US3733029A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Snow precipitator
Assignee: Dewey Electronics Corp
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Filing: 1971-07-23
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Granted: 1973-05-15
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Expires: 1991-07-23
Abstract
Abstract A snow-making apparatus wherein ice nuclei are generated by spontaneous nucleation in a separate, distinct nucleation zone. Water, slightly above the freezing temperature, is discharged through a nozzle and broken up into water droplets. The water droplet formation and ice nucleation formation are separately controlled. A propeller at one end of the housing moves an air mass through the housing to mix the ice nuclei and water droplets. The water droplets are infected with the ice nuclei, the ice-infected water droplets discharged into the atmosphere, and snow-like particles ultimately fall to the ground. Structure is provided to control separately each of the steps; namely, ice nuclei formation, the water droplet formation, and the flow of the air stream.
Inventors
- 👤 W Eustis
- 👤 W Howell
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 07:25
CPC Classifications
F; F25; F25C; F25C3/00; F25C3/04; F25C2303/00; F25C2303/046; F25C2303/048; F25C2303/0481
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
142 words
An apparatus for the formation oF snow which comprises in combination: a. tunnel-like housing means; b. means to move large masses of air through the housing means to provide an air stream; c. means to form ice crystals in communication with the air stream, which means includes; i. a conduit for the flow of a moist stream of air, and ii. means to cool the air stream whereby ice crystals are formed; d. means to form water droplets disposed within the air stream and spaced apart from the means to form ice crystals; and e. a source of water in communication with the means to form the water droplets whereby the ice crystals generated by the nozzle infect the water droplets and the air mass progressively removes the latent heat from the ice-infected water droplets until they are in a snow-like state.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
142 words
An apparatus for the formation oF snow which comprises in combination: a. tunnel-like housing means; b. means to move large masses of air through the housing means to provide an air stream; c. means to form ice crystals in communication with the air stream, which means includes; i. a conduit for the flow of a moist stream of air, and ii. means to cool the air stream whereby ice crystals are formed; d. means to form water droplets disposed within the air stream and spaced apart from the means to form ice crystals; and e. a source of water in communication with the means to form the water droplets whereby the ice crystals generated by the nozzle infect the water droplets and the air mass progressively removes the latent heat from the ice-infected water droplets until they are in a snow-like state.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
68 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the means to form ice crystals includes a separate conduit in communication with the conduit for the moist air stream said second conduit adapted to introduce a refrigerant into the moist air stream whereby the refrigerant cools the moist air stream to below about -40* C. to form ice crystals by homogeneous nucleation, which ice crystals are discharged into the air stream.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
49 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the means to move large masses of air through the housing includes propeller means which means has a high pressure side and a low pressure side, the means to form ice crystals is disposed adjacent the high pressure side of the propeller means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
70 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the means to form water droplets includes nozzle means and said nozzle means is disposed on the high pressure side of the propeller means and is axially spaced apart from the means to form ice crystals and further said nozzle means is adapted to direct the water droplets in a direction countercurrent to the flow of the air mass and the ice nuclei stream.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the means to form ice crystals is disposed within the housing.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
146 words
An apparatus for the formation of snow which comprises in combination: a. tunnel-like housing means; b. means to move large masses of air through the housing means to provide an air stream; c. means to form ice crystals in communication with the air stream, which means includes; i. a conduit for the flow of a stream of moist compressed air, and ii. a nozzle adapted to expand adiabatically the compressed air whereby ice crystals are formed; d. means to form water droplets disposed within the air stream and spaced apart from the means to form ice crystals; and e. a source of water in communication with the means to form the water droplets whereby the ice crystals generated by the nozzle infect the water droplets and the air mass progressively removes the latent heat from the ice-infected water droplets until they are in a snow-like state.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
146 words
An apparatus for the formation of snow which comprises in combination: a. tunnel-like housing means; b. means to move large masses of air through the housing means to provide an air stream; c. means to form ice crystals in communication with the air stream, which means includes; i. a conduit for the flow of a stream of moist compressed air, and ii. a nozzle adapted to expand adiabatically the compressed air whereby ice crystals are formed; d. means to form water droplets disposed within the air stream and spaced apart from the means to form ice crystals; and e. a source of water in communication with the means to form the water droplets whereby the ice crystals generated by the nozzle infect the water droplets and the air mass progressively removes the latent heat from the ice-infected water droplets until they are in a snow-like state.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the means to move large masses of air through the housing includes propeller means which propeller means has an upstream and a downstream side.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the means to form water droplets includes at least one nozzle and said nozzle is disposed on the downstream side of the propeller means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the nozzle to form ice crystals is disposed on the downstream side of the propeller means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
55 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the nozzle to form ice crystals and the means to form water droplets are both disposed on the downstream side of the propeller means and the means to form water droplets, the nozzle to form ice crystals positioned intermediate the propeller means and the means to form water droplets.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the nozzle to form ice crystals is disposed within the housing.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
173 words
An apparatus for the formation of snow which comprises in combination: a. a tunnel-like housing; b. a propeller adjacent one end of the housing to move large masses of air through the housing to provide an air stream; c. means to form ice crystals disposed in the housing which means includes; i. a conduit for the flow of a stream of moist compressed air; ii. a nozzle adapted to expand adiabatically the moist compressed air to form the ice crystals; d. at least one nozzle to form water droplets disposed within the airstream and spaced apart the means to form ice crystals and the propeller whereby the means to form the ice crystals is intermediate the propeller and the nozzle which forms the water droplets; and a source of water in communication with the means to form the water droplets whereby the ice crystals generated by the nozzle infect the water droplets and the air mass progressively removes the latent heat from the ice-infected water droplets until they are in a snow-like state.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
173 words
An apparatus for the formation of snow which comprises in combination: a. a tunnel-like housing; b. a propeller adjacent one end of the housing to move large masses of air through the housing to provide an air stream; c. means to form ice crystals disposed in the housing which means includes; i. a conduit for the flow of a stream of moist compressed air; ii. a nozzle adapted to expand adiabatically the moist compressed air to form the ice crystals; d. at least one nozzle to form water droplets disposed within the airstream and spaced apart the means to form ice crystals and the propeller whereby the means to form the ice crystals is intermediate the propeller and the nozzle which forms the water droplets; and a source of water in communication with the means to form the water droplets whereby the ice crystals generated by the nozzle infect the water droplets and the air mass progressively removes the latent heat from the ice-infected water droplets until they are in a snow-like state.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-05-14 | 1976-11-13 | 1977-05-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-05-14 | 1980-11-13 | 1981-05-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-05-14 | 1984-11-13 | 1985-05-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |