JP7387680B2 - Snow making equipment and environment shaping equipment - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a snow making device and an environment forming device.

Conventionally, as disclosed in Patent Document 1 below, a snow-making device is known that is configured to make snow in a test chamber that is supplied with air cooled to about -20 to -40 degrees Celsius. ing. The snow-making device disclosed in Patent Document 1 has a spray nozzle placed on the ceiling of the test chamber, and by spraying water droplets from the spray nozzle toward the test chamber, snow is removed in the test chamber. It's raining.

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2018-036069

In order to generate snowflakes from water droplets sprayed from a spray nozzle, as in the snow-making device disclosed in Patent Document 1, it is necessary to spray very fine water droplets from the spray nozzle. For this reason, the generated snowflakes also contain some fine particles. For this reason, some snowflakes generated from water droplets sprayed downward from the ceiling do not flow toward the specimen, but remain suspended in the air. It is not supplied to the specimen because it floats around. Therefore, in order to apply a predetermined amount of snow to the specimen, more snow must be generated than the predetermined amount, leading to an increase in running costs.

An object of the present invention is to provide a snow-making device that can suppress running costs.

A snow-making device according to one aspect of the present invention includes a cylindrical body, a snow-making nozzle that injects water droplets into the cylindrical body, and a temperature environment in which snow is generated from the water droplets sprayed from the snow-making nozzle. A room with a A base end of the cylindrical body is open to the room , and a temperature environment in which snow is generated from water droplets sprayed from the snow-making nozzle is obtained within the cylindrical body. The distal end of the cylindrical body is opened so that air flowing from the base end of the cylindrical body flows out toward the specimen or a test chamber that is the room , or a test chamber separate from the room , Or, a pipe member that opens so that the air flowing from the base end of the cylindrical body flows out toward the specimen, or a pipe member that connects to a test room that is the room or a test room that is separate from the room. It is connected.

In the snow-making device, when water droplets are ejected from the snow-making nozzle, the ejected water droplets flow inside the cylindrical body and turn into snowflakes within the cylindrical body. Then, the snowflakes are blown out of the cylindrical body so that the air flows toward the specimen or the test chamber, or are blown out so that the air flows toward the specimen through the tube member, or are guided into the test chamber. . In other words, it is possible to reduce the proportion of snowflakes that do not flow toward the specimen or are not introduced into the test chamber among the snowflakes generated from water droplets injected from the snowmaking nozzle. For this reason, it is possible to improve the proportion of water droplets injected from the snow-making nozzle that become snowflakes and are blown out toward the specimen or introduced into the test chamber. Therefore, the running cost of a test in which the specimen is exposed to a snowy environment can be suppressed.

The snow-making nozzle may be configured as a two-fluid nozzle, and may be arranged at the base end of the cylindrical body or at a position adjacent to the base end of the cylindrical body. In this embodiment, the snow-making nozzle injects air along with water droplets. Therefore, air flows within the cylindrical body due to the force of air blowing out from the snow-making nozzle. In other words, the snow-making nozzle also functions as a driving source that causes the air inside the cylindrical body to flow. Therefore, the air can be made to flow within the cylindrical body without using a blower to make the air flow toward the tip. Snow can be blown out of the cylindrical body in a flowing manner.

The tip of the cylindrical body or the tube member may be connected to a snow hood arranged in the test chamber, and a supply port for making snow may be formed therein. In this case, the cylindrical body may be arranged so that the snow inside the cylindrical body flows from above toward the snow hood.

In this aspect, if the tip of the cylindrical body is connected to the snow hood, snow will flow downward from the cylindrical body toward the snow hood. Therefore, snow can be prevented from accumulating in that area. Furthermore, when the tube member is connected to the snowfall hood, the tube member is arranged vertically or in an inclined direction, so that it is possible to suppress snow from accumulating on the tube member.

The snow-making device may further include a blower that sucks air flowing out from the tip of the cylindrical body or the pipe member and blows the air toward the specimen.

In this aspect, air flowing out from the tip of the cylindrical body or the pipe member is sucked into the blower. The blower blows out air containing snow towards the specimen. Therefore, snow can be blown toward the specimen at a predetermined wind speed.

The cylindrical body may be arranged in an oblique posture so as to descend from the base end toward the distal end. In this aspect, snow flows obliquely downward from the proximal end where the snow-making nozzle is disposed in the cylindrical body toward the distal end. Therefore, it is possible to suppress snow from accumulating inside the cylindrical body.

The snow-making device may include suppressing means for suppressing snow from adhering to the inner surface of the cylindrical body. In this aspect, since it is possible to suppress snow from adhering to the inner surface of the cylindrical body, running costs can be further suppressed.

The suppressing means may include a blower that causes air to flow along the inner surface of the cylindrical body. In this aspect, the air blown out from the blower flows along the inner surface of the cylindrical body, thereby suppressing the snow inside the cylindrical body from adhering to the inner surface of the cylindrical body, or removing the snow that has adhered to the cylindrical body. It can be removed from the inside.

The suppressing means may be configured to apply vibration to the cylindrical body. In this aspect, by vibrating the cylindrical body, it is possible to suppress the snow inside the cylindrical body from adhering to the inner surface of the cylindrical body, or to remove the snow that has adhered from the inner surface of the cylindrical body.

