JPH0319324B2 - - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention A. Purpose of the Invention Industrial Field of Application This invention provides an economical method for melting snow on road surfaces such as roads, parking lots, and railway tracks in accordance with snowfall intensity and traffic conditions on the road surface. This invention relates to a water volume control snow melting device.

Prior Art The following prior art is known for melting snow according to weather conditions.

First, JP-A No. 53-63721 “Drifter water snow melting control device”
The system detects the temperature of the return water after snow melting, determines the weather conditions based on its height, controls the snow melting water heater using the control device, and automatically adjusts the water temperature of the water to melt the snow. This is an economical way to do this.

Next, the temperature of the return water after snow removal is detected in the same manner as described above, as in the ``Snow removal device along railway lines'' in 1983-32536.
This method determines the weather conditions based on the height of the snow and controls the water flow control valve, automatically controlling the amount of water sprinkled according to the weather conditions and melting snow.

Furthermore, as shown in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 56-167011 "Snow removal device with automatic variable water consumption", a return pipe and an automatic opening/closing pipe with a smaller diameter than the water supply pipe are attached to the water supply pipe, and this pipe is opened/closed. There is also a method of automatically varying the amount of watering depending on the intensity of snowfall.

In addition, when looking at water for snow melting, the water temperature is generally
In addition to the method of effectively utilizing the thermal energy of groundwater by pumping up groundwater at a temperature of about 12℃ from a snow melting valve and using it as snow melting water, A known method is to introduce surface water from rivers, lakes, etc., precipitate fine dust, and then use the supernatant surface water for snow melting, such as in the "Road Snow Melting Device".

Problems to be Solved by the Invention First, in terms of weather conditions, there is actually not much correlation between the snowfall intensity and the temperature of the return water after melting snow, and even if the snowfall intensity changes, the water temperature of the return water will change. is almost constant, so it is very difficult to judge the weather conditions based on the temperature of the returning water. Furthermore, even if the temperature of sprinkled water is increased, not all of the heat is used for snow melting, but is dissipated into the atmosphere or onto the road surface, so the snow melting effect does not change much. In addition, with the method of attaching an automatic opening/closing valve to the return pipe, the amount of water being conveyed is not measured, so it is not possible to confirm whether the amount of water being conveyed is actually commensurate with the intensity of snowfall, and the attached valve is not a flow rate control valve, but an opening/closing valve. Since it is a valve, it is necessary to change the size of the return pipe in order to change the set value of the water flow rate, and in reality, changing the set value of the water flow rate is extremely difficult. Moreover, the amount of water conveyed is 3
In order to control the water in more than one stage, it is necessary to install a plurality of return water pipes and automatic opening/closing valves, which increases the equipment cost accordingly. Due to the above problems,
Conventional methods are not very effective in melting snow economically depending on the actual intensity of snowfall.

Next, regarding water for snow melting, when groundwater is used, in regions with soft ground, there is a risk that the groundwater level will drop significantly, leading to ground subsidence. On the other hand, when using surface water introduced from rivers, lakes, etc., the water temperature is much lower than that of groundwater, and therefore the snow melting effect is inferior to that of groundwater. Furthermore, since surface water contains fine dust, a large-scale water treatment device is required to remove it, resulting in an increase in equipment costs.

In addition to these, conventional methods do not take into account the traffic conditions on the snow melting surface when watering.
The drawback is that water is constantly sprinkled on areas where snow melting is not necessary based on traffic conditions, such as unused roads in parking lots and depots.

(b) Means for Solving the Constituent Problems of the Invention The present invention was devised to eliminate the drawbacks of the prior art. A control panel that selects the stage and manually instructs the snow melting device, and a control panel that divides the water sent from the water tank through the water pump to suit the purpose of driving road surfaces, parking lots, vehicle depots, etc. A water pipe is installed at the branched part of the water pipe to measure the amount of water sprinkled in each snow melting range and send a signal to the control panel. A water sprinkling flow meter is installed downstream of each sprinkling flow meter at the branched portion of the water pipe, and so that the water sprinkling amount in each snow melting range is the appropriate water sprinkling amount determined by the previously described control panel. It is characterized by comprising a water sprinkling amount control valve that adjusts the valve opening degree based on a signal output from a control panel in response to a measurement signal from each water sprinkling flow meter.

