Conveying assembly for snowmaking apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing snowmaking apparatuses, including compressed air and fan types, are limited to producing snow only at temperatures below 0°C, and flake ice machines, while capable of producing snow at higher temperatures, are large, expensive, and labor-intensive to assemble and operate due to the need for powerful blowers that increase temperature.
Innovation Solution
A snow conveying assembly that includes an impeller for accelerating snow, an ejector tube with a venturi throat, and a snow inlet tube, which uses a small blower to minimize temperature increase, allowing efficient snow transport with reduced energy consumption and enabling preassembly and easy deployment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If flake ice machines are used to produce snow at higher temperatures, then the operating temperature range is improved, but the apparatus size and assembly complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The conveying assembly is divided into separate functional modules: impeller unit, ejector tube with venturi throat, snow inlet tube, and blower section. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently and assembled in a standardized configuration, reducing overall assembly complexity while maintaining the capability to produce snow at higher temperatures
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces air as an intermediary medium that is injected into the snow stream at the venturi throat. This air injection serves as a mediator to convey the snow without requiring direct mechanical contact or complex mechanical conveying mechanisms, thereby simplifying the overall apparatus while enabling higher temperature operation
2Speed
If powerful blowers are used to increase velocity and pressure for snow deposition, then the snow conveying capability is improved, but the air temperature increase adversely affects the snow
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a two-stage air injection system where air serves as an intermediary. First, air is injected at the venturi throat to accelerate the snow. Second, additional air is injected downstream to maintain velocity and pressure. This intermediary air injection achieves high conveying velocity without requiring a single large powerful blower that would cause excessive temperature increase
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs pneumatic principles throughout: the venturi throat utilizes pressure differential to accelerate air and snow, and multiple air injection points use pneumatic pressure to convey and distribute snow. This pneumatic approach achieves high velocity with lower temperature increase compared to direct mechanical blower systems
3Adaptability or versatility
If existing apparatuses are transported to remote locations, then the snowmaking capability is improved, but the transportation and assembly costs increase due to crane requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The conveying assembly is designed as a segmented modular system that can be transported in smaller sections and assembled using simple connections rather than requiring heavy cranes. The standardized modules (impeller, ejector tube, inlet tube, blower sections) can be easily handled and assembled at remote locations, significantly reducing transportation and assembly costs while maintaining deployment flexibility
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
Enables efficient snow transport over long distances with minimal energy and temperature increase, reducing operational costs and assembly complexity compared to existing systems.
Implementation Method 1
an ejector tube having an inlet end for receiving snow from said impeller, a venturi throat downstream of said inlet end in the direction of snow travel through the ejector tube
Implementation Method 2
a plurality of blades connected to said shaft and extending radially outwardly therefrom to locations proximate and spaced apart from said cylindrical side wall for regrinding the snow
Data Source
Figure 1~2
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Figure 5~6
AI summary
A snow conveying assembly for use with a snow making machine includes an impeller for receiving snow from the snow making machine and accelerating the snow; and an ejector tube, which receives the snow from the impeller, further accelerates the snow and discharges the snow from the assembly. The ejector tube contains a venturi throat. Snow from the impeller is conveyed via a snow inlet tube into the ejector tube immediately upstream of a venturi throat and air under pressure is blown into the ejector tube upstream of the venturi throat to further accelerate the snow.