The snow-making device may include a snow quality adjusting nozzle that moistens snow generated within the cylindrical body. In this aspect, since the quality of the snow generated inside the cylindrical body can be changed, snow of a quality other than that determined by the temperature and humidity environment in which the cylindrical body is placed can be supplied to the specimen or test chamber. .

The snow-making device may include auxiliary cooling means that blows air at a temperature lower than the temperature environment in which the cylindrical body is placed toward the water droplets injected from the snow-making nozzle. In this aspect, the water droplets are not only cooled to a temperature at which snow is generated by the temperature environment in which the cylindrical body is placed, but also the water droplets injected from the snow-making nozzle are cooled by the auxiliary cooling means. Therefore, snow generation efficiency can be increased. Moreover, since the auxiliary cooling means locally cools the water droplets, it is possible to suppress an increase in the energy required for cooling.

The snow-making device may further include a snow growing member that temporarily captures the snow generated by the cylindrical body and grows the captured snow. In this aspect, snow grown in the snow growth member can be supplied to the specimen and the test chamber, so snow made up of larger snowflakes can be supplied.

The snow-making device may further include a vibrating body that vibrates the snow-growing member so that the snow captured by the snow-growing member falls. In this aspect, the snow can be removed from the snow growing member by vibrating the snow growing member using the vibrating body. Therefore, it is possible to prevent snow from accumulating excessively on the snow growing member.

An environment forming device according to another aspect of the present invention is an environment forming device including the snow making device.

As explained above, according to the present invention, running costs can be suppressed.

1 is a diagram schematically showing a snow environment test device to which a snow making device according to a first embodiment is applied. It is a figure which shows the suppression means comprised so that a cylindrical body may be vibrated. FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically showing a snow environment test device to which a snow making device according to a second embodiment is applied. FIG. 7 is a diagram schematically showing a snow environment test device to which a snow making device according to a third embodiment is applied. FIG. 7 is a diagram schematically showing a snow environment test device to which a snow making device according to a fourth embodiment is applied. (a) (b) It is a figure for demonstrating the snow quality adjustment nozzle provided in the snow making device based on 5th Embodiment. It is a figure for explaining the modification of a snow quality adjustment nozzle. It is a figure which shows roughly the snowfall environment test apparatus to which the snow-making apparatus based on 6th Embodiment was applied. It is a figure for explaining the modification of a snow quality adjustment nozzle. FIG. 12 is a diagram schematically showing a snow environment test device to which a snow making device according to a modification of the sixth embodiment is applied. FIG. 12 is a diagram schematically showing a snow environment test device to which a snow making device according to another modification of the sixth embodiment is applied. It is a figure which shows other embodiment of the structure in which the snow growth member is arrange|positioned near the front-end|tip of a cylindrical body. It is a figure which shows the modification of a snow growth member. It is a figure which shows the other modification of a snow growth member. It is a figure which shows the structure in which the snow growth member is attached to the front-end|tip of a cylindrical body. (a) (b) It is a figure which shows the snow growth member formed in the cylindrical shape. FIG. 7 is a diagram schematically showing a snow environment test device to which a snow making device according to another embodiment is applied.

Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 schematically shows a snow environment testing device 1 (environment forming device) to which a snow making device 10 according to the first embodiment is applied. The snow environment test device 1 has a test chamber 2 that provides a snow environment, and a test specimen is placed in the test chamber 2. Here, the snowfall environment may be a temperature environment where snow can be generated from water droplets, but may also be a higher temperature environment. In other words, it may be a temperature environment in which snow is not easily generated from water droplets, but in which snow is difficult to melt; for example, it may be a temperature environment that reproduces a temperature environment in a cold region. Specifically, the temperature environment may be about +5°C to -10°C. For this reason, the test chamber 2 is provided with an air conditioner 13 for adjusting the air temperature within the test chamber 2.

A snow hood 4 having a supply port for making snow is disposed on the ceiling of the test chamber 2. Air containing snow is supplied to the snow hood 4 from the snow making device 10, and the snow hood 4 makes snow fall inside the test chamber 2.

The snow-making device 10 is a device for generating snow from fine water droplets. The snow-making device 10 includes a snow-making chamber 12 that provides a temperature environment lower than that of the test chamber 2. The snow-making chamber 12 is a room that provides a temperature environment in which snow can be generated from fine water droplets, and the inside of the snow-making chamber 12 is adjusted to a temperature environment of about -15° C. to -25° C., for example. For this reason, the snow-making room 12 includes an air conditioner 14 that includes a cooler 14a that cools the air in the snow-making room 12, and a blower 14b that blows out the air cooled by the cooler 14a into the snow-making room 12. is provided.

The snow-making device 10 includes a cylindrical body 18 , a snow-making nozzle 20 that injects water droplets into the cylindrical body 18 , and a pipe member 22 connected to the cylindrical body 18 .

The cylindrical body 18 is composed of a cylindrical member that extends linearly in one direction, and has an open base end (one end) 18a and a distal end (other end) 18b. The base end 18a opens into the snow-making chamber 12. Therefore, the temperature environment of the space inside the cylindrical body 18 is also the same as the temperature environment inside the snow-making chamber 12. Therefore, the water droplets injected from the snow-making nozzle 20 turn into snowflakes within the cylindrical body 18 while flowing from the base end 18a toward the distal end 18b. That is, snow is generated within the cylindrical body 18.

