Procedure and system for controlling the thickness of ice on an ice surface and ice scraper vehicle operating with such a system

Abstract

It refers to a procedure and to a system for controlling, i.e. measuring and regulating the thickness of ice on an ice surface S of an ice rink and an ice scraper vehicle using that system and procedure.

Description

[0001] PROCEDURE AND SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING THE THICKNESS OF ICE ON

[0002] AN ICE SURFACE AND ICE SCRAPER VEHICLE OPERATING WITH SUCH A SYSTEM

[0003] Specification

[0004] The present invention generally relates to a process and system for controlling the thickness of ice on a surface and to an ice scraper vehicle using such a system.

[0005] In particular, it relates to a process and system for controlling the thickness of ice placed on a surface, such as an ice rink for winter sports activities, such as ice skating, hockey, and the like.

[0006] Furthermore, it is an ice scraper vehicle that uses such a procedure and system and is able to measure and, if necessary, adjust the thickness of the ice according to the measurements taken.

[0007] As is well known, the ice surfaces of ice rinks and sports halls for winter sports activities must be regularly maintained by creating an appropriate thickness of ice that is repeatedly cleaned and polished.

[0008] In particular, it is necessary for the ice thickness to have a minimum value, around 3 cm, in order to ensure optimum usability of the rink.

[0009] For this purpose, there is a tendency to ice a layer of water well above the minimum value with consequent problems in terms of energy consumption.

[0010] In fact, in order to maintain the frozen surface, it is necessary to keep the supporting surface of the frozen layer at a temperature below 0°C, with the associated energy consumption.

[0011] In the case where the thickness of the ice layer is substantial, it is necessary to maintain the supporting surface at a temperature even lower than 0°C, with energy consumption, and related expenses, becoming increasingly high.

[0012] Consequently, an attempt is made to maintain the thickness of the ice surface at an appropriate value, arriving at a fair compromise that allows for minimal energy consumption and at the same time a thickness that makes the rink optimally usable.

[0013] Consequently, once the optimal thickness value has been identified, it is necessary to maintain it continuously over time and homogeneously over the entire surface of the runway.

[0014] In order to verify this thickness, the known technique involves measurements made by drilling holes in the ice up to the bottom surface. The thickness of the ice at a given point is equal to the depth of the hole.

[0015] Naturally, in order to check the situation of the entire rink, numerous holes have to be drilled across the entire surface, which is obviously time-consuming and labour-intensive.

[0016] In addition, drilling such holes also has a negative impact on the condition of the runway.

[0017] A further problem with the measurement system according to the known technique is also the difficulty in adjusting the thickness of the ice once the various measurements have been taken.

[0018] In fact, it is difficult for an ice scraper device to adjust the thickness of the ice according to the measurements taken, as these are two separate processing steps carried out with totally different devices.

[0019] In order to speed up this procedure, a system was introduced onto the market whereby a virtual plane is created by projecting a laser beam on top of the ice scraper machine at a predefined, constant height.

[0020] A kind of rod is mounted on the ice scraper machine, which is hit by the laser beam so as to provide an indication of the height of the ice scraper machine in relation to the base plane of the rink on which the layer of ice is resting.

[0021] As the height marked on the rod changes, the ice-skimming machine either smoothes the ice by reducing its thickness or injects water onto the rink so as to increase the ice layer.

[0022] Although this system is an improvement, it retains a major problem: in fact, when the need to reduce or increase the thickness of the ice is detected, the response of the ice-smoothing machine cannot be instantaneous and therefore the machine itself, in its continuous movement, acts on the layer of ice with a delay.

[0023] It should also be borne in mind that often the base plane of the rink on which the ice layer is created is not usually perfectly flat. Consequently, since the virtual plane created by the laser beam is, on the other hand, perfectly flat, even if it were possible to create a layer of ice perfectly parallel to the plane of the laser beam, the thickness of the ice would be uneven.

[0024] The object of the present invention is to provide a procedure and a system for controlling, i.e., measuring and possibly adjusting, the thickness of ice on a surface which solves these and other problems of known systems.

[0025] A further scope of the invention is to provide a procedure and system for controlling the thickness of ice on a surface which is practical and fast.

[0026] A further scope of the invention is to provide a procedure and system for controlling the thickness of ice on a base plane, which is reliable and independent of the regularity of the base plane itself.

[0027] A still further scope of the invention is to provide a procedure and a system for controlling the thickness of ice on a surface, which allows measurement and also simultaneous adjustment of the same thickness. The purposes and advantages of the invention are also achieved by means of an ice scraper vehicle using such a process and such an ice thickness control system.

[0028] These and other purposes are all achieved, according to the invention, by a process and system for controlling the thickness of ice on a support surface as defined in the appended claims.

[0029] Thanks to the ice thickness control system according to the invention, it is possible to quickly carry out the measurement of the thickness of the ice, without ruining the rink.

