WO2008114286A1

WO2008114286A1 - Spray head for the production of artificial snow

Info

Publication number: WO2008114286A1
Application number: PCT/IT2007/000193
Authority: WO
Inventors: Marco Pala
Original assignee: Weisser Wolf S.R.L.
Priority date: 2007-03-16
Filing date: 2007-03-16
Publication date: 2008-09-25

Abstract

A spray head (4) for the production of artificial snow which is not subject to clogging and locking due to the forming of ice at the core makers. The spray head (4) is especially reliable even in adverse atmospheric conditions and ensures continuous production of artificial snow also where the outside temperature drops considerably. The spray head also exhibits easier maintenance.

Description

DESCRIPTION "Spray head for the production of artificial snow"

[0001] The present invention relates to a spray head for the production of artificial snow, and in particular a spray head comprising an innovative core making system for the production of artificial snow.

[0002] As is known, spray heads for the production of artificial snow use water and air under pressure. Delivering a small amount of water into a flow of air under pressure creates ice cores, thanks to the sudden air expansion. Said cores come into contact with very fine water drops and allow the creation of artificial snow. In particular, the spray heads comprise core makers, from which air and water mixed with each other come out in the form of cores, that is, frozen water particles; the spray heads further comprise nozzles from which finely atomised water comes out.

[0003] The cores intercept the particles of atomised water and cause the coalescence thereof, with the consequent forming of artificial snow flakes.

[0004] If the core makers are not perfectly efficient as they are partly clogged, the production of artificial snow cannot take place; therefore, the heads would produce water that in contact with the ski track would create an ice layer on the mantle of snow. [0005] The spray heads of the prior art are often subject to phenomena of at least partial clogging due to the forming of ice, especially at the core maker output holes, for example due to particularly low outer temperatures or due to the presence of adverse wind during the production of snow.

[0006] To solve these disadvantages in the art it is known to warm the spray heads to a temperature of more than 0 ⁰C by electrical heating means or by circulation inside the spray head with the same water used for making artificial snow. In fact, such water is delivered to the head at a temperature of about 2-3 ⁰C.

[0007] Despite the above technical devices in the prior art spray heads it is not possible to avoid the danger of clogging of the spray head, and in particular of the core makers, due to the forming of ice blocks that make the spray head unusable.

[0008] The problem of the present invention is to provide a spray head for the production of artificial snow which should solve the disadvantages mentioned with reference to the prior art .

[0009] Such disadvantages are solved with a spray head in accordance with claim 1. [0010] Other embodiments of the spray head according to the invention are described in the subsequent claims. [0011] Further features and advantages of the present invention will appear more clearly from the following description of a preferred non-limiting embodiment, wherein : [0012] figure 1 shows a front view of spray head for the production of artificial snow according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0013] figure 2 shows a section view of the spray head of figure 1, along the section plane II of figure 1; [0014] figure 3 shows a perspective view of the spray head of figure 1, wherein some details have been removed; [0015] figure 4 shows a section view of the spray head of figure 1, along the section plane IV of figure 3; [0016] figure 5 shows a section view of the spray head of figure 1, along the section plane V of figure 3;

[0017] figure 6 shows a section view of the spray head of figure 1, along the section plane VI of figure 1; [0018] figures 7 and 8 show perspective views from different angles of details of the spray head of figure 1. [0019] With reference to the above figures, reference numeral 4 generically denotes a spray head for the production of artificial snow.

[0020] Spray head 4 comprises a head body 8 connected for example to a bar for arranging the spray head at a sufficiently high height for radiating a suitable surface of mantle of snow.

[0021] The head body 8 extends for example along a prevailing direction Y, substantially parallel to a vertical direction or to a direction of fall of the artificial snow flakes generated.

[0022] The head body 8 is closed at the top by a cover 9 and at the bottom it is put in fluid connection with water feeding ducts 10 and with a compressed air feeding duct 11. [0023] The head body 8 has at least one spray wall 12 suitable for spraying air and water for the production of artificial snow.

[0024] At the spray wall 12 , head body 8 comprises at least one core maker 16 suitable for generating and spraying cores of artificial flakes.

[0025] The head body 8 comprises at least one nozzle 20 suitable for spraying a water jet that may be intercepted by the cores; the use of a plurality of nozzles favours the growth of snow flakes . [0026] Advantageously, the core maker 16 comprises a core maker body 30 having a side wall 32, for example cylindrical, and a flat wall 34 facing outwards the head. [0027] Preferably, said flat wall 34 has a smooth and even more preferably lapped or polished surface so as to hamper the gripping of ice or snow. [0028] The core maker body 30 has a water passage chamber 38 suitable for seating the core maker body 30; preferably, the core maker body 30 is entirely seated into the water passage chamber 38 so as to arrange the flat wall 34 flush with the spray wall 12. Preferably, the core maker body 30, at the side wall 32, comprises a seal 36 suitable for obtaining a seal between the core maker body and the water passage chamber 38. [0029] In other words, the core maker body 30 comprises a water passage chamber 38 open towards the spray wall and the core maker body is inserted in said chamber 38 so that subsequent to the insertion thereof the flat wall 34 aligns perfectly with the spray wall 12. [0030] The core maker body 30 has a core making hole 44 arranged on said flat wall 34 and suitable for spraying a mixture of air and water for generating said cores . Preferably, the mixture comprises a very small amount of water as compared to that of air. [0031] In particular, the water passage chamber 38 is in fluid connection with a water feeding duct 10 that flows inside the spray head 4 and that carries the water to the top nozzles 20, so as to obtain a thermal exchange between the feeding water and the core maker body. [0032] According to an embodiment, said core making hole 44 has a slit configuration, with a prevailing dimension arranged horizontally, that is, along a horizontal direction X substantially perpendicular to said prevailing direction Y and parallel to the flat wall 34. [0033] According to an embodiment, said core making hole 44 at horizontal ends thereof, opposite to said horizontal direction X, comprises a first pair of flares 54. [0034] According to an embodiment, said core making hole 44 at vertical ends thereof, opposite to said prevailing direction Y, comprises a second pair of flares 58. [0035] Advantageously, said spray head 4 comprises means 60 for locking the body of core maker 30 on the head body 8, the locking means 60 being arranged inside the head body 8 so as not to be accessible from the side of the flat wall 34. In other words, the core maker body 30 may be attached to the head body 8 by locking means 60 that are in no way accessible from the side of the flat wall 34. In this way, the flat wall does not exhibit any type of fixing hole or any discontinuity that could be a hold for the forming of ice . [0036] According to an embodiment, said locking means 60 comprise at least one fixing hole 70 that leads on the side wall 32 of said core maker body so as to be accessible from the head body and in particular so as to be accessible from the side of said top cover 9. Also the head body is provided with at least one through hole 72 aligned with said fixing hole in an assembled configuration of the core maker body in the head. [0037] According to an embodiment, said locking means 60 comprise at least one pin 74 suitable for being axially inserted in the through hole 72 and in the fixing hole 70 relative to an insertion direction preferably parallel to said prevailing direction Y. According to an embodiment, said fixing hole 70 is blind on the end opposite the associable cover 9. [0038] According to an embodiment, at at least one end thereof pin 74 comprises a tapered portion 76 suitable for aiding the pin insertion into the corresponding through and fixing holes 72, 70. [0039] According to a further embodiment, at a coupling end 78 thereof pin 74 comprises a head portion suitable for being gripped with a tool or by the hands for allowing the extraction of the pin from the relevant fixing hole. [0040] According to an embodiment, the fixing hole 70 passes through the head body 8 so as to lead opposite the associable cover 9 and for allowing the extraction of the pin pushing the latter opposite the insertion end. [0041] The core maker body 30 is substantially hollow and comprises at least one chamber 82, for example symmetrical and coaxial relative to the core making hole. [0042] Said chamber is closed on the side of the flat wall 34 whereas it is open on the side opposite the flat wall

34, that is, towards the associable water passage chamber

38 of the head body 8.

[0043] Preferably, the core maker body 30 comprises a collar 83, for example coaxial to the core making hole 44, which exhibits a recess 84 on the side of the flat wall; recess 84 is in fluid connection with the core making hole 44.

[0044] Said recess 84 is in fluid communication with a water feeding duct 10 of said head 4. Preferably, recess

84 ends with a hemispherical portion 88.

[0045] Recess 84 has the function of stop and is axially opposite a shoulder 92 of the head body 4.

[0046] The head comprises a connection bush 96 that puts the feeding duct 10 in fluid connection with the core making hole 44.

[0047] Preferably, bush 96 is seated in recess 84 of collar

83 of the core maker body so as to be axially opposite between recess 84 and shoulder 92. Preferably, in an assembled configuration, bush 96 exhibits an axial clearance ^ΛG' between recess 84 and shoulder 92. Axial clearance ^λG' means a clearance relative to an axial direction P parallel to the extension of a symmetry axis of the core making hole, said axial direction being perpendicular to the flat wall 34. [0048] Bush 96 exhibits sealing means like O-rings 100 that ensure fluid seal with the head and the collar. [0049] The bush has a calibrated hole 97 that allows the calibrated passage of a small amount of water from the water passage chamber 38 inside the bush itself. In this way the water can mix in a minimal portion with the air under pressure coming from the air feeding duct 11 and the air and water mixture can therefore be ejected through the core making hole 44. [0050] In an assembled configuration of core maker 16 on the head body, the water touches the surfaces of chamber 82 of the core maker body 30, so as to further favour the thermal exchange. Preferably, the core maker body 30 comprises at least one outlet 102 arranged adjacent the collar so as to approach the water passage to the core making hole 44 and carry out a thermal exchange with the inner side of the flat wall 34. Preferably, outlet 102 has a toroidal pattern and is coaxial to the axial direction ¹P' . [0051] The head preferably comprises a plurality of nozzles 20 arranged along the spray wall 12. At least one nozzle 20 is arranged between the core maker body 30 and cover 9; said nozzle 20 is the so-called first stage of the spray head. [0052] Further nozzles 20 are arranged, along the spray wall, opposite the cover relative to the core maker body

30.

[0053] Nozzles 20 are inserted into special spray seats 104 of the head body 8, for example by screwing. Through the spray seats 104, nozzles 20 receive the water to spray through one or more water feeding ducts that run inside the spray head. The nozzles are provided with spray holes

106 preferably having the same slit configuration as the core making hole. [0054] Advantageously, nozzles 20 extend from the spray wall 12 so that the spray holes 106 of said nozzles 20 are in advanced position relative to the core making hole and the flat wall 34.

[0055] According to a possible embodiment, the spray head comprises at least two spray walls 12 angled relative to each other and each provided with at least one core maker

16 and with at least one nozzle 20.

[0056] Preferably, the spray head comprises two spray walls perpendicular to one another and the water feeding ducts 10 as well as the compressed air feeding ones 11 concurrently feed the two spray walls through branches

110 arranged inside the head body.

[0057] As we can appreciate from the description, the spray head of the present invention allows overcoming the disadvantages exhibited by the spray heads of the prior art .

[0058] In particular, the spray head according to the invention prevents the forming of ice blocks that could even only partly clog the core makers. [0059] In fact, the core makers are obtained with a core maker body in a single piece having an outer surface perfectly smooth so as to not favour in any way the gripping of ice or snow. [0060] Thus, the core makers are free from any outer nozzles extending from the outer wall of the core maker itself and that could become a seat for ice forming. [0061] In other words, the core making holes are all internal relative to the core maker body as well as the spray wall so as to be protected from the external environment and not to offer gripping surfaces for ice or snow forming.

[0062] The special slit shape of the core making holes favours a fan-like expansion of the core making air jet so as to intercept the water flows of the adjacent nozzles.

[0063] Moreover, thanks to the single piece construction of the core maker, the head exhibits an improved thermal exchange between the water circulating inside the head and the core maker itself. [0064] in other words, thanks to the fact that the core maker body is in a single piece, the thermal conduction between the water circulating in the head and in the inner chamber of the body is able to warm the body itself enough to prevent ice forming on the outer wall of the core maker.

[0065] The presence of the locking pins of the core maker on the head allows using a core maker with an outer wall perfectly smooth and free from any connection means, such as screws or bolts that would be easy holds for ice forming.

[0066] Moreover, the pins are easily mounted and removed without the risk of dangerous breakage, in fact the screws of the prior art are often subject to breakage of fragile type during maintenance operations due to very low temperatures .

[0067] On the other hand, the pins may be easily inserted and removed by hand or using simple hammers or punches that are very useful for removing the same also in the case of locking due to especially low temperatures. [0068] Advantageously, the core maker body is made as a single piece so as to obtain an improved thermal exchange between the water coming from the water passage chamber, the flat wall and the core making hole. The thermal exchange between the feeding water and the core maker is useful for preventing the danger of ice forming. Since the feeding water is often at a temperature in any case close to 2-3 ⁰C, little efficient thermal exchange would not sufficiently warm the core maker body, and in particular the core making hole, to prevent ice forming. [0069] Advantageously, the core maker outlet hole is arranged in line with the spray wall so as to prevent the forming of ice blocks or snow that could clog the hole itself. [0070] Moreover, the core making hole is arranged in rear position relative to the_, nozzles of the various head stages. Thanks to this arrangement, the core making air jet can expand fan-like sufficiently before intercepting the water flows of the various adjacent stages. Moreover, any ice forming at the nozzle would hardly extend up to clogging the core making hole.

[0071] A man skilled in the art may make several changes and adjustments to the spray heads described above in order to meet specific and incidental needs, all falling within the scope of protection defined in the following claims .

Claims

1. Spray head (4) for the production of artificial snow comprising a head body (8) having at least one spray wall (12) suitable for spraying a mixture of air and water for the production of artificial snow, at least one core maker (16) arranged on said spray wall

(12) and suitable for spraying cores of artificial flakes, at least one nozzle (20) suitable for spraying a water jet suitable for intercepting said cores and favouring the growth thereof into snow flakes, characterised in that

- the core maker (16) comprises a core maker body (30) having a flat wall (34) , the core maker body (30) being inserted in a water passage chamber (38) of said head body (8) so as to arrange the flat wall (34) flush with the spray wall (12) ,

- the core maker body (30) having a core making hole (44) arranged on said flat wall (34) and suitable for spraying a mixture of air and water for generating said cores.

2. Spray head (4) according to claim 1, wherein said spray head (4) comprises means (60) for locking the body of core maker (30) on the head body (8) , the locking means (60) being arranged inside the head body (8) so as not to be accessible from the side of the flat wall (34) .

3. Spray head (4) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the water passage chamber (38) is in fluid connection with a water feeding duct (10) that flows inside the spray head (4) and that carries the water to the various nozzles (20) , so as to obtain a thermal exchange between the feeding water and the core maker body (30) .

4. Spray head (4) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein said core maker body (30) is made as a single piece so as to obtain an improved thermal exchange between the water coming from the water passage chamber (38) , the flat wall (34) and the core making hole (44) .

5. Spray head (4) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein said core making hole (44) has a slit configuration, with a prevailing dimension arranged horizontally, along a horizontal direction (X) substantially perpendicular to a prevailing direction (Y) and parallel to the flat wall (34) .

6. Spray head according to claim 5 , wherein the core making hole (44) at horizontal ends thereof, opposite to said horizontal direction (X) , comprises a first pair of flares (54) .

7. Spray head according to claim 5 or 6 , wherein said core making hole (44) at vertical ends thereof, opposite to said prevailing direction Y, comprises a second pair of flares (58) .

8. Spray head according to any one of the previous claims, wherein said locking means (60) comprise at least one fixing hole (70) that leads on a side wall (32) of said core maker body so as to be accessible from the head body.

9. Spray head according to claim 8 , wherein the head body is provided with at least one through hole (72) aligned with said fixing hole (70) in an assembled configuration of the core maker body (30) in the head.

10. Spray head according to claim 8 or 9, wherein said locking means (60) comprise at least one pin (74) suitable for being axially inserted .in the through hole (72) and in the fixing hole (70) relative to an insertion direction parallel to said prevailing direction (Y) .

11. Spray head according to claim 10, wherein at at least one end thereof, the pin (74) comprises a tapered portion (76) suitable for aiding the pin insertion into the corresponding through and fixing holes (72, 70) .

12. Spray head according to claim 10 or 11, wherein at a coupling end (78) thereof the pin (74) comprises a head portion suitable for being gripped with a tool or by the hands . for allowing the extraction of the pin from the relevant fixing hole.

13. Spray head according to any one of claims 8 to 12, wherein said fixing hole (70) is blind on the end opposite the associable cover (9) .

14. Spray head according to any one of claims 8 to 12 , wherein the fixing hole (70) passes through the head body

(8) so as to lead opposite an associable cover (9) of the head body, for allowing the extraction of the pin pushing the latter opposite the insertion end of the pin itself.

15. Spray head according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the core maker body (30) is substantially hollow and comprises at least one chamber (82), coaxial relative to the core making hole.

16. Spray head according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the core maker body (30) comprises a collar (83) that exhibits a recess (84) on the side of the flat wall (34) , said recess (84) being in fluid connection with the core making hole (44) .

17. Spray head according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the recess (84) has the function of stop and is axially opposite a shoulder (92) of the head body (8) .

18. Spray head according to claim 17, wherein the head comprises a connection bush (96) that puts in fluid connection the feeding duct (11) with the core making hole (44) , said bush (96) being seated in the recess (84) so as to be axially opposite between the recess (84) and the shoulder (92) .

19. Spray head according to claim 18, wherein in an assembled configuration the bush (96) exhibits an axial clearance (G) between the recess (84) and the shoulder (92) .

20. Spray head (4) according to claim 18 or 19, wherein in an assembled configuration the bush (96) intercepts the water feeding duct (10) so as to exert a thermal exchange action with the outer bush wall .

21. Spray head according to claim 18, 19, or 20, wherein the core maker body (30) comprises at least one outlet

(102) arranged adjacent the collar so as to allow the passage of feeding water for carrying out a thermal exchange with the collar (83) and with the inner side of the flat wall (34) .

22. Spray head according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the nozzles (20) extend from the spray wall (12) so that the spray holes (106) of said nozzles

(20) are in advanced position relative to the core making hole and the flat wall (34) .

23. Spray head according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the spray head comprises at least two spray walls (12) angled relative to each other and each provided with at least one core maker (16) and with at least one nozzle (20) .

24. Spray head according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the spray head comprises two spray walls angled to one another and the water feeding ducts (10) as well as the compressed air feeding ones (11) concurrently feed the two spray walls through branches (110) arranged inside the head body.