Although the cylindrical body 18 in the illustrated example has a shape that extends linearly, it is not limited to this, and may have a curved shape. However, in consideration of snow adhesion to the inner surface of the cylindrical body 18, it is preferable that the cylindrical body 18 has a straightly extending shape. The cylindrical body 18 is made of metal or resin and has a configuration that does not change its shape, but may be made of a flexible material. In this case, the cylindrical body 18 can be bent according to the installation environment of the cylindrical body 18, and can be made less susceptible to the influence of the installation environment.

Moreover, the cylindrical body 18 may be configured to be expandable and retractable. In this case, the snow-making nozzle 20 may be configured to be movable according to the expansion and contraction of the cylindrical body 18. When the cylindrical body 18 is configured to be expandable and retractable, the quality (moisture content) of the snow flowing out from the cylindrical body 18 changes depending on the length of the cylindrical body 18. Note that even when the cylindrical body 18 is not configured to be expandable and retractable, the snow- making nozzle 20 may be configured to be movable.

The inner surface of the cylindrical body 18 may be subjected to a surface treatment such as fluororesin treatment to prevent snow from adhering to it.

The cylindrical body 18 is arranged in the snow-making chamber 12 in an inclined state so that the base end 18a is located at a higher position than the distal end 18b. Note that the cylindrical body 18 does not need to be arranged in an inclined state, and may be arranged in a posture extending in the horizontal direction or in a posture extending in the vertical direction.

The snow-making nozzle 20 is arranged to match the position of the base end 18a of the cylindrical body 18. The snow-making nozzle 20 is configured as a two-fluid nozzle, and is configured to spray air and fine water droplets. That is, the snow-making nozzle 20 is connected to an air supply path 24 and a cold water supply path 26, and the snow-making nozzle 20 is connected to the compressed air (or cooled compressed air) supplied through the air supply path 24. ) and cold water supplied through the cold water supply path 26 are injected from the injection port. At the injection port, the compressed air collides with the cold water, thereby pulverizing the cold water. Therefore, a fluid containing a mixture of air and fine water droplets is ejected from the injection port. Since the injection port is constricted, the fluid ejected from the injection port gradually expands. Furthermore, since air is injected from the snow-making nozzle 20, the air in the snow-making chamber 12 enters the cylindrical body 18 from the base end 18a due to the action of the injected air, and the cylindrical body 18 Air flow occurs within the chamber.

Since the snow-making nozzle 20 is arranged with the injection port facing into the cylindrical body 18, the fluid in which air and fine water droplets are mixed is injected into the cylindrical body 18. Although the illustrated snow-making nozzle 20 is arranged in accordance with the position of the base end 18a of the cylindrical body 18, the present invention is not limited thereto. The snow-making nozzle 20 may be arranged at a position adjacent to the base end 18a. For example, the snow-making nozzle 20 may be arranged at a position offset from the base end 18a in a direction away from the cylindrical body 18, and may inject fluid into the cylindrical body 18. In this case, the position of the snow-making nozzle 20 only needs to be within a range where all of the injected mixed fluid of water droplets and air flows into the cylindrical body 18. Moreover, the snow-making nozzle 20 may be arranged within the cylindrical body 18. In this case, the snow-making nozzle 20 is arranged with the injection port facing the tip 18b. However, the further away from the base end 18a, the shorter the portion of the cylindrical body 18 that functions as a duct becomes, so it is preferable that the snow-making nozzle 20 is not too far away from the base end 18a.

The tube member 22 is connected to the tip 18b of the cylindrical body 18 and also to the snow hood 4. That is, the tube member 22 is connected to the test chamber 2. The pipe member 22 guides the snow-containing air flowing out from the cylindrical body 18 to the snow hood 4. Since the cylindrical body 18 is arranged in an inclined position and the snow hood 4 is arranged below the cylindrical body 18, the pipe member 22 has a shape bent toward the inlet of the snow hood 4. It is formed.

The snow-making device 10 includes a suppressing means (suppressing unit) 30 that suppresses snow from adhering to the inner surface of the cylindrical body 18 . The suppressing means 30 includes a blower 30a for flowing air along the inner surface of the cylindrical body 18. The blower 30a is arranged outside the cylindrical body 18 near the base end 18a of the cylindrical body 18. A blowing pipe 30b having an outflow end that opens inside the cylindrical body 18 is connected to the blower 30a. The blowing pipe 30b penetrates the cylindrical body 18 and has an extending portion 30c extending along the inner surface of the cylindrical body 18 toward the tip 18b. The outflow end of the blow-off pipe 30b (the tip of the extending portion 30c) opens within the cylindrical body 18 toward the tip 18b of the cylindrical body 18. Therefore, the air sent out from the blower 30a is blown out from the outflow end of the blowing pipe 30b and flows along the inner surface of the cylindrical body 18 toward the tip 18b of the cylindrical body 18. Thereby, snow generated from water droplets can be prevented from adhering to the inner surface of the cylindrical body 18. Note that the blowoff pipe 30b is arranged inside the cylindrical body 18 at a position where water droplets blown out from the snowmaking nozzle 20 do not adhere to it. Note that if the test time is short and snow adhesion (accumulation) to the cylindrical body 18 is not a problem, the suppressing means 30 can be omitted.

A plurality of blowers 30a and blowoff pipes 30b are provided, and these are arranged at intervals in the circumferential direction of the cylindrical body 18. Note that only one blower 30a and only one blowing pipe 30b may be provided for one cylindrical body 18.

The blower 30a may suck the air inside the snow-making chamber 12, that is, the air at a temperature that allows snow-making, and blow it out, but the blower 30a may be adjusted to a different temperature (lower than the temperature inside the snow-making chamber 12). The air may be sucked in and blown out.

The suppressing means 30 is not limited to the structure in which the blower pipe 30b is connected to the blower 30a, but may also have a structure in which the blower pipe 30b is omitted. That is, the blower 30a is arranged adjacent to the snow-making nozzle 20 at the base end 18a of the cylindrical body 18, and also extends from the base end 18a of the cylindrical body 18 toward the distal end 18b of the inner surface of the cylindrical body 18. may be arranged so as to blow out air along the

The suppressing means 30 is not limited to a structure that prevents snow from adhering to the inner surface of the cylindrical body 18 by causing air to flow along the inner surface of the cylindrical body 18. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, the suppressing means 30 may be configured to apply vibration to the cylindrical body 18. In this case, the suppressing means 30 is constituted by a vibrator or a knocker arranged outside the cylindrical body 18. The vibrator contacts the outer surface of the cylindrical body 18 and vibrates the cylindrical body 18 by vibrating itself. On the other hand, the knocker is arranged at a distance from the cylindrical body 18 and is configured to be able to give a blow to the cylindrical body 18. That is, the vibrator and the knocker are constituted by a device that vibrates the cylindrical body 18.

In the snow environment test device 1, the inside of the test chamber 2 is adjusted to a temperature environment that reproduces the temperature environment of a cold region, and the inside of the snow making chamber 12 is adjusted to a temperature environment where snow is generated from water droplets. Then, when a fluid containing a mixture of air and fine water droplets is injected from the snow-making nozzle 20, a flow of air is generated within the cylindrical body 18 toward the tip 18b. At this time, air in the snow-making chamber 12 also flows in from the base end 18a of the cylindrical body 18. Therefore, at least a portion of the water droplets flowing inside the cylindrical body 18 turn into snowflakes. The rate of snow formation from water droplets at the outlet of the cylindrical body 18 is influenced by the temperature of the indoor air in the snow-making chamber 12, the length of the cylindrical body 18, the air flow velocity within the cylindrical body 18, and the like. As the rate of snow formation changes, the quality of the snow also changes.

Air with snow inside the cylindrical body 18 is introduced into the snow hood 4 through the pipe member 22 and blown out downward in the test chamber 2. As a result, a snowfall environment is created within the test chamber 2.

As explained above, in this embodiment, when water droplets are injected from the snow-making nozzle 20 on the base end 18a side of the cylindrical body 18, the injected water droplets flow inside the cylindrical body 18 and It turns into a snowflake inside the body 18. The snowflakes are then guided into the test chamber 2 through the tube member 22. That is, it is possible to reduce the proportion of snowflakes that are not introduced into the test chamber 2 among the snowflakes generated from the water droplets injected from the snowmaking nozzle 20. For this reason, it is possible to improve the proportion of water droplets injected from the snow-making nozzle 20 that become snowflakes and are introduced into the test chamber 2. Therefore, the running cost of a test in which the specimen is exposed to a snowy environment can be suppressed.

Moreover, in this embodiment, since the snow-making nozzle 20 is configured as a two-fluid nozzle, the snow-making nozzle 20 injects air together with water droplets. Therefore, the air blowing force from the snow-making nozzle 20 causes the air in the snow-making chamber 12 to flow into the cylindrical body 18, and the air flows within the cylindrical body 18. Therefore, the air can be made to flow within the cylindrical body 18 without using a blower to make the air flow toward the tip 18b, so snow can be blown toward the pipe member 22 without using a blower. be able to.

Further, in this embodiment, since the cylindrical body 18 is arranged above the snow hood 4 and the tube member 22 is connected to the snow hood 4, the tube member 22 is formed in a shape that bends downward from the inclination direction. There is. Therefore, it is possible to suppress snow from accumulating on the pipe member 22.

In addition, in this embodiment, the cylindrical body 18 is arranged in an oblique position so as to descend from the base end 18a toward the distal end 18b, so that snow inside the cylindrical body 18 from the base end 18a toward the distal end 18b is And the air will flow diagonally downward. Therefore, it is possible to suppress snow from accumulating within the cylindrical body 18.

Further, in this embodiment, since the suppressing means 30 for suppressing snow from adhering to the inner surface of the cylindrical body 18 is provided, it is possible to suppress snow from adhering to the inner surface of the cylindrical body 18, further reducing running costs. can be suppressed.

(Second embodiment)
FIG. 3 shows a second embodiment. Here, the same components as in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed explanation thereof will be omitted.

In the second embodiment, the tube member 22 is omitted, and the tip 18b of the cylindrical body 18 is directly connected to the snow hood 4. In the example shown in FIG. 3, since the cylindrical body 18 is formed in a shape that extends linearly, the cylindrical body 18 is arranged in a posture extending in the vertical direction. Note that the cylindrical body 18 may be formed in a curved shape.

The snowfall hood 4 makes snow fall in an area larger than the cross-sectional area of the cylindrical body 18. Note that if a plurality of cylindrical bodies 18 and snow-making nozzles 20 are provided, the snow-making hood 4 may be omitted. In this case, the tip 18b of the cylindrical body 18 will open toward the test chamber 2.

Although the description of other configurations, operations, and effects will be omitted, the description of the first embodiment can be applied to the second embodiment.

(Third embodiment)
FIG. 4 shows a third embodiment. Here, the same components as in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed explanation thereof will be omitted.

The snow-making device 10 of the third embodiment includes an auxiliary cooling means (auxiliary cooling unit) 34 that supplies air at a temperature lower than the temperature inside the snow-making chamber 12. The auxiliary cooling means 34 is configured to supply air at -40°C or lower, such as -45°C, and includes a pipe member 34a that blows air toward the water droplets sprayed from the snow-making nozzle 20. There is. The tube material 34a is arranged adjacent to the snow-making nozzle 20 at the base end 18a of the cylindrical body 18.

Since the air supplied through the pipe material 34a directly hits the water droplets sprayed from the snow-making nozzle 20, the water droplets can be efficiently solidified. Further, by providing the auxiliary cooling means 34, there is no need to cool the entire snow making chamber 12 to about -40° C. or lower.

Therefore, in this embodiment, not only the water droplets are cooled to a temperature at which snow is generated by the temperature environment in which the cylindrical body 18 is placed, but also the water droplets injected from the snow-making nozzle 20 are cooled by the auxiliary cooling means 34. to cool down. Therefore, snow generation efficiency can be increased. Moreover, since the auxiliary cooling means 34 locally cools the water droplets, it is possible to suppress an increase in the energy required for cooling. Further, since the cooling air is blown out from the tube material 34a, this air flow can suppress snow from adhering to the inner surface of the cylindrical body 18, and also make it possible to remove the adhered snow from the inner surface of the cylindrical body 18. In other words, the tube material 34a that generates an airflow along the inner surface of the cylindrical body 18 also functions as the suppressing means 30 that suppresses snow adhesion.

Note that the auxiliary cooling means 34 is not limited to a configuration in which air is blown into the space within the cylindrical body 18, and alternatively, the auxiliary cooling means 34 may be configured to cool the cylindrical body 18 itself. For example, the auxiliary cooling means 34 may be constituted by a cooling pipe wrapped around the cylindrical body 18, or may include an outer cylinder provided around the cylindrical body 18, and the auxiliary cooling means 34 may include a cooling pipe wound around the cylindrical body 18, A cooling medium may flow between the two.

Although the suppressing means 30 is not shown in FIG. 4, the suppressing means 30 may be provided. Although descriptions of other configurations, operations, and effects will be omitted, the descriptions of the first and second embodiments can be applied to the third embodiment.

(Fourth embodiment)
FIG. 5 shows a fourth embodiment. Here, the same components as in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed explanation thereof will be omitted.

The fourth embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that the snow-making nozzle 20 is configured as a one-fluid nozzle, in that the snow-making nozzle 20 is configured as a two-fluid nozzle. The snow-making nozzle 20 is connected to the cold water supply path 26, but not connected to the air supply path 24. For this reason, the snow-making nozzle 20 squeezes the supplied cold water and sprays water droplets from the injection port.

A blower 36 is provided in the tube member 22 connected to the cylindrical body 18 . When the blower 36 operates, the air inside the cylindrical body 18 flows due to the suction action of the blower 36. Therefore, in this embodiment, instead of causing the air to flow within the cylindrical body 18 by the force of the jet from the snow-making nozzle 20, the air within the cylindrical body 18 is made to flow using the driving force of the blower 36. ing.

Note that instead of using the suction action of the blower 36 to cause the air to flow, the air may be made to flow within the cylindrical body 18 using the extrusion action of the blower 36. That is, the blower 36 may be arranged on the back side of the snow-making nozzle 20 and may blow air toward the snow-making nozzle 20 (that is, inside the cylindrical body 18).

Although FIG. 5 shows an example in which the cylindrical body 18 is arranged in a horizontal direction, the tubular body 18 is not limited to this, and may be arranged in an inclined position or a vertical position. Further, the shape of the tube member 22 is not limited to the shape shown in FIG. 5 either. Furthermore, if the cylindrical body 18 extends toward the test chamber 2, the tube member 22 may be omitted.

Although descriptions of other configurations, operations, and effects will be omitted, the descriptions of the first to third embodiments can be applied to the fourth embodiment.

(Fifth embodiment)
FIGS. 6(a) and 6(b) show the fifth embodiment. Here, the same components as in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed explanation thereof will be omitted.

The snow-making device 10 of the fifth embodiment includes a snow quality adjustment nozzle 40 that moistens the snow generated within the cylindrical body 18. The snow quality adjustment nozzle 40 is constituted by a nozzle that spouts water droplets, and is arranged at a position near the tip 18b of the cylindrical body 18. In other words, the snow quality adjusting nozzle 40 is located closer to the tip 18b than the base 18a. Therefore, the snow quality adjusting nozzle 40 moistens the snow before it flows out from the tip 18b of the cylindrical body 18.

The snow quality adjusting nozzle 40 is arranged outside the cylindrical body 18 and injects water droplets into the cylindrical body 18 through a through hole formed in the cylindrical body 18 . Since the snow quality adjustment nozzle 40 is located outside the cylindrical body 18, snow flowing inside the cylindrical body 18 is suppressed from adhering to the snow quality adjustment nozzle 40.

As shown in FIG. 6(b), a plurality of snow quality adjustment nozzles 40 are provided, and these are arranged at intervals in the circumferential direction of the cylindrical body 18, and are radially inside the cylindrical body 18 from multiple directions. Water droplets may also be supplied towards the target. Only one snow quality adjustment nozzle 40 may be arranged in the circumferential direction, or a plurality of snow quality adjustment nozzles 40 may be arranged in line in the axial direction.

A pipe 42 that blows air toward the tip of the snow quality adjustment nozzle 40 is arranged near the snow quality adjustment nozzle 40. The air blown out from the pipe 42 is sprayed onto the tip of the snow quality adjustment nozzle 40, thereby preventing the tip of the snow quality adjustment nozzle 40 from freezing. In FIG. 6B, the pipe 42 is arranged at a position adjacent to the snow quality adjustment nozzle 40 in the circumferential direction, but if it is configured to extend toward the tip of the snow quality adjustment nozzle 40, It may be placed on either side with respect to the adjustment nozzle 40. A compressed air source (not shown) is connected to the pipe 42 . Note that the pipe 42 can be omitted.

Although FIG. 6(a) shows an example in which the snow quality adjustment nozzle 40 is provided on a straight cylindrical body 18, FIG. A nozzle 40 is shown. In this case, the snow quality adjusting nozzle 40 is arranged at the elbow of the cylindrical body 18 and sprays water droplets toward the tip 18b of the cylindrical body 18.

6A and 7 show an example in which the snow quality adjustment nozzle 40 is arranged near the tip 18b of the cylindrical body 18; You can. Alternatively, the snow quality adjusting nozzle 40 may be disposed further downstream from the tip 18b (away from the tip 18b) to moisten the snow flowing out of the cylindrical body 18. In this case, the snow quality adjusting nozzle 40 may be provided on the pipe member 22.

Although descriptions of other configurations, operations, and effects will be omitted, the descriptions of the first to fourth embodiments can be applied to the fifth embodiment.

(Sixth embodiment)
FIG. 8 shows a sixth embodiment. Here, the same components as in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed explanation thereof will be omitted.

In the first embodiment, the snow environment test apparatus 1 was described in which the snow-making chamber 12 was provided separately from the test chamber 2, but in the sixth embodiment, the snow-making chamber 12 was not provided. In other words, the inside of the test chamber 2 is adjusted to a temperature environment that generates snow from water droplets. For this reason, the air conditioner 13 in the test room 2 is configured to cool the air in the test room 2 to a temperature at which snow can be generated.

The cylindrical body 18 is disposed within the test chamber 2, and air in the test chamber 2 flows into the cylindrical body 18 through a base end 18a that opens into the test chamber 2. The cylindrical body 18 is arranged so as to extend in the vertical direction so that the base end 18a is located on the upper side. The snow-making nozzle 20 then injects water droplets downward into the cylindrical body 18. The tube member 22 is not connected to the tip 18b (lower end) of the cylindrical body 18, and the air containing snow flowing out from the cylindrical body 18 flows toward the specimen placed below.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 9, a snow quality adjustment nozzle 40 may be provided. In this case, the snow quality adjustment nozzle 40 is arranged downstream of the tip 18b of the cylindrical body 18, and sprays water droplets toward the snow flowing out from the cylindrical body 18. Instead of this configuration, the snow quality adjustment nozzle 40 is arranged at a position between the tip 18b and the base end 18a, and applies water droplets to the snow flowing inside the cylindrical body 18 through a through hole formed in the cylindrical body 18. May be supplied.

The tip 18b of the cylindrical body 18 may be open toward the specimen W placed in the test chamber 2, but may be opened in a direction different from the specimen W as shown in FIG. Good too. In this case, a blower 44 is arranged in the test chamber 2 to convert the air flowing out from the tip 18b of the cylindrical body 18 into an airflow directed toward the specimen W. As a result, the snow flowing out of the cylindrical body 18 is blown onto the front (or side) of the specimen W. In this case as well, the tip 18b of the cylindrical body 18 is open so that air can flow toward the specimen W. Further, the cylindrical body 18 is disposed across the snow-making chamber 12 and the test chamber 2, with a base end 18a opening into the snow-making chamber 12 and a distal end 18b opening into the test chamber 2. Therefore, the air in the snow-making chamber 12 flows into the cylindrical body 18, and the air accompanied by snow flows out into the test chamber 2.

In FIG. 10, the tip 18b of the cylindrical body 18 faces the blowing side of the blower 44, but as shown in FIG. It may be suitable for you. In the form of FIG. 11, a pipe member 22 that connects the tip 18b of the cylindrical body 18 and the blower 44 may be provided. That is, the air flowing out from the cylindrical body 18 may be sucked into the blower 44 through the tube member 22. Further, instead of this form, the tip of the cylindrical body 18 may be directly connected to the blower 44. That is, the tip of the cylindrical body 18 may be opened so that air can flow toward the specimen W or the test chamber 2 via the blower 44. The blower 44 in FIGS. 10 and 11 may have a configuration in which the rotation speed can be changed, and in that case, the speed of the wind blown onto the specimen W can be changed. Note that the blower 44 is not limited to being placed in the test chamber 2, but may be placed in a blower room 54 as shown in FIG. 17, which will be described later.

In addition, in FIG. 10, the cylindrical body 18 is in a posture extending in the vertical direction, and in FIG. 11, the cylindrical body 18 is in a posture extending in an oblique direction, but the present invention is not limited to these. In addition, instead of having the tip 18b of the cylindrical body 18 open in the test chamber 2 and allowing air to flow directly into the test chamber 2, the tip 18b has a tube member 22 disposed inside the test chamber 2. The tube member 22 may be connected to allow air to flow out into the test chamber 2 through this tube member 22.