[0030] Furthermore, the purposes are further achieved by a process and a control system which performs not only the measurement, but also the adjustment of the ice thickness according to the appended claims.

[0031] The purposes of the invention are also achieved by an ice scraper vehicle as defined in the appended claims.

[0032] Further features and details may be better understood from the following description, given by way of non-limiting example, as well as from the accompanying drawing board in which: fig. 1 is a schematic top view of an ice thickness control system on a support surface;

[0033] Fig. 2 is a side schematic view of an ice thickness control system on a supporting surface.

[0034] Referring to Figures 1 and 2, 10 denotes a system for controlling the thickness G of the ice of an ice rink using an ice scraper vehicle 12 movable on the ice surface S bounded by an edge B and arranged on a support surface T.

[0035] The ice scraper vehicle 12 comprises known devices such as an ice scraper device, a water injection device for increasing the thickness of the ice, and at least two steering wheels controlled by a steering.

[0036] The control system 10 comprises a first satellite 14, a second satellite 16 and a third satellite 18, all arranged perimetrically to the ice surface S.

[0037] The control system 10 further comprises a first antenna 20 and a second antenna 22 mounted on the ice scraper vehicle 12.

[0038] The control system 10 allows continuous detection of the position and orientation of the ice scraper vehicle 12 on the ice surface S.

[0039] Indeed, the position of the ice scraper vehicle 12 on the surface S is determined by measuring the distance of the first antenna 20 from the first satellite 14, the second satellite 16 and the third satellite 18 and by measuring the distance of the second antenna 22 from the first satellite 14, the second satellite 16 and the third satellite 18.

[0040] The orientation of the ice scraper vehicle 12 is determined by detecting the different position of the first antenna 20 with respect to the second antenna 22.

[0041] In addition, the ice scraper vehicle 12 also comprises a control unit 24 which collects the information detected by the first antenna 20 and the second antenna 22, so as to derive the position and orientation of the ice scraper vehicle 12 on the surface S of the ice rink.The control system 10 provides that the measurements defined above are carried out continuously; in this way, it is possible to know what the exact position of the ice scraper vehicle 12 itself is with respect to the surface S.

[0042] In other words, thanks to such a configuration, i.e. continuous communication between the two antennas 20, 22 present on the ice scraper vehicle 12, and the three satellites 14, 16, 18 arranged above or adjacent the surface S, the ice scraper vehicle 12 itself can know its position on the same surface S. The control system 10 comprises a laser projector 30, arranged adjacent to the ice track, which projects a laser beam V so as to define a virtual plane above the ice scraper vehicle 12.

[0043] The ice scraper vehicle 12 comprises a laser beam detection device 28 so as to identify the height position of the ice scraper vehicle 12 relative to the support surface T.

[0044] Consequently, having this measurement, the height of the ice surface S and, therefore, the thickness G of the ice can be immediately calculated.

[0045] Of course, before being able to define the virtual plane on which the ice surface S lies and thus obtain the thickness G of the ice, it is necessary to define the position of the support surface T.

[0046] The control system 10 envisages, in fact, that the ice scraper vehicle 12 is made to move on the ice track when the support surface T is free of ice, so as to define a ‘zero’ level with respect to which the various measurements of the thickness G are to be made, once ice is arranged on the support surface T.

[0047] Thus, the thickness measurement procedure involves:

[0048] - a first phase of surveying the support surface T

[0049] - a second phase of detection of the ice surface S.

[0050] In the case of the first detection, the control system 10 defines the references x, y and z, where x and y are the values identifying the points on the support surface T, while z is the distance between the virtual plane projected by the projector 30 and the support surface T.

[0051] In the second detection, the control system 10 defines the references x‘, y’ and z‘, where x’ and y‘ are the values identifying the points on the ice surface S corresponding to the previously detected x and y values, while z’ turns out to be the distance between the virtual plane projected by the projector 30 and the ice surface S.

[0052] The thickness G of ice for each individual point identified on the ice surface S with x and y (equivalent to x‘ and y’) turns out to be the difference between the z value measured at the point x, y, and the z‘ value measured at the point x’, y' with equal value to x, y.

[0053] Furthermore, the control system 10 can also include the possibility of adjusting the thickness G of the ice. Indeed, in the course of a third step, the ice scraper vehicle 12 may decrease or increase the thickness G, respectively by shaving the ice or injecting water at the point x, y (equivalent to x‘, y’).

[0054] Specifically, the thickness G of the ice will be varied depending on the z' value detected during the second phase and the thickness value to be obtained.

[0055] During this third phase, however, the control system 10 simultaneously takes a new measurement of the ice thickness G in order to obtain useful data for a subsequent thickness adjustment phase.

[0056] Furthermore, the control unit 24 can control the advancement and steering of the vehicle by means of a control mechanism, thus making the driving of the ice scraper vehicle 12 autonomous.

[0057] The control unit 24 is set to move the ice scraper vehicle 12 on the surface S according to a predetermined program, knowing in real time the position of the ice scraper vehicle 12 on the surface S.