The second invention also provides a control panel that is installed remotely and that manually instructs the snow melting device by selecting the stage of starting or stopping the snow melting device and the amount of water to be sprinkled, and a control panel that sends a signal to the control panel. Water sent via a water pump from a water storage tank equipped with a surface meter is branched and channeled to each snow melting area divided according to the purpose of driving road surface, parking lot, vehicle depot, etc. , a water transmission pipe, a watering amount flow meter installed at the branched part of the water pipe to measure the amount of water sprinkled in each snow melting range and send a signal to the control panel, and each branched part of the water pipe. It is installed on the downstream side of the watering flow rate meter, and receives the measurement signal from each watering rate flow meter and sends it out from the control panel so that the amount of water sprinkled in each snow melting range is the appropriate amount determined by the control panel. a water treatment tank that is equipped with a water sprinkling amount control valve that adjusts the valve opening degree based on a signal sent from the snow melting area, and a water level gauge that is connected to a return pipe for the snow melting water that has passed through the snow melting range and that sends a signal to the control panel; , a pump that pumps up the water treated by this water treatment tank based on a signal from the control panel, a recovery flow meter that measures the amount of recovered water and sends a signal to the control panel, and a valve opening based on the signal from the control panel. A recovery pipe that guides the snow melting water to the water storage tank via the heating tank, a water thermometer that detects the water temperature at the exit side of the heating tank and adjusts the burner of the heating tank, and A make-up water supply pipe is connected and the side pipe bypasses the heating tank and is connected to the recovery pipe upstream of the water temperature gauge.

Effects In the first invention, the operator observes the snowfall situation and road surface condition, determines whether or not snow melting is necessary and the degree of snowfall intensity, and performs the following operations by remote manual operation from the control panel.
Select the stage of starting or stopping the snow melting device and the amount of watering. On the other hand, the amount of water sprinkled in each snow melting range is measured and a signal is sent to the control panel. Further, a control signal is sent from the control panel to the water sprinkling amount regulating valve, and the valve opening degree is adjusted to automatically control the water sprinkling amount in each snow melting range to the selected water sprinkling amount level.

In addition, if watering is no longer necessary in some areas of the snow melting area due to low traffic on the road or there are idle tracks, the area where watering is not needed can be controlled remotely from the control panel. The area of watering is limited by completely closing one or more of the watering amount control valves corresponding to the area.

In the second invention, the minimum required flow rate of recovered water according to the selected watering amount stage and watering range is determined in the control panel, and the flow rate measured by the recovered amount flowmeter is the determined value. So that
The opening degree of the recovery amount control valve is adjusted by commands from the control panel. In addition, when the liquid level in the water storage tank and water treatment tank decreases, a control signal is sent from the control panel to the water sprinkling amount control valve and the recovery amount control valve, respectively, based on the signal sent from the liquid level gauge, and the valves are opened. By reducing the flow rate, the flow rate is reduced and the liquid level is restored.

Example 1 is a control panel, 2 ₁ to 2 ₅ are water sprinkler flow meters, and 3 _{1 to} 2 5 are water flow rate meters.
3 ₅ is a water sprinkling amount control valve, 4 is a water tank, 5 ₁ to 5 ₅ are snow melting ranges, 6 is a water pump, and 7 is a water pipe.

The control panel 1 is used by an operator to remotely control the start or stop of the snow melting device and the selection of the level of the amount of water to be sprinkled, after determining whether snow melting is necessary and the intensity of snowfall. In addition, this control panel 1 receives signals from the water sprinkling flow meters ₂₁ to ₂₅ , performs arithmetic processing, and uses the results as a signal to control the water sprinkling amount regulating valve 3.
Send to ₁ to 3 ₅ .

The water sprinkler flowmeters 2 ₁ to 2 ₅ are arranged so that a water pipe 7 coming out of a water storage tank 4 is connected via a water pump 6 to each snow melting area 5 divided according to the purpose of driving road surface, parking lot, vehicle depot, etc. It is installed at each branched part, which is branched and connected every ₁ to ₅ . Then, the amount of water for snow melting that comes out of the water tank 4 and is sent to each snow melting range by the water pump 6 is measured,
Send a signal to control panel 1.

The water sprinkling amount control valves 3 ₁ to 3 ₅ are installed on the downstream side of the water sprinkling amount flowmeters 2 ₁ to 2 ₅ at the branched portions of the water pipe 7, and control valves 1 to 35 are operated depending on snowfall conditions and road surface conditions. The amount of water sprinkled in each snow melting range 5 1 to 5 ₅ is adjusted based on the signal from the snow melting range 5 ₁ to 5 5 . Note that the setting of the flow rate at each stage of the water sprinkling amount can be easily adjusted using the control panel.

