BACKGROUND

In populated areas snow removal or snow clearing is the job of removing snow after a snowfall to make travel easier and safer. Traditionally the snow has been transported by trucks to assigned snow dumps. Instead of transporting, devices for melting snow may be used to melt large amount of snow and to lead the water into drainage.

As one example, a snow melter is a piece of snow removal equipment designed to melt snow using flame burners, hot water or both. Melting snow artificially helps keep roads, airport tarmacs and other surfaces clear and ready to use. The technology is often employed in areas where trucking snow is not geographically or economically feasible. A snowmelt system may extend the life of the concrete, asphalt or under pavers by eliminating the use salts or other de- icing chemicals, and physical damage from winter service vehicles. The melt water may be discharged into sewer systems where the water is treated and released back into the local water systems.

During a test run at Helsinki, Finland 2015 several drawbacks of snow melters were identified. Snow melters may consume substantial amount of energy. As one example, melting 500 cubic meters of snow consumed 290 litres of fuel oil. The residual temperature of the melt water was 5 °C. The burning fuels produce greenhouse gases. The system efficiency reduces when gravel must be regularly removed from the snow melter - the process must be stopped completely during the removal. Reheating the snow melter to full operational temperature further reduces the efficiency. FI101490B discloses a solution for transforming snow under pressure into plates that may be transported elsewhere.

JP2001279631 A discloses the snow being fed to a rotary drum being. The snow rotated is melted by utilizing frictional heat generated between the rotary drum and a fixed drum outer frame.

JP2006183256A discloses a crusher that has two parallel spiral crushing blades. The crushed snow is melted with heat generated by a sheet heating element.

US2684209 discloses crushing ice with two crushers.

Youtube video, Hydraulic Press Channel "Can you Press Snow into Ice with Hydraulic Press", discloses pressing snow into ice and crushing ice with the hydraulic press.

Rohm, S. et al.: Friction Between Steel and Snow in Dependence of the Steel Roughness. Tribology Letters. June 2015, volume 59, pages 1 -8; discloses a study of friction between various surfaces.

SUMMARY

This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter. Furthermore, the claimed subject matter is not limited to implementations that solve any or all disadvantages noted in any part of this disclosure.

A method and a device for melting snow is disclosed. The snow is compressed against a rapidly rotating surface, wherein the friction causes the snow to melt.

In one example the rotating surface is a cylinder. The energy used for producing the friction dissipates very effectively into melting the snow. The melt water is near zero temperature, as energy is not used for heating the water above the melting point - the melt water spreads from the rotating surface and may be collected and discharged to sewage.

The gravel inside the snow heats up as well and separates from the snow in the point of contact to the rotating surface. The gravel may be removed from the process without stopping it, thereby improving the efficiency of the device.

The rotating surface may be smooth. Smooth surface enables high velocity on the rotating surface, wherein the friction may be produced without abrasive element. The mass of the cylinder may be utilized in the inertia for overcoming any occasional abrasive particles inside the snow that could hinder the rotation. Many of the attendant features will be more readily appreciated as they become better understood by reference to the following detailed description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings. The embodiments described below are not limited to implementations which solve any or all the

disadvantages of known snow melting solutions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present description will be better understood from the following detailed description read in light of the accompanying drawings, wherein

FIG. 1 a illustrates a sectional view of one example of an embodiment for the device for melting snow in a receiving position;

FIG. 1 b illustrates a sectional view of one example of an embodiment for the device for melting snow in a compressing position; and FIG. 2 illustrates a sectional view of one example of an embodiment for the device for melting snow.

Like reference numerals are used to designate like parts in the accompanying drawings. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The detailed description provided below in connection with the appended drawings is intended as a description of the present examples and is not intended to represent the only forms in which the present example may be constructed or utilized. However, the same or equivalent functions and sequences may be accomplished by different examples.

Although the present examples are described and illustrated herein as being implemented in community snow removal device, they are provided as an example and not a limitation. As those skilled in the art will appreciate, the present examples are suitable for application in a variety of different types of snow melting devices.

