Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
  • B05B—SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES
  • B05B7/00—Spraying apparatus for discharge of liquids or other fluent materials from two or more sources, e.g. of liquid and air, of powder and gas
  • B05B7/02—Spray pistols; Apparatus for discharge
  • B05B7/04—Spray pistols; Apparatus for discharge with arrangements for mixing liquids or other fluent materials before discharge
  • B05B7/0416—Spray pistols; Apparatus for discharge with arrangements for mixing liquids or other fluent materials before discharge with arrangements for mixing one gas and one liquid
  • B05B7/0433—Spray pistols; Apparatus for discharge with arrangements for mixing liquids or other fluent materials before discharge with arrangements for mixing one gas and one liquid with one inner conduit of gas surrounded by an external conduit of liquid upstream the mixing chamber
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
  • B05B—SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES
  • B05B7/00—Spraying apparatus for discharge of liquids or other fluent materials from two or more sources, e.g. of liquid and air, of powder and gas
  • B05B7/02—Spray pistols; Apparatus for discharge
  • B05B7/06—Spray pistols; Apparatus for discharge with at least one outlet orifice surrounding another approximately in the same plane
  • B05B7/062—Spray pistols; Apparatus for discharge with at least one outlet orifice surrounding another approximately in the same plane with only one liquid outlet and at least one gas outlet
  • B05B7/066—Spray pistols; Apparatus for discharge with at least one outlet orifice surrounding another approximately in the same plane with only one liquid outlet and at least one gas outlet with an inner liquid outlet surrounded by at least one annular gas outlet
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
  • F25C—PRODUCING, WORKING OR HANDLING ICE
  • F25C3/00—Processes or apparatus specially adapted for producing ice or snow for winter sports or similar recreational purposes, e.g. for sporting installations; Producing artificial snow
  • F25C3/04—Processes or apparatus specially adapted for producing ice or snow for winter sports or similar recreational purposes, e.g. for sporting installations; Producing artificial snow for sledging or ski trails; Producing artificial snow
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
  • F25C—PRODUCING, WORKING OR HANDLING ICE
  • F25C2303/00—Special arrangements or features for producing ice or snow for winter sports or similar recreational purposes, e.g. for sporting installations; Special arrangements or features for producing artificial snow
  • F25C2303/048—Snow making by using means for spraying water
  • F25C2303/0481—Snow making by using means for spraying water with the use of compressed air

