392results about "Recreational ice production" patented technology

Method and apparatus for making snow by generating water spray from a triple array of multiple nozzle sub-boom branch-pipes transversely protruding from the upper end of a main boom of a pivotably adjustable snow making pipe tower. Three air jet streams, one for each branch pipe, are simultaneously discharged under high pressure into and sequentially through the throats of each associated multiple stack of water sprays issuing from each set of branch pipe nozzles to thereby form multiple spray plumes of atomized and seeded water all directed forwardly from the upper end of the tower pipe. The water pipe may be an elliptical aluminum extrusion with two interior air tubes respectively controllably feeding large and small diameter air jet arrays to thereby provide a range of air jet water spray interaction. The pipe tower may be pivotally raised and lowered by a block-and-tackle or chain fall type drive mechanism that may be recoupled to the tops of a lifting pole and tower pipe for bodily raising the entire tower pipe and its support pipe telescopically on a ground support pole. Spreader-supported guy wires may be used to brace the tower pipe and also provide an electrical deicing circuit. Air jet control, blow-out valving and water drain conduit arrangements are disclosed, and also universally adjustable ground support systems for the pipe tower, including an underground-fed combined telescopic hydraulic ram forming air and water conduits.

A snow-gun for producing man-made snow from a combination of compressed air and water features a new nozzle configuration for discharging a mixture of water-particles and air into the surrounding atmosphere. Such nozzle is provided with an elliptically-shaped discharge port having a transverse cross-section that gradually expands in size in the direction in which the air and water particles are discharged from said nozzle. Preferably, the area of the elliptical port changes non-linearly through the front wall of the nozzle, whereby water particles exiting the gun through the nozzle port are less likely to collide with the side walls of the port or with each other before reaching the relatively cold ambient atmosphere.

A lighting device for illuminating ice has a sheet of light-transmitting film located below an ice layer and coupled to a light source. The index of refraction of the light-transmitting film is greater than that of the adjoining ice or air so that the light within the film experiences substantial internal reflection. Light is emitted from the film (and the ice surface) at emission regions that disrupt internal reflection.

A mold for forming a snowman includes lower, intermediate and upper generally spherical, hollow members comprised of clear plastic. Each plastic member includes an upper aperture for filling the member with snow. The lower member includes a generally flat base portion for positioning stability and an upper connection ring adapted for secure coupling to a lower connection ring on the intermediate member. The intermediate member also includes an upper connection ring adapted for secure coupling to a lower connection ring on the upper member. The three connected members form a hollow, vertical structure which when filled with snow provides a snowman of classic shape, symmetry and proportions. The individual spherical hollow members are easily connected and disconnected, with the intermediate and upper members having apertures for receiving eye, nose, mouth and arm indicia, with the upper member further including a hat mounting arrangement in one embodiment.

According to the present invention there is provided a compact heat pump using water as refrigerant, comprising an evaporator (20) located at a first end section of the heat pump casing (12), adapted to allow evaporation of water therefrom, One or more compressors (40) located at a second end section of the heat pump casing adapted to induce said evaporation by maintaining vacuum, provided with an intake conduit (32) extending from the evaporator (20) to the compressor (40) leading vapor thereto. A condenser (30) is located in the intermediate section of the casing (12) wherein the intake conduit (32) passes therethrough, adapted for condensing the vapor. The heat pump also comprises vacuum means (39) allowing creating and maintaining vacuum in the casing. There is also provided a snow dome allowing skiing and snow related activities in above zero conditions using the heat pump for creation of snow or ice slurry.

A retrofittable pressure gauge for a spray gun includes a pressure sensor, located in a pressure chamber, a power source and a display unit, all enclosed within a case, a passageway providing fluid communication between the pressure chamber and a pressurised interior space of the spray gun when the gauge is mounted on the spray gun and a mounting fixture configured for mounting the pressure gauge at a spreader valve or a trigger operated fluid valve of the spray gun.

A CO₂ refrigeration system comprises a refrigeration circuit in which circulates CO₂ refrigerant between a compression stage in which the CO₂ refrigerant is compressed. A condensation stage is provided in which the CO₂ refrigerant releases heat and is accumulated in a condensation reservoir. An evaporation stage is provided in which the CO₂ refrigerant is expanded to a gaseous state to absorb heat from a fluid for refrigeration, with at least a portion of CO₂ refrigerant exiting the evaporation stage being directed to a supra-compression circuit comprising a supra-compression stage in which the portion of CO₂ refrigerant is compressed. A heat exchanger is provided by which the compressed CO₂ refrigerant is in a heat-exchange relation with a secondary-refrigerant circuit, such that the compressed CO₂ refrigerant releases heat to a secondary refrigerant used for heating purposes. Pressure-regulating means control a pressure of the compressed CO₂ refrigerant being returned to the condensation stage.

