Mobile apparatus for collecting and melting snow

Claim 1

MOBILE APPARATUS FOR COLLECTING AND MELTING SNOW, COMPRISING A VEHICLE BODY HAVING A CAB, WHEELS AND WHEEL PROPULSION MEANS; A WATER COLLECTION TANK SECURED TO SAID BODY; A HORIZONTAL SCREW CONVEYOR SECURED TO THE BOTTOM FRONT OF SAID CAB FOR COLLECTING SNOW OFF A SURFACE SUCH AS A STREET; A VERTICALLY INCLINED BELT CONVEYOR EXTENDING OVER SAID CAB AND HAVING A TOP DISCHARGING HOOD, THE SNOW FROM SAID SCREW CONVEYOR BEING SUPPLIED TO THE BOTTOM OF THE BELT CONVEYOR WHEREBY THE SNOW IS DISCHARGED FROM SAID HOOD; AN ELECTRICALLY OPERATED SNOW MELTER POSITIONED BETWEEN SAID HOOD AND SAID TANK TO RECEIVE SNOW, MELT SAME AND DISCHARGE THE RESULTANT WATER INTO SAID TANK; A GASOLINE ENGINE-ELECTRIC GENERATOR UNIT MOUNTED ON SAID BODY TO SUPPLY ELECTRIC CURRENT TO SAID MELTER, SAID MELTER HAVING A HOLLOW HOUSING IN THE SHAPE OF A TRUNCATED CONE, THE SMALL END OF WHICH IS CONNECTED TO SAID HOOD, THE LARGE END OF WHICH COMMUNICATES WITH THE TOP END OF THE TANK, THE BOTTOM OF THE LARGE END BEING AT A LOWER LEVEL THAN THE BOTTOM OF THE SMALL END, THE TOP OF THE SMALL END HAVING AN OPENING COMMUNICATING WITH SAID HOOD WHEREBY SNOW IS FED BY GRAVITY INTO THE MELTER, THE BOTTOM OF THE LARGE END CARRYING DRAIN HOLES COMMUNICATING WITH THE INTERIOR OF THE TANK WHEREBY WATER IS DISCHARGED BY GRAVITY INTO THE TANK, A ROTATABLE SHAFT BEING AXIALLY POSITIONED WITHIN THE HOUSING AND JOURNALLED THEREIN AT THE ENDS THEREOF, AND SAID SHAFT CARRYING ELECTRICALLY ENERGIZED SNOW MELTING HEATING ELEMENTS.