Definitions

• the present invention relates to an improvement to snow guns of the high pressure type, that is to say to snow cannons as described in particular in document EP-A-18280.
• the present invention provides a gun which significantly increases the capacity for producing snow. Under identical temperature conditions, the barrel according to the invention will deliver a greater quantity of water which, by means of particular means, will make it possible to obtain abundant and high quality snow.
• the means used by the invention in fact make it possible to promote the rapid formation of ice or snow crystals which will very quickly inoculate all of the drops projected by the gun.
• This transformation into snow is all the more rapid as means allow the formation of a jet of water and air mixture in which the water particles have a very fine size which favors the transformation into ice or snow. .
• the invention also has the advantage of significantly reducing the noise caused by the main jet consisting of the mixture of water and primary air.
• the snow cannon according to the invention comprises - a pressure water inlet pipe, - a pressurized air supply pipe, - and a chamber for mixing water and pressurized air at the end of which is an ejection nozzle; said barrel further comprising, around said ejection nozzle, an annular nozzle for ejecting secondary air under pressure and enveloping the main jet consisting of the mixture of water and primary air.
• the nozzle comprises, from upstream to downstream, a convergent, a narrow sonic neck, which limits the flow, where the secondary air reaches the speed of sound, then a divergent at very low opening so as to achieve relaxation of the compressed air making it possible to reach temperatures in the region of - 70 ° C.
• the very cold secondary air envelops the main jet.
• the water particles which emanate from this main jet are immediately in contact with this very cold air; this contact promotes the formation of crystals which serve to seed all of the particles of this main jet.
• the mixing chamber is in the form of an elongated cylindrical tube comprising, at its end, located upstream of the ejection nozzle, a cavity formed by a sudden flaring followed by a convergent then by a cylindrical portion.
• the diameter of the internal cylindrical portion is slightly less than that of the mixing chamber upstream of said flaring.
• the slope of the convergent is around 10 °.
• the ejection nozzle has an internal divergence and a cylindrical internal end whose cylindrical external envelope constitutes the internal wall of the nozzle.
• the barrel consists of a molded hollow body comprising: - a tube followed by a cavity for the arrival of water and - another tube followed by another cavity for the air intake, - chambers connected to said cavities and delimited by radial partitions, the chamber corresponding to the passage of water being disposed between the two other chambers reserved for primary air and secondary air respectively , and - a sleeve for the secondary air which extends from the chamber of said secondary air to the end of the barrel where the nozzle is located.
• the barrel body has a central bore to accommodate a kind of cartridge made up of three distinct parts arranged on the axis of said bore: - a primary air injector, - the mixing chamber, the end of which downstream constitutes the ejection nozzle, provided with means of connection with the sleeve and - the nozzle associated with fixing means relative to the end of said sleeve.
• FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of the barrel according to the invention.
• FIG. 2 is a partial section of the end of the barrel showing the secondary air ejection nozzle
• FIG. 3 illustrates all of the elements inserted into the barrel body, forming a kind of cartridge
• the snow cannon consists of a hollow body 1 obtained by molding.
• This body comprises a pipe 2 for the inlet of pressurized water and a pipe 3 for the inlet of pressurized air.
• the tubing 2 is extended in the body 1 by a cavity 2 'which serves a chamber 4 of annular shape centered on the longitudinal axis 5 of the barrel.
• the tubing 3 is extended, in the same way, by a cavity 3 'which serves a first chamber 7 located upstream in the body 1, that is to say before the chamber 4, and a second chamber 8 located downstream; in fact rooms 7 and 8 are located on either side of the room
• the body 1 is extended by a sheath 9, which sheath constitutes the outer envelope of a tubular chamber 10 whose role will be explained below.
• the chamber 4 is delimited by radial partitions 47 and 48 common with the chambers 7 and 8 respectively.
• the chamber 7 is delimited by the partition 47 common with the chamber 4 and by the radial wall 71 which constitutes the bottom of the body 1 between the pipes 2 and 3.
• the chamber 8 is delimited by the partition 48 common with the chamber 4 and the radial wall 81 of the body 1 from which the sheath 9 extends.
• the partitions 47, 48 and the walls 71 and 81 are all arranged radially, that is to say perpendicular to the main axis 5.
• the body 1 contains a kind of cartridge 11 detailed in FIG. 3. This cartridge 11, centered on the axis
• This cartridge 11 consists of the following three elements: - an injector 14 for compressed air, - a main tube
• nozzle 16 which may include, as shown according to the embodiment of Figures 1 and 2, in a single piece, a flange 19 for fixing all of the elements constituting the cartridge 11 on the end 20 of the sleeve
• the main tube 15 is centered in the body 1 and in particular in the partitions 47, 48 and the sleeve
• the tube 15 comprises a cylinder 21 provided with a groove
• This cylind-rage 21 is adjusted in the bore 13 of the j 0 partition 48.
• radial fins 23 in sufficient number to center said tube in the internal bore of the sleeve 9.
• the space between two fins 23 forms a channel for
• the total passage section at the level of these channels is chosen so as to be compatible with the flow rate of the nozzle 18.
• the tube 15 also includes, upstream of the ring 23, a cylinder 25 provided with a groove 22 'for an annular seal 222'; this cylinder 25 is adjusted
• This upstream end of the tube 15 has an internal bore 26 which serves to center the injector 14.
