Machine for making artificial snow and method

A machine for making artificial snow, which comprises:

• a) a housing having an inlet opening and a discharge outlet aligned along a longitudinal axis of the housing;
• b) a fan comprising a motor an dan operatively associated fan blade disposed inside the housing with the fan blade rotatable about the longitudinal axis for generating a high-volume air flow exiting the housing at the discharge outlet wherein a discharge portion of the housing is provided with an inwardly tapered frusto-conical shape that reduces the cross-sectional area inside the housing in a manner so as to maintain a substantially constant velocity of the air flow moving through the housing and out of the discharge outlet;
• c) a water injector located around the periphery of the housing proximate the discharge outlet for injecting water into the air flow exiting the discharge outlet;
• and
• d) a nucleator operatively associated with the housing to provide a spray of ice crystal nuclei propagating outwardly from the discharge outlet propelled by the air flow exiting the discharge outlet, wherein the nucleator is provided inside the housing at a position spaced upstream from the discharge outlet and at a distance sufficient to enable the wide angle round spray of ice crystal nuclei to substantially fill the open area of the discharge outlet with the water shower commingling with the ice crystal nuclei to thereby form ice as the two travel through an ambient atmosphere.

A method of making artificial snow, which comprises:

• a) generating a substantially unidirectional high-volume air flow inside a housing and existing at a discharge outlet;
• b) providing a wide angle round spray of ice crystal nuclei propagating outwardly from a position spaced upstream from the discharge outlet a distance sufficient to enable the wide angle round spray of ice crystal nuclei to form a radial pattern diverging outwardly along and around the longitudinal axis of the housing propelled by the air flow exiting the discharge outlet to substantially fill the area of the discharge outlet;
• and
• c) injecting a cold water shower into the air flow exiting the discharge outlet, the cold water shower provided in a surrounding relationship around the circumference of the discharge outlet such that water droplets comprising the cold water shower commingle with the spray of ice crystal nuclei to thereby form ice granules as the water droplets and ice crystal nuclei travel through an ambient atmosphere.

In a machine for making artificial snow comprising a housing having an inlet opening and a discharge outlet provided along a longitudinal axis of the housing;

• an air flow generator disposed inside the housing for generating a high-volume air flow exiting the housing at the discharge outlet;
• a water injector located around the periphery of the housing proximate the discharge outlet for injecting a water shower into the air flow exiting the discharge outlet;
• and a nucleator operatively associated with the housing to provide a spray of ice crystal nuclei propagating outwardly from the discharge outlet of the housing, propelled by the air flow exiting the discharge outlet, the improvement comprising:
• a surrounding manifold provided adjacent to the discharge outlet forming the water injector, the manifold receiving an external supply of water and supporting a plurality of water nozzles comprising primary water nozzles positioned at spaced intervals along the surrounding extent of the manifold and wherein the manifold connects the water supply to the plurality of primary water nozzles which provide for automatically injecting a primary water shower into the air flow and wherein the manifold connects the water supply to a plurality of secondary water nozzles disposed at intermediate locations in the manifold between the primary water nozzles, the secondary water nozzles being selectively actuatable to provide for injecting a secondary water shower into the air flow propelling the spray of ice crystals nuclei out through the discharge outlet.

In a machine for making artificial snow comprising a housing having an inlet opening and a discharge outlet provided along a longitudinal axis of the housing;

• an air flow generator disposed inside the housing for generating a high-volume air flow exiting the housing at the discharge outlet;
• a water injector located around the periphery of the housing proximate the discharge outlet for injecting a water shower into the air flow exiting the discharge outlet;
• and a nucleator operatively associated with the housing to provide a spray of ice crystal nuclei propagating outwardly from the discharge outlet of the housing, propelled by the high-volume air flow, the improvement comprising:
• a heater that provides for pre-heating the compressed air prior to mixing with the water in the nucleator.

In a machine for making artificial snow comprising a housing having an inlet opening and a discharge outlet provided along a longitudinal axis of the housing:

• an air flow generator disposed inside the housing for generating a high-volume air flow exiting the housing at the discharge outlet;
• a water injector located around the periphery of the housing proximate the discharge outlet for injecting a water shower into the air flow exiting the discharge outlet;
• and a nucleator operatively associated with the housing to provide a spray of ice crystal nuclei propagating outwardly from the discharge outlet of the housing, propelled by the high-volume air flow, the improvement comprising:
• the housing provided with a circular cross-section at the discharge outlet and the water injector comprising an annular manifold provided adjacent to the discharge outlet, the manifold supporting a plurality of water nozzles spaced at intervals around the annular extent of the manifold and receiving an external supply of water to thereby provide for injecting the water shower into the air flow exiting the discharge outlet and wherein the nucleator is provided inside the housing at a position spaced upstream from the discharge outlet and at a distance sufficient to enable the wide angle round spray of ice crystal nuclei to substantially fill the open area of the discharge outlet with the water shower commingling with the ice crystal nuclei to thereby form ice granules as the two travel through an ambient atmosphere.

In a machine for making artificial snow comprising a housing having an inlet opening and a discharge outlet provided along a longitudinal axis of the housing:

• an air flow generator disposed inside the housing for generating a high-volume air flow exiting the housing at the discharge outlet;
• a water injector located around the periphery of the housing proximate the discharge outlet for injecting a water shower into the air flow exiting the discharge outlet;
• and a nucleator operatively associated with the housing to provide a spray of ice crystal nuclei propagating outwardly from the discharge outlet of the housing propelled by the high-volume air flow, the improvement comprising:
• a support for the housing comprising a yoke attached to the housing about a pivot axis to provide pivoting movement of the housing around the pivot axis normal to the longitudinal axis of the housing to thereby adjust a tilt angle of the discharge outlet and wherein the support further comprises a post providing a rotation axis and having a lower end mounted to a foundation and a portion of a length of the post disposed coaxially inside a cylinder, the cylinder having a closed upper end supporting the yoke and an opposite open end receiving the post so that the cylinder is rotatable with respect to the post about the rotation axis for directing the discharge outlet at an infinite number of annular directions.

In a machine for making artificial snow comprising a housing having an inlet opening and a discharge outlet provided along a longitudinal axis of the housing:

• an air flow generator disposed inside the housing for generating a high-volume air flow exiting the housing at the discharge outlet;
• a water injector located around the periphery of the housing proximate the discharge outlet for injecting a water shower into the air flow exiting the discharge outlet;
• and a nucleator operatively associated with the housing to provide a spray of ice crystal nuclei propagating outwardly from the discharge outlet of the housing propelled by the high-volume air flow, the improvement comprising:
• a support for the housing comprising a post having a lower end mounted to a foundation and a length of the post extending vertically upwardly form the lower end and through a sleeve that is moveable along the post to provide for vertical up and down movement of the housing along a substantial portion of the length of the post to provide for accessing the housing from a lowered, ground level elevation when the sleeve is adjacent to the foundation and for discharging artificial snow when the housing is in a raised position along the length of the post, spaced a substantial distance from the foundation.

A machine for making artificial snow, which comprises:

• a) a housing having an inlet opening and a discharge outlet provided along a longitudinal axis of the housing;
• b) an air flow generator disposed inside the housing for generating a high-volume air flow exiting the housing at the discharge outlet;
• c) a water injector located around the periphery of the housing proximate the discharge outlet for injecting a water shower into the air flow exiting the discharge outlet;
• and
• d) a nucleator disposed inside the housing and comprising multiple openings spaced in a radial pattern around the longitudinal axis of the housing to provide for injecting an atomized mixture of compressed air and water into the air flow to thereby provide a wide angle round spray of ice crystal nuclei propagating outwardly in a radial pattern towards the discharge outlet of the housing, along and around the longitudinal axis thereof, propelled by the high-volume air flow and wherein a heater provides for pre-heating the compressed air prior to mixing with the water in the nucleator.

A machine for making artificial snow, which comprises:

• a) a housing having an inlet opening and a discharge outlet provided along a longitudinal axis of the housing;
• b) an air flow generator disposed inside the housing for generating a high-volume air flow exiting the housing at the discharge outlet;
• c) a nucleator disposed inside the housing and adopted to provide a wide angle round spray of ice crystal nuclei propagating outwardly in a radial pattern towards the discharge outlet of the housing, along and around the longitudinal axis thereof, propelled by the high-volume air flow;
• and
• d) a manifold located around the periphery of the housing proximate the discharge outlet for injecting a water shower into the air flow exiting the discharge outlet, the manifold supporting a plurality of water nozzles spaced at intervals along a surrounding extent of the manifold and receiving an external supply of water to thereby connect the water supply to the plurality of water nozzles, wherein the plurality of water nozzles provide a primary cold water shower injected into the air flow exiting the discharge outlet propelled by the high-volume air flow, the primary water shower commingling with the ice crystal nuclei to thereby form ice granules as the two travel through the ambient air, and wherein the water nozzles are provided with a discharge nozzle tip portion comprising a discharge orifice having an outwardly extending taper that provides for injecting a spray of bulk water comprising the cold water shower into the air flow, and wherein the water nozzles are disposed in the manifold so as to provide the spray of bulk water injected into the air flow at a variety of acute angles relative to the longitudinal axis of the housing, the various acute angles being a function of the location of the water nozzle along the surrounding extent of the manifold and the outwardly extending taper of the discharge orifice.

A machine for making artificial snow, which comprises:

• a) a housing having an inlet opening and a discharge outlet provided along a longitudinal axis of the housing;
• b) an air flow generator disposed inside the housing for generating a high-volume air flow exiting the housing at the discharge outlet;
• c) a nucleator disposed inside the housing and adopted to provide a wide angle round spray of ice crystal nuclei propagating outwardly in a radial pattern towards the discharge outlet of the housing, along and around the longitudinal axis thereof, propelled by the high-volume air flow;
• and
• d) a manifold located around the periphery of the housing proximate the discharge outlet for injecting a water shower into the air flow exiting the discharge outlet, the manifold supporting a plurality of water nozzles spaced at intervals along a surrounding extent of the manifold and receiving an external supply of water to thereby connect the water supply to the plurality of water nozzles, wherein the plurality of water nozzles provide a primary cold water shower injected into the air flow exiting the discharge outlet propelled by the high-volume air flow, the primary water shower commingling with the ice crystal nuclei to thereby form ice granules as the two travel through the ambient air, and wherein the water nozzles are recessed into the manifold with only a discharge nozzle tip portion extending beyond a plane of the manifold.

A machine for making artificial snow, which comprises:

• a) a housing having an inlet opening and a discharge outlet provided along a longitudinal axis of the housing;
• b) an air flow generator disposed inside the housing for generating a high-volume air flow exiting the housing at the discharge outlet;
• c) a nucleator disposed inside the housing and adopted to provide a wide angle round spray of ice crystal nuclei propagating outwardly in a radial pattern towards the discharge outlet of the housing, along and around the longitudinal axis thereof, propelled by the high-volume air flow;
• and
• d) a manifold located around the periphery of the housing proximate the discharge outlet for injecting a water shower into the air flow exiting the discharge outlet, the manifold supporting a plurality of water nozzles spaced at intervals along a surrounding extent of the manifold and receiving an external supply of water to thereby connect the water supply to the plurality of water nozzles, wherein the plurality of water nozzles provide a primary cold water shower injected into the air flow exiting the discharge outlet propelled by the high-volume air flow, the primary water shower commingling with the ice crystal nuclei to thereby form ice granules as the two travel through the ambient air, and wherein the plurality of water nozzles comprise primary water nozzles position at spaced intervals along the surrounding extent of the manifold and disposed at a variety of acute angles relative to the longitudinal axis of the housing to provide for injecting a primary water shower into the air flow propelling the spray of ice crystal nuclei out through the discharge outlet.

A machine for making artificial snow, which comprises:

• a) a housing having an inlet opening and a discharge outlet provided along a longitudinal axis of the housing;
• b) an air flow generator disposed inside the housing for generating a high-volume air flow exiting the housing at the discharge outlet;
• c) a nucleator disposed inside the housing and adopted to provide a wide angle round spray of ice crystal nuclei propagating outwardly in a radial pattern towards the discharge outlet of the housing, along and around the longitudinal axis thereof, propelled by the high-volume air flow;
• and
• d) a manifold located around the periphery of the housing proximate the discharge outlet for injecting a water shower into the air flow exiting the discharge outlet, the manifold supporting a plurality of water nozzles spaced at intervals along a surrounding extent of the manifold and receiving an external supply of water to thereby connect the water supply to the plurality of water nozzles, wherein the plurality of water nozzles provide a primary cold water shower injected into the air flow exiting the discharge outlet propelled by the high-volume air flow, the primary water shower commingling with the ice crystal nuclei to thereby form ice granules as the two travel through the ambient air, and wherein the plurality of water nozzles comprise primary water nozzles positioned at spaced intervals along the surrounding extent of the manifold to provide for injecting a primary water shower into the air flow propelling the spray of ice crystal nuclei out through the discharge outlet and wherein the water nozzles further comprise a plurality of secondary water nozzles disposed at intermediate locations in the manifold between the primary water nozzles to provide for injecting a secondary water shower into the air flow propelling the spray of ice crystal nuclei out through the discharge outlet.

A machine for making artificial snow, which comprises:

• a) a housing having an inlet opening and a discharge outlet provided along a longitudinal axis of the housing;
• b) an air flow generator disposed inside the housing for generating a high-volume air flow exiting the housing at the discharge outlet;
• c) a water injector located around the periphery of the housing proximate the discharge outlet for injecting a water shower into the air flow exiting the discharge outlet;
• and
• d) a nucleator disposed inside the housing and adopted to provide a wide angle round spray of ice crystal nuclei propagating outwardly in a radial pattern towards the discharge outlet of the housing, along and around the longitudinal axis thereof, propelled by the high-volume air flow wherein the housing has a circular cross-section at the discharge outlet and the water injector comprises an annular manifold provided adjacent to the discharge outlet, the manifold supporting a plurality of water nozzles spaced at intervals around the annular extent of the manifold and receiving an external supply of water to thereby provide for injecting a cold water shower into the air flow exiting the discharge outlet and wherein the water nozzles comprise primary water nozzles positioned at three primary locations, spaced at intervals around the annular extent of the manifold to provide for injecting a primary water shower into the air flow propelling the spray of ice crystal nuclei out through the discharge outlet.

A machine for making artificial snow, which comprises:

• a) a housing having an inlet opening and a discharge outlet provided along a longitudinal axis of the housing;
• b) an air flow generator disposed inside the housing for generating a high-volume air flow exiting the housing at the discharge outlet;
• c) a water injector located around the periphery of the housing proximate the discharge outlet for injecting a water shower into the air flow exiting the discharge outlet;
• d) a nucleator disposed inside the housing and adopted to provide a wide angle round spray of ice crystal nuclei propagating outwardly in a radial pattern towards the discharge outlet of the housing, along and around the longitudinal axis thereof, propelled by the high-volume air flow;
• and
• e) a support that provides for selected rotational movement of the housing about a vertical rotation axis for directing the discharge outlet at an infinite number of annular directions around the rotation axis, wherein the support comprises a post providing the rotation axis and disposed coaxially inside a cylinder, the cylinder having a closed upper end connected to the housing and an opposite open end receiving a portion of the post extending from the open end thereof, the post positioned inside the cylinder so that the cylinder is rotatable with respect to the post about the rotation axis for directing the discharge outlet of the housing at the infinite number of annular directions.

A machine for making artificial snow, which comprises:

• a) a housing having an inlet opening and a discharge outlet provided along a longitudinal axis of the housing;
• b) an air flow generator disposed inside the housing for generating a high-volume air flow exiting the housing at the discharge outlet;
• c) a water injector located around the periphery of the housing proximate the discharge outlet for injecting a water shower into the air flow exiting the discharge outlet;
• d) a nucleator disposed inside the housing and adopted to provide a wide angle round spray of ice crystal nuclei propagating outwardly in a radial pattern towards the discharge outlet of the housing, along and around the longitudinal axis thereof, propelled by the high-volume air flow;
• and
• e) a support that provides for pivotable movement of the housing around a horizontal pivot axis normal to the longitudinal axis of the housing to thereby adjust a tilt angle of the discharge outlet of the housing and wherein the support further provides for rotational movement of the housing about a vertical rotational axis for directing the discharge outlet at an infinite number of annular directions around the rotational axis, wherein the support comprises a yoke attached to the housing about the pivot axis to provide the pivotable movement of the housing around the pivot axis and wherein the support further comprises a post providing the rotation axis and having a lower end mounted to a foundation and a portion of a length of the post disposed coaxially inside a cylinder, the cylinder having a closed upper end supporting the yoke and an opposite open end receiving the post so that the cylinder is rotatable with respect to the post about the rotation axis for directing the discharge outlet at the infinite number of annular directions.

