Automated snow-making system
US5400965A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 1, 1992 |
| Grant date | Mar 28, 1995 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 1, 2012 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF25C2303/0481
- WIPO fieldThermal processes and apparatus
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
Each snow-gun site of a multisite snow-making system is equipped with a microprocessor-based logic and control unit. The latter responds to time-varying signals representative of the ambient temperature and relative humidity of its associated site to continuously adjust the flow rate of water applied to the snow gun(s) of such site in order to maintain a desired snow consistency. Based on the instantaneous values of temperature and relative humidity, the logic and control unit determines a nominal water flow rate value which, for the particular parameters of the snow-making system, will produce a desired snow consistency. This nominal value is compared with the present water flow rate value to produce a control signal used for adjusting a motor-controlled valve which determines the water flow rate applied to the snow-gun. The nominal water flow rate value can be selectively adjusted, on site, to account, for example, for gradual changes in system parameters, e.g., water temperature, compressed air pressure, etc., which will affect the snow consistency.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.