Snow removal apparatus

Abstract

A snow removal apparatus is presented having a snow collection system that includes a housing having an auger and an impeller. The snow collection system feeds collected snow to a main duct which feeds the collected snow to the hollow interior of a tank. The tank includes at least one baffle therein and a heating system which rapidly converts the frozen snow into liquid and steam. The steam generated within the tank is vented through an exhaust opening into the atmosphere. By converting snow to steam the snow removal apparatus presented increases the speed and ease of snow removal and elevates many of the disadvantages of conventional snow removal such as snow transportation and storage.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A snow removal apparatus comprising:
 a snow collection system;   the snow collection system having a front thrower assembly having a housing having at least one rotatable auger and at least one rotatable impeller;   a tank;   the tank having a hollow interior that includes at least one baffle therein;   a main duct disposed between the snow collection system and the tank;   the main duct configured to direct snow collected by the snow collection system to the tank;   a heating system positioned within the tank;   the heating system formed of tubing that lines an interior surface of the tank;   the tubing having a wire therein that generates heat from electrical current;   the tank having an exhaust opening; and   wherein when snow is collected by the snow collection system the snow is directed through the main duct to the tank, the snow is heated by the heating system and converted into steam which is vented through the exhaust opening.   
     
     
         2 . The snow removal apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one baffle includes at least one vent hole near a top edge of the at least one baffle configured to allow steam to travel from one portion of the tank to another portion of the tank. 
     
     
         3 . The snow removal apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one baffle includes at least one fluid hole near a bottom edge of the at least one baffle configured to allow water to travel from one portion of the tank to another portion of the tank. 
     
     
         4 . The snow removal apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein when snow collected by the snow removal apparatus passes through the at least one impeller, the at least one impeller chops the snow into fine particles. 
     
     
         5 . The snow removal apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one impeller is configured in the shape of a fan. 
     
     
         6 . The snow removal apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one impeller is located downstream of the at least one auger. 
     
     
         7 . The snow removal apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the tank is insulated to preserve heat and prevent an exterior surface of the tank from becoming excessively hot. 
     
     
         8 . The snow removal apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein electrical current is provided to the heating system by a battery system. 
     
     
         9 . The snow removal apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the tank receives exhaust from an engine to help maintain an elevated temperature of the tank. 
     
     
         10 . The snow removal apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the wire is a nichrome 80/20 wire that forms a layer of chrominum oxide when heated. 
     
     
         11 . The snow removal apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the tubing includes a layer of ceramic electrical insulation covering the wire. 
     
     
         12 . The snow removal apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the tubing includes a metal sheath. 
     
     
         13 . The snow removal apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the tank includes a drain port configured to drain water out of the tank. 
     
     
         14 . The snow removal apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one brush configured to sweep a ground surface clean. 
     
     
         15 . The snow removal apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a ground heater configured to direct heated air toward a ground surface. 
     
     
         16 . The snow removal apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a ground heater configured to direct heated air toward a ground surface and at least one brush configured to sweep a ground surface clean, wherein the ground heater is positioned forward of the brush. 
     
     
         17 . The snow removal apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a pressure valve configured to selectively allow the passage of steam from the tank into the atmosphere once a predetermined pressure is reached within the tank.