Artificial Snow Device Using Induction Motor and Micropump
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for creating artificial snow, such as 'falling polystyrene' and foam machines, face issues like electrostatic attraction, uncontrolled dispersion, high noise levels, and excessive foam production, making them unsuitable for quiet environments and inefficient in operation.
Innovation Solution
A device that produces foam inside a soapy water tank using a membrane micropump, eliminating the need for noisy brush motor fans and external components, and uses a noiseless induction motor to convey the foam, creating dry, light, and adjustable artificial snow flakes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If foam machines use powerful fan units with brush motors to generate air blast, then foam transformation and snow production are effective, but noise level becomes excessively high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the brush motor-driven fan unit with an induction motor-driven fan unit. This substitution eliminates the mechanical contact and friction between brush and commutator, significantly reducing noise while maintaining the powerful air blast needed for foam transformation. The induction motor provides smooth, quiet operation without the mechanical wear and noise of brush motors.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and eliminates the brush motor component entirely, replacing it with a brushless induction motor system. This removal of the noisy brush motor while retaining the fan unit functionality resolves the contradiction between effective foam transformation and acceptable noise levels.
2Productivity
If foam machines use powerful fan units to generate air blast, then foam transformation is effective, but foam spots are abundantly produced on the surface
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the air flow parameters by using an induction motor to provide more controlled and uniform air distribution compared to brush motors. This parameter change in motor operation allows for better foam atomization and dispersion, reducing the formation of concentrated foam spots on surfaces while maintaining effective snow production.
3Productivity
If falling polystyrene technique uses closed circuit system with forced ventilation, then snow effect is produced, but system volume is large and installation is difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the complex closed circuit system with recovery tanks and forced ventilation pipes. Instead, it uses a simplified open system where soapy water is pumped directly through a spray mechanism, dramatically reducing system volume and installation complexity while maintaining snow production capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a hydraulic pump system to deliver soapy water directly to the spray mechanism, replacing the pneumatic forced ventilation system. This hydraulic approach simplifies the overall system architecture, reducing the need for large ventilation ducts and recovery tanks, thereby decreasing device complexity and installation requirements.
4Productivity
If falling polystyrene technique is used, then snow effect is produced, but electrostatic magnetism causes fragments to be attracted and attached to surrounding objects
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses disposable soapy water solution that creates foam bubbles as the snow effect medium, replacing the reusable but problematic polystyrene fragments. The soapy water system avoids electrostatic accumulation issues entirely, as the liquid foam naturally dissipates without building up static charges that attract to surrounding objects.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution results in silent operation, reduced foam spots, increased autonomy, and lower production costs, producing high-quality artificial snow that dissolves upon contact, suitable for various settings without noise or humidity issues.
Implementation Method 1
a membrane micropump (3) situated in external position on the tank (1)... The air dispensed by the nozzle (2) causes a sort of vorticous mixing of the soapy water, thus producing foam
Implementation Method 2
a centrifugal fan with very noiseless induction motor (5) installed on the back of the tank (1)... The foam that comes out of the tank (1) is very light and therefore can be conveyed by a weak air flow towards the area that is to receive the artificial snow
Implementation Method 3
artificial snow flakes that fall by gravity in a very similar mode as natural snow
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
Device for scenographic use for production of artificial snow, characterised in that: - a tank for soapy water (1) with an outflow nozzle (4) in one of the lateral walls or in the upper wall; - a microperforated nozzle (2) installed inside the tank (1) designed to provide pressurised air produced by a suitable generator (3) in external position on the tank (1); - a device (5) in external position on the tank (1) designed to generate an air flow incident to the longitudinal axis of the outflow nozzle (4).