Creating snow houses, playground equipment, and snow sculptures using special snow blocks.

Abstract

In recent years, there has been an increase in inbound tourism from overseas, such as from China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong, as well as from domestic travelers from the Kanto and Kansai regions to northern Japan. Many of these travelers are drawn to snow and want to experience playing in it, so it is necessary to meet these demands. [Solution] Snow structures such as snow huts (known as "kamakura" or "igloos"), playground equipment, and snow sculptures need to be made easy and enjoyable to build in a short amount of time, even for beginners including children and women. The method involves producing snow blocks that are lightweight, have high dimensional accuracy, possess stable strength, and each block displays its own unique characteristics. The characteristic of each snow block is to assign information about its size, function, and installation / direction to it, and then engrave a three-dimensional symbol containing that information onto each snow block, allowing the characteristics to be instantly identified from the snow blocks arranged on the snow.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Techniques related to the production of snow houses and snow structures called "kamakura" and "igloo". Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, as buildings using snow, there are "kamakura" developed in the heavy snow regions of the northern part of Japan, "igloo" made by Eskimos in the Arctic region of Canada, etc. However, since they are traditional techniques that have existed for a long time, almost no technical development can be seen.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0003] As an issue with making "kamakura" in Japan, a large amount of snow is used because it is necessary to increase the wall thickness to ensure safety. Therefore, currently, construction is mainly carried out by mechanical construction with manual labor as a supplement. On the other hand, as an issue with making an Eskimo "igloo", although construction is mainly manual, it is difficult to perform the inclined processing to fit the four sides of the snow blocks in the dome roof part to the adjacent blocks, and skilled craftsmanship in on-site processing is required. In Japan in recent years, there is no situation where it is easy for beginners including children and women to participate and experience for the increasing overseas inbound demand from China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, etc., and the longing for snow from people in the Kanto and Kansai regions in Japan, and travelers who want to experience playing with snow.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0004] [[ID=二十九]] Regarding structures such as snow houses, play equipment, and snow statues called "kamakura" and "igloo", it is necessary to make them easy to produce and enjoyable for beginners including children and women in a short time. The first method is to utilize the structural mechanics characteristics such as dome structure and cylindrical structure for the large amount of snow used in Japanese "kamakura", and reduce the cross-section thickness. For this purpose, it is to be made of snow blocks that are light in weight, have high dimensional accuracy, and can maintain stable strength. The second method involves creating precisely designed snow blocks with pre-calculated contact surfaces to avoid the difficulty in processing the contact surfaces of the four snow blocks on the dome roof, which is a challenge in Eskimo igloo construction. The third method is to make it possible to create quickly and easily without any confusion. With LEGO blocks, children use blocks with different characteristics to create buildings, playground equipment, and other things of their own choosing. Similarly, this effect can be expected with snow blocks by adding properties to them. The characteristics refer to assigning information about the size, function, installation location, and orientation of each snow block, and imprinting a three-dimensional symbol containing that information onto each snow block, so that its characteristics can be instantly confirmed by the mark on the snow block arranged on the snow. [Effects of the Invention]

[0005] In comparison with typical "kamakura" (snow huts) in other cities, those with a similar internal capacity have a capacity of 37 m³ per unit. 3 For a snow house with an inner diameter of 2.4m and a wall thickness of 0.6m (according to online research), the snow volume is 6.1m. 3 (With an inner diameter of 2.5m and a wall thickness of 0.3m), it can be constructed with about 1 / 6 the amount of snow. Additionally, the snow shelters for children and women are 3.0m each. 3 (Inner diameter 1.7m, wall thickness 0.25m), representing 1 / 12 of the snow volume. Therefore, while the construction of snow huts in other cities primarily relies on mechanical construction with human labor as a supplement, this invention can be carried out entirely by human labor. Incidentally, although the snow house according to the present invention is thinly constructed, in order to address insufficient cross-section and strength due to weather changes such as rising temperatures, rainfall, and evaporation of the snow surface after completion, and to enhance maintenance such as adding and compacting snow, a special snow shovel (snow spatula (Figure 11)) that fits perfectly to curved surfaces has been manufactured.

