Snow removal system

Abstract

A snow removal vehicle and system is disclosed. The system allows for snow captured by the vehicle to be melted and heated into a heated liquid and thereafter sprayed to remove snow to the sides and rear of the vehicle. Methods of removing snow are also disclosed.

1 . A motorized vehicle for removing snow from a surface comprising: 
 a shovel mounted to said vehicle for removing snow located on a portion of said surface aligned with said vehicle while said vehicle traverses said surface;    a heating assembly for melting said snow removed by said shovel and producing a resulting heated liquid; and    one or more lances mounted to at least one side of said vehicle for spraying said heated liquid therefrom to melt snow located on a side portion of said surface located to the side of said vehicle while said vehicle traverses said surface.    
   
   
       2 . The vehicle according to  claim 1 , wherein said lances are mounted on both sides of said vehicle.  
   
   
       3 . The vehicle according to  claim 2 , further comprising a plurality of lances mounted to a rear of said vehicle for spraying said heated liquid therefrom to melt snow located on a rear portion of said surface located to the rear of said vehicle while said vehicle traverses said surface.  
   
   
       4 . The vehicle according to  claim 1 , wherein said shovel is height adjustable allowing for a selected depth of said snow to be removed from said surface.  
   
   
       5 . The vehicle according to  claim 1 , further comprising a conveyor for transporting said snow from said shovel to said heater.  
   
   
       6 . The vehicle according to  claim 5 , wherein said heating assembly includes a converter having at least two converter heaters, an agitator, a steam sparger, and a steam eductor.  
   
   
       7 . The vehicle according to  claim 1 , wherein said shovel is mounted to a front portion of said vehicle.  
   
   
       8 . The vehicle according to  claim 1 , further comprising at least one camera for aiding in the operation of said vehicle.  
   
   
       9 . A method of removing snow from a surface comprising: 
 providing a snow removal vehicle having a shovel;    moving said vehicle along a first path;    capturing snow located on said surface in alignment with said vehicle with said shovel while moving said vehicle in said first path;    melting and heating said captured snow to provide a heated liquid; and    spraying said heated liquid to melt snow located to the side of said first path.    
   
   
       10 . The method according to  claim 9 , further including the step of transporting said captured snow from said shovel to a heating assembly.  
   
   
       11 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein said spraying step includes spraying said heated liquid to melt snow located to both sides of said first path.  
   
   
       12 . The method according to  claim 11 , further comprising the step of spraying said heated liquid to melt snow located to the rear of said vehicle.  
   
   
       13 . A method of removing snow from a surface comprising: 
 moving a snow removal vehicle in a first direction;    capturing snow to define a first swath having a first width on said surface;    melting and heating said captured snow to produce a heated liquid; and    spraying said heated liquid to melt snow to the side of said first path to increase said first width.    
   
   
       14 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein said capturing step includes capturing said snow by means of a shovel mounted on said removal vehicle while moving in said first direction.  
   
   
       15 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein said shovel has a width substantially equal to said first width of said first swath.  
   
   
       16 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein said capturing step includes capturing only a portion of said snow in said first swath.  
   
   
       17 . The method according to  claim 16 , further including the step of adjusting the height of said shovel to determine how much snow to capture.  
   
   
       18 . The method according to  claim 17 , further including the step of spraying said heated liquid to melt residual snow to the rear of said vehicle, said residual snow left on said surface after only a portion of said snow is captured in said first swath.  
   
   
       19 . The method according to  claim 14 , further comprising the step of transporting said captured snow from said shovel to a heating assembly for melting and heating said snow.  
   
   
       20 . The method according to  claim 19 , wherein said heating assembly includes a converter, a flush tank and a boiler.