A method and arrangement for soft start up of a pump system, that includes a pump (401) for generating a liquid flow, an electrical drive (402, 403, 404) disposed to actuate the pump, and a pressure sensor (408) disposed to measure a liquid pressure at a flow output of the pump. The objectives of the invention are achieved with a solution in which a rate of change of rotation speed of the pump during a start up phase is made to be dependent on a rate of change of measured liquid pressure speed is a descending function of the rate of change of the measured liquid pressure.

Spray array apparatus which includes a plurality of water and air carrying spoke members extending radially from a central fluid distribution assembly. The spoke members are connected to a plurality of water and air carrying strut members. The spoke members are divided into segments and the segments and strut members are detachably joined together by means of manifold joints which have water and air passageways allowing fluid communication between spoke segments and strut members. The apparatus is towed at the end of a boom of a tanker aircraft and is connected to the boom by means of a gimbal allowing two degrees of freedom to reduce bending moments and connection stresses. Selected fluid parameters are transmitted to the tanker aircraft to adjust fluid flow, if necessary.

A retrofittable pressure gauge for a spray gun includes a pressure sensor, located in a pressure chamber, a power source and a display unit, all enclosed within a case, a passageway providing fluid communication between the pressure chamber and a pressurised interior space of the spray gun when the gauge is mounted on the spray gun and a mounting fixture configured for mounting the pressure gauge at a spreader valve or a trigger operated fluid valve of the spray gun.

The invention provides a double-inlet atomizing spray head for making snow, which comprises a spray head cap (1), an inner cone (4), a sealing ring (9) and a spray head seat (10), wherein the front end of the inner cone (4) is round platform-shaped, a compressed gas outlet hole is drilled in the center of the front end, and the major diameter part of the round platform is connected with a cylindrical flange; the tail end of the inner cone (4) is provided with a ring groove as a gas coupling head (11) which is connected with a gas pipeline from an air compressor; the top end of the spray head cap (1) is round platform-shaped, and a nozzle hole is formed in the center of the top end; the spray head cap (1) is tapped with internal and external threads at the same time, the external thread connects the spray head with a nuclear device fixing mechanism of a snowmaker, the internal thread is connected with the spray head seat (10), and the tail end part of the external thread is provided with a water inlet hole (8); and the diameter of the center hole of the spray head seat (10) is equal to that of the tail end of the inner cone (4). The double-inlet atomizing spray head is simple in structure, is easy to dismount for flushing, has a greater radial spray momentum, has the characteristics of high snow-making performance, no freezing, no blockage and the like, and can be used as a nuclear device nozzle of a snow making device.

An elongated pipe conduit snow making tower, and assembly method, having an upper end spray nozzle head and pivotally supported on a support pipe for vertical inclination by a hydraulic ram jack enabling infinite non-preselected incremental inclinations. A ram safety latch automatically latch/catches the tower pipe if the jack leaks. Secondary and tertiary external flexible water hoses are selectable to feed associated spray head snowmaking nozzles, and an internal compressed air conduit feeds spray head seeding nozzles. Secondary and tertiary ball valve assemblies mounted on a water feed block are outlet coupled to their respective hoses. In drain condition turbulent primary water continually washes against a valve ball flow closure side for an anti-freezing effect. The spray head is a four-piece modular planar stack up of disks each carrying spray nozzles that all discharge forwardly away from the pipe tower in generally parallel spray patterns.

The invention provides a snow making device for a V-shaped insulator chain snow covering test and an operation method thereof. The device comprises a test cabin, a water supply unit and an air supply unit, wherein the air supply unit is arranged in the test cabin; a bracket is arranged at the top in the test cabin; a spraying gun is arranged above the bracket. The improvements are as follows: the spraying gun is respectively connected with the air supply unit and the water supply unit through pipes; insulators are arranged in a V shape and suspended on the bracket; air and water in the spraying gun are mixed and atomized for spraying out from a nozzle to form snow drop in the test cabin; a water way electromagnetic valve and an air way electromagnetic valve can be regulated to adjust the water supply flow and the air supply flow for ensuring that the covered snow dropping on the V-shaped insulator chain satisfies the test requirements. Compared with the prior art, the snow making device for the V-shaped insulator chain snow covering test and the operation method thereof, provided by the invention, can regulate the covered snow position, thickness, density, area, temperature and uniformity on the insulator chain and the snowmelt conductivity to achieve the effective snow covering environment test.