• This injector 14 has for this purpose a cylinder 27 provided with a groove 28 for an annular seal 282, and a
• This injector 14 comprises, arranged in the chamber
• cylindrical portion 31 is centered in the bore 12 of the partition 47, over a small span.
• the rear face 33 of the injector 14 is supported on the wall 71 of the body 1.
• the injector 14 is pressed against the wall 71 of the body 1 by means of the tube 15 and in particular of the upstream end face 30 of the tube 15 in contact with the shoulder 29 of the injector.
• the tube 15 is pressed against the wall 71 of the body 1 by means of the tube 15 and in particular of the upstream end face 30 of the tube 15 in contact with the shoulder 29 of the injector.
• 25 15 is held in position by means of the nozzle 18 and in particular of its face 34 located upstream and which bears on the downstream side "of the fins 23.
• the tightening of the flange 19 of the nozzle 18, by means of the screws 35, allows the blocking of the cartridge in the body 1 of the barrel.
• the centering of the parts with respect to each other is automatic: the injector 14 is directly centered on the rear end of the mixing chamber 16 and the nozzle 18 is centered in the internal bore of the sleeve 9 likewise that the centering fins 23
• the injector 14 comprises, downstream of the chamber 7, a convergent 35 which extends to the inlet of the mixing chamber 16, slightly penetrating the latter over 0 'a distance which corresponds substantially to the radius of the injection port.
• the external surface of the convergent 35 ensures the guiding of the stream of pressurized water at the inlet of the mixing chamber 16; this entrance to the mixing chamber 16 is arranged in the form of
• the mixing chamber is in the form of a tube whose central cavity is cylindrical from the inlet 36 to a frustoconical cavity 37 located upstream of the ejection nozzle 17.
• This cavity 37 begins with an abrupt flaring by means of a radial wall 38 in the form of a crown from which there is a convergent 39.
• the distance which separates this wall 38 from the inlet of the mixing chamber is between 5 and 12 times the internal diameter of this mixing chamber.
• This convergent 39 has a slope of the order of 10 °.
• a neck 40 cylindrical, the diameter of which is slightly less than the internal diameter of the mixing chamber 16, of the order of ten percent in diameter.
• the length of the neck 40 is of the same order as the length of the diverging portion 41 of the ejection nozzle 17.
• the speed of the jet at the level of the neck 40 is close to the speed of sound.
• the end of the nozzle 17, after the divergent 41, has a cylindrical portion 42 of short length which extends to the end 43 of the tube 15.
• the end 43 of the tube 15 has a relatively small thickness which appears in more detail in FIG. 3, this thickness corresponds to the space which separates the main jet from the secondary air flow. This thickness can reach 5 mm.
• the tube ⁇ 15 defines with the sleeve 9, the chamber 10 in which the secondary air under pressure circulates, downstream of the chamber 8.
• the chamber 10 has a tubular shape which extends from the chamber 8 to the nozzle 18, which nozzle has, behind the fins 23, downstream, a convergent whose slope is of the order of 20 ° followed by a relatively narrow neck 45 from which there is a divergent 46 whose slope is order of 4 °.
• the cylindrical outer wall 50 of the ejection nozzle 17 channels, with the convergent 44, the neck 45 and the divergent 46, the secondary air which circulates in the nozzle. Compressed air circulates at very low speed in chamber 10.
• FIG. 4 represents an alternative embodiment 5 relating mainly to the cartridge 11, the injector 14 and to the end of the barrel.
• the 20 of the cartridge 11 is arranged to better distribute the calories of the mixture of water and primary air under pressure towards the end of the barrel.
• the cartridge 11 comprises, at its downstream end, a frustoconical head 51 in which are cut
• This head 51 has a shoulder 53 which takes
• the nozzle 18 has a skirt 56 which adjusts to the frustoconical head 51 of the cartridge 15 to allow an even more precise positioning of its neck 45, FIG.
• This frustoconical skirt 56 has at its upper end a flange 57 which allows, by means of a ring
• the ring 58 is internally threaded and screwed onto the end of the sleeve 9. A better distribution of the calories is thus obtained between the head 51 of the cartridge 11 and the skirt 56 of the nozzle 18 which avoids the formation of frost on the end of the barrel.
• This injector 14 is centered at the downstream end of the cartridge 15 and fixed by a thread 60. We find the same constructive arrangements as those described above in connection with FIGS. 1 to 3 concerning the water and air inlets under pressure and their introduction both at the level of the mixing chamber 16 and at the level of the chamber 10 which serves the nozzle 18.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Thermal Sciences (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Nozzles (AREA)
• Acyclic And Carbocyclic Compounds In Medicinal Compositions (AREA)
• Organic Low-Molecular-Weight Compounds And Preparation Thereof (AREA)
• Buildings Adapted To Withstand Abnormal External Influences (AREA)
• Separation Of Suspended Particles By Flocculating Agents (AREA)
• Non-Insulated Conductors (AREA)

Priority Applications (4)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=9444418

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (8)

Cited By (7)

Families Citing this family (1)

Citations (9)

• 1993
  • 1993-02-19 FR FR9302175A patent/FR2701759B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 1994
  • 1994-02-15 EP EP94906949A patent/EP0683886B1/fr not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1994-02-15 AT AT94906949T patent/ATE155875T1/de active
  • 1994-02-15 WO PCT/FR1994/000168 patent/WO1994019655A1/fr active IP Right Grant
  • 1994-02-15 JP JP6518700A patent/JPH08509800A/ja active Pending
  • 1994-02-15 CA CA002156422A patent/CA2156422A1/fr not_active Abandoned
  • 1994-02-15 DE DE69404446T patent/DE69404446D1/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
• 1995
  • 1995-08-14 NO NO953196A patent/NO953196D0/no unknown

Patent Citations (9)

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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