Connecting the snowfall intensity meter 11 to the control panel 1 provides the following effects. When the actual snowfall intensity is detected by the snowfall intensity meter 11, the signal is sent to the control panel 1, which determines the optimal amount of watering for each snow melting range ₅₁ to ₅₅ according to the snowfall intensity. be done. On the other hand, the water sprinkling amount flowmeters 2 ₁ to 2 ₅ measure the amount of water sprinkled in each of the snow melting ranges 5 ₁ to 5 ₅ , and a signal is sent to the control panel 1 . The control panel 1 performs logical operations on these signals and then controls the water sprinkling amount control valves 3 ₁ to 3.
3 Sends a control signal to ₅ and automatically adjusts the valve opening so that the amount of water sprinkled is optimal.

The second invention incorporates the configuration of the first invention into one snow melting water circulation system. The embodiment has the following configuration in addition to the embodiment of the first invention described above. That is, through a liquid level gauge 21 provided in the water storage tank 4, a water treatment tank 23 similarly provided with a liquid level gauge 22, a pump 24, a recovery amount flow meter 25, a recovery amount adjustment valve 26, and a heating tank 27. These are a recovery pipe 28 leading to the water storage tank 4, a water temperature gauge 29, and a tunnel spring water supply pipe 30. The liquid level gauge 21 in the water storage tank 4 sends a signal to the control panel 1 indicating the position of the water level in the tank. In the water treatment tank 23, the snow melting water that has passed through each of the snow melting ranges ₅₁ to ₅₅ is guided through a return pipe 31, and foreign substances are removed. sent as a signal. This water treatment tank 2
If the level of snow melting range 3 is lower than the level of each snow melting range 5 ₁ to 5 ₅ , the snow will flow down naturally, and pumps and the like will be unnecessary, reducing equipment costs. The recovery pipe 28 is the water treatment tank 23
is connected to the water storage tank 4, and a pump 24 located in the water treatment tank 23 and activated or stopped by a signal from the control panel 1 pumps the return water from which foreign substances have been removed to the water storage tank 4.
send to The recovery flow meter 25 is installed in the recovery pipe 28 and measures the flow rate of recovered water and sends a signal to the control panel 1. A signal is sent from the control panel 1 to the downstream recovery amount control valve 26 to adjust its opening degree so that the flow rate of recovered water is the minimum necessary according to the stage and watering range. The heating tank 27 is provided in front of the water storage tank 4, and heats the low-temperature and predetermined flow rate of recovered water supplied from the water treatment tank 23 to a predetermined temperature (approx.
10℃) and sends it to the water storage tank.It is equipped with an oil burner 32 at the top and the fuel gas is sent to the heating tank 27.
It heats the water by sending it inside. The water temperature gauge 29 is the heating tank 2
It is installed on the outflow side of the snow melting water and sends a signal to the control panel 1 by measuring the temperature of the snow melting water.

The make-up water supply pipe 30 is connected to the heating tank 2 in order to use make-up water, such as tunnel spring water, as snow melting water.
The side pipe 33 bypasses this heating tank 27 and is connected to the recovery pipe 28 in front of the water temperature gauge 29. Tunnel spring water normally maintains a temperature of around 10°C and can be used as is for snow melting, so it is normally supplied directly to the water storage tank 4 through the side pipe 33 and heated when the water temperature drops for some reason. What is necessary is just to send it to the tank 27 and heat it.

In the drawing, 41 is an overflow pipe that is installed in the water treatment tank 23 and discharges excess return water after watering.

In the case of the second invention, if the snowfall intensity meter 11 is connected to the control panel 1 as in the case of the first invention, optimal and economical snow melting work can be performed according to the snowfall intensity.

C. Effects of the Invention According to the first invention of the present application, when a stage with a large amount of watering is selected by remote manual operation according to the snowfall situation and road surface condition at the discretion of the operator, the energy used for snow melting increases. By effectively utilizing the effect of sweeping away accumulated snow, it is possible to control the amount of water sprinkled in an optimal manner according to the weather conditions, and spray water only to the necessary area according to the amount of traffic on the road.
In other words, by limiting the area of watering, excluding areas where the amount of snow does not interfere with traffic or roads that are not in use, the optimal amount of watering can be controlled according to traffic conditions, resulting in economical snow melting. It has various characteristics, such as being able to do the following.

