Snow Finisher Arrangement with Staged Compaction and Turbulence Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing piste grooming devices struggle to create a smooth, defect-free, and safe surface for winter sports due to turbulence and uneven compaction of snow, leading to potential hazards for users.
Innovation Solution
A finisher assembly with disruptive and end profile elements that break up and compact snow in stages, combined with an aerodynamically designed end contour to maintain a laminar snow flow, ensuring a uniform and defect-free piste surface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If profiles are distributed across the width of the finisher arrangement with identical clear cross-sections, then the device structure is simple, but turbulence occurs in the snow flow causing defects in the profile
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by varying the clear cross-section of profiles along the towing direction. The first section has a first clear cross-section while the second section has a second clear cross-section that is smaller than the first. This local variation in geometry allows different sections to perform different functions: the first section with larger cross-section reduces turbulence, while the second section with smaller cross-section compacts the snow to eliminate defects, thereby improving overall piste surface quality without requiring complete structural redesign.
2Shape
If snow is compacted uniformly across the piste surface, then the surface appears smooth, but density inhomogeneities remain causing profile defects
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the compaction process into two distinct sections along the towing direction. The first section with the larger clear cross-section performs initial snow flow management and turbulence reduction. The second section with the smaller clear cross-section performs final compaction and defect elimination. This segmentation allows each section to optimize for its specific function, achieving both surface smoothness and uniform snow density distribution, thereby eliminating the contradiction between apparent smoothness and actual density uniformity.
3Manufacturing precision
If the clear cross-section of profiles is reduced at the end row, then snow compaction is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements parameter changes by systematically varying the clear cross-section dimension of the profiles along the towing direction. The transition from a first clear cross-section in the first section to a smaller second clear cross-section in the second section represents a controlled parameter change that optimizes snow compaction. This gradual parameter variation achieves improved compaction quality while maintaining manufacturing feasibility, as the change follows a logical progression rather than requiring complex adaptive mechanisms.
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 a high-quality piste surface with reduced imperfections, enhancing safety and ease of use for winter sports enthusiasts by minimizing turbulence and compaction defects.
Implementation Method 1
The disruptive profile elements ensure that snow present on the piste surface is loosened and swirled
Implementation Method 2
The clear cross-section of the profiles with respect to the towing direction is narrowed, in particular minimal, at the end row. The snow guided through these gaps is compacted at the end row.
Implementation Method 3
an end contour of the finisher assembly is present on the underside behind the profiles with respect to the towing direction, and in that a clear cross-section of the end contour, related to the towing direction, increases in both width and height counter to the towing direction. A snow flow guided through the spaces between the profiles and through the end contour during towing operation can be maintained laminar for a particularly long time.
Implementation Method 4
Turbulence in said snow flow can be correspondingly reduced or even completely avoided.
Data Source
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AI summary
2.1 Use for preparing a snow slope in a ski resort. 2.2 A finisher arrangement for a towed slope grooming machine, which consists at least partially of elastically compliant material and which is provided on its underside facing a slope surface with profiles arranged in a profiled area of the underside and which, during towing operation, imprint a profile pattern into the slope surface, wherein the profiles are distributed across a width of the finisher arrangement transversely to the towing direction, is known. 2.3 According to the invention, it is provided that the profiles have at least one row of disruptive profile elements extending across the width of the finisher arrangement for breaking up the slope surface, wherein the row of disruptive elements is arranged in a front end section of the profiled area with respect to the towing direction.