Snow Removal System

Abstract

A snow removal system for removing snow from a driving surface. The snow removal system is designed to be installed to a vehicle, such as a truck. The system includes a blade for gathering the snow from the driving surface. The snow is directed into an opening that extends through the blade and into a duct. The snow moves through the duct and into a melting unit. The snow is melted in the melting unit into water and/or steam during the removal process. The melted snow may then be discharged from the system.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A snow removal system designed to be mounted to a vehicle to remove snow from a driving surface, the snow removal system comprising:
 an elongated blade with an outer perimeter formed by opposing upper and lower sides and opposing lateral sides, the blade including an opening that extends through the blade and is positioned within the outer perimeter;   a melting unit with a container with a heated interior space to melt the snow and an outlet through which the melted snow can exit from the melting unit, the melting unit being positioned vertically above the blade; and   an enclosed duct that extends between the opening in the blade and the melting unit, the duct including a first section with a horizontal orientation that extends away from the opening and a second section with a vertical orientation that extends into the melting unit.   
     
     
         2 . The snow removal system of  claim 1 , wherein the blade includes a concave shape with the opening positioned at a center of the blade and being recessed inward from the outer perimeter. 
     
     
         3 . The snow removal system of  claim 1 , wherein the first section of the duct includes a straight shape and extends directly away from the opening in the blade. 
     
     
         4 . The snow removal system of  claim 1 , further comprising a conveyor in the interior of the duct to move the snow along the duct, the conveyor including rollers that are spaced apart and a rotating belt that extends around the rollers. 
     
     
         5 . The snow removal system of  claim 4 , wherein the conveyor is positioned at the second section of the duct. 
     
     
         6 . The snow removal system of  claim 1 , further comprising a vacuum operatively connected to the interior of the duct to create a force to move the snow along the duct. 
     
     
         7 . The snow removal system of  claim 1 , further comprising a fan operatively connected to the interior of the duct to create a force to move the snow along the duct. 
     
     
         8 . A snow removal system designed to be mounted to a vehicle to remove snow from a driving surface, the snow removal system comprising:
 an elongated blade with an opening that extends through the blade and is contained within an interior section of the blade, the blade configured to be mounted to a front of the vehicle;   a melting unit positioned within a bed of the vehicle that is elevated above the blade, the melting unit including a heated interior space to melt the snow and at least one discharge port through which the melted snow can exit from the interior space; and   an enclosed duct with an inlet that is mounted to the opening in the blade and an outlet at the interior space of the melting unit, the duct comprising a first section configured to extend away from the blade and to be positioned under a cab of the vehicle and a second section that extends from the first section to the melting unit, the duct comprising a conveyor with a moving belt that rotates to move the snow along the duct towards the melting unit.   
     
     
         9 . The snow removal system of  claim 8 , wherein the conveyor extends along an entire length of the duct from the inlet to the outlet. 
     
     
         10 . The snow removal system of  claim 8 , wherein the conveyor extends along a limited section of the duct. 
     
     
         11 . The snow removal system of  claim 10 , wherein the second section of the duct includes a vertical orientation and the conveyor is positioned at the second section of the duct. 
     
     
         12 . The snow removal system of  claim 11 , wherein the first section of the duct includes a straight shape and extends directly away from the opening in the blade. 
     
     
         13 . The snow removal system of  claim 8 , wherein the blade includes a concave shape with the opening positioned at a center of the blade and being recessed inward from an outer perimeter of the blade. 
     
     
         14 . The snow removal system of  claim 8 , further comprising a vacuum operatively connected to the interior of the duct to create a force to move the snow along the duct. 
     
     
         15 . The snow removal system of  claim 8 , further comprising a fan operatively connected to the interior of the duct to create a force to move the snow along the duct. 
     
     
         16 . A snow removal system designed to be mounted to a vehicle to remove snow from a driving surface, the snow removal system comprising:
 an elongated blade with an outer perimeter formed by opposing upper and lower sides and opposing lateral sides, the blade including a central opening positioned within the outer perimeter;   a melting unit with a container having a heated interior space to melt the snow, the melting unit being positioned vertically above the blade; and   an enclosed duct that extends between the opening in the blade and the melting unit, the duct including a first section at the opening with a horizontal orientation that extends away from the opening and a second section downstream from the first section and having a vertical orientation that extends into the melting unit, the duct also comprising a conveyor with a moving belt that rotates to move the snow along the duct towards the melting unit.   
     
     
         17 . The snow removal system of  claim 16 , wherein the conveyor is positioned along the second section of the duct. 
     
     
         18 . The snow removal system of  claim 16 , wherein the blade includes a concave shape with the opening is recessed inward from the outer perimeter of the blade. 
     
     
         19 . The snow removal system of  claim 16 , further comprising a vacuum operatively connected to the interior of the duct to create a force to move the snow along the duct. 
     
     
         20 . The snow removal system of  claim 16 , further comprising a fan operatively connected to the interior of the duct to create a force to move the snow along the duct.