Dispensing assembly for a snow generator and snow generator comprising said dispensing assembly

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current snow generators struggle to maintain consistent snow quality across varying climatic conditions.

Innovation Solution

A dispensing assembly for a snow generator that includes a fixed structure with a circular opening, a rotor that rotates around a longitudinal axis and is adjustable in speed, and a water supply assembly to emit a jet of atomized water. The rotor's adjustable speed and the size of the annular gap allow for control of the water droplet size and flow rate, ensuring consistent snow quality.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional snow generators are used, then snow production is achieved, but snow quality characteristics cannot be maintained constant under varying climatic conditions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesnow quality consistencyVSAvoidadaptability to climatic variations
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a rotor that can rotate at variable speeds to dynamically adjust water droplet atomization. The rotor speed is made adjustable to change the droplet size distribution, allowing the system to adapt to different climatic conditions while maintaining consistent snow quality characteristics

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the physical parameters of water delivery by controlling rotor rotation speed and adjusting the annular gap size. These parameter changes modify the atomization characteristics of water, enabling adaptation to varying environmental conditions while preserving snow quality consistency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Manufacturing precision

If rotor rotation speed is increased, then water droplet atomization improves, but control over droplet size becomes more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewater droplet size controlVSAvoidrotor rotation speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The patent incorporates feedback mechanisms through adjustable rotor speed control and variable annular gap positioning. These allow real-time adjustment of atomization characteristics based on observed snow quality and climatic conditions, maintaining precise droplet size control even at varying rotation speeds

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Productivity

If the annular gap size is decreased, then water flow rate increases, but atomization quality may deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewater flow rateVSAvoidatomization quality
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes the annular gap size dynamically adjustable rather than fixed. This allows the gap to be optimized for each operating condition, enabling the system to maintain both high water flow rate and superior atomization quality by adapting the gap size to match the rotor speed and environmental conditions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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 enables the generation of snow with consistent characteristics across a wide range of climatic conditions by adjusting the size of water droplets and the flow rate of the atomized water jet.

Implementation Method 1

a water supply assembly, configured to supply water at a given pressure within the fixed structure, at the free end of the rotor; the free end of the rotor being coupled to the circular opening of the fixed structure so as to delimit, together with the fixed structure, an annular gap configured to guide a jet of atomised water towards the outside of the dispensing assembly

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAtomization:

Implementation Method 2

The compressed air divides the water into tiny drops, which in contact with the external environment, due to the sudden loss of pressure and the decrease in temperature, freeze and form tiny ice particles

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure loss: Pressure Drop

Implementation Method 3

the sudden loss of pressure and the decrease in temperature, freeze and form tiny ice particles that make up the nuclei of the artificial snow crystals

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFreezing: Freezing

Implementation Method 4

the fan-type generator comprises a fan configured to diffuse the jet of atomised water and the jet of the mixture of compressed air and water into the external environment

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDiffusion: Diffusion

Data Source

PatentEP4062113B1Dispensing assembly for a snow generator and snow generator comprising said dispensing assembly
Publication Date: 2025.02.19 DEMACLENKO IT SRL
  • EP4062113B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4062113B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4062113B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A dispensing assembly for a snow generator has a fixed structure (4) having a circular opening (5) extending along the longitudinal axis (A1); a rotor (6) extending along the longitudinal axis (A1), which has one free end (7) at the circular opening (5), and is configured to rotate around a rotational axis, preferably coinciding with the longitudinal axis (A1); and a water supply assembly (10), configured to supply water at a given pressure within the fixed structure (4), at the free end (7) of the rotor (6); the free end (7) of the rotor (6) being coupled to the circular opening (5) of the fixed structure (4) so as to delimit, together with the fixed structure (4), an annular gap configured to guide a jet of atomised water towards the outside of the dispensing assembly (2).