Water-only method and apparatus for making snow
US6793148B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 10, 2002 |
| Grant date | Sep 21, 2004 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 1, 2023 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S239/23
- WIPO fieldChemical engineering
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
A method and apparatus for producing man-made snow without using either compressed air or high-speed fans. The method makes use of a special water nozzle that is designed to provide a high volume spray of water particles that, owing to their size distribution (having a median size of between about 100 and 200 microns) in the spray, are readily susceptible to conversion to ice crystals as they settle to earth under favorable ambient conditions. Preferably, water applied to the nozzle is seeded with artificial nucleation sites so that water particles in a spray containing such sites are more susceptible to conversion to ice crystals as the particles settle to earth.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.