Artificial snow making equipment includes an air-blowing pulverizer which prevents fluctuation in the size of ice pieces by eliminating fluctuation in the amount of ice blocks being supplied also eliminates blocking by the ice blocks, as a result utilizing air effectively such that the ice pieces are blown out as artificial snow the requisite distance. The artificial snow making equipment with constant forced blowing includes ice block supplier 1 to supply ice blocks at a constant rate and air-blowing pulverizer 11. The ice block supplier 1 has ice block supply opening 4 through which ice blocks 2 are supplied, casing 3 which has ice block supply opening 4; rotary blades 8 which supply ice blocks 2 at a constant rate while rotating in casing 3; and exit for ice blocks 5 which is positioned under casing 3. The air-blowing pulverizer 11 has air duct 9 which receives air 12 as well as ice blocks 2 that are supplied from an ice block supplier 1; casing 13 which has opening 10 of air duct 9 on the side surface; rotary blades 17 which pulverize ice blocks 2 into ice pieces 18 and which is placed in casing 13; and air exhaust 19 which is formed on the side of casing 13 opposite from opening 10 of the air duct to blow ice pieces 18 as artificial snow 20. An exit for ice blocks 5 of an ice block supplier 1 to supply ice blocks at a constant rate is connected to ice block receiving slot 14 of air-blowing pulverizer 11 via air duct 9.

A fluid filtering system for filtering dirt and other debris from fluids being conveyed in a pipeline for snow making apparatus and other devices. An upright pipe segment is connected to a horizontal pipe segment through a pipe elbow or angle for conveying fluid such as water and/or air under pressure from the horizontal pipe segment through the pipe angle and upwardly through the upright pipe segment. A filter is provided in the upright pipe segment adjacent its lower end and an external drain is disposed in the pipe angle directly under the filter to automatically flush and clean the filter when the drain is opened.

A snow making method where water and/or ice is mixed with a cryogenic material, such as carbon dioxide, in a mixing vessel and the mixture is mechanically agitated or mixed to convert the water and/or ice into snow. The cryogenic material may be recovered and return for return to the vessel.

The invention discloses a snow-making system on a snowmaker. The snow-making system comprises a nuclear ring, a fan, an air duct, an air compressor and a water supplying system. The fan is arranged atone end of the air duct, and the nuclear ring is arranged at the other end of the air duct; the nuclear ring comprises an inner annular pipe and an outer annular pipe which are closed, and water is supplied to the two closed annular pipes through two main pipelines of the water supplying system; a plurality of nuclear devices and atomizers are evenly arranged in the extending directions of the two annular pipes, and the nuclear devices and the atomizers are distributed alternately; and each of the nuclear devices and atomizers is provided with two water inlet pipelines which are connected with the two closed annular pipes correspondingly, and the air compressor enables all the nuclear devices to be connected in series through air pipes. According to the snow-making system for the snowmaker, the water outlet quantity of the snowmaker can be adjusted according to the temperature and humidity of the located environment, so that the snow-making quantity reaches to be the most suitable; direct icing due to the low temperature and large water outlet quantity cannot be caused, and the situation that snow cannot be formed due to the high temperature and large water outlet quantity can also not be caused; and snow-making can be conducted by adjusting measures to local conditions, so that the snow-making efficiency of the snowmaker reaches the maximum.

An apparatus for the prevention of polar ice mass depletion has a water extractor, a snowmaker, a water pump and a power source. The water extractor extracts water from a water source that is located beneath a polar ice mass and transports the water to a ground level. The snowmaker effects the conversion of the water into snow so that the snow can be deposited upon a polar ice mass. The water pump pumps water from the ground level to the snowmaker. The power source operates the water extractor, the snowmaker and the water pump. The depletion of a polar ice mass is prevented by extracting water from beneath a polar ice mass, pumping the water to a snowmaker, making snow by using the snowmaker and operating all necessary components through the use of a power source.