[0058] The control unit 24 is connected to the internet, so that the operating parameters of the ice scraper vehicle 12 can be viewed and the movement and work program of the same ice scraper vehicle 12 can be set.

[0059] In addition, the control system 10 comprises a control unit 26 connected via an appropriate communication system to the first satellite 14, the second satellite 16 and the third satellite 18. This control unit 26 performs the software update of the three satellites 14, 16, 18.

[0060] By exploiting the communication between the three satellites 14, 16, 18 and the control unit 24, the control unit 26 can communicate with the same control unit 24.

[0061] The ice scraper vehicle 12, thanks to the control unit 10, can then measure the thickness G of the ice and vary it according to the desired thickness. Such operations can be performed either if the ice scraper vehicle 12 is driven manually or autonomously, thanks to the control unit 24 capable of controlling the advancement and steering of the ice scraper vehicle 12 itself.

[0062] A person skilled in the art may envisage modifications or variations which are to be considered within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0063] For example, the number of satellites on the edge of the track may be different from three, as previously described.

[0064] Furthermore, the satellites may be arranged within the edge B above the surface S, so as not to come into contact with the ice scraper vehicle 12 in any case.

[0065] Similarly, the antennas on board the ice scraper vehicle may also be in a number other than two, as previously described.

[0066] Furthermore, the control system 10 may comprise a different geolocation system for the ice scraper vehicle 12, for example a GPS system. In other words, the control unit is able to know the position of the ice scraper vehicle within the surface S and guide its movement according to the desired and set path.

[0067] The geolocation system of the ice scraper vehicle 12 may also be configured to continuously measure the distance of the ice scraper vehicle 12 itself from one or more defined points on the surface S or otherwise adjacent to the same surface S. An example of such a geolocation system may be obtained by the use of LIDAR cameras that allow the distance between a camera and a point photographed by the same camera to be measured using a laser beam. In addition, the control system 10 may comprise a different device for measuring the thickness G of ice, such as a device that projects from the ice scraper vehicle a beam through the ice itself.

Claims

CLAIMS1. Procedure for controlling the thickness G of ice of an ice rink having an ice surface S and a support surface T on which the ice is arranged, a virtual plane V being defined above the ice surface S, characterised by comprising the following steps:- measuring the support surface T, i.e. measuring a z value corresponding to the difference in height between the support surface T and the virtual plane V, for each point on the support surface T defined by the x, y values;- measuring the ice surface S, i.e. measuring a z' value corresponding to the difference in height between the ice surface S and the virtual plane V, for each point on the ice surface S defined by the values x', y';- for each point x, y of the support surface T and each point x', y' of the ice surface S, x being equal to x' and y being equal to y', subtract the value z from the value z' in order to obtain the thickness G at the point x, y (x1, y').

2. Procedure for controlling the thickness G according to the preceding claim, wherein the thickness G of the ice is increased or decreased depending on the difference between a predetermined value, equal to the desired thickness of ice, and the measured thickness G of ice.

3. Control system (10) of the thickness G of ice of an ice rink having an ice surface S and a support surface T on which the ice is arranged, said measuring and regulation system comprising a vehicle (12) capable of moving on the ice surface S or on the support surface T, said control system (10) characterised by comprising:- a vehicle geolocation system (12)- a device for measuring the thickness G for each position assumed by thevehicle (12) on the ice surface S or the supporting surface T.

4. Control system (10) according to any of the preceding claims, comprising a device for adjusting the thickness G of ice, for smoothing the ice surface S in order to decrease the thickness G of the ice, or for injecting water onto the ice surface S in order to increase the thickness G of the ice.

5. Control system (10) according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the geolocation system comprises means for detecting a distance between the vehicle (12) and at least one point on or adjacent to the ice surface S.

6. Control system (10) according to any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein the vehicle geolocation system (12) comprises:- a first satellite (14) disposed perimeterally or superiorly to the surface S;- a first antenna (20) mounted on the measurement and control vehicle (12).

7. Control system (10) according to any preceding claim, wherein the vehicle geolocation system (12) comprises a second satellite (16) and a third satellite (18) arranged perimetrically to the surface S.

8. Control system (10) according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the vehicle geolocation system (12) comprises a second antenna (22) mounted on the measurement and control vehicle (12).

9. Control system (10) according to any one of claims 3 to 8, wherein the means for making (30) a virtual plane V superior to the ice surface S are comprised, and wherein the vehicle (12) comprises a detection device (28) of the virtual plane V, so as to identify the position in height of the vehicle (12) relative to the support surface T or the ice surface S.

10. Ice scraper vehicle (12) for measuring and possibly adjusting the thickness G of ice of an ice rink comprising a support surface T on which the ice rests thatdefines an ice surface S above, a virtual plane V being defined above said ice scraper vehicle (12), comprising a control system (10) as defined in claims 3 to 9 and / or operating by means of a procedure for controlling the thickness G of ice according to claims 1 or 2.

Images