Snow-gun oscillation control apparatus
US5154348A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 10, 1991 |
| Grant date | Oct 13, 1992 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 10, 2011 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF25C2303/0481
- WIPO fieldThermal processes and apparatus
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
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.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.