Underground Snow Generator Lifting System with Retractable Guide Slide

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing snow generating apparatuses have a guide upright that is hazardous and aesthetically unpleasing due to its long length and protrusion above the run.

Innovation Solution

The apparatus incorporates a guide device with a train of guide rollers and a slide that extends beyond the guide device, allowing the snow generator to be moved between lifted and lowered positions while minimizing the protrusion of the guide system above the run.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a long guide upright is used to support the snow generator, then the snow generator can be reliably moved between lifted and lowered positions, but the guide upright protrudes above the run causing safety hazards and landscape degradation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereliability of snow generator movementVSAvoidsafety hazards and landscape degradation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The guide upright is divided into two segments: a fixed lower portion embedded in the run and a movable upper portion that slides on the fixed segment. This segmentation allows the guide structure to provide support reliability while reducing permanent protrusion when the snow generator is lowered.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The guide upright transitions from a static structure to a dynamic one where the upper portion can move vertically along the fixed lower portion. This dynamic configuration allows the guide to adapt its height - protruding when needed for snow generation and retracting when not in use, thereby reducing safety hazards and landscape impact.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the guide upright is made shorter to reduce safety hazards and improve appearance, then the landscape impact is reduced, but the snow generator cannot be properly supported during lifting operations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesafety hazards and landscape degradationVSAvoidability to lift and lower snow generator

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The guide system is segmented into a fixed embedded portion and a movable sliding portion. The fixed portion remains short to minimize landscape impact and safety hazards, while the movable portion extends upward during operation to provide adequate support for lifting and positioning the snow generator.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The movable guide portion acts as an intermediary between the fixed short guide structure and the snow generator. It extends upward to provide the necessary support length during lifting operations, then retracts when not needed, allowing the fixed structure to remain short and aesthetically pleasing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Stability of the object's composition

If a fixed long guide structure is used, then the snow generator positioning is stable, but the guide structure remains visible and hazardous throughout the year including summer maintenance periods

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestability of snow generator positioningVSAvoidvisibility and safety hazards during maintenance

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The guide upright is transformed from a fixed static structure to a dynamic movable structure. The movable upper portion can be positioned upward during winter snow generation operations to maintain stable snow generator positioning, then lowered during summer maintenance to reduce visibility and eliminate safety hazards.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The guide upright operates periodically - extended during winter snow generation season to provide stable positioning, and retracted during summer maintenance season to reduce visibility and safety hazards. This periodic action allows the system to meet different operational requirements at different times.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

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

This design reduces the landscape impact and safety hazards associated with the guide upright, allowing for efficient snow coverage during winter and reduced visibility during summer maintenance.

Implementation Method 1

a guide device (8), which is fixed to the wall (4) on the outside of the chamber (3), extends in the direction (7), and comprises a train of guide rollers (9) mounted for rotating around respective rotation axes (10) substantially transverse to the direction (7)

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRolling: Roller

Data Source

PatentUS20250052472A1Snow generating apparatus

Publication Date: 2025.02.13 DEMACLENKO IT SRL

AI summary

A snow generating apparatus is provided with a snow generator to cover with snow a run for winter sports, with a housing chamber which is designed to be laid underground in the run, and with a lifting system to move the snow generator in a moving direction between a lifted position and a lowered position; the lifting system being provided with a guide device and a slide, which has an elongated shape, extends in the moving direction, is coupled to the guide device in a sliding manner and, furthermore, at least partly extends into the housing chamber when it is arranged in its lowered position.