Although descriptions of other configurations, operations, and effects will be omitted, the descriptions of the first to fifth embodiments can be applied to the sixth embodiment.

(Other embodiments)
Note that the embodiments disclosed this time should be considered to be illustrative in all respects and not restrictive. The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various changes and improvements can be made without departing from the spirit thereof. For example, in the first to fifth embodiments, an example has been described in which the snow making device 10 is applied to the snow environment test device 1 having a configuration in which the snow making chamber 12 is arranged above the test chamber 2. 12 may be placed on the side of the test chamber 2. In this case, the cylindrical body 18 may be located at a higher position than the snow hood 4, or may be located at the same height as the snow hood 4 or below the snow hood 4. In this case, a blower 36 will be provided on the pipe member 22 that connects the cylindrical body 18 and the snow hood 4.

Further, in the first to fifth embodiments, the snow hood 4 may be omitted.

In the first to sixth embodiments, an example in which one cylindrical body 18 and one snow-making nozzle 20 are provided has been described, but even if one cylindrical body 18 is provided with a plurality of snow-making nozzles 20. good. Further, a plurality of cylindrical bodies 18 may be provided, and a snow-making nozzle 20 may be arranged in each cylindrical body 18.

In the first to sixth embodiments, the snowflakes generated within the cylindrical body 18 flow into the test chamber 2 with the same size, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, as shown in FIG. 12, a snow growing member 50 may be provided that temporarily captures the snow generated by the cylindrical body 18 and causes the captured snow to grow. The snow growth member 50 is made of a mesh-like member to which snow can adhere, a fiber material, or a sheet member treated with fluororesin, and is arranged at a position where air flowing out from the cylindrical body 18 flows. . The snow growing member 50 may be formed of a polygonal mesh member such as a rectangle, square, hexagon, or octagon. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 13, the snow growing member 50 may have a slit 50a cut from one side of a rectangular mesh member. In this case, the snow growing member 50 captures snow while the portions located on both sides of the slit 50a sway due to the airflow. Note that the snow growing member 50 may be placed inside the cylindrical body 18. In this case, as shown in FIG. 14, it may be formed of a semicircular mesh member and placed inside the cylindrical body 18 so as not to touch the inner surface of the cylindrical body 18.

The cylindrical body 18 may be formed in a cylindrical shape with a circular cross section, may be formed in a cylindrical shape with an oblong cross section such as an ellipse, or may be formed in a cylindrical shape with a polygonal cross section. You can. Further, the cylindrical body 18 may be formed into a cylindrical shape with a cross-sectional shape that is a combination of curved lines and straight lines, such as the shape of a long hole, for example.

The cylindrical body 18 only needs to have its base end 18a open to a temperature environment that generates snow, and the entire cylindrical body 18 does not need to be placed in a temperature environment that generates snow. For example, the cylindrical body 18 may be arranged across a plurality of spaces.

The snow growing member 50 may be configured to be swayed by the air blown out from the cylindrical body 18 or the air flowing inside the cylindrical body 18 . In this case, the snow that has been captured and grown by the snow growing member 50 falls from the snow growing member 50 as the snow growing member 50 shakes. However, the configuration is not limited to this. For example, as shown in FIG. 12, a vibrating body 52 that vibrates the snow growing member 50 may be provided. The vibrating body 52 may be, for example, a nozzle that intermittently blows compressed air toward the snow growing member 50, or a knocker that hits the snow growing member 50, or a vibrator that vibrates the snow growing member 50. You can.

The snow growing member 50 may be supported in any way as long as it is installed near the tip 18b of the cylindrical body 18. For example, FIG. 15 shows a configuration in which the snow growing member 50 is attached to the tip 18b of the cylindrical body 18.

As shown in FIG. 15, the snow growing member 50 is formed into a flat shape so as to be swayed by the air flowing out from the cylindrical body 18, and is attached to the tip 18b of the cylindrical body 18 so as to cross the center of the tip 18b. It may be attached. The snow growing member 50 does not need to be attached at a position crossing the center of the tip 18b of the cylindrical body 18, and may be attached at a position offset from the center. In this case, multiple snow growing members 50 may be attached. Although FIG. 15 shows a configuration in which one side of the snow growing member 50 that crosses the tip 18b of the cylindrical body 18 is horizontal, the present invention is not limited to this. It may be attached to the cylindrical body 18 with one side perpendicular, or it may be attached to the cylindrical body 18 with one side being oblique.

Although FIGS. 12 to 15 show a configuration in which only one snow growing member 50 is provided, a plurality of snow growing members 50 may be provided.

As shown in FIGS. 16(a) and 16(b), the snow growing member 50 may be formed into a cylindrical shape to match the shape of the tip 18b. In this case, the snow growing member 50 may be formed in a cylindrical shape with the same diameter in the axial direction, or may be formed in a tapered shape with a smaller diameter in the axial direction.

In the snow environment test device 1 of the above embodiment, the cylindrical body 18 is arranged so as to make snow fall toward the specimen W (for example, see FIG. 1), or the cylindrical body 18 is arranged so as to make snow fall toward the specimen W. Air containing snow is discharged toward a blower 44 that blows air toward W (for example, see FIG. 10). On the other hand, the snow environment test apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 44, a cylindrical body (second cylindrical body) 18B. The base end of the first cylindrical body 18A and the base end of the second cylindrical body 18B open into the snow-making chamber 12, which is a temperature environment in which snow is generated. Although two first cylindrical bodies 18A are provided, only one or three or more first cylindrical bodies may be provided. The two first cylindrical bodies 18A are each connected to a snow hood 4, and the snow generated in the first cylindrical body 18A is supplied from above the specimen W through the snow hood 4 in the test chamber 2. It falls towards specimen W. On the other hand, the snow generated within the second cylindrical body 18B is sucked into the blower 44, and the blower 44 blows out air containing the sucked snow toward the specimen W. Therefore, snow can be blown toward the specimen W at a predetermined wind speed. Note that the blower 44 is arranged in a blower room 54 adjacent to the test chamber 2. The blower room 54 does not have to be in a temperature environment that generates snow, and may be omitted. Even in this case, since the base end 18a of the second cylindrical body 18B is opened to the temperature environment (snow making chamber 12) where snow is generated, snow is generated within the second cylindrical body 18B. It is possible to do so.

The second cylindrical body 18B may be directly connected to the blower 44, or may be connected to the blower 44 via the pipe member 22. Two or more second cylindrical bodies 18B may be provided. In this case, a plurality of second cylindrical bodies 18B may be connected to one blower 44, or a plurality of blowers 44 may be provided, and each blower 44 may be connected to a second cylindrical body 18B.

In this embodiment, a first cylindrical body 18A arranged to make snow fall toward the specimen W, a second cylindrical body 18B connected to a blower 44 that blows air toward the specimen W, Therefore, the snowfall mode can be selected depending on the required test. Specifically, a test in which snow is made to fall using the first cylindrical body 18A can be selected and carried out, and a test in which snow is sprayed onto the specimen W using the second cylindrical body 18B can be selected and carried out. You can also.

Further, one first cylindrical body 18A may be provided with one snow-making nozzle 20, or may be provided with a plurality of snow-making nozzles 20. Similarly, one second cylindrical body 18B may be provided with one snow-making nozzle 20, or may be provided with a plurality of snow-making nozzles 20.

Furthermore, the first cylindrical body 18A and the second cylindrical body 18B may be formed in a cylindrical shape with a circular cross section, or may be formed in a cylindrical shape with an oblong cross section such as an ellipse. , it may be formed into a cylindrical shape with a polygonal cross section. Further, the cylindrical body 18 may be formed into a cylindrical shape with a cross-sectional shape that is a combination of curved lines and straight lines, such as the shape of a long hole, for example.

1: Snowfall environment test device (environment forming device)
2: Test chamber 4: Snow hood 10: Snow making device 18: Cylindrical body 18a: Base end 18b: Tip 20: Snow making nozzle 22: Pipe member 30: Suppressing means 30a: Blower 34: Auxiliary cooling means 40: Snow Quality adjustment nozzle 50: Snow growth member 52: Vibrating body

Claims (13)

A cylindrical body,
a snow-making nozzle that injects water droplets into the cylindrical body;
a room having a temperature environment capable of generating snow from water droplets sprayed from the snow-making nozzle,
A base end of the cylindrical body is open to the room , and a temperature environment is obtained in the cylindrical body in which snow is generated from water droplets sprayed from the snow-making nozzle;
The distal end of the cylindrical body is opened so that air flowing from the base end of the cylindrical body flows out toward the specimen or a test chamber that is the room , or a test chamber separate from the room , Or, a pipe member that opens so that the air flowing from the base end of the cylindrical body flows out toward the specimen, or a pipe member that connects to a test room that is the room or a test room that is separate from the room. A connected snowmaking device. The structure according to claim 1, wherein the snow-making nozzle is constituted by a two-fluid nozzle , and is arranged at the base end of the cylindrical body or at a position adjacent to the base end of the cylindrical body. snow equipment. The tip of the cylindrical body or the pipe member is connected to a snow hood arranged in the test chamber, and a supply port for making snow is formed therein.
The snow-making device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the cylindrical body is arranged so that snow inside the cylindrical body flows from above to below toward the snow hood. The snow-making device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a blower that sucks air flowing out from the tip of the cylindrical body or the pipe member and blows the air toward the specimen. . The snow-making device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the cylindrical body is arranged in an oblique posture so as to descend from the base end toward the distal end. The snow-making device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising a suppressing means for suppressing snow from adhering to the inner surface of the cylindrical body. The snow-making device according to claim 6, wherein the suppressing means includes a blower that blows air along the inner surface of the cylindrical body. The snow-making device according to claim 6, wherein the suppressing means is configured to apply vibration to the cylindrical body. The snow-making device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, further comprising a snow quality adjusting nozzle that moistens snow generated within the cylindrical body. According to any one of claims 1 to 9, further comprising an auxiliary cooling means for blowing air at a temperature lower than the temperature environment in which the cylindrical body is placed toward the water droplets injected from the snow-making nozzle. Snow making equipment. The snow-making device according to any one of claims 1 to 10, further comprising a snow growing member that temporarily captures snow generated by the cylindrical body and grows the captured snow. The snow-making device according to claim 11, further comprising a vibrator that vibrates the snow growing member so that the snow captured by the snow growing member falls. An environment forming device comprising the snow making device according to any one of claims 1 to 12.

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