Snow transportation system

Abstract

A method for collecting and transporting snow includes the steps of providing a snow blower mounted to an inclined alpine mountain-side and a pipe cooperating with the snow blower to remove snow from the snow blower to a downhill location remote from the snow blower, urging snow into the snow blower and propelling snow from the snow blower into the pipe via a diffuser, transporting the snow downhill in the pipe, and delivering the snow from the pipe at a downhill location below the elevation of the snow blower.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION [0001]This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11 / 654,502 filed Jan. 18, 2007 entitled Snow Collection and Transportation System.FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002]This invention relates to the field of devices for increasing the useful amount of snow available on ski runs at ski resorts and in particular to a snow accumulation and transport mechanism for use in a mid-range altitude above the freezing level of any ski area.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]It is a common problem for ski resorts that they have insufficient snow to form an adequate base for use by skiers so as to cover obstacles such as rocks, shrubs, and the like, especially when the ski resort or particular runs on a ski resort are very popular, the crowd of skiers typically then scraping off any fresh snow and reducing the base until obstacles are exposed. The problem is exacerbated by the locating of ski resorts at relatively low elevation so as...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0007]The present invention is a system for transporting snow from high elevations to areas of lower elevation. The system is intended to be used at an alpine or Nordic ski facility, to provide a supply of snow to an area which has received an inadequate amount. The system consists of an upper catch area. The upper catch area is advantageously in depression contours in the snow-pack, where natural snow-drifting occurs or can be created. Snow which gathers in the contours, is blown or propelled or pushed by mechanical means, for example a front end loader, a snowcat or like trail grooming machine, a snow blower (collectively herein a blower) etc. through a pipe-loading area and from there into piping such as PVC piping, and carried along the pipe, which is laid downhill, by gravity so as to arrive at the target distribution area. At the distribution area the snow may be directed with a nozzle tip on the end of the pipe. The nozzle may pivot for directing snow-spray. The spray may be directed so as to accumulate in a desired area where a man driven machine may such as a trail groomer further disperse the snow to required locations. Advantageously the pipe widens in diameter often leaving the pipe-loading area, which may in one preferred embodiment be a commercial or industrial size and grade of snow-blower. In that embodiment an outfeed pipe from the blower widens into a wider diameter main pipe. An airflow may be introduced to the outflow or main pipe at its upper end to facilitate forming an air / snow mix that nay decrease friction of the snow mass travelling down the pipe and may decrease incidents of plugging of the pipe.

Problems solved by technology

It is a common problem for ski resorts that they have insufficient snow to form an adequate base for use by skiers so as to cover obstacles such as rocks, shrubs, and the like, especially when the ski resort or particular runs on a ski resort are very popular, the crowd of skiers typically then scraping off any fresh snow and reducing the base until obstacles are exposed.

This will result in more snow being available for ski runs and high traffic areas over time.

This system also only works below zero degree temperatures, and is not capable at working at above zero degree temperatures.

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