One exemplary embodiment of a method and a device for melting snow utilises a heavy, rotating cylinder made of metal. The snow is compressed against the outer surface of the rotating cylinder, thereby causing frictional heat to dissipate into the snow and to melt the snow. As there is no combustion, almost all residual heat is directed towards melting snow and the solution has very good efficiency. As soon as the snow or ice reaches the melting point, the rotating cylinder ejects the water from the point of contact. The energy is not consumed to heat the water above the melting point. The thermal energy stored in the cylinder melts further snow.

FIG. 1 a and FIG. 1 b illustrate partial and sectional views of one example of an embodiment for the device for melting snow. An inlet 101 is configured for receiving snow into the device. The inlet 101 opens upwards. The snow may be dropped into the inlet 101 by snow removal equipment, for example by tractor’s bucket, snow plow or snow blower. Size and/or shape of the inlet 101 may be arranged to be suitable for receiving snow from the snow removal equipment. The snow may comprise large icy particles The walls of the inlet 101 may be straight or tapered. The device may comprise a snow compactor, having similar arrangement as a waste compactor, to ensure that the snow with blocks of ice travels through the inlet 101. The device comprises a solid of revolution 100 configured to rotate. In this example the solid of revolution 100 is a cylinder. The solid of revolution 100 may be any object having uniform surface suitable for receiving compressed snow. In one embodiment the solid of revolution 100 is a ball-shaped object rotating around its axis. The solid of revolution 100 may be heavy, in one embodiment its is adjustable, for example by filling it with water, sand, or predefined metal objects. The inertia enables the solid of revolution to keep rotating even when an object having substantially more friction than snow emerge from the inlet 101.

One exemplary embodiment with of means for rotating the solid of revolution

100 is illustrated in FIG. 2. An electric motor 201 rotates and transfers the rotation via a belt 202 to the solid of revolution 100. Tightness of the belt 202 is adjustable by tightening means 203, 204. The means for rotating the solid of revolution 100 may be an electric motor coupled directly to the solid of revolution 100, a hydraulic motor or any means for causing rotational movement. The electric motor 201 is relatively silent and does not emit greenhouse gases, therefore the device is suitable for heavily populated areas, even during nocturnal hours.

The device comprises means 102 for compressing snow received from the inlet

101 against an outer surface of the rotating solid of revolution 100. In this example said means comprise a piston 102 configured to reciprocate inside a tube 104. The inlet 101 leads to the tube 104. The piston 102 reciprocates between two positions: a first position as illustrated in FIG. 1 a and a second position as illustrated in FIG. 1 b. In the first position a portion of snow enters the tube 104 through the inlet 101. An actuator 103 pushes the piston 102 and the portion of snow towards the second position and towards the rotating surface of the solid of revolution 100. The actuator 103 may be a hydraulic cylinder, a strand jack or an electric actuator.

The tube 104 comprises an outlet 105 at a second position, opening towards the cylinder. The outlet 105 may be defined as the gap between the tube 104 and the solid of revolution 100. The gap may be arranged to allow small stones or gravel 111 to pass through with the melt water. In one embodiment the outlet 105 follows the shape of the cylinder. In one embodiment the outlet 105 follows the shape of the ball, wherein the outlet 105 may be a straight-cut tube end.

In one embodiment the outlet 105 is adjustable, for example the tube 104 may be pulled away from the solid of revolution 100 to enable different and/or larger particles to pass thought the outlet 105. In one embodiment the outlet 105 may be opened or directed to another direction for a service mode, wherein contents of the tube may be removed manually. Occasionally larger objects may clog the tube and they may be removed manually. A hydraulic cylinder or an electric actuator may be used to move the tube 104. In one embodiment the tube 104 is movable manually. In one embodiment the outlet 105 is formed by a sleeve at the end of the tube 104. The sleeve may be interchangeable as it may wear while using the device. In one embodiment the outlet 105 is adjusted by adjusting the position of the sleeve in relation to the solid of revolution 100.

When the piston 102 approaches the second position, the snow compresses against the rotating solid of revolution 100, and the piston 102 closes the inlet 101. The friction between the snow and the outer surface of the solid of revolution 100 causes the snow to melt. The fast-rotating solid of revolution 100 throws the melt water 110 around, but most of the gravel 111 and other solid small object fall to a mesh 210. The mesh 210 may vibrate for moving the objects to another location and to prevent the system from clogging. The mesh 210 may be movable. The process for removing the gravel 111 or other solid objects may be continuous, while melting the snow by means of friction. In one example a conveyor transports solid objects falling from the outlet 105 to another position.

