Improvements in, and connected with Means for Removing Snow from Streets, Roads, and other Surfaces, also Partly Applicable to the Removal of other Substances.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Feb., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 16th Nov., 1889-Accepted, 25th Jan., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in, and connected with Means for Removing Snow
from Streets, Roads, and other Surfaces, also Partly Applicable
to the Removal of other Substances.
I, OLIVER ALEXANDER WARREN, of 35 Victoria Street, Liverpool, in the County
of Lancaster, Restaurant Proprietor.
The main object of my invention is to provide means for removing snow from
streets, roads, or other surfaces, by apparatus propelled by mechanical or animal
power, and in which the substance used to melt or dissolve the snow is spread or
delivered over the surface by other than manual power, or by apparatus adapted to
spread the substance, such as salt, in a dry or solid state.
According to my invention to remove snow from streets, roads, and other surfaces,
I employ a liquid mixture of water and salt artificially heated, and this is distributed
by suitable distributing devices onto the snow; the distribution being effected prefer-
ably by forcing the liquid through the distributing devices at a considerable velocity
onto the snow by a steam injector or pump.
In apparatus according to my invention there is employed a steam generator; a
vessel, which I term the snow vessel, adapted to receive and melt snow by the heat
of steam made in the generator; a vessel, which I term the mixing vessel, adapted
to receive and hold the water resulting from the melting of the snow in said first
named vessel; and a vessel for containing salt from which the salt is delivered by hand
or mechanical means to the mixing vessel. In connection with the mixing vessel I
provide a pipe or pipes which are provided with suitable distributing nozzles or
orifices, arranged at the sides or ends, or both, of the apparatus, or at any convenient
and suitable points: The whole apparatus is mounted on wheels.
The heating of the vessels, namely the snow, and mixing vessels, or the former
only, may be effected by passing steam from the generator through a space or jacket
enclosing or partly enclosing them.
If the apparatus is to be propelled by animal power, the animals may he harnessed
to it in front or at the back; in the latter case the draught gear being so arranged.
that the force applied by the animals is a pulling one.
The liquid in the mixing vessel will be salt and water, and by the heat applied as
described by the steam, the temperature of the liquid mixture will be considerably
raised, and if driven out of the distributing nozzles or devices by steam supplied
from the boiler directly onto the snow, it will be at once melted and washed away.
When using a steam jet or ejector as the forcing fluid the temperature of the liquid
will receive an additional augmentation of heat.
To deliver the salt to the mixing vessel automatically may employ a device
actuated by the rotation of the wheels or other moving part of the apparatus by
which a certain proportional quantity may be fed from the salt vessel to the
mixing vessel.
The snow to supply the water may be fed by hand into the "snow-vessel," or
automatically by an elevating device, suitably operated by a moving part of the
apparatus, adapted to collect snow froin or near the surface of the ground or street,
raise it, and discharge it into said snow vessel.
The distributing pipes may be flexible or jointed so that they can be moved or
adjusted as required.
The purposes to wbich my invention is applicable to, besides the removal of snow,
is the removal of dirt, sand, or other substances from streets and other surfaces.
The parts of the apparatus above specified which would not in this application he
required, would of course be the salt and snow vessels; the mixing vessel might

page_text: then serve as a water cistern or vessel. To render the same apparatus servicable for
both kinds of uses, the parts not required for the cleansing of streets may be made
moveable and the apparatus rendered convertible; at the same time the apparatas
may be used for both purposes with them on it, only in one
be idle.
Datad this 19th dose of Fahr 1980
case they would
OLIVER ALEXANDER WARREN.
By Cheesbrough & Royston,
Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Means for Removing Snow
from Streets, Roads, and other Surfaces, also Partly Applicable
to the Removal of other Substances.
OLIVER ALEXANDER WARREN, of 35, Victoria Street, Liverpool, in the County
of Lancaster, Restaurant Proprietor, do hereby declare the nature of my said Inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, to he particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement :—
The main object of my Invention is to provide means for removing snow from
streets, roads, or other surfaces, by apparatus propelled by mecbanical or animal
power, and in which the substance used to melt or dissolve the snow is spread or
delivered over the surface by other than manual power or by apparatus adapted to
spread the substance (such as salt) in a dry or solid state.
According to my Invention, to remove snow from streets, roads, and other surfaces,
I employ a liquid mixture of water and salt, artificially heated, and this is distributed
by suitable distributing devices over or onto the snow; the distribution being effected
preferably by forcing the liquid through the distributing devices, at a considerable
velocity, onto the snow by a steam ejector or pump.
In apparatus according to my Invention there is employed a steam generator; a
vessel, which I term the snow vessel, adapted to receive and melt snow by the heat of
the steam made in the generator; a vessel, which I term the mixing vessel, adapted
to receive and hold the water resulting from the melting of the snow in said first
named vessel and a vessel for containing salt, from which the salt is delivered by
hand, or mechanical means, to the mixing vessel. In connection with the mixing
vessel I provide a pipe or pipes which are provided with suitable distributing nozzles
or orifices arranged at the side or ends, or both, of the apparatus, or at any convenient
and suitable points. The whole apparatus is mounted on wheels.
The heating of the vessels, namely the snow and mixing vessels, or the former
only, may be effected by passing steam from the generator through a space or jacket
enclosing or partly enclosing them.
If the apparatus is to be propelled by animal power, the animals may be harnessed
to it in front or at the back; in the latter case the draught gear being so arranged
that the force applied by the animals is a pulling one.
The liquid in the mixing vessel will be salt and water, and by the heat applied as
described by the steam, the temperature of the liquid mixture will be considerably
raised and if driven out of the distributing nozzles or devices, by steam pressure,
directly onto the snow it will be at once melted and washed away.
When using a
steam jet or ejector. as the forcing fluid, the temperature of the liquid will receive an
additional augmentation of heat.
To deliver, the salt to the mixing vessel automatically, I may employ a device
actuated by the rotation of one of the wheels, or other moving part of the apparatus,
by which a certain proportional quantity may be fed from the salt vessel to the
mixing vessel.
The snow to supply the water may be fed by hand into the "snow vessel" or auto-
matically by an elevating device, suitably operated by a moving part of the apparatus,

page_text: adapted to collect snow from or near the surface of the ground or street, raise it, and
discharge it into said snow vessel.
The distributing pipes may be flexible or jointed so that they can be moved or
adjusted as required.
The purposes to which my invention is applicable to, besides the removal of snow,
is the removal of dirt, sand, or other substances from streets and other surfaces.
The parts of the apparatus above specified which would not in this application be
required, would of course be the salt and snow vessels; the mixing vessel might then
serve as a water cistern or vessel. To render the same apparatus serviceable for
both kind of uses, the parts not required for the cleansing of streets may be made
removable, and the apparatus rendered convertible; at the same time the apparatus
may be used for both purposes with them on it, only in one case they would
be idle.
That this Invention may be more clearly understood I have hereunto annexed
three sheets of drawings, which make a part of this specification and are illustrative
of my Invention. The drawings are marked with letters and figures of reference
corresponding with those used in the following description, and like letters and
figures are used to denote the same or corresponding parts throughout the various
views and figures.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a sectional side elevation of an apparatus constructed according to my
Invention, for removing snow from streets, roads, and other like surfaces.
Figure 2 is a half end view of the apparatus shown at Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a sectional plan of the apparatus shown at Figure 1.
Figure illustrates in side elevation, and Figure 5 in plan, the application of my
Invention to a railway locomotive engine.
With reference in the first instance to Figures 1, 2 and 3; a designates a wheeled
carriage, on which is mounted a steam generator b; a vessel or tank c, which I term
the snow tank, and which is heated by a steam jacket e'; a vessel or tank d, under-
neath the snow tank e, provided with coils of piping e which are connected with the
steam generator the said tank d being adapted to receive and hold the water.
resulting from the melting of the snow in the tank c, which passes through holes in
the bottom of the tank c into the tank d. is a hopper for containing salt, which is
fed in regulated quantities from the hopper into the snow tank c by means of the
worm feeding device g, which is worked by means of the bevel wheels g¹, shaft g2,
pulley, belt, and pulley g³, which latter is mounted on the axle g of the
carriage a. The salt falling on the snow in the tank e melts the snow and passes
with the melted snow, as brine, into the tanks d, where it is heated by the steam
heated coils of piping e. are distributing pipes, provided with holes for spraying
the brine, which are placed on each side of the carriage a, just above the roadway
these pipes are supplied with hot brine from the tanks d by means of the pipes hi
which also serve to carry the pipes h. is a steam pipe from the generator &, said
pipe being provided with nozzles which enter the pipes and supply a pressure of
steam, which, together with the head of brine, causes the brine to be sprayed through
the holes in the pipes onto the roadway. kare valves for shutting off the supply
of brine to the pipes when required.
The carriage a is provided with a suitable pole, or shafts, and other usual fittings
for horses, and so that it can be drawn or pushed along the roadway, and the steain
generator b is provided with a safety valve and other usual mountings.
With reference to Figures 4 and 5 of the drawings, it will be seen that my inven-
tion can be applied to carriages or locomotives propelled by steam or other power on
tramways or railways; said Figures give an example of my Invention applied to the
front of a railway locomotive steam engine. In this case the pipes h for distributing
the brine and steam are carried in front of the engine and just above the track and
parallel therewith. The snow tank, the salt hopper, and the brine tank, (which may

page_text: be constructed as above described in reference-to-the road apparatus) are placed on
the engine tender or on a truck behind, the engine, the brine being led to the pipes
by the supply pipe, and the steam bbing supplied from the engine boiler through
the pipe
The operation of fan apparatus for removing snow according to my Invention; and.
also as above described, is as follows:-Snow is shovelled into or otherwise placed in
the snow tank c, or this tank may be supplied with water which is heated by its
steam jacket, salt is fed from the hopper into the tank c and the brine resulting
from the mixing of the snow or water and salt passes into the tank d, where it is
further heated by the steam heated coils e, the hot brine is then forced by its head
and steam pressure through the holes in the distributing pipes h' onto the snow
required to be melted, on the roadway or railway.
In the foregoing Specification I have described the means of removing snow and
certain kinds of apparatus therefore according to my Invention, but I wish it to be
understood that those precise means or apparatus may be amplified or modified, and
their equivalents employed without departing from this Invention.
Having now particularly. described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
1. The herein described method of removing snow from streets, roads, and other
surfaces, consisting in the employment of a liquid being a mixture of water and salt,
artificially heated, said liquid being forced through suitable distributing devices over
or into the snow.
2. In an apparatus for removing snow from streets, roads and other surfaces, a
steam generator, a vessel adapted to receive and melt the snow by means of steam
from the generator, a vessel adapted to receive and hold the water resulting from the
melting snow, a vessel adapted to contain and feed salt to the snow or water vessels,
a pipe or pipes for distributing the liquid brine (resulting from the salt and the
melted snow) onto or over the street, road or other surface, and a carriage or truck
for carrying the parts; substantially as set forth.
3. The herein described mode or method of removing snow from streets, roads, and
other surfaces, consisting of charging a vessel with snow or water, and heating said
water, mixing salt with the water, and then distributing the heated resulting brine
into or onto the snow to be removed.
4. The combination of parts set forth with reference to Figures 1, 2 and 3, of the
drawings, consisting essentially of the carriage a, steam generator b, vessel c (for
receiving snow and water) vessel d (provided with steam coils e) adapted to receive
the water from the vessel c, hopper adapted to contain and feed salt to the vessel c,
and pipe adapted to receive the brine from the vessel d and distribute it over the
surface to be treated, substantially as set forth.
5. The combination of parts set forth with reference to Figures 4 and 5 of the
Drawings consisting essentially of the pipes h adapted to be fitted to and carried in
front of a railway locomotive engine and just above the track, the brine supply
pipes steam nozzle i and steam supply pipe the said pipe being adapted to
receive and distribute the hot brine over into and onto the snow to be melted
substantially as set forth:
Dated this 15th day of November 1889.
CHEESBROUGH & ROYSTON,
15,,,Water Street, Liverpool, Agents for the Applicant.