Automated snow-making system
US5031832A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 26, 1990 |
| Grant date | Jul 16, 1991 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 26, 2010 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF25C2303/0481
- WIPO fieldThermal processes and apparatus
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A remote-controlled snow-making system responds to certain electrical signals to control the quality (i.e., moisture content) of the snow produced by such system and the direction in which the snow is projected. The system comprises a plurality of conventional snow-guns, each being connected to water and compressed air supplies via motor-controlled valves. The relative settings of such valves determines the water-to-air ratio within the gun and, hence, snow quality. Each snow-gun is movably mounted so that the direction in which it projects a spray of machine-made snow can be adjusted in both elevation and azimuth. Separate motors control the elevation and azimuth positions of each snow-gun. A control circuit, remotely addressable, e.g., by radio waves, controls the operation of the motor-controlled valves and the gun-position motors. By virtue of the invention, man-made snow can be produced more efficiently, more reliably, and with substantially less human involvement and, hence, cost.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.