A housing (not shown in the drawings) may be arranged around the solid of revolution 100. The housing collects the sprayed water 110 and leads the water 110 to piping, from where the water may be lead to sewage. The housing may be removable to enable easy maintenance operations to the device during cold winter. In one embodiment the housing is thermally insulated to improve the efficiency of the device. The insulation may prevent the sprayed water 110 from freezing onto the device. The residual heat from the device and the solid of revolution 100 keep the housing warm and prevents freezing. In one embodiment the device comprises heating elements to warm the housing and to melt any unwanted frozen structures from the device.

The outer surface of the solid of revolution 100 is in one embodiment smooth. In one embodiment the solid of revolution 100 is made of metal, such as steel or any suitable metal compound. The device does not require abrasive surface, as the compression by the piston 102 provides sufficient surface pressure against the solid of revolution 100. Smooth surface is easy to maintain as there is no need to look after structural surface, such as knobs or grooves. As one example, such grooves could be collecting dirt and cause further problems in using the device.

The device may comprise multiple components made of wood: for example, the piston 102 or the tube 104 may utilize laminated veneer lumber or plywood. The wooden components may comprise enforcements of steel. In the example of FIG. 2 the tightening means comprise a hydraulic cylinder 204 configured to adjust the pressure according to the torque of the electric motor 201 and the force applied by the actuator 103. The electric motor 201 pivots around an axis 203. The hydraulic cylinder 204 may further adjust the pressure of the piston 102 and a hydraulic cylinder 103 actuating the piston 102. Information of the pressure exerted by the actuator 103 to the piston 103 may be lead to the hydraulic cylinder 204, thereby controlling the forces applied by the piston 102 and the electric motor 201.

In one embodiment a controller controls the device operation, such as the forces applied to components. The device may execute safety protocols, for example when it detects jammed components or any forces applied out of safe operational range.

The structure of the device may be sufficiently tall, with an upwards pipe-like structure to enable compression of the snow through the inlet 101 by the weight of the snow itself. The snow may be transported up to the pipe by a conveyor.

In one embodiment the inlet 101 is formed as a funnel having a wide end pointing upwards and a narrow end pointing downwards, below the wide end and towards the outer surface of the solid of revolution 100, wherein the snow received in the wide end causes the snow to compress into the funnel and against the outer surface of the solid of revolution 100. The structure may comprise the snow compactor ensuring the compression against the solid of revolution. The snow compactor may be used as the means for compressing snow received from the inlet 101 directly against an outer surface of rotating solid of revolution 100, or the snow compactor may push the snow into the tube 104.

In one exemplary embodiment speed of the outer surface is 60 m/s. In one example the cylinder diameter is 80 cm, and the cylinder rotates at 3000 rpm. A coefficient of friction between steel and ice is low, according to one exemplary measurement 0,014. According to one test scenario, sufficient surface pressure per unit area for melting snow has been achieved with 8 kg air pressure used with the tube having diameter of 60mm.

An example discloses a method for melting snow, comprising receiving the snow via an inlet. The method comprises compressing the snow against an outer surface of a solid of revolution, wherein friction between the snow and the outer surface causes the snow to melt. In one embodiment the method comprises compressing the snow in a tube comprising an opening for receiving a portion of snow at a first position and an outlet at a second position opening towards the outer surface of rotating solid of revolution; reciprocating a piston inside the tube between the first position and the second position; entering the portion of snow into the tube when the piston is in the first position; and compressing the portion of snow against the outer surface of rotating solid of revolution when the piston approaches the second position. In one embodiment the method comprises compressing the snow in a funnel having a wide end pointing upwards and a narrow end pointing downwards, below the wide end and towards the outer surface of the solid of revolution, wherein receiving snow in the wide end causes the snow to compress into the funnel and against the outer surface of the solid of revolution. In one embodiment the solid of revolution is a cylinder. In one embodiment the solid of revolution is a ball. In one embodiment the outer surface of the solid of revolution is made of metal. In one embodiment the outer surface of the solid of revolution is smooth. Alternatively, or in addition, herein is disclosed a device for melting snow, comprising: an inlet for receiving snow; a solid of revolution; and means for rotating the solid of revolution. The device comprises means for compressing snow received from the inlet against an outer surface of rotating solid of revolution, wherein friction between the snow and the outer surface causes the snow to melt. In one embodiment the means for compressing snow comprise: a tube comprising an inlet opening for receiving a portion of snow at a first position and an outlet at a second position opening towards the outer surface of rotating solid of revolution; a piston configured to reciprocate inside the tube between the first position and the second position; wherein the portion of snow enters the tube when the piston is in the first position and compresses against the outer surface of rotating solid of revolution when the piston approaches the second position. In one embodiment the means for compressing snow comprise: a funnel having a wide end as the inlet pointing upwards and a narrow end pointing downwards, below the wide end and towards the outer surface of the solid of revolution, wherein the snow received in the wide end causes the snow to compress into the funnel and against the outer surface of the solid of revolution. In one embodiment the device comprises an electric motor for rotating the solid of revolution. In one embodiment the solid of revolution is a cylinder. In one embodiment the solid of revolution is a ball. In one embodiment the outer surface of the solid of revolution is made of metal. In one embodiment the outer surface of the solid of revolution is smooth.

