EP2274060A1

EP2274060A1 - Procedure for manufacturing a winter sports arena and a winter sports arena

Info

Publication number: EP2274060A1
Application number: EP09720408A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Arto Vahtero
Original assignee: Ou Plan Consulting
Current assignee: KONSULTTITOIMISTO IIKKA HAEMAEINEN OY
Priority date: 2008-03-13
Filing date: 2009-03-13
Publication date: 2011-01-19
Also published as: FI20085221A0; CN102026690A; WO2009112642A1; EP2274060A4; FI20085221L

Abstract

The object of the invention is a procedure of manufacturing a winter sports arena using cooling technique and the arena manufactured by means of the method. In the procedure a layer of ice of suitable thickness is frozen in connection and on the cooling liquid piping (2a, 2b) in order to form an essentially continuous ice field (2) and within the area of the ice field (2) an essentially closed skating area (4) open towards the sky and equipped with walls (3) is formed. On the ice field (2) outside of the skating area (4) and the walls (3) a support layer (5) meant for skiing and equipped with at least one skiing track (5a) is formed.

Description

PROCEDURE FOR MANUFACTURING A WINTER SPORTS ARENA AND A WINTER SPORTS ARENA

The object of the invention is the procedure for manufactur- ing a winter sports arena presented in the introduction part of claim 1 and a winter sports arena presented in the introduction part of claim 8.

Various ice tracks and -fields as well as short skiing tracks have been produced by means of cooling technique for tens of years. This kind of winter sport facilities implemented by cooling technique are among others bandy fields maintained with cooling piping on soccer- or corresponding field areas during winter season, ice hockey rinks, oval tracks for speed skating and skating tracks for public use as well as skiing tracks made near ice halls, to which ice shaving from nearby ice halls has been transported by trucks in order to make skiing tracks and where cooling piping maintains the snow until outer temperature reaches a certain level. Typically these kind of skiing tracks are, due to the limitations of the cold piping, relatively narrow, about 5 meters wide and the length varies between 700 - 2000 meters. In this case the problem is the high maintenance cost caused by the transportation of ice shaving and a large number of pipes needed. Additionally, the skiing track achieved is relatively narrow and for example passing by there can be difficult.

Maintaining skating tracks inside halls by cooling technique according to the known technology is easy and relatively advantageous, but building up skiing tracks inside is uncomfortable due to, among other reasons, lack of space.

The object of the present invention is to overcome the problems mentioned above and to achieve a simple and advantageous method in order to manufacture a winter sports arena and at the same time a winter sports arena that can easily and advantageously be maintained and that has at least both skating and skiing facilities. Furthermore, the object of the inven- tion is to achieve a winter sports arena and a method, by which both ice and snow and/or ice shaving for skiing can be produced to the winter sports arena. Additionally, the object of the invention is to achieve a movable winter sports arena, which is essentially easy and quick to assemble and dismantle as well as to transport from one place to another. The procedure according to the invention is characterized by what is disclosed in the characterizing part of claim 1 and the arena is characterized by what is disclosed in the characterizing part of claim 8. Other embodiments of the invention are characterized by what is disclosed in the other claims.

Below, the procedure of the invention and the arena are called by shortened combined name as the solution according to the invention. The advantages of the solution according to the invention are manifold winter sports facilities brought about at lowest possible cost and an essentially small space requirement . An advantage among others is the short transportation distance of the ice shaving from the rink to the ski- ing track right outside the rink. In the same way an advantage is the relatively small size of the cooling piping needed, since the piping as a whole can be placed to an essentially compact space on one side of the ice field formed. An additional advantage is that the bridges of the winter sports arena enable it for the people and machinery to move to and from the ice field without colliding to one another or against the machinery. Additionally, more storage and other usable space can be built under the bridges. One further advantage is that the whole winter sports arena can be quickly and easily assembled and dismantled and packed into containers or corresponding spaces for storage and can be transferred for example in containers from one place to another. The solution according to the invention therefore forms a movable winter sports arena as well.

In the following the invention is described in more detail by the aid of an embodiment example with reference to enclosed drawings, in which Fig. 1 shows schematically and in a simplified manner a winter sports arena according to the invention both from above and partly in cross-section, Fig. 2 shows diagonally from above in a simplified manner a winter sports arena according to Fig. 1 and

Fig. 3 shows schematically in a simplified manner a winter sports arena according to Fig. 1 from the side and equipped with a temporary stand.

Fig. 1-3 are not necessarily on the right scale. In Fig. 1 and 2 an essentially small winter sports arena 1 according to the invention is shown from various ankles. The winter sports arena 1 includes at least a cooling liquid piping fixed onto an essentially plain platform of suitable shape and size such as a soccer field, parking place or other suitable platform, equipped with at least a manifold 2a located on side of the field and pipes 2b with needed machinery as well as needed peripheral devices placed essentially perpendicular to the manifold. The manifold 2a contains of short and straight pipes and when assembled, the piping is essentially as long as the area to be frozen. Correspondingly, the pipes 2b are essentially thin and flexible and form a loop extending from the manifold 2a to the other end of the field to be frozen and back. When dismantling the structure the pipes 2b will be wrapped round the manifolds 2a and packages wrapped in this manner are placed in their respective storage or transportation place.

In addition, a winter sports arena 1 according to the invention includes at least an essentially continuous ice field 2, consisting of essentially uniformed layer of ice placed in connection with cold liquid piping 2a, 2b and frozen on them, an essentially closed skating area 4 surrounded by an essen- tially low wall 3, placed essentially in the middle area of the ice field 2, and a support layer 5 equipped with one or more skiing tracks 5a built to circle round the ice skating area 4 on the outside of the wall 3 and built essentially on the ice layer of the ice field 2, and one or more bridges 6, 7 built above the ice layer of the ice field 2 as well as a storage area 8 for the ice resurfacing machine.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention the skating area 4 in the middle of the ice field 2, surrounded by the wall 3 is for instance an ice hockey rink of regular size or even smaller, in which one is able to play various winter sport games and during periods not reserved for games, able to skate freely. The area of the rink can be for example approximately 30*60 m, whereas the size of the ice field is for example approximately 70*100 m. The dasher boards of the rink, in other words the walls 3 of the skating area 4 are fastened at their lower edge into the ice layer of the ice field 2 by freezing them into the ice.

On one side of the rink there is the first bridge 6 crosswise to the rink and on the other side of the rink the second bridge 7 crosswise to the rink as well, over which skiers can ski and under which there is a way 10 to and from the rink. Advantageously, at least one of the bridges 6, 7 is located by player box 4a. A passage for the ice resurfacing machine from its respective storage area 8 to the rink is organized under the second bridge 7, thus enabling it to be driven to and from the rink without risking to collide to skiing people on skiing tracks 5a. In the same way there are various premises for example under the first bridge 6, such as rental of skis and skates as well as other corresponding spaces, close by but still safely covered for the skiers. Into one of the bridges, for instance into the bridge 6, an underpass 9 has been fitted for the skiers, through which underpass 9 a track change can be made for example during a race. Skiing track 5a is fitted to be driven either over bridges 6, 7 or alternatively through the first bridge 6 by using tunnel 9. Bridges 6, 7 are folding and loose structures, but are for instance frozen into the ice layer of the field 2 when building up the winter sports arena 1. The ice on ice skating area 4 in the rink is maintained in good shape with for example an ice-resurfacing machine. In this case the ice shaving produced when planing down the ice, is placed right on the ice layer of the ice field 2 outside of the wall 3 of the rink, around the wall 3 of the rink and the skating area 4 to form a suitable support layer 5 for one or more skiing tracks 5a surrounding the rink. The support layer 5 can be strengthened further with gun snow, which can be obtained for example from the same water source needed for the ice layer on field 2. On a regular sized soccer field there is so much space around the wall 3 of the rink, that onto ice field 2 outside the skating area 4 and the wall 3 of the rink it is possible to form an essentially 300 m long and about 20 m bread, essentially oval skiing area with skiing tracks 5a, which skiing area circles the rink.

In Fig. 3 is presented a winter sports arena 1 according to the invention, where a movable temporary stand 11, which quickly can be assembled and dismantled, has been placed on skating area 4. Equipped like this, the winter sports arena 1 can be used as an arena for example sprint skiing races or for other winter sports suitable for audiences to watch at. Additionally, competitors can be equipped with skis smaller than regular, thus offering the audience more variable amuse- ment .

All equipment of the winter sports arena 1 mentioned above is designed for packing into one or more containers when dismantling the winter sports arena, in which containers the equip- ment can be stored during summer time and even transported elsewhere when needed. A winter sports arena 1 according to the invention actually is movable and can during winter time, when desired, be transferred for example to a scene of some event and be assembled there in an essentially short time period as well as be dismantled and transferred to an other location after the event. A winter sports arena 1 according to the procedure of the invention can be manufactured for instance in the following manner: The equipment of the winter sports arena 1, such as the cooling liquid piping 2a, 2b and the machinery are unloaded from their respective storage spaces, such as containers and spread out on a suitably shaped, sized and plain platform, such as soccer field or corresponding area to form an essentially continuous and essentially rectangular field area. In connection with and on the cold piping 2a, 2b an ice layer of suitable thickness is frozen forming an essentially continuous ice field 2 and essentially in the middle area of the ice field 2, an essentially closed skating area 4, equipped with walls 3, for example of the shape and type of an ice hockey rink, is formed by fastening the walls 3 into the ice through freezing the lower ends of them into the ice layer of the ice field 2. Onto the ice layer of the ice field 2, outside the skating area 4 and outside the wall 3, a support layer 5 meant for skiing is formed, by transferring at least ice shaving produced by planing down the ice from the skating area 4 directly onto the ice field 2 round the skating area 4. On the support layer snow made by snow guns is added when needed. When the support layer is thick enough, one or more skiing tracks 5a will be driven on the support layer 5 circling round the skating area 4 outside the wall 3. The support layer 5 and the skiing tracks 5a will be maintained during the whole season with the ice shaving produced by planing down the skating area 4 and if needed with snow produced by snow guns .