According to the second invention of the present application, since the recovery flow rate is controlled to the minimum necessary, it is not necessary to make the water storage tank excessively large, and the water level in the heating tank can be kept constant. It has various features, such as being able to eliminate the need for snow melting water, and supplementary water such as tunnel spring water can be supplied at any time through a supplementary water supply pipe if there is a shortage of water for snow melting.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The drawings are flow sheets showing specific examples of the apparatus according to the present invention, in which the right side from line A-A is the first invention, and the whole is the second invention. 1... Control panel, 2 ₁ to _{2 5} ... Water flow rate meter, 3
₁ ~ 3 ₅ ... Watering amount control valve, 4 ... Water tank, 5 ₁ ~
5 ₅ ...Each snow melting range, 6...Water pump, 7...
Water pipe, 11... Snowfall intensity meter, 21... Water tank liquid level gauge, 22... Water treatment tank liquid level gauge, 23... Water treatment tank, 24... Lifting pump, 25... Recovery amount flow meter, 26... Recovery amount control valve, 27... Heating tank, 2
8...Recovery pipe, 29...Water temperature gauge, 30...Makeup water supply pipe, 31...Return pipe, 32...Oil burner, 33...Side pipe.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A control panel 1 which is installed remotely and which manually instructs the snow melting device by selecting the stage of starting or stopping the snow melting device and the amount of water to be sprinkled; and a water pump 6 from the water tank 4. A water pipe for branching and directing the water sent through the snow melting ranges ₅₁ to ₅₅ , which are divided according to the purpose of driving roads, parking lots, vehicle depots, etc., and sending the water to each snow melting range. 7, and the control panel 1 is installed at the branched part of the water pipe 7 to measure the amount of water sprinkled in each snow melting range 5 ₁ to 5 ₅ .
Watering amount flowmeters 2 ₁ to 2 ₅ that send signals to each watering amount flowmeter 2 at the branched portion of the water pipe 7
Installed downstream from ₁ to 2 ₅ and within each snow melting range 5 ₁
Each watering amount flow meter 2 is set so that the amount of watering at 5 to ₅ is the appropriate amount determined by the control panel 1 described above.
Water sprinkling amount control valve _{3 1} to 3 ₅ that adjusts the valve opening degree based on the signal output from the control panel in response to the measurement signals ₁ to 2 ₅
A water sprinkling amount control snow melting device characterized by comprising: 2. The water sprinkling amount controlled snow melting device according to claim 1, wherein a snowfall intensity meter that measures snowfall intensity and sends a signal to the control panel is connected to the control panel. 3. A control panel 1 that is installed remotely and manually instructs the snow melting device by selecting the stage of starting or stopping the snow melting device and the water sprinkling amount, and a liquid level gauge 21 that sends a signal to the control panel 1. The water sent from the water storage tank 4 via the water pump 6 is
A water pipe 7 for branching and connecting to each snow melting range 5 ₁ to 5 ₅ divided according to the purpose of driving road surfaces, parking lots, vehicle depots, etc. and sending it to each snow melting range; The control panel 1 is installed at the branched part and measures the amount of water sprinkled in each snow melting range 5 ₁ to 5 ₅ .
Watering amount flowmeters 2 ₁ to 2 ₅ that send signals to each watering amount flowmeter 2 at the branched portion of the water pipe 7
Installed downstream from ₁ to 2 ₅ and within each snow melting range 5 ₁
Each watering amount flow meter 2 is set so that the amount of watering at 5 to ₅ is the appropriate amount determined by the control panel 1 described above.
Water sprinkling amount control valve _{3 1} to 3 ₅ that adjusts the valve opening degree based on the signal output from the control panel in response to the measurement signals ₁ to 2 ₅
and a water treatment tank 23 equipped with a liquid level gauge 22 to which a return pipe 31 of the snow melting water that has passed through the snow melting ranges ₅₁ to ₅₅ is connected and which sends a signal to the control panel 1, and this water treatment A pump 24 pumps up the water treated by the tank using a signal from the control panel 1, a recovery flow meter 25 that measures the amount of recovered water and sends a signal to the control panel, and a valve opening based on the signal from the control panel 1. a recovery pipe 28 that guides the snow melting water to the water storage tank 4 via the heating tank 27; and a water temperature gauge that detects the water temperature on the outlet side of the heating tank 27 and adjusts the burner 32 of the heating tank. 29; and a make-up water supply pipe 30 connected to the heating tank 27 and whose side pipe 33 bypasses the heating tank and is connected to the recovery pipe 28 upstream of the water temperature gauge 29. A snow melting device that controls the amount of water sprinkled. 4. The water sprinkling amount control snow melting device according to claim 3, wherein a snowfall intensity meter that measures snowfall intensity and sends a signal to the control panel is connected to the control panel.