Snow maker

A device for making snow by use of a flow of pressurized water and a flow of compressed air, which comprises:

• means for dividing the flow of pressurized water into a primary water flow and a secondary water flow;
• means for disintegrating the primary water flow into a multiplicity of water droplets flowing generally downstream along the path of a central axis;
• a nucleator;
• for providing a multiplicity of frozen particulates from a plurality of atomizers, and for projecting the particulates so they intermingle with said multiplicity of water droplets to induce said droplets to freeze as snow,
• the nucleator having a discharge end and a chamber in proximity to said end;
• a plurality of atomizers circumferentially spaced apart around said chamber and in communication therewith;
• means for introducing compressed air into said chamber;
• and,
• means for introducing secondary water into said chamber upstream of said atomizers, and for flowing said water axially and circumferentially within said chamber;
• wherein the secondary water flow and air flow are first intermingled upon entering said atomizers.

A device for making snow through use of a flow of pressurized water and a flow of compressed air, which comprises:

• means for dividing the flow of pressurized water into a primary water flow and a secondary water flow;
• a plurality of nozzles spaced apart around a central axis, for disintegrating the primary water flow into a multiplicity of water droplets, each nozzle discharging a multiplicity of water droplets generally downstream along a first path, wherein the first path diverges radially outwardly from said central axis;
• and,
• a nucleator, lying along said central axis, for mixing and discharging secondary water and compressed air to thereby provide a multiplicity of frozen particle nuclei suitable for interacting with the multiplicity of water droplets and inducing said droplets to freeze as snow;
• the nucleator having a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart atomizers, each atomizer discharging said frozen particle nuclei along a second path which path diverges radially outwardly from said central axis to a greater degree than said first path.

A device for making snow through use of a flow of pressurized water and a flow of compressed air, which comprises:

• means for dividing the flow of pressurized water into a primary water flow and a secondary water flow;
• a plurality of nozzles spaced apart on a ring around a central axis, for disintegrating the primary water flow into a multiplicity of water droplets, each said nozzle discharging a multiplicity of water droplets generally downstream along a first path;
• and,
• a nucleator, lying along said central axis, for mixing and discharging secondary water and compressed air to thereby provide a multiplicity of frozen particles suitable for interacting with the multiplicity of water droplets and inducing said droplets to freeze as snow;
• the nucleator having a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart atomizers, each atomizer discharging said frozen particles along a second path which runs radially outwardly and intersects the first path downstream of the nucleator;
• wherein said means for dividing the flow comprises a distributor pipe running between the nucleator and said ring;
• and,
• coupling means along the length of the distributor pipe, for coupling and uncoupling the ring from the nucleator.

The method of making artificial snow using a nucleator having a plurality of atomizers, compressed air and water, which comprises:

• providing a flow of water and dividing the flow into a primary flow and a secondary flow,
• creating a spray of droplets from the primary flow of water and thrusting the droplets generally along an axis;
• swirling the secondary flow of water flow within the nucleator, without inclusion of intermixed compressed air, to thereby warm the nucleator;
• and,
• then mixing the secondary flow of water with the compressed air and discharging the mixture from the nucleator atomizers to thereby form nuclei which intermix with the spray of droplets and cause the droplets to freeze as artificial snow.