Alternatively, or in addition, the device control function can be performed, at least in part, by one or more hardware components or hardware logic

components. An example of the control system described hereinbefore is a computing-based device comprising one or more processors which may be microprocessors, controllers or any other suitable type of processors for processing computer-executable instructions to control the operation of the device in order to control one or more sensors, receive sensor data and use the sensor data. The computer-executable instructions may be provided using any computer-readable media that is accessible by a computing-based device. Computer-readable media may include, for example, computer storage media, such as memory and communications media. Computer storage media, such as memory, includes volatile and non-volatile, removable and non-removable media implemented in any method or technology for storage of information, such as computer-readable instructions, data structures, program modules or other data. Computer storage media includes, but is not limited to, RAM, ROM, EPROM, EEPROM, flash memory or other memory technology, CD-ROM, digital versatile disks (DVD) or other optical storage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other non-transmission medium that can be used to store information for access by a computing device. In contrast, communication media may embody computer-readable instructions, data structures, program modules, or other data in a modulated data signal, such as a carrier wave, or other transport mechanism. As defined herein, computer storage media does not include communication media. Therefore, a computer storage medium should not be interpreted to be a propagating signal per se. Propagated signals may be present in a computer storage media, but propagated signals per se are not examples of computer storage media. Although the computer storage media is shown within the computing-based device, it will be appreciated that the storage may be distributed or located remotely and accessed via a network or other communication link, for example, by using a communication interface.

The apparatus or the device may comprise an input/output controller arranged to output display information to a display device which may be separate from or integral to the apparatus or device. The input/output controller is also arranged to receive and process input from one or more devices, such as a user input device (e.g. a mouse, keyboard, camera, microphone or other sensor). The control system for the strand jacks may use various input or output information or metrics received from sensors monitoring the lifting process.

Any range or device value given herein may be extended or altered without losing the effect sought.

Although at least a portion of the subject matter has been described in language specific to structural features and/or acts, it is to be understood that the subject matter defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described above. Rather, the specific features and acts described above are disclosed as examples of implementing the claims and other equivalent features and acts are intended to be within the scope of the claims.

It will be understood that the benefits and advantages described above may relate to one embodiment or may relate to several embodiments. The embodiments are not limited to those that solve any or all of the stated problems or those that have any or all of the stated benefits and advantages. It will further be understood that reference to‘an’ item refers to one or more of those items. The steps of the methods described herein may be carried out in any suitable order, or simultaneously where appropriate. Additionally, individual blocks may be deleted from any of the methods without departing from the spirit and scope of the subject matter described herein. Aspects of any of the examples described above may be combined with aspects of any of the other examples described to form further examples without losing the effect sought.

The term‘comprising’ is used herein to mean including the method blocks or elements identified, but that such blocks or elements do not comprise an exclusive list and a method or apparatus may contain additional blocks or elements. It will be understood that the above description is given by way of example only and that various modifications may be made by those skilled in the art. The above specification, examples and data provide a complete description of the structure and use of exemplary embodiments. Although various embodiments have been described above with a certain degree of particularity, or with reference to one or more individual embodiments, those skilled in the art could make numerous alterations to the disclosed embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of this specification.