting from the probe 20, for example by sliding assembly 26 in direction A until the shutters 26a only partially cover the apertures 24 of the probe 20 to thereby act as a type of directional valve. A person skilled in the art will appreciate that controlling the opening and closing of the apertures 24 of probe 20 may be accomplished in other ways, other than by using a sliding valve assembly 26, and that such control mechanisms are intended to be included in the scope of the present disclosure.

In some embodiments of the probe 20, the distal end 20a of probe 20 may include a selectively closable opening 20b, as illustrated in FIG. 4. In such embodiments, the opening 20b may be selectively closable by means of a pivoting gate 23, the gate 23 pivotally coupled to the distal end 20a of the probe by means of a hinge 23a. Advantageously, when inserting the probe 20 into a snow mound S, the snow of the snow mound may push against the gate 23 to thereby force the gate inwardly in direction B during the insertion process, thereby allowing heated air to be forced through the opening 20b and allowing a greater volume of heated air to flow through the distal end 20a and into the snow to commence the melting process. Then, once the probe has been positioned within the snow mound S, the heated air forced through the probe 20 pushes against the gate 23, forcing the gate 23 in a direction opposite direction B so as to position the gate 23 in a closed position, as shown in dotted outline in FIG. 4.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the elongate member or probe 20 may include a support base 22, for supporting the elongate probe 20 when it is inserted into a snow mound S. In some embodiments, the support base 22 may include a base 22a and a plurality of roller bearing assemblies 22b, the roller bearing assemblies configured to slidingly couple the probe 20 on the base 22a. The base 22a may include a distal curved portion 22c proximate to the distal end 20a of the probe 20, the curved portion 22c configured to enable easier insertion of the probe 20 when coupled to the support base 22 into a snow mound S.

The support base 22 serves to support the probe 20 when inserted into a snow mound S, providing a barrier between the probe 20 and the ground G when the probe 20 is inserted into the snow mound S. As the snow S′ beneath the probe 20 and base 22 melts during the snow melting process, the snow S′ will also melt and eventually turn into water, thereby causing the probe 20 and base 22 to move downwardly towards the ground, eventually coming to rest on the ground G at some time during the snow melting process. When this occurs, the support base 22 serves to protect the probe 20 from damage by rubbing along the ground G, and may also protect or shield the apertures 24 from debris, such as dirt or gravel, that may be on the ground G when the probe 20 eventually comes to rest on the ground. The support base 22 further provides for sliding the probe in and out of the mound S, in direction E, relative to the base 22a of the support 22 during the snow melting process. The ease of sliding the probe 20 in and out of the mound S, in direction E, may assist for example in positioning the apertures 24 adjacent portions of the snow mound S that require melting, thereby allowing the user to direct the heated medium 2 towards a selected portion of snow mound S.

Other embodiments of the probe, 120 and 220, are illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6 respectively. In FIG. 5, a probe 120 comprises an elongate, hollow body 121, similar to the body or housing 21 of the probe 20 illustrated in FIGS. 2A and 2B. The hollow body 121 terminates in an exhaust 121a, through which a heated medium 2, such as heated air or gas, exits from the hollow body 121 of the probe. The probe 120 also includes a sleeve 122, which is sized to be loosely fitted around the exhaust 121a at the distal end of the hollow body 121. The sleeve 122 may be fastened to the probe body 121 by means of a fastener 124, which fastener 124 may include, for example, a bolt or screw. The sleeve 122 may be coupled to the probe body 121 by other means known to a person skilled in the art, including but not limited to spot welding or bonding.

The sleeve 122 includes an end wall 122a. Thus, when the sleeve 122 is coupled to the probe body 121, the heated medium 2 travels through the exhaust 121a, and then is deflected by the end wall 122a of the sleeve 122 so as to be re-directed through the sleeve 122 in direction J, exiting through the sleeve opening 122b of the sleeve 122 to escape into the surrounding environment, such as a snow pile S. A similar embodiment of the probe 220, illustrated in FIG. 6, includes a probe body 221 having a frusto-conical exhaust 221a, thereby forming a nozzle through which the heated medium 2 exits the probe body 221. The sleeve 222 may include a substantially tapered or cone-shaped end wall 222b, which may advantageously facilitate insertion of the probe 220 into a snow mound S. As with the probe 120 illustrated in FIG. 5, the probe 220 illustrated in FIG. 6 enables the re-direction of a heated medium 2, such as a heated air or gas, in direction J by deflecting the heated medium 2 as it flows from the exhaust 221a and is deflected by the end wall 222b of the sleeve 222 so as to reverse the flow direction along the outside of the probe body or pipe 121.

