Snow-gun oscillation control apparatus
First Claim
1. Apparatus for repeatedly sweeping a snow-gun nozzle through a desired angular range to more evenly distribute man-made snow produced by a snow-gun, said apparatus comprising:
- (a) a bi-directional electric motor responsive to an applied current for driving a rotatably mounted snow-gun support in opposite directions about an axis of rotation;
(b) mechanical stop means for preventing rotational movement of the snow-gun support in a first direction beyond a predetermined position;
(c) current sensing means for producing an output signal proportional to the level of current applied to said motor;
(d) comparator circuit means, operatively connected to the output of the current-sensing means for producing a current-reversing signal whenever the current through the motor exceeds a preset threshold level, said level being exceeded whenever the snow-gun support is being prevented from rotating by said mechanical stop means; and
(e) means responsive to said current-reversing signal to reverse the direction of current flow in said motor to reverse the direction of rotation of said snow-gun support.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus for repeatedly sweeping a snow-gun nozzle through a desired angular range to more evenly distributed man-made snow produced by a snow-gun. Such apparatus comprises a bi-directional electric motor for driving a rotatably mounted snow-gun support in opposite directions about an axis of rotation, a pair of mechanical stops for limiting rotational movement of the snow-gun support to a predetermined angular range which defines a maximum sweep angle for the nozzle, and circuitry for sensing motor current. A comparator circuit, operatively connected to the output of the current-sensing circuit, functions to reverse the current flow through the motor, thereby changing the direction of rotational movement of the snow-gun support, whenever the current through the motor exceeds a preset threshold level. Such level is reached whenever the support'"'"'s rotational movement has been limited by one of the two mechanical stops. A variable timer operates to reverse the motor current when a sweep angle less than the maximum sweep angle is desired.
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Citations
5 Claims
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1. Apparatus for repeatedly sweeping a snow-gun nozzle through a desired angular range to more evenly distribute man-made snow produced by a snow-gun, said apparatus comprising:
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(a) a bi-directional electric motor responsive to an applied current for driving a rotatably mounted snow-gun support in opposite directions about an axis of rotation; (b) mechanical stop means for preventing rotational movement of the snow-gun support in a first direction beyond a predetermined position; (c) current sensing means for producing an output signal proportional to the level of current applied to said motor; (d) comparator circuit means, operatively connected to the output of the current-sensing means for producing a current-reversing signal whenever the current through the motor exceeds a preset threshold level, said level being exceeded whenever the snow-gun support is being prevented from rotating by said mechanical stop means; and (e) means responsive to said current-reversing signal to reverse the direction of current flow in said motor to reverse the direction of rotation of said snow-gun support. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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Specification