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US 4,793,142 AGranted
Method for making artificial snow
AssigneePermasnow (Australasia) Limited
InventorAlfio Bucceri
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method of making artificial snow by mixing water with a surfactant, the surfactant preferably forming 0.03% to 5% of the mixture by weight; aerating the mixture to form a foam of bubbles; and freezing the foam to form the snow crystals. The mixture is preferably aerated with air in the ratio water:air in the range 1:2 to 1:3 (v/v). The foam of bubbles is frozen by laying it over a refrigerated grid laid over the skiing slope and the foam is preferably laid and frozen in layers until the desired depth of snow is achieved.
Claims15
A method for making artificial snow including the steps of:
- mixing water with a surfactant;
- agitating, aerating and/or bubbling gas through the mixture to form a foam or froth of water bubbles;
- applying the foam or froth of bubbles as a substantially unfrozen layer to the area on which the artificial snow is to be created;
- and
- freezing the foam or froth of bubbles to form snow crystals.
2 more elements
A skiing slope including:
- a refrigerated floor or grid;
- and
- at least one layer of snow crystals covering the floor or grid, the snow crystals being made by a method including the steps of:
- mixing water with a surfactant;
- forming a foam of the resulting mixture;
- applying the foam as a substantially unfrozen layer to cover the floor or grid;
- and
- freezing the foam to form snow crystals.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.