Advantageously, the embodiments of the probes 120 and 220, illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6 respectively, enable the heating of the sleeve 122 or 222 by the heated medium, allowing the heated sleeve 122 or 222 to facilitate and accelerate snow melting in the vicinity of the probe, which may assist with the initial insertion of the probe into a snow mound and/or the repositioning of the probe within the snow mound S, as may be required to facilitate melting of the snow mound. Additionally, the heated medium is directed into the snow mound S to circulate the heated air within the ever enlarging cavity or container forming around the probe within the snow mound as the snow melts, as the heated air exits the sleeve opening 122b or 222b in a backflow along the outside of the probe body or pipe 121, thereby facilitating additional melting of the snow. Advantageously, the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6 enable distribution of the heated medium 2 into the volume of snow, without introducing apertures into the body 121 or 221 of the probe, and without necessitating any moving parts of the probe, which may reduce the cleaning and maintenance of the probe that may otherwise be required, for probe embodiments that include apertures 24 and a sliding valve assembly 26. It will be appreciated by a person skilled in the art that the probes 120 and 220 may be configured to cooperate with the conduit 16 of a heat-emitting apparatus 10 to facilitate the melting of a snow mound S, as described in detail elsewhere in the present disclosure and illustrated in FIG. 1.

In some aspects of the present disclosure, the snow melting process may be accelerated, or otherwise made more efficient, by usefully directing the heat energy contained in the exhaust gases emitted by the heat source 36 of the heat-emitting apparatus 10. For example, in an embodiment of the processes disclosed herein and as shown in FIG. 1, the heated exhaust gases 3 generated by the heat source 36 may be directed through the exhaust outlet 18 of the heat exchanging unit 12 and through the exhaust conduit 19 towards a stream of water W generated by the melting snow mound S. Such a procedure may usefully heat the stream of water W sufficiently so as to ensure that the stream of water W continues towards, and into, the storm drain D before it re-freezes, which for example could occur if the snow melting process is being carried out in cold weather conditions.

In another alternative embodiment, the distal end 19a of exhaust conduit 19 may be placed within the snow mound S, adjacent to or proximate the probe 20, so as to direct additional heat energy, in the form of the heated exhaust gases 3, into the center of the snow mound S, thereby accelerating the melting of the volume of snow. In such a process, so as to prevent the potentially dangerous build-up of exhaust gases within the snow mound, and to allow continual flow of oxygen through the heat source 36, which may for example be a burner configured to combust a hydrocarbon-based fuel such as gasoline, diesel or propane, an exhaust hole would need to be created in the snow mound S, extending from the cavity SC of the snow mound to the outer surface of the snow mound S. Once the exhaust hole has been created in the snow mound S, the distal end 19a of exhaust conduit 19 may then be inserted into the central portion of the snow mound S, allowing heated exhaust gases 3 to effect melting of the snow mound, alongside the heated medium 2 emitted from the probe 20.

It will be appreciated by a person skilled in the art that variations of the processes and apparatuses described herein are intended to be included in the scope of the present disclosure.

Claims

1. A process for melting a snow mound located on a ground surface, the process comprising:

actuating a heat emitting apparatus; and

inserting an elongate portion of the heat emitting apparatus into the snow mound so as to emit a heated medium into a central portion of the snow mound, wherein the elongate portion is proximate the ground surface; and

wherein the snow mound forms an insulating container for retaining the emitted heat within the container during the melting process.

2. The process of claim 1, wherein the heated medium includes a heated gas.

3. The process of claim 1, further comprising manipulating the elongate portion so as to direct the heated medium into a selected area of the snow mound.

4. The process of claim 3, wherein the elongate portion includes a directional valve for directing the heated medium emitted by the heat emitting apparatus into the selected area of the snow mound; and

wherein the step of manipulating the elongate portion includes actuating the directional valve.

5. The process of claim 3, wherein the selected area of the snow mound is disposed opposite the ground surface.

6. The process of claim 2, wherein the heat emitting apparatus further comprises a heat exchanger including a burner for generating the heated medium; a fuel supply for fueling the burner; a blower for transferring the heated medium to the elongate portion through a probe conduit; and an exhaust conduit in communication with the heat exchanger for exhausting a volume of exhaust gases generated by the burner.

7. The process of claim 6, further comprising:

creating an exhaust passage in the snow mound, the exhaust passage extending between the central portion of the snow mound and an outer surface of the snow mound; and

inserting an outlet end of the exhaust conduit into the central portion of the snow mound;

wherein the outlet end of the exhaust conduit is in fluid communication with the exhaust passage of the snow mound; and

wherein the exhaust gases are heated exhaust gases exhausted through the outlet end of the exhaust conduit and the exhaust passage of the snow mound.

8. The process of claim 1, wherein the inserting step is completed prior to the actuating step.

9. The process of claim 6, further comprising:

directing the exhaust conduit over a water stream comprising melted snow of the snow mound; and

directing the water stream towards a storm drain of the ground surface.

10. The process of claim 1, wherein the inserting step includes substantially encasing an outer surface of the elongate portion of the heat emitting apparatus with snow of the central portion of the snow mound.

11. A process for melting a snow mound located on a ground surface, the process comprising:

a) actuating a heat emitting apparatus so as to emit a heated medium from an elongate heat probe of the heat emitting apparatus;

b) directing the heated medium towards an outer surface of the snow mound by positioning the elongate heat probe adjacent the outer surface, so as to melt a portion of the snow mound and thereby create a pocket in the outer surface of the snow mound; and

c) inserting the elongate heat probe into the pocket of the snow mound.

12. An apparatus for carrying out the process of claim 1 for melting a snow mound located on a ground surface, the apparatus comprising:

a heat source for generating a heated medium,

a heat exchanger for transferring the heated medium through a probe conduit to an elongate heat probe, the elongate heat probe configured to be inserted into the snow mound proximate the ground surface,

wherein the heated medium is emitted from the elongate heat probe.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the heated medium is heated air and the heat exchanger further comprises a blower for transferring the heated medium from the heat source through the probe conduit to the elongate heat probe.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the heat source is a burner configured to combust a fuel, the heat exchanger further including an exhaust conduit for exhausting an exhaust gas generated by the burner when combusting the fuel.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the exhaust conduit includes a heat exchanger end connected to the heat exchanger and an exhaust end oppositely disposed from the heat exchanger end, wherein the exhaust gas is a heated exhaust gas and the exhaust end is configured to be inserted into the snow mound so as to transmit the heated exhaust gas into the snow mound.

16. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the elongate heat probe comprises a support base, the support base configured to be adjacent the ground surface when the elongate heat probe is inserted into the snow mound.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the support base is mounted to the elongate heat probe in sliding relation, wherein the elongate heat probe is configured to slide along a longitudinal probe axis, the probe axis being parallel to a slide axis of the support base so as to enable sliding translation of the elongate heat probe relative to the support base.

18. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the elongate heat probe comprises a hollow body defining a cavity, the cavity in fluid communication with the probe conduit and configured to receive the heated medium, the body further defining one or more through holes extending from the cavity to an outer surface of the body,

wherein when the apparatus is actuated, the heated medium is transferred from the heat exchanger through the probe conduit, the cavity and the one or more through holes so as to contact a volume of the snow mound proximate the outer surface of the body.

19. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the elongate heat probe comprises a hollow body defining a cavity, the cavity in fluid communication with the probe conduit and configured to receive the heated medium, and a sleeve having an end wall and an opening, the sleeve fitted over a distal end of the elongate heat probe so as to receive the heated medium emitted from the elongate heat probe, wherein the end wall of the sleeve deflects the heated medium away from the end wall so as to evenly transmit heat from the heated medium to the sleeve.

20. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the elongate heat probe includes a directional valve, the directional valve configured to direct the heated medium emitted by the elongate heat probe in a selected direction.