US3596476A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Process and system for making artificial snow
Assignee: Linde GmbH
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Filing: 1969-03-26
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Granted: 1971-08-03
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Expires: 1989-03-26
Abstract
Abstract Water under high pressure, cooled to approximately 0* C., is fed to a set of nozzles together with a high-pressure airflow serving as a dispersion agent to convert the issuing fluid into fine droplets which are discharged into a low-pressure airstream of subfreezing temperature. The water is advantageously precharged with ice crystals or other nucleating agents, such as silver iodide, and may also have a surfactant admixed therewith to lower its surface tension.
Inventors
- 👤 Fritz Jakob
- 👤 Gerold Tesar
- 👤 Karl-Heinz Kuhnlenz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 07:23
CPC Classifications
F; F25; F25C; F25C3/00; F25C3/04; F25C2303/00; F25C2303/046; F25C2303/048; F25C2303/0481
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
149 words
A system for making artificial snow, comprising an array of nozzles provided with dispersion orifices and conduits leading to said orifices, said array being centered on an axis, pump means for supplying water at high pressure to said nozzles by way of said conduits, cooling means between said pump means and said nozzles for maintaining the temperature of the water at said orifices at substantially 0* C., injection means terminating at said conduits for admixing a stream of compressed gas with said water ahead of said orifices, throttle means in said injection means for reducing the flow rate of said gas to a minor proportion by weight of the flow rate of the water, said orifices opening into an air space of substantially atmospheric pressure and subfreezing temperature, and circulation means in said air space for propelling the air therein past said orifices in the direction of said axis.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
149 words
A system for making artificial snow, comprising an array of nozzles provided with dispersion orifices and conduits leading to said orifices, said array being centered on an axis, pump means for supplying water at high pressure to said nozzles by way of said conduits, cooling means between said pump means and said nozzles for maintaining the temperature of the water at said orifices at substantially 0* C., injection means terminating at said conduits for admixing a stream of compressed gas with said water ahead of said orifices, throttle means in said injection means for reducing the flow rate of said gas to a minor proportion by weight of the flow rate of the water, said orifices opening into an air space of substantially atmospheric pressure and subfreezing temperature, and circulation means in said air space for propelling the air therein past said orifices in the direction of said axis.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said gas is air, said injection means comprising a common manifold connected with said conduits and a source of high-pressure air discharging into said manifold.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
45 words
A system as defined in claim 1, further comprising a generally cylindrical carrier having said nozzles peripherally disposed theReon, said carrier being provided with an annular channel constituting said manifold, said air injection means forming passages in said carrier between said channel and said nozzles.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
A system as defined in claim 3 wherein said carrier has seats for said nozzles provided with inlets for water from said cooling means, said nozzles being open toward said seats for receiving the water therefrom.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
41 words
A system as defined in claim 4 wherein said carrier forms part of a shell subdivided into a plurality of axially adjoining, detachably interconnected carriers of substantially identical construction each with a set of said nozzles and a manifold individual thereto.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
A system as defined in claim 5 wherein said shell surrounds a water chamber connected to said pump means through said cooling means, said inlets extending outwardly through said shell from said chamber.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said orifices have diameters in a range between substantially 0.5 mm. and 2.5 mm.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
175 words
A system for making artificial snow, comprising a generally cylindrical carrier, an array of nozzles provided with dispersion orifices and conduits leading to said orifices, said nozzles being peripherally disposed on said carrier, pump means for supplying water at high pressure to said nozzles by way of said conduits, cooling means between said pump means and said nozzles for maintaining the temperature of the water at said orifices at substantially 0* C., injection means terminating at said conduits for admixing a stream of compressed gas with said water ahead of said orifices, and throttle means in said injection means for reducing the flow rate of said gas to a minor proportion by weight of the flow rate of the water, said orifices opening into an air space of substantially atmospheric pressure and subfreezing temperature, said carrier being provided with an annular channel constituting a common manifold connected with said conduits, and a source of high-pressure air discharging into said manifold, said air injection means forming passages in said carrier between said channel and said nozzles.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
175 words
A system for making artificial snow, comprising a generally cylindrical carrier, an array of nozzles provided with dispersion orifices and conduits leading to said orifices, said nozzles being peripherally disposed on said carrier, pump means for supplying water at high pressure to said nozzles by way of said conduits, cooling means between said pump means and said nozzles for maintaining the temperature of the water at said orifices at substantially 0* C., injection means terminating at said conduits for admixing a stream of compressed gas with said water ahead of said orifices, and throttle means in said injection means for reducing the flow rate of said gas to a minor proportion by weight of the flow rate of the water, said orifices opening into an air space of substantially atmospheric pressure and subfreezing temperature, said carrier being provided with an annular channel constituting a common manifold connected with said conduits, and a source of high-pressure air discharging into said manifold, said air injection means forming passages in said carrier between said channel and said nozzles.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
36 words
A system as defined in claim 8 wherein said carrier has seats for said nozzles provided with inlets for water from said cooling means, said nozzles being open toward said seats for receiving the water therefrom.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
A system as defined in claim 8 wherein said orifices have diameters in a range between substantially 0.5 mm. and 2.5 mm.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
38 words
A system as defined in claim 8 wherein said carrier forms part of a shell surrounding a water chamber connected to said pump means through said cooling means, said inlets extending outwardly through said shell from said chamber.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
41 words
A system as defined in claim 8 wherein said carrier forms part of a shell subdivided into a plurality of axially adjoining, detachably interconnected carriers of substantially identical construction each with a set of said nozzles and a manifold individual thereto.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-08-02 | 1975-02-01 | 1975-08-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-08-02 | 1979-02-01 | 1979-08-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-08-02 | 1983-02-01 | 1983-08-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |