WO2009125359A1

WO2009125359A1 - Spray crown for a generator of artificial snow and generator of artificial snow

Info

Publication number: WO2009125359A1
Application number: PCT/IB2009/051484
Authority: WO
Inventors: Marco Pala
Original assignee: Weisser Wolf S.R.L.
Priority date: 2008-04-09
Filing date: 2009-04-08
Publication date: 2009-10-15
Also published as: ITBS20080072A1

Abstract

A spray crown (4) for a generator of artificial snow (8) and a related generator of artificial snow (8). The spray crown (4) comprises at least one delivery block (28) that houses a nucleator (5) and/or a spray nozzle (6), the delivery block (28) being removably associated to the water supply pipe (24) and being directly crossed by the pipe (24) so as to receive the flow of water that circulates in the pipe (24) both when delivering the water through the nucleator (5) and/or nozzle (6) as well as in the deactivated condition of the said nucleator (5) and/or nozzle (6).

Description

DESCRIPTION

"SPRAY CROWN FOR A GENERATOR OF ARTIFICIAL SNOW AND GENERATOR OF ARTIFICIAL SNOW"

[0001] The present invention relates to a spray crown for a generator of artificial snow and the relevant generator of artificial snow.

[0002] Generators are known for the production of artificial snow, also known as canons, comprising a hollow generator body, of a cylindrical form, which internally houses a fan positioned in the rear section of the body. From the opposite side ,to the fan, the body of the generator has a spray outlet, typically circular in shape, from which the artificial snow is sprayed. The prior art generators foresee, in correspondence with the said spray outlet, the use of a circular spray crown made of a single body with a plurality of holes, from which water is sprayed to produce artificial snow. [0003] The prior art spray crowns are rings in a single piece, typically made of cast aluminium. [0004] The said rings, despite the use of light alloys, are very heavy and expensive to manufacture. The crowns foresee a plurality of holes, even hundreds, which are internally threaded to enable the screwing of spray nozzles and/or nucleators. [0005] In fact, the artificial snow generators use water and pressurised air. By sending a small amount of water in a stream of pressurised air, nuclei of ice are formed due to the sudden expansion of the air. The said nuclei, or rather particles of frozen water sprayed from the nucleators, come into contact with fine droplets of water and allow the creation of artificial snow. [0006] Therefore the generators comprise spray nozzles from which finely nebulised water is fired. [0007] The nuclei intercept the particles of nebulised water and cause the coalescence resulting in the formation of artificial snow flakes.

[0008] The generators of the prior art are often subject to phenomena of clogging at least partially due to the formation of ice in particular at the exit holes of the nucleators or nozzles, for example due to the particularly harsh external temperature or due to the presence of wind during the operation of the generators . [0009] If the nucleators are not perfectly efficient because partially clogged, the production of artificial snow cannot take place; therefore the generators may produce water that when in contact with the slope would create a layer of ice on the snow.

[0010] Moreover, in the event of breakage of the threads, on which are screwed the nozzles and nucleators, the repair operation, necessary to ensure the uniformity of the jet of artificial snow, is costly and complex to implement . During the long maintenance the snow generator is unusable, causing considerable economic damage to the user, since the production of snow is often linked to specific and fortuitous climatic conditions. In other words, it is essential that the generator is used as often as the environmental conditions permit, therefore long maintenance operations are not acceptable. [0011] From the foregoing it appears that the artificial snow generators have a number of known disadvantages that can be synthesized in substantial weight, excessive costs of production and maintenance, and lengthy maintenance operations . [0012] These disadvantages are resolved by a spray crown in accordance with claim 1 and an artificial snow generator according to claim 15.

[0013] Other embodiments of the spray crown and generator according to the invention are described in the subsequent claims. [0014] Further features and the advantages of the present invention will appear more clearly from the following description of preferred non-limiting embodiments thereof, wherein: [0015] figure 1 represents a perspective view of the generator of artificial snow in accordance with the present invention;

[0016] figure 2 represents a perspective view of the enlarged detail II of figure 1;

[0017] figure 3 represents a perspective view of a spray crown of the generator of figure 1;

[0018] figure 4 represents a perspective view of detail IV of figure 3;

[0019] figure 5 represents a further perspective view of detail IV of figure 3, wherein an element has been omitted;

[0020] figure 6 represents a perspective view of detail VI of figure 3;

[0021] figures 7 and 8 represent a cross-section view of the detail of figure β, in distinct operating conditions. [0022] With reference to the said figures, 4 generally indicates a spray crown comprising nucleators 5 and/or spray nozzles 6; the crown 4 is associated to a generator

8 for the production of artificial snow .

[0023] According to an embodiment, the generator 8 comprises said crown 4, removably associated to the generator in correspondence with a spray outlet 12 of the said generator.

[0024] The generator 8 comprises at least one supply of water suitable to send water to the spray crown 4. [0025] According to an embodiment, the generator 8 comprises at least one supply of compressed air preferably connected to the said nucleators 5. [0026] According to an embodiment, the generator 8 comprises at least one fan 20 suitable to generate a stream of air directed towards the spray crown 4, and preferably coaxially to it. Preferably, the fan 20 is positioned to the rear of the crown 4 and generates a stream of air that is sent to the spray outlet 12 according to an aeration direction X-X so as to collide with the jets of water emitted from the nucleators 5 and the spray nozzles 6.

[0027] The spray crown 4 comprises at least one water supply pipe 24, suitable to receive the water supply to be disbursed through the nucleators 5 and spray nozzles 6. The spray crown 4 is preferably circular and has a symmetry axis that preferably coincides with the direction of aeration X-X.

[0028] Preferably, the crown 4 comprises at least one nucleator 5 and/or spray nozzle 6 fluidly connected the water supply pipe 24.

[0029] The nucleator 5 is suitable for spraying nuclei of artificial flakes, the spray nozzle 6 is suitable for spraying a jet of water to intercept the nuclei and promote the growth into flakes of snow. [0030] Advantageously, the crown 4 comprises at least one delivery block 28 which houses the nucleator 5 and/or spray nozzle 6, the delivery block 28 being removably associated to the water supply pipe 24 and being directly crossed by the pipe 24 in order to receive the flow of water circulating in the pipe 24 both when delivering the supply of water through the nucleator 5 and/or nozzle β as well as when the said nucleator 5 and/or spray nozzle 6 are deactivated. [0031] Preferably, the delivery block 28 comprises a block body 32 crossed by a cavity 36 directly intercepted by the supply pipe 24 to form a portion of the said supply pipe 24. The cavity 36 is fluidly connected, in a selective manner, to the nucleator or the spray nozzle 6. [0032] According to an embodiment, the delivery block 28 is radially oriented in respect to the spray crown 4 in order to arrange the nucleator 5 or spray nozzle 6 along a spray axis S-S that preferably intersects the aeration direction X-X from the spray outlet 12. [0033] The supply pipe 24, comprises for example at least one flange 40 suitable to fix the delivery block 28 to the pipe itself so as to fluidly connect the cavity 36 of the delivery block 28 with the supply pipe 24 or an adjacent block 28. [0034] According to an embodiment, the flange 40, in an assembly configuration, is coaxially positioned with the cavity 36 of the delivery block 28.

[0035] Preferably the flange 40 is fixed to delivery block 28 by means of a threaded connection 42, such as screws or pins . [0036] According to an embodiment, the spray crown 4 comprises angular orientation means 43 suitable to permit the assembly of an associated delivery block 28 according to a desired angle in respect to the aeration direction X-X. For example, the orientation means 43 comprises a plurality of holes 44 made on the flange 40 to allow the relative rotation of the delivery block 28 with respect to the flange 40 prior to tightening the threaded connection means 42. The said holes 44 may be slotted to allow a continuous adjustment of the delivery block's 28 orientation with relation to the pipe 24.

[0037] According to an embodiment, the cavity 36 intercepts a seat 48 that results from the flow of delivered snow, said seat 48 at least partially housing the nucleator 5 or spray nozzle 6 being fluidly connected with the supply pipe 24.

[0038] According to an embodiment, an actuator 52 is associated to the delivery block 28, acting on a shutter 56 suitable to selectively allow the passage of water through the seat 48 and the associable nucleator 5 or spray nozzle 6. [0039] The shutter 56 is radially movable to allow the opening and closing of a mouth 60 of the seat 48. [0040] The shutter 56 has dimensions suitable to allow the passage of water through the cavity 36 of the delivery block 28, in an open configuration (Figure 7) as well as in a closed configuration (Figure 8) .

[0041] In other words, the dimensions of the shutter 56 are less than the opening of the cavity 36, so that the water supply can always circulate through the supply pipe 24, the various delivery blocks 28, even when the single block 28 is in the closed condition.

[0042] Preferably the delivery blocks 28 are made of aluminium or aluminium alloy. [0043] As can be understood from the description, the crown and artificial snow generator of the present invention allows overcoming the disadvantages of the prior art. [0044] In particular, even if a delivery block remains closed, it is still flushed by the water that passes through and therefore prevents the block from freezing. In this way the efficiency of the delivery holes and the uniformity of the snow produced it ensured. [0045] The implementation costs are reduced because a single casting of aluminium to make the crown is not required. The delivery blocks are easily machined on numerical control machines, and to differentiate a nucleator block from a nozzle block, simply differentiate two manufacturing procedures .

[0046] The maintenance is greatly facilitated, both because the blocks do not freeze even if they are deactivated, and because in the event of breakage the single block can be replaced in a very fast manner without having to make any repairs on the crown.

[0047] Furthermore, the modulating capacity of the water flow is significantly improved, because the crown of the prior art often had 2 or 3 or 4 rings of nozzles arranged concentrically to the spray mouth, while the present invention foresees a single crown with a plurality of blocks with related nozzles and/or nucleators that can be individually opened or closed at will without incurring any risk of blocking due to the formation of ice, because the excluded blocks are not always flushed from water. [0048] Furthermore, the crown in accordance with the present invention allows a considerable reduction of weight and mass to be heated before starting up the generator.

[0049] A man skilled in the art may make several changes and adjustments to the crowns and the generators described above in order to meet specific and incidental needs, all falling within the scope of the invention defined in the following claims.

Claims

1. Spray crown (4), associable to a generator (8) for the production of artificial snow, comprising a water supply pipe (24), at least one nucleator (5) and/or a spray nozzle (6) fluidly connected to the water supply pipe (24) , the nucleator (5) being suitable to spray nuclei of artificial flakes, the spray nozzle (6) being suitable to spray a jet of water to intercept the nuclei and favour the increase in snow flakes, characterised in that the crown (4) comprises at least one delivery block (28) that houses the nucleator (5) and/or the spray nozzle (6), the delivery block (28) being removably connected to the water supply pipe (24) and being directly crossed by the pipe (24) so as to receive the flow of water that circulates inside the pipe (24) both when delivering the water by means of the nucleator (5) and/or nozzle (6) as well as in the deactivated or closed condition of the said nucleator (5) and/or spray nozzle (6) . 2. Spray crown (4) according to claim 1, wherein the delivery block (28) comprises a block body (32) crossed by a cavity (36) directly intercepted by the supply pipe

(24) so as to form a portion of the said supply pipe

(24), the cavity (36) being fluidly connected, in a selective manner, to the nucleator (5) or spray nozzle ( 6 ) .

3. Spray crown (4) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the supply pipe (24) comprises at least one flange (40) suitable to fix the delivery block (28) to the pipe (24) so as to fluidly connect the cavity (36) of the delivery block (28) with the supply block (24) .

4. Spray crown (4) according to claim 3, wherein the said flange (40) is coaxially arranged with the cavity (36) in an assembly configuration. 5. Spray crown (4) according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the said flange (40) is fixed to the delivery block (28) by means of a threaded connection (42) .

6. Spray crown (4) according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the said flange (40) is fixed to the delivery block (28) by means of pins or pegs .

7. Spray crown according to any of the previous claims, wherein the delivery block (28.) is radially orientated in relation to the spray crown (4) so as to arrange the associable nucleator (5) or spray nozzle (6) along a spray axis (S-S) that intersects an aeration direction of the artificial snow flow (X-X) by a spray outlet (12) of the crown (4) .

8. Spray crown according to any of the previous claims, wherein the spray crown (4) comprises angular orientation means (43) suitable to allow the assembly of an associable delivery block (28) according to a desired inclination in relation to an aeration direction (X-X) of the artificial snow flow. 9. Spray crown according to claim 8, wherein the angular orientation means (43) comprise a plurality of holes (44) on the flange (40) so as to allow a relative rotation of the delivery block (28) in relation to the flange (40) before proceeding with the tightening of the threaded connection means (42) . 10. Spray crown according to claim 9, wherein the said holes (44) are slotted so as to allow a continuous orientation adjustment of the delivery block (28) in relation to the pipe (24) .

11. Spray crown (4) according to any one of the previous claims from 2 to 10, wherein the said cavity (36) intercepts a seat (48) radially directed towards the inside of the crown (4), said seat (48) at least partially housing the nucleator (5) or spray nozzle (6) .

12. Spray crown (4) according to claim 12, wherein the shutter (56) is radially mobile so as to allow the opening and closing of a mouth (60) of the seat (48) . 14. Spray crown (4) according to claim 12 or 13, wherein the shutter (56) presents dimensions suitable to allow the passage of water through the cavity (36) of the delivery block (28), both in the open configuration and the closed configuration.

15. Spray crown (4) according to any of the previous claims, wherein the said delivery blocks (28) are made from aluminium or aluminium alloy. 16. Artificial snow generator (8) comprising at least one spray crown (4) in accordance with any one of the previous claims from 1 to 15.

17. Artificial snow generator (8) according to claim 16, wherein the said crown (4) is removably associated to the generator (8) in correspondence with a spray outlet (12) of the generator (8) .

18. Generator (8) according to claim 16 or 17, wherein the said generator (8) comprises at least one water supply connected to the said water supply pipe (24) . 19. Generator (8) according to claims 16, 17, 18, wherein the said generator (8) comprises at least one compressed air supply connected to the said nucleators (5) . 20. Generator (8) according to any of the claims from 16 to 19, comprising at least one fan suitable to generate a flow of air towards the spray crown (4), coaxially to it.