Patent US3760598A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3760598A
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US
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Process for making artificial snow
Assignee: Linde GmbH
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Filing: 1971-08-02
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Granted: 1973-09-25
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Expires: 1991-08-02
Abstract
Abstract Water under high pressure and at a low temperature is fed to a set of nozzles, after it has been mixed with a high-pressure air flow. On leaving the nozzles the water is atomized into fine droplets and is rapidly depressurized on being discharged into a low-pressure air stream of subfreezing temperature generated by a fan. The weight ratio of high-pressure air and water, ahead of the nozzle orifices, is on the order of 1 : 400.
Inventors
- 👤 F Jakob
- 👤 G Tesar
- 👤 K Kuhnlenz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 23:32
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
124 words
A process for making artificial snow, comprising the steps of feeding a continuous flow of water under high pressure and at a low temperature to at least one orifice, continuously admixing with said flow of water a stream of compressed air at a rate amounting to a minor proportion by weight of said air with reference to the water and discharging the resulting water/air mixture from said orifice in the form of small droplets into a low-pressure air stream of subfreezing temperature generated by a fan and flowing past an edge of a generally transverse land bearing said orifice, the proportion of high-pressure air to water ahead of said orifice ranging substantially between 1 and 4 m3 STP of air per m3 of water.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
124 words
A process for making artificial snow, comprising the steps of feeding a continuous flow of water under high pressure and at a low temperature to at least one orifice, continuously admixing with said flow of water a stream of compressed air at a rate amounting to a minor proportion by weight of said air with reference to the water and discharging the resulting water/air mixture from said orifice in the form of small droplets into a low-pressure air stream of subfreezing temperature generated by a fan and flowing past an edge of a generally transverse land bearing said orifice, the proportion of high-pressure air to water ahead of said orifice ranging substantially between 1 and 4 m3 STP of air per m3 of water.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
A process as defined in claim 1 wherein said compressed air is fed into a conduit conveying said flow of water to said orifice.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
A process as defined in claim 1 wherein the water has a nucleating agent admixed therewith.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
A process as defined in claim 3 wherein said nucleating agent is silver iodide.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
A process as defined in claim 4 wherein the concentration of said silver iodide is on the order of 10 4N.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
A process as defined in claim 1 wherein the proportion of air to water ahead of said orifice is substantially 3 m3 STP of air per m3 of water.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
A process as defined in claim 1 wherein said orifice has a diameter between substantially 0.5 and 2.5 mm, the pressure of the water at said orifice being upward of substantially 5 atmospheres absolute.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
A process as defined in claim 1 wherein a surfactant is admixed with the water ahead of said orifice.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
A process as defined in claim 1 wherein said land is annular and said low-pressure air stream is blown along the axis of said land past the inner peripheral edge thereof.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
118 words
A process for making artificial snow, comprising the steps of feeding a continuous flow of water under high pressure and at a low temperature to at least one orifice, continuously admixing with said flow of water a stream of compressed air at a rate amounting to a minor proportion by weight of said air with reference to the water, and discharging the resulting water/air mixture from said orifice in the form of small droplets into a low-pressure air stream of subfreezing temperature generated by a fan, the quotient Woco/Ww (Wo mass-flow rate of low-pressure air, Ww mass-flow rate of water, given in kg/h, and Co flow velocity of low-pressure air given in m/sec) lying between 56 and 670.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
118 words
A process for making artificial snow, comprising the steps of feeding a continuous flow of water under high pressure and at a low temperature to at least one orifice, continuously admixing with said flow of water a stream of compressed air at a rate amounting to a minor proportion by weight of said air with reference to the water, and discharging the resulting water/air mixture from said orifice in the form of small droplets into a low-pressure air stream of subfreezing temperature generated by a fan, the quotient Woco/Ww (Wo mass-flow rate of low-pressure air, Ww mass-flow rate of water, given in kg/h, and Co flow velocity of low-pressure air given in m/sec) lying between 56 and 670.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
118 words
A process for making artifical snow, comprising the steps of feeding a continuous flow of water under high pressure and at a low temperature to at least one orifice, continuously admixing with said flow of water a stream of compressed air at a rate amounting to a minor proportion by weight of said air with reference to the water, further admixing with said water a surfActant ahead of said orifice, and discharging the resulting water/air mixture from said orifice in the form of small droplets into a low-pressure air stream of subfreezing temperature, the proportion of high-pressure air to water ahead of said orifice ranging substantially between 1 and 4 m3 STP of air per m3 of water.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
118 words
A process for making artifical snow, comprising the steps of feeding a continuous flow of water under high pressure and at a low temperature to at least one orifice, continuously admixing with said flow of water a stream of compressed air at a rate amounting to a minor proportion by weight of said air with reference to the water, further admixing with said water a surfActant ahead of said orifice, and discharging the resulting water/air mixture from said orifice in the form of small droplets into a low-pressure air stream of subfreezing temperature, the proportion of high-pressure air to water ahead of said orifice ranging substantially between 1 and 4 m3 STP of air per m3 of water.
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) | 1976-09-24 | 1977-03-26 | 1977-09-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-09-24 | 1981-03-26 | 1981-09-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-09-24 | 1985-03-26 | 1985-09-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |