Snow compacting and removal apparatus

Abstract

A snow removal device, adapted to be installed on a motor vehicle, for compacting, transporting and discharging snow, includes: (a) a rectangular box-shaped structure for carrying snow, the structure having a front panel, side panels and rear gate panel which is can be opened to permit the snow to be discharged; (b) a compactor plate, disposed substantially vertically in the box-shaped structure, for pushing snow inside the structure toward the rear gate panel; (c) a screw mechanism which moves the compactor plate from a point adjacent the front panel toward the rear gate panel, thereby compacting the snow, and back again; and (d) a snow blower mechanism, preferably attachable to and detachable from the front of the motor vehicle, for collecting and blowing snow into the open top of the box-shaped structure.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A snow carrier device, adapted to be mounted on a transport vehicle chassis, for compacting and transporting snow, said carrier device comprising, in combination:
 (a) a rectangular box-shaped structure having a central longitudinal axis, said box-shaped structure having an opening at the top for receiving snow and having a floor panel, two opposite sidewall panels, a front panel and a rear gate panel which is openable to permit the snow contents of the structure to be discharged,   (b) a compactor plate, disposed substantially vertically in the box-shaped structure, for pushing snow inside the box-shaped structure toward the rear gate panel; and   (c) means for moving the compactor plate, while maintaining its substantially vertical orientation, from a point adjacent the front panel of the box-shaped structure toward the rear gate panel thereof and back again, said moving means including:   (1) at least one elongate screw rod adapted for installation in the box-shaped structure, extending parallel to said central longitudinal axis and transverse to the compactor plate, said screw rod having an external screw thread that mates with the internal screw thread in the rod bearing on the compactor plate; and   (2) at least one drive mechanism, mechanically connected to selectively rotate said at least one screw rod either clockwise or counter-clockwise and thereby cause said compactor plate to move back and forth within the box-shaped structure in the direction of the central longitudinal axis;   thereby to repeatedly compact snow that enters through an open top of the box-shaped structure until the structure is sufficiently loaded with snow and thereafter, after opening the rear gate panel, to discharge the compacted snow out the rear of the box-shaped structure.   
     
     
         2 . The snow carrier device of  claim 1 , wherein the rear gate panel includes a single panel that is hinged at the top and is operable to open outward from the bottom. 
     
     
         3 . The snow carrier device of  claim 1 , wherein the rear gate panel includes two parallel panels that are hinged on opposite sides and are operable to open outward from the center. 
     
     
         4 . The snow carrier device of  claim 1 , wherein the box-shaped structure further includes a top panel disposed above the space between the front panel and the compactor plate to prevent snow from entering said space. 
     
     
         5 . The snow carrier device of  claim 4 , wherein the top panel includes a plurality of telescoping sections which extend outward in the longitudinal direction when the compactor plate is moved toward the rear panel and which retract and assemble together when the compactor plate is moved toward the front panel. 
     
     
         6 . The snow carrier device of  claim 5 , wherein the box-shaped structure further comprises a first rectangular enclosure that forms the front panel and houses said drive mechanism. 
     
     
         7 . The snow carrier device of  claim 6 , wherein the box-shaped structure further includes a second enclosure mounted above the first enclosure, said second enclosure having an opening slot on a side facing the rear gate panel for entry and exit of the telescoping sections of the top panel, said second enclosure housing said telescoping sections when in the retracted position. 
     
     
         8 . The snow carrier device of  claim 7 , wherein said second enclosure has an upstanding flange above said opening slot to catch snow that has fallen onto the top panel when the telescoping sections thereof are retracted, thereby causing said snow to drop into the space between the compactor plate and the rear gate panel. 
     
     
         9 . The snow carrier device of  claim 4 , wherein each telescoping section of the top panel includes a vertically extending lip on its opposing lateral edges to form a “trough” for collecting snow that falls thereon. 
     
     
         10 . The snow carrier device of  claim 4 , wherein the upper surface of the top panel is coated with TEFLON®. 
     
     
         11 . A truck for compacting and transporting snow, said truck having a truck cab and a truck body, arranged behind the cab along a central longitudinal axis of the truck, said truck body comprising a rectangular box-like structure having a floor panel, two opposite sidewall panels, a front panel and a rear gate panel which is openable to permit the contents of the truck body to be discharged,
 said truck body incorporating snow compacting means which comprises, in combination:   (a) a compactor plate, arranged substantially vertically within said truck body and having at least one rod bearing with an internal screw thread; and   (b) means for moving the compactor plate within the truck body, while maintaining its substantially vertical orientation, from a point in the vicinity of the front panel toward the rear gate panel and back again, said moving means including:   (1) at least one elongate screw rod extending parallel to said central longitudinal axis and transverse to the compactor plate, said screw rod having an external screw thread that mates with the internal screw thread in the rod bearing on the compactor plate; and   (2) at least one drive mechanism mechanically connected to selectively rotate said at least one screw rod either clockwise or counter-clockwise and thereby cause said compactor plate to move back and forth within the truck body in the direction of the central longitudinal axis;   thereby to repeatedly compact snow that enters through an open top of the truck body until the truck is loaded and thereafter, after opening the rear gate panel, to discharge the snow out the rear of the truck body.   
     
     
         12 . The truck of  claim 11 , wherein the rear gate panel includes a single panel that is hinged at the top and is operable to open outward from the bottom. 
     
     
         13 . The truck of  claim 11 , wherein the rear gate panel includes two parallel panels that are hinged on opposite sides and are operable to open outward from the center. 
     
     
         14 . The truck of  claim 11 , wherein the box-shaped structure further includes a top panel disposed above the space between the front panel and the compactor plate to prevent snow from entering said space. 
     
     
         15 . The truck of  claim 14 , wherein the top panel includes a plurality of telescoping sections which extend outward in the longitudinal direction when the compactor plate is moved toward the rear panel and which retract and assemble together when the compactor plate is moved toward the front panel. 
     
     
         16 . The truck of  claim 15 , wherein the box-shaped structure further comprises a first rectangular enclosure that forms the front panel and houses said drive mechanism. 
     
     
         17 . The truck of  claim 16 , wherein the box-shaped structure further includes a second enclosure mounted above the first enclosure, said second enclosure having an opening slot on a side facing the rear gate panel for entry and exit of the telescoping sections of the top panel, said second enclosure housing said telescoping sections when in the retracted position. 
     
     
         18 . The truck of  claim 17 , wherein said second enclosure has an upstanding flange above said opening slot to catch snow that has fallen onto the top panel when the telescoping sections thereof are retracted, thereby causing said snow to drop into the space between the compactor plate and the rear gate panel. 
     
     
         19 . The truck of  claim 14 , wherein each telescoping section of the top panel includes a vertically extending lip on its opposing lateral edges to form a “trough” for collecting snow that falls thereon. 
     
     
         20 . The truck of  claim 14 , wherein the upper surface of the top panel is coated with TEFLON®. 
     
     
         21 . The truck of  claim 11 , further comprising a snow blower module arranged in front of the truck cab, said snow blower module having a blow pipe for directing snow picked up by the module into the open top of the truck body.