A machine for making artificial snows, which comprises:

• a) a housing having an inlet opening and a discharge outlet provided along a longitudinal axis of the housing;
• b) an air flow generator disposed inside the housing for generating a high-volume air flow exiting the housing at the discharge outlet;
• c) a water injector located around the periphery of the housing proximate the discharge outlet for injecting a water shower into the air flow exiting the discharge outlet;
• d) a nucleator disposed inside the housing and adopted to provide a wide angle round spray of ice crystal nuclei propagating outwardly in a radial pattern towards the discharge outlet of the housing, along and around the longitudinal axis thereof, propelled by the high-volume air flow;
• and
• e) a support for the housing that comprises a post having a lower end mounted in a foundation and a length of the post extending vertically upwardly from the lower end and through a sleeve that is moveable along the post to provide for vertical up and down movement of the housing along a substantial portion of the length of the post to provide for accessing the housing from a lowered, ground level elevation when the sleeve is adjacent to the foundation and for discharging artificial snow when the housing is in a raised position along the length of the post, spaced a substantial distance from the foundation.

A machine for making artificial snow, which comprises:

• a) a housing having an inlet opening and a discharge outlet aligned along a longitudinal axis of the housing;
• b) a fan comprising a motor and an operatively associated fan blade disposed inside the housing with the fan blade rotatable about the longitudinal axis for generating a high-volume air flow exiting the housing at the discharge outlet, wherein a discharge portion of the housing is provided with an inwardly tapered frusto-conical shape that reduces the cross sectional area inside the housing in a manner so as to maintain a substantially constant velocity of the air flow moving through the housing and out the discharge outlet;
• c) a water injector located around the periphery of the housing proximate the discharge outlet for injecting water into the air flow exiting the discharge outlet;
• and
• d) a nucleator operatively associated with the housing to provide a spray of ice crystal nuclei propagating outwardly from the discharge outlet propelled by the air flow exiting the discharge outlet, wherein the fan blade faces the inlet opening and the motor faces the discharge outlet with the frusto-conical shape of the discharge portion providing a cross-sectional area at the discharge outlet that is substantially similar to the open cross-sectional area inside the housing along a plane normal to the longitudinal axis intersecting the motor to thereby maintain the substantially constant velocity of the air flow moving through the housing and out the discharge outlet.

A machine for making artificial snow, which comprises:

• a) a housing having an inlet opening and a discharge outlet aligned along a longitudinal axis of the housing;
• b) a fan comprising a motor and an operatively associated fan blade disposed inside the housing with the fan blade rotatable about the longitudinal axis for generating a high-volume air flow exiting the housing at the discharge outlet, wherein a discharge portion of the housing is provided with an inwardly tapered frusto-conical shape that reduces the cross sectional area inside the housing in a manner so as to maintain a substantially constant velocity of the air flow moving through the housing and out the discharge outlet;
• c) a water injector located around the periphery of the housing proximate the discharge outlet for injecting water into the air flow exiting the discharge outlet;
• and
• d) a nucleator operatively associated with the housing to provide a spray of ice crystal nuclei propagating outwardly from the discharge outlet propelled by the air flow exiting the discharge outlet, wherein the nucleator comprises multiple openings spaced in a radial pattern around the longitudinal axis to provide for injecting an atomized mixture of compressed air and water into the air flow to thereby form the spray of ice crystal nuclei.

A method of making artificial snow, which comprises:

• a) generating a substantially unidirectional high-volume air flow inside a housing and exiting at a discharge outlet thereof;
• b) providing a wide angle round spray of ice crystal nuclei propagating outwardly from a position spaced upstream from the discharge outlet to form a radial pattern diverging outwardly and downwardly along and around a longitudinal axis of the housing propelled by the air flow exiting the discharge outlet;
• and
• c) injecting a cold water shower into the air flow exiting the discharge outlet, the cold water shower provided by a manifold positioned adjacent to and in a surrounding relationship around the circumference of the discharge outlet, wherein the manifold supports a plurality of water nozzles spaced at intervals around a surrounding extent of the manifold with the manifold receiving an external supply of cold water to thereby inject the cold water shower into the air flow exiting the discharge outlet such that the water droplets comprising the cold water shower commingle with the spray of ice crystal nuclei to thereby form ice granules as the water droplets and ice crystal nuclei travel through a freezing ambient atmosphere, wherein the water nozzles are provided with a discharge nozzle tip portion comprising a discharge orifice having an outwardly extending taper that provides for injecting a spray of bulk water comprising the cold water shower into the air flow and wherein the water nozzles are disposed in the manifold so as to provide the spray of bulk water injected into the air flow at a variety of acute angles relative to the longitudinal axis of the housing, the various acute angles being a function of the location of the water nozzle positioned along the surrounding extent of the manifold and the outwardly extending taper of the discharge orifice.

A method of making artificial snow, which comprises:

• a) generating a substantially unidirectional high-volume air flow inside a housing and exiting at a discharge outlet thereof;
• b) providing a wide angle round spray of ice crystal nuclei propagating outwardly from a position spaced upstream from the discharge outlet to form a radial pattern diverging outwardly along and around a longitudinal axis of the housing propelled by the air flow exiting the discharge outlet;
• and
• c) injecting a cold water shower into the air flow exiting the discharge outlet, the cold water shower provided by a manifold positioned adjacent to and in a surrounding relationship with respect to the circumference of the discharge outlet, wherein the manifold supports a plurality of water nozzles, each terminating in an upstream open end in fluid flow communication with an internal passage extending through the water nozzle to a discharge orifice and wherein the plurality of water nozzles are spaced at intervals around a surrounding extent of the manifold with the manifold receiving an external supply of cold water and wherein the manifold enables the water supply to enter each of the plurality of water nozzles through their respective open ends with the water flowing through the internal passages and exiting the respective discharge orifices to inject the cold water shower into the air flow exiting the discharge outlet such that the water droplets comprising the cold water shower commingle with the spray of ice crystal nuclei and thereby form ice granules as the water droplets and ice crystal nuclei travel through a freezing ambient atmosphere, wherein the cold water supply is provided by the manifold having the water nozzles recessed therein with the discharge orifice extending beyond the manifold so that the cold water moving through the manifold serves to provide for thawing the water nozzles upon start-up and to prevent the water nozzles from freezing as the water nozzles provide the spray of bulk water into the air flow.

A method of making artificial snow, which comprises:

• a) generating a substantially unidirectional high-volume air flow inside a housing and exiting at a discharge outlet thereof;
• b) providing a wide angle round spray of ice crystal nuclei propagating outwardly from a position spaced upstream from the discharge outlet to form a radial pattern diverging outwardly along and around a longitudinal axis of the housing propelled by the air flow exiting the discharge outlet;
• c) injecting a cold water shower into the air flow exiting the discharge outlet, the cold water shower provided in a surrounding relationship around the circumference of the discharge outlet such that water droplets comprising the cold water shower commingle with the spray of ice crystal nuclei to thereby form ice granules as the water droplets and ice crystal nuclei travel through a freezing ambient atmosphere;
• and
• d) moving the housing along a support between a raised position above ground level to thereby provide for forming artificial snow and a lower position proximate the ground level to provide for accessing the housing.

In a machine for making artificial snow comprising a housing having an inlet opening and a discharge outlet provided along a longitudinal axis of the housing:

• an air flow generator disposed inside the housing for generating a high-volume air flow exiting the housing at the discharge inlet;
• a water injector located around the periphery of the housing proximate the discharge outlet for injecting a water shower into the air flow exiting the discharge outlet;
• and a nucleator operatively associated with the housing to provide a spray of ice crystal nuclei propagating outwardly from the discharge outlet of the housing, propelled by the high-volume air flow, the improvement comprising:
• the housing having a circular cross-section at the discharge outlet and the water injector comprising an annular manifold provided adjacent to the discharge outlet, the manifold supporting a plurality of water nozzles spaced at intervals around the annular extent of the manifold and receiving an external supply of water to thereby provide for injecting the water shower into the air flow exiting the discharge outlet, wherein the water nozzles comprise primary water nozzles positioned at three primary locations, spaced at intervals around the annular extent of the manifold to provide for injecting a primary water shower into the air flow propelling the spray of icy crystal nuclei out through the discharge outlet.