In the spring when the season is over, the support layer 5 and the ice layer of the ice field 2 is melted down by means of cold liquid piping 2a, 2b by regulating the temperature of the liquid inside the piping to warm. Thus one accelerates the melting of the field functioning as a platform for winter sports to summer sports and in the fall correspondingly to the opposite direction. After having melted the ice all equipment of the winter sports arena 1 including at least the cooling liquid piping 2a, 2b and the machinery and all pe- ripheral devices as well as the rink with walls 3 and bridges 6, 7 will be dismantled and placed for storage to one or more containers, in which they are transported to further use elsewhere when needed.

It is obvious to the person skilled in the art that the invention is not limited to the embodiment example presented above, but that it may be varied within the scope of the claims to be presented below. Thus the skating area sur- rounded by a wall, in other words the rink, does not necessarily has to be placed in the middle of the frozen ice field, but can as well be placed on side of the field. In this case the skiing track does not have to be essentially oval and circle the rink but can wind in a desired manner for example on one side of the rink and can circle round the rink if so wanted.

A person skilled in the art understands as well that the bridges and/or the dasher boards of the rink do not necessar- ily have to be frozen into the ice layer of the ice field, but they can be supported by the platform and even fastened on it .

In addition it is clear for a person skilled in the art that a skiing track or skiing tracks do not necessarily have to lie entirely on the ice layer of the ice field frozen by cooling technique but for example part of a longer track can be fitted to be elsewhere.

Claims

1. A procedure for manufacturing a winter sports arena implemented by cooling technique, where according to the method a suitably thick layer of ice is frozen in connection with and on the cooling liquid piping (2a, 2b) into an essentially continuous ice field (2) and within the area of the ice field (2) an essentially closed skating area (4) open towards the sky and surrounded by a walls (3) is formed, characterized in that on the ice layer of the ice field (2) outside the skating area (4) and the walls (3) a support layer (5) meant for skiing, equipped with at least one skiing track (5a) , is formed.

2. A procedure according to claim 1, characterized in that the support layer (5) meant for skiing is formed by transferring at least ice shaving from the skating area (4) , produced in connection with planing down the ice of the skating area (4), onto the ice field (2) being in connection with the skating area (4) and outside the skating area (4) and the walls (3) .

3. A procedure according to the claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the support layer (5) is formed on the ice field (2) round the skating area (4) on the outside of the walls (3).

4. A procedure according to claims 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that one or more bridges (6, 7) are located above the ice field (2) in order to enable going between the area outside the ice field (2) and the skating area (4) .

5. A procedure according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the skating area (4) with its walls (3) is placed essentially in the middle area of the ice field (2).

6. A procedure according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that snow produced by a snow gun is added on the support layer (5) when needed.

7. A, procedure according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that after the winter season all equipment of the winter sports arena (1) including at least the cooling liquid piping (2a, 2b) as well as the machinery needed and the peripheral devices and even the walls (3) of the rink as well as the bridges (6, 7) are dismantled and placed in one or more containers for storage, in which the equipment is also transported in order to be used elsewhere.

8. A winter sports arena, containing at least cooling liquid piping (2a, 2b) and an ice layer frozen in connection with and on it, forming an ice field (2) and within the area of the ice field (2) an essentially closed skating area (4) equipped with walls (3) open towards the sky, characterized in that on the ice field (2) on the outside of the skating area (4) and the walls (3) a support layer (5) meant for skiing is fitted and equipped with at least one skiing track (5a) .

9. A winter sports arena according to claim 8, characterized in that the support layer (5) meant for skiing is formed by transferring at least ice shaving from skating area (4), produced in connection with planing down the ice when resurfacing the skating area (4), onto the ice field (2) in connection with the skating area (4) , on the outside of the skating area (4) and the walls (3).

10. A winter sports arena according to claims 8 or 9, characterized in that the support layer (5) is located on the ice field (2) around the skating area (4) on the outside the walls (3) .

11. A winter sports arena according to claims 8, 9 or 10, characterized in that one or more bridges (6, 7) are located above the ice field (2) in order to enable going between the area outside the ice field (2) and the skating area (4) .

12. A winter sports arena according to claims 8-11 above, characterized in that the skating area (4) with its walls (3) is placed essentially in the middle area of the ice field (2) and the support layer (5) with the skiing tracks is located round the skating area (4).

13. A winter sports arena according to any one of the preceding claims 8-12, characterized in that the winter sports arena (1) is designed to be movable and the eguipment of the winter sports arena (1) is designed for storage and/or to be transported in one or more containers.

14. A winter sports arena according to any one of the preceding claims 8-13, characterized in that the winter sports arena (1) in addition to skating facilities is adapted to function at least as a venue for sprint skiing races.