Process and apparatus for snow removal

Abstract

A process for melting a snow mound located on a ground surface comprises the steps of actuating a heat emitting apparatus and inserting an elongate portion of the heat emitting apparatus into the snow mound so as to emit heat into a central portion of the snow mound, wherein the elongate portion is proximate the ground surface. As the snow melts within the interior or central portion of the snow mound, a cavity forms within the snow mound which creates an insulating container for retaining the emitted heat within the container during the melting process, thereby increasing the efficiency of the heat transfer from the heat emitting apparatus to the snow. A portable heat emitting apparatus is also provided.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A process for melting a snow mound located on a ground surface, the process comprising:
 actuating a heat emitting apparatus; and   inserting an elongate portion of the heat emitting apparatus into the snow mound so as to emit a heated medium into a central portion of the snow mound, wherein the elongate portion is proximate the ground surface; and   wherein the snow mound forms an insulating container for retaining the emitted heat within the container during the melting process.   
     
     
         2 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the heated medium includes a heated gas. 
     
     
         3 . The process of  claim 1 , further comprising manipulating the elongate portion so as to direct the heated medium into a selected area of the snow mound. 
     
     
         4 . The process of  claim 3 , wherein the elongate portion includes a directional valve for directing the heated medium emitted by the heat emitting apparatus into the selected area of the snow mound; and
 wherein the step of manipulating the elongate portion includes actuating the directional valve.   
     
     
         5 . The process of  claim 3 , wherein the selected area of the snow mound is disposed opposite the ground surface. 
     
     
         6 . The process of  claim 2 , wherein the heat emitting apparatus further comprises a heat exchanger including a burner for generating the heated medium; a fuel supply for fueling the burner; a blower for transferring the heated medium to the elongate portion through a probe conduit; and an exhaust conduit in communication with the heat exchanger for exhausting a volume of exhaust gases generated by the burner. 
     
     
         7 . The process of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 creating an exhaust passage in the snow mound, the exhaust passage extending between the central portion of the snow mound and an outer surface of the snow mound; and   inserting an outlet end of the exhaust conduit into the central portion of the snow mound;   wherein the outlet end of the exhaust conduit is in fluid communication with the exhaust passage of the snow mound; and   wherein the exhaust gases are heated exhaust gases exhausted through the outlet end of the exhaust conduit and the exhaust passage of the snow mound.   
     
     
         8 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the inserting step is completed prior to the actuating step. 
     
     
         9 . The process of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 directing the exhaust conduit over a water stream comprising melted snow of the snow mound; and   directing the water stream towards a storm drain of the ground surface.   
     
     
         10 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the inserting step includes substantially encasing an outer surface of the elongate portion of the heat emitting apparatus with snow of the central portion of the snow mound. 
     
     
         11 . A process for melting a snow mound located on a ground surface, the process comprising:
 a) actuating a heat emitting apparatus so as to emit a heated medium from an elongate heat probe of the heat emitting apparatus;   b) directing the heated medium towards an outer surface of the snow mound by positioning the elongate heat probe adjacent the outer surface, so as to melt a portion of the snow mound and thereby create a pocket in the outer surface of the snow mound; and   c) inserting the elongate heat probe into the pocket of the snow mound.   
     
     
         12 . An apparatus for carrying out the process of  claim 1  for melting a snow mound located on a ground surface, the apparatus comprising:
 a heat source for generating a heated medium, 
 a heat exchanger for transferring the heated medium through a probe conduit to an elongate heat probe, the elongate heat probe configured to be inserted into the snow mound proximate the ground surface, 
 wherein the heated medium is emitted from the elongate heat probe. 
 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the heated medium is heated air and the heat exchanger further comprises a blower for transferring the heated medium from the heat source through the probe conduit to the elongate heat probe. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the heat source is a burner configured to combust a fuel, the heat exchanger further including an exhaust conduit for exhausting an exhaust gas generated by the burner when combusting the fuel. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the exhaust conduit includes a heat exchanger end connected to the heat exchanger and an exhaust end oppositely disposed from the heat exchanger end, wherein the exhaust gas is a heated exhaust gas and the exhaust end is configured to be inserted into the snow mound so as to transmit the heated exhaust gas into the snow mound. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the elongate heat probe comprises a support base, the support base configured to be adjacent the ground surface when the elongate heat probe is inserted into the snow mound. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the support base is mounted to the elongate heat probe in sliding relation, wherein the elongate heat probe is configured to slide along a longitudinal probe axis, the probe axis being parallel to a slide axis of the support base so as to enable sliding translation of the elongate heat probe relative to the support base. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the elongate heat probe comprises a hollow body defining a cavity, the cavity in fluid communication with the probe conduit and configured to receive the heated medium, the body further defining one or more through holes extending from the cavity to an outer surface of the body,
 wherein when the apparatus is actuated, the heated medium is transferred from the heat exchanger through the probe conduit, the cavity and the one or more through holes so as to contact a volume of the snow mound proximate the outer surface of the body.   
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the elongate heat probe comprises a hollow body defining a cavity, the cavity in fluid communication with the probe conduit and configured to receive the heated medium, and a sleeve having an end wall and an opening, the sleeve fitted over a distal end of the elongate heat probe so as to receive the heated medium emitted from the elongate heat probe, wherein the end wall of the sleeve deflects the heated medium away from the end wall so as to evenly transmit heat from the heated medium to the sleeve. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the elongate heat probe includes a directional valve, the directional valve configured to direct the heated medium emitted by the elongate heat probe in a selected direction.