Snow making method and apparatus

• US 20110147498A1
• Filed: 12/15/2010
• Published: 06/23/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alfio Bucceri
• Original Assignee: Alfio Bucceri
• Inventors: Bucceri, Alfio
• Granted Patent: US 8,403,242 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 241/18
• CPC Class Codes: F25C 2303/042 Snow making by using solid ice, e.g. ice crushing
• CPC Class Codes: F25C 3/04 for sledging or ski trails; Producing artificial snow
• CPC Class Codes: F25C 5/046 Ice-crusher machines

Abstract

A system for producing snow incorporates a snow-making machine with ice supplied externally or manufactured on-site. The snow-making machine has one or more multi-bladed impellers fitted blades which impact ice blocks, pieces or tubes fed to the inlet of a snow-making chamber. The impact of the blades with the ice in a velocity range 150-300 Km/h produces artificial snow, with characteristics very similar to natural snow, suitable for ski-fields or other applications for snow. The blades may incorporate serrated or jagged cutter portions the break the latter ice pieces to sizes suitable for conversion to snow.

Claims

1. A method for manufacturing snow, including:

driving at least one impeller, having at least one blade, rotatably mounted within a snow-making chamber of a snow-making apparatus;

feeding ice from a supply to at least one inlet of the snow-making chamber;

impacting the ice with the at least one blade to convert the ice to snow; and

discharging the snow from at least one outlet from the snow-making chamber.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ice is fed to the at least one inlet in block or tube form.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the, or each, blade of the impeller impacts the ice with a tangential) velocity component in the range 150-300 Km/h (93-187 MPH);

more preferably 180-260 Km/h (112-161 MPH);

most preferably 200-220 Km/h (124-137 MPH).

4. A method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the, or each, impeller is driven at 100%≦

5% of a preselected rotational speed.

5. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein air is introduced in the at least one inlet with the ice;

and an airflow within the snow-making chamber is generated by the, or each, blade, to assist the discharge of the snow from the at least one outlet.

6. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the snow-making chamber is separated into a plurality of sub-chambers by respective dividing walls between each pair of sub-chambers;

each sub-chamber having a respective inlet and outlet; and

each sub-chamber having a respective impeller with a plurality of the blades.

7. A snow-making apparatus, including:

a snow-making chamber having at least one inlet to receive ice from a supply and at least one outlet for the discharge of snow;

at least one impeller, having at least one blade, to impact the ice, rotatably mounted in the snow-making chamber; and

a driving mechanism operably connected to the impeller to drive the, or each, blade to impact the ice and convert the ice into snow and discharge the snow from the at least one outlet.

8. An apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the, or each, impeller has at least two, optionally three or four, blades extending substantially radially from an impeller shaft rotatably journalled in end walls of the snow-making chamber, and where the impeller shaft is rotated about a vertical, or horizontal, axis.

9. An apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the drive mechanism includes a motor connected to the impeller shaft by a transmission;

and the drive mechanism drives the impeller shaft at 100%≦

5% of a preset rotational speed;

where the rotational speed of the impeller shaft is selected so that the tangential velocity component of the blade(s) impacting with the ice is the range 150-300 Km/h (93-187 MPH);

more preferably 180-260 Km/h (112-161 MPH);

most preferably 200-220 Km/h (124-137 MPH).

10. An apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the snow-making chamber is divided into a plurality of sub-chambers;

each pair of sub-chambers being separated by a respective dividing wall;

each sub-chamber having an inlet for the ice, an outlet for the discharge of the snow and an impeller.

11. An apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the ice is supplied to the, or each, inlet from a source of block ice or ice tubes.

12. An apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the blades of the impellers generate airflows in the snow-making chamber, or sub-chambers, to assist in the discharge of the snow from the, or each, outlet.

13. An apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein each blade is mounted on a respective arm of an impeller, the blade having an elongate blade body with opposed, planar, side faces, which impact the ice;

the blade body being convergent in side view from a proximal end to a distal end, the distal end of the blade body having a hook-like formation.

14. An apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein a serrated cutter portion is provided intermediate the blade body;

the cutter portion being formed from a hardened steel- or titanium plate;

the plate having an optional outer portion, with a curved face, extending to the distal end of the body.

15. An apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the inlet and outlet for the snow-making chamber, or for each sub-chamber, is separated by at least 180°

;

more preferably up to 270°

;

in the direction of rotation of the impeller(s).

16. A system for producing snow, including:

a supply of ice in block or tube form;

a snow-making apparatus as claimed in claim 7;

an ice-transfer apparatus to transfer the ice to the, or each, inlet of the snow-making apparatus; and

a snow-transfer apparatus to transfer the snow from the, or each, outlet of the snow-making apparatus.