US3774843A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Snow gun
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1973-01-22
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Granted: 1973-11-27
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Expires: 1993-01-22
Abstract
Abstract A snow gun directs high pressure air through an input nozzle axially into a mixing chamber, and directs water into a vortex chamber surrounding the air nozzle so that the water spins in a vortex around the air input nozzle. The spinning water flows into the mixing chamber to spin around the periphery of the mixing chamber and around the air nozzle blast. This thoroughly mixes the air and water, and the mixture is directed through an output nozzle into the atmosphere. The output nozzle has a generally cylindrical bore having an inside diameter about one-half the inside diameter of the mixing chamber with the nozzle bore length being approximately equal to the nozzle bore diameter, and a conical surface leads from the mixing chamber to the nozzle bore and is inclined 25* - 30* from the axis of the mixing chamber.
Inventors
- 👤 B Rice
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 14:17
CPC Classifications
F; F25; F25C; F25C3/00; F25C3/04; F25C2303/00; F25C2303/048; F25C2303/0481
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
219 words
A snow gun comprising: a. a generally cylindrical mixing chamber; b. an air input nozzle oriented for directing high-pressure air axially into the input end of said mixing chamber; c. a vortex chamber coaxial with said mixing chamber and surrounding said air input nozzle adjacent said input end of said mixing chamber; d. a water input line oriented for directing water generally tangentially into said vortex chamber and generally perpendicular to the axis of said vortex chamber to form a vortex of water around said air input nozzle in said vortex chamber; e. said vortex chamber opening into said output end of said mixing chamber so said water enters and spins around the periphery of said mixing chamber and around the air blast from said air input nozzle; f. an output nozzle having a generally cylindrical nozzle bore for directing the air and wateR mixture from the mixing chamber out into the atmosphere; g. said nozzle bore having an inside diameter substantially less than the inside diameter of said mixing chamber and having a length approximately equal to said nozzle bore diameter; h. said nozzle having a conical surface leading from the inside surface of said mixing chamber to said nozzle bore; and i. said conical surface being inclined 25* - 30* from the axis of said mