Snowmaking automation system and modules
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional snowmaking automation systems are costly, labor-intensive, and inflexible, relying on fixed electrical infrastructure, requiring manual operation, and are often proprietary, limiting their adaptability and efficiency at ski resorts.
Innovation Solution
A battery-powered, wireless snowmaking automation system that includes modular actuators and communication modules for remote control of snowmaking guns and hydrants, allowing for flexible deployment and maintenance, and compatibility with various snowmaking technologies, eliminating the need for fixed electrical infrastructure and reducing labor costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional snowmaking automation systems use fixed electrical infrastructure, then reliable power supply is ensured, but system cost and installation complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the electrical actuation system with a pneumatic system. Compressed air is used to drive the snowmaking equipment instead of electric motors, eliminating the need for electrical infrastructure while maintaining reliable operation. The compressed air supply system serves as the substitute energy source.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention utilizes pneumatic principles by employing compressed air as the primary actuating medium. Air lines are installed to deliver compressed air to snowmaking guns and other equipment, replacing electrical wiring and motors with a pneumatic control and actuation system.
2Device complexity
If manual operation is used for snowmaking equipment, then system simplicity is maintained, but labor costs and operational time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables automatic operation where snowmaking equipment can be controlled remotely or on timers without continuous manual intervention. The pneumatic system allows for automated actuation of snowmaking guns and other equipment, reducing labor requirements while maintaining operational efficiency.
3Extent of automation
If proprietary automation systems are implemented, then specific equipment functionality is optimized, but adaptability to different snowmaking technologies is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The pneumatic actuation system serves as a universal interface that can control various types of snowmaking equipment from different manufacturers. By using standardized pneumatic connections and control mechanisms, the system can adapt to different snowmaking technologies without requiring proprietary integration solutions.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention is a snowmaking automation system and snowmaking automation modules for use with snowmaking guns and hydrants. Embodiments of the snowmaking automation modules described herein may be battery powered, and thus do not require fixed electrical infrastructure, but are designed to use such infrastructure if present on the mountain. In some embodiments, various components of the snowmaking automation system may be wireless and thus do not require hard-wired communications, for example between base stations, servers, databases, repeater nodes and remotely controlled snowmaking guns and hydrants with their snowmaking automation modules installed.