METHOD FOR CLEARING AN ARTIFICIAL RUNWAY FROM SNOW Russian patent published in 2022 - IPC E01H5/00 E01H5/08 

FIELD: aviation.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to aviation, namely, to methods for clearing an artificial runway (hereinafter the runway) from snow at aerodromes while simultaneously moving the snow. The method for clearing an artificial runway from snow consists in applying a detail of snow removal equipment, including at least plough-brush and screw-rotor cleaners for impact on the snow cover and subsequent removal thereof from the artificial runway. Prior to clearing the artificial runway from snow, the detail of snow removal equipment is divided into independent autonomous groups. Dividing, with a thickness of the snow cover from 5 to 10 cm, into at least two groups, and with a thickness of the snow cover from 10 cm or more, into three or more groups. With a thickness of the snow cover from 5 to 10 cm, the first group therein starts clearing from the centre of the runway, and the other group, stepping from the edge of the runway to the width of the cleared surface at one run. After the first run along the entire perimeter of the runway is completed, the snow ridge formed at the edge of the runway begins to be dumped on the outside of the runway using a screw-rotor snow removal machine. The second group working from the centre of the runway therein continues to move the snow ridge further towards the edge of the runway over the already cleared surface. After that, the second group, which has completed the run from the edge of the runway, joins the first group at the turn at the end of the runway, the snow ridge is moved by means of the whole detail to the edge, where the work is continued by the screw-rotor snow removal machine, and the process of clearing the runway is completed. The work of the screw-rotor snow removal machine therein continues essentially simultaneously with the plough-brush snow removal machines, therein ensuring a continuous and simultaneous cycle of heterogeneous types of work. Upon the plough-brush snow removal machines completing the work, the screw-rotor snow removal machine continues to dump the next snow ridge from the edge of the runway. With a thickness of snow-type precipitation of more than 10 cm, the work is started with a step from the edge of the runway, and the ridges start to be dumped by the screw-rotor snow removal machines simultaneously with the beginning of work of the plough-brush snow removal machines from the edge of the runway. In the first runs, using each group of the plough-brush snow removal machines, the corresponding ridges thereof are moved to the edge of the runway to be dumped outside of the surface, and upon the end of the run, the unit cuts the next portion of the collected clearing mass or joins the last group moving the last collected clearing mass from the centre of the runway.

EFFECT: reduced time for clearing an aerodrome with the ensured necessary quality of the runway surface for safe reception and launching of aircraft during heavy snowfall, as well as increase in the promptness of runway clearing, reduced labour costs and machine-hours, conserved material resources.

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