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US3762176A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Method and apparatus for making snow

Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1969-09-18
•
Granted: 1973-10-02
•
Expires: 1989-09-18
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Abstract

Abstract A method for making artificial snow independent of ambient temperature conditions by pre-cooling water through heat exchange with a cryogenic fluid and then discharging the water through a nozzle with physical contact with the cryogenic fluid. The nozzle includes a pre-cooling portion surrounded by a housing connected to a source of cryogenic liquid and a perforate head wherein the cryogenic liquid and water are mixed just prior to discharge through the perforations of the head.

Inventors

  • 👤 B Coggins

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-08 08:19
CPC Classifications
F; F25; F25C; F25C3/00; F25C3/04; F25C2303/00; F25C2303/048; F25C2303/0481

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 2
Claim 1
Independent Claim 182 words
The method of making artificial snow which comprises flowing water through a conduit to a point of discharge, pre-cooling the flowing water in a portion of said conduit near the discharge point by circulating a cryogenic liquid around it, introducing said cryogenic liquid, after such circulation, into the cooled water at a point adjacent the discharge point but sufficiently far therefrom to permit the mixture of the cryogenic liquid and water in liquid form, such introduction being effected by conducting the cryogenic liquid transversely into the water at a plurality of circumferentially spaced points to ensure prompt and uniform mixing, the rate of water flow and the temperature of the cryogenic liquid being such that freezing will not take place prior to discHarge but the atomized spray will freeze completely upon discharge, the discharge outlet being in the form of a perforated nozzle through which the liquid mixture passes in a number of streams, and the temperature and amount of cryogenic liquid being such as to ensure freezing on discharge even though the ambient temperature is above the freezing point of water.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 182 words
The method of making artificial snow which comprises flowing water through a conduit to a point of discharge, pre-cooling the flowing water in a portion of said conduit near the discharge point by circulating a cryogenic liquid around it, introducing said cryogenic liquid, after such circulation, into the cooled water at a point adjacent the discharge point but sufficiently far therefrom to permit the mixture of the cryogenic liquid and water in liquid form, such introduction being effected by conducting the cryogenic liquid transversely into the water at a plurality of circumferentially spaced points to ensure prompt and uniform mixing, the rate of water flow and the temperature of the cryogenic liquid being such that freezing will not take place prior to discHarge but the atomized spray will freeze completely upon discharge, the discharge outlet being in the form of a perforated nozzle through which the liquid mixture passes in a number of streams, and the temperature and amount of cryogenic liquid being such as to ensure freezing on discharge even though the ambient temperature is above the freezing point of water.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US1976204A Cited
US2020719A Cited
US3068105A Cited
US3301485A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1976-10-01 1977-04-02 1977-10-02 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1980-10-01 1981-04-02 1981-10-02 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1984-10-01 1985-04-02 1985-10-02 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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