Double interface heat transfer system and snow melting machines employing such a system

Abstract

A process for snow melting but useful elsewhere, accomplished by an air/water interface and a water/snow interface. Water is sprayed into a stream of hot air, which is blown onto the snow. The small particles of water are intimately involved with the air molecules and the heat of the air is absorbed by the water droplets, the air giving up its heat to a very large extent. Next, the droplets are combined into larger drops, and then allowed to drop onto the snow. Water, being much heavier than air is much better at absorbing and carrying heat. The heat of the hot air is thus transferred to the snow causing it to melt by using hot water as a heat transfer medium. If the some of the water turns to steam and condenses back into water the effect is further enhanced by about ten times.

1 . A snow melter, comprising: 
 means configured to discharge heated water droplets onto snow;    said water droplets entrained in heated air; wherein:    said water droplets are entrained in said heated air before application of said heated air to a vessel containing said snow.    
   
   
       2 . The snow melter according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a conduit configured to deliver said water droplets entrained in heated air to said vessel;    said conduit comprising a plurality of lateral projections; and    said lateral projections configured such that said water droplets entrained in heated air impinge on said projections.    
   
   
       3 . The snow melter according to  claim 2 , wherein: 
 said lateral projections are configured such that no direct path exists through said conduit without impinging on said lateral projections.    
   
   
       4 . The snow melter according to  claim 2 , wherein: 
 at least a portion of said conduit provided with said lateral projections takes a convoluted path    
   
   
       5 . The snow melter according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a water nozzle comprising a divergent outlet,    said outlet having a plurality of holes in an outer portion thereof;    whereby said heated air passes through said plurality of said holes and entrains said water droplets therein.    
   
   
       6 . The snow melter according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a fuel nozzle disc    said fuel nozzle disc comprising a plurality of exit holes arranged around said periphery thereof;    said exit holes configured to discharge fuel; and    an igniter configured to ignite fuel discharged from said fuel nozzle disc; whereby:    air is thereby heated before entraining said water droplets in said air.    
   
   
       7 . The snow melter according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a pipe carrying said heated air; and    a water jacket surrounding said pipe; wherein:    said water jacket is provided before a point where said water droplets are entrained in said heated air; and    said water droplets comprise water taken from said water jacket after being warmed by said heated air.    
   
   
       8 . The snow melter according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a discharge outlet for directing said water droplets onto said snow; wherein:    said discharge outlet is movable to align it with said vessel containing said snow.    
   
   
       9 . The snow melter according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a pump for collecting water from the melted snow and providing a supply of water for said water droplets.    
   
   
       10 . The snow melter according to  claim 9 , further comprising: 
 a filter for filtering said supply of water, said filter comprising:    a screen;    a pipe comprising a first end communicating with said screen and a second end communicating with said pump;    at least one lateral port in said first end of said pipe;    a ring configured to close said at least one said lateral port when in a first position and to uncover said at least one said lateral port when in a second position;    means to move said ring between said first position and said second position; wherein:    said screen covers said at least one lateral port when said ring is in said second position.    
   
   
       11 . A method of melting snow, comprising: 
 discharging heated water droplets onto snow;    said water droplets entrained in heated air; wherein:    said water droplets are entrained in said heated air before application of said heated air to a vessel containing said snow.    
   
   
       12 . The method of melting snow according to  claim 11 , further comprising: 
 before delivering said water droplets entrained in heated air to said vessel;    impinging said water droplets entrained in heated air on a plurality of lateral projections.    
   
   
       13 . The method of melting snow according to  claim 12 , wherein: 
 no direct path exists through said conduit without impinging on said lateral projections.    
   
   
       14 . The according to  claim 12 , further comprising the step of: 
 passing said water droplets entrained in heated air through a convoluted path for at least a portion of said step of impinging said heated air comprising said water droplets on a plurality of lateral projections.    
   
   
       15 . The method of melting snow according to  claim 11 , further comprising: 
 discharging water into said heated air through a divergent outlet,    said outlet having a plurality of holes in an outer portion thereof;    whereby said heated air passes through said plurality of said holes and entrains said water droplets therein.    
   
   
       16 . The method of melting snow according to  claim 11 , further comprising the steps of: 
 discharging fuel through a plurality of radially arranged exit holes;    igniting fuel discharged from said radially arranged exit holes; and thereby    heating air before entraining said water droplets in said air.    
   
   
       17 . The method of melting snow according to  claim 11 , further comprising the steps of: 
 providing a pipe carrying said heated air; and    providing a water jacket surrounding said pipe; wherein:    said water jacket is provided before a point where said water droplets are entrained in said heated air; and    pre-heating water in said water jacket, and thereby pre-heating said water droplets, by said heated air.    
   
   
       18 . The method of melting snow according to  claim 11 , further comprising the steps of: 
 providing a discharge outlet for directing said water droplets onto said snow; wherein:    moving said discharge outlet is to align it with said vessel containing said snow.    
   
   
       19 . The method of melting snow according to  claim 11 , further comprising the steps of: 
 collecting water from the melted snow; and    providing a supply of water for said water droplets from said melted snow.    
   
   
       20 . The method of melting snow according to  claim 19 , further comprising the steps of: 
 providing a filter comprising a screen;    opening a first end of a pipe communicating with said screen, said pipe comprising a second end communicating with said pump;    closing each of at least one lateral port in said pipe; and    filtering said supply of water; and    backflushing said filter by the steps of:    closing said first end of said pipe;    opening at least one said lateral port; and    covering said at least one lateral port with said screen.