[0006] Unlike with igloos, where processing the four contact surfaces of the snow blocks for the dome roof was a challenge, this method eliminates that need; you simply place the blocks next to each other, making it easy and quick.

[0007] In this invention, from characteristic information engraved on a snow block, for example, "D170-Dm4-5 k It was determined that this was the block for ". D170 indicates the inner diameter of the snow cave is 170cm, Dm indicates it is for the roof (Dm: abbreviation for doom roof), 4 indicates the position of the 4th row, the direction of the markings indicates the installation direction, and the size indicates the weight 5 k It can be seen that this is a block. By adding characteristics and making them recognizable, the production process can be carried out quickly and easily without confusion.

[0008] In addition, by converting the snow into blocks, it becomes possible to design and construct new structures, including snow houses, on a diagrammatic basis. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1] This section uses examples (Case: D170-Cy and Dm-5k) to explain the structure of the snow house and the shape of the snow blocks. [Figure 2] Calculation diagram of a space with a diameter of 85 cm (D85) [Figure 3] Calculation diagram of a space with a diameter of 120 cm (D120) [Figure 4] Calculation diagram of a space with a diameter of 170 cm (D170) [Figure 5] Calculation diagram of a space with a diameter of 200 cm (D200) [Figure 6] Calculation diagram of a space with a diameter of 250 cm (D250) [Figure 7] Calculation diagram of a space with a diameter of 300 cm (D300) [Figure 8] Let's take an example (Case: D170-Dm4-5k) and create a plan drawing for formwork construction. [Figure 9] Let's take an example (Case: D170-Cy-5k) and create a plan drawing for formwork construction. [Figure 10] Take the examples (Case: D170-Dm4-5k and Case: D170-Cy-5k) and the characteristic engraving diagram [Figure 11] Snow spatula (for the outer wall of D170 and for the inner wall of D170)

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0010] The characteristic snow blocks are light in weight, have high dimensional accuracy, possess stable strength, and each snow block has its own characteristics. The material of the mold for making the snow blocks is a kompan (veneer plywood 1.8m * 0.9m * 12mm) which is easy to transport, easy to process, and relatively inexpensive. The mold should be able to withstand the external weather. Particularly important is that the snow peeling performance is good, so FRP (however, without fiber reinforcement, only plastic) is applied to the surface once or twice. The mold dimensions are designed with an accuracy of less than millimeter units, and the completed accuracy is assumed to be within about 2mm. The method of making the snow blocks is as follows: scoop snow in a mound with a flat scoop onto the arranged molds, firmly step on it with shoes, shave the piled-up snow with a flat scoop, and then turn over the mold, and a characteristic snow block is completed. In the examples of "Figure 8" and "Figure 9", 5 snow blocks can be made at a time.

[0011] The usage environment assumes a state where many tourists who want to come into contact with snow can make snow houses, play equipment, snow statues, etc. by themselves at snow festival event venues, resort ski resorts, etc.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0012] As a way to identify the snow blocks in a single snow house, For example, it is called "D170-Cy-5k" and "D170-DmN-10k". D170 means the inner diameter of the snow house is 170 cm. In addition, there are D85, D120, D200, D250, D300. Cy: Cylinder retaining wall of a snow house It means a block of snow. DmN: Snow blocks for the dome roof of the snow house N means the column position from the bottom. 5k or 10k: 5k means the snow block weighs approximately 5kg, 10k means This means it is equivalent to 10 kg.

Claims

1. In the manufacture of snow blocks used as materials for creating snow houses, playground equipment, snow sculptures, etc., the manufacturing molds for snow blocks (six types of calculation diagrams: D85 (Figure 2), D120 (Figure 3), D170 (Figure 4), D200 (Figure 5), D250 (Figure 6), D300 (Figure 7) and example diagrams (Figures 8) and (Figure 9)) are based on the geometric structure of cylindrical and dome spaces.

2. A system of characteristic snow blocks marked with symbols (Figure 10) that represent information about the size, function, and installation location / direction of the snow blocks.

Images