Stoves and furnaces – Melting furnaces
Reexamination Certificate
1996-11-20
2001-05-01
Yeung, James C. (Department: 3743)
Stoves and furnaces
Melting furnaces
C037S228000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06223742
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an apparatus for heating particulate material, and more particularly to industrial equipment for clearing snow by melting consisting of a conveyor system which transports snow dumped in a container to a combustion chamber which operates using a series of burners producing a hot and naked flame.
BACKGROUND ART
All existing equipment, either mobile, semi-mobile or stationary, is based on a common principle: that snow and ice are melted in a single receptacle being at the same time a snow container and a combustion chamber. By diffused internal heat, that is by hot air blown or by hot water radiators or any other combination, the snow is melted inside the mechanical means used to produce the heat. Furthermore, this indirect heat is used only once, generating significant operating costs.
Existing equipment consists of devices pulled by tractor or tractor-trailer moving continually during snow removal and melting operations, without any system for recovering the water produced. Consequently, the water produced during the operation must be evacuated simultaneously by the machine, which does not have the capacity to channel it toward a specific location, such as municipal sewers.
Furthermore, existing devices do not have a mechanism for the recovery of sand and other debris contained in the snow, nor a filtration system to reduce the formation of salt spray. Similarly, they cannot be used for anything but melting snow or ice.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It has been discovered that these disadvantages can be overcome by providing an apparatus for melting snow comprising a flame heater for melting the snow directly by flame contact directed from above, a conveyor for transporting the snow to the flame heater for melting, and means for allowing water to drain while the snow is being melted.
It has been further discovered that these disadvantages can also be overcome by providing an apparatus for heating particulate material comprising a container for receiving the material and having an opening, a netting provided in the container receiving the material through the opening and through which the particulate material passes while catching larger solid masses contained within the paticulate material and improving a consistency of the particulate material, means for vibrating the netting to cause the particulate material to pass therethrough, a heater for heating the material, and a conveyor transporting the material passing through the netting to the heater.
According a one preferred aspect of the invention, these disadvantages can be overcome by providing using a snow removal device that can be operated in a fixed position or pulled by a tractor, tractor-trailer, snowplow, snowblower or other vehicle. This device consists of a container into which snow is dumped directly through an opening in the back of the device, as well as an independent combustion chamber in which snow is melted by using burners. These burners produce a hot and naked flame. A variable speed conveyor system introduces the snow from the container into the combustion chamber gradually and particularly under the hot and naked flame of the burners, thereby producing almost instantaneous melting.
In addition, the invention includes a mechanism for the recovery of the sand and other debris contained in snow and a water vapor filtration system to reduce the amount of salt spray released into the atmosphere, and finally a heat recycling system in which the heat produced by the burners is used three times before being released from the device.
The device is also equiped with a back opening which allows snow to be deposited directly by a snowblower or other snow removal equipment, and a system for evacuating water directly into any water sewer simultaneously during the snow removal and melting process.
The invention also has applications in fields other than snow removal. As a first example, it can be used to dry or heat sand for use as an abrasive on roads. As a second example, it can be used to dry or heat soil for agricultural use. Furthermore, it can be used to heat asphalt for road repairs.
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Sofia Michel
Swabey Ogilvy Renault
Yeung James C.
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