Apparatus and method for ice and snow removal

Abstract

An object such as a trailer or building has a flexible cover which normally protects the object, but on which unwanted surface material such as snow and ice may build up. Stowed between the object and the cover is an inflatable air bag. When it is desired to remove accumulated surface material, a fixture means is released to allow limited movement of the cover. The air bag is inflated from its stowed generally flat state and, in its inflated state, has a profile tending to dislodge the surface material. Once the surface material has been dislodged, the air bag is deflated and stowed, and the fixture means is secured.

1 . Apparatus for clearing surface material, the apparatus comprising a base object, a flexible cover over the base object from which the surface material is to be cleared, a fixture means fixing the cover to the base object, and a release mechanism actuable to permit a movement of at least part of the cover from the base object, a bag lodged between the cover and the base object, the bag inflatable to cause the movement of the at least part of the cover and thereby clear the surface material. 
     
     
         2 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , the base object being of a cuboid form, the flexible cover located over an upper face of the cuboid base object. 
     
     
         3 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 2 , the base object being one of a trailer, a truck and a building. 
     
     
         4 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 2 , the bag extending substantially the length of the base object. 
     
     
         5 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , the flexible cover being a taupaulin. 
     
     
         6 . Apparatus as claimed in  1 , the fixture means including a first set of anchor rings along one edge of the cover, a second set of anchor rings along a wall of the base object, a tie extending between pairs of rings of the first and second set with an end of the tie anchored at said release mechanism. 
     
     
         7 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , the fixture means including a bar extending along and attached to one edge of the cover, and a plurality of ties, each tie attached at one end to the flexible cover at respective points adjacent to the bar, the ties anchored at their distal ends to respective ones of a plurality of such release mechanisms. 
     
     
         8 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , the release mechanism including a spring movable against spring bias upon inflation of the bag to permit the movement of the flexible cover and movable under the spring bias upon a deflation of the bag to cause a reverse movement of the flexible cover. 
     
     
         9 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , the release mechanism including a spring movable against spring bias upon inflation of the bag to permit the movement of the flexible cover and movable under the spring bias to cause deflation of the bag and a reverse movement of the flexible cover. 
     
     
         10 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , having a plurality of such bags lodged between the flexible cover and the base object. 
     
     
         11 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , the base object having a wall, the bag having an elongate chamber, the bag lodged in a position in which the elongate chamber is close to and generally parallel to the wall. 
     
     
         12 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a generally rigid member lodged between the bag and the flexible cover, the rigid member pressed against the flexible cover upon inflation of the bag to cause a profile discontinuity in the flexible cover. 
     
     
         13 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , the cover having a rigid part and a flexible part, whereby, upon inflation of the bag, a profile discontinuity develops at a junction region between the rigid part and the flexible part. 
     
     
         14 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 13 , the rigid part being a cap and the flexible part being a wall depending from the cap. 
     
     
         15 . Apparatus as claims in  claim 1 , further comprising a compressed air generator and a conduit extending from the compressed air generator to the air inlet means formed in the bag. 
     
     
         16 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 15 , further including an air amplifier to draw air into the conduit in response to passage of compressed air in the conduit. 
     
     
         17 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 15 , further including an escape valve to permit escape of air from the bag upon cessation of passage of compressed air in the conduit. 
     
     
         18 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , further including a pump actuable to draw air from the bag to cause deflation thereof. 
     
     
         19 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the flexible cover over at least part of its area forms a wall of the bag. 
     
     
         20 . A method of clearing surface material, the method comprising preparing for clearing the surface material by storing an inflatable bag at a surface of a base object, and fixing a flexible cover over the inflatable bag and the base object by a fixture means, and subsequently clearing surface material from the flexible cover by actuating a release mechanism to permit a movement of at least part of the flexible cover from the base object, and inflating the bag to cause the movement of the at least part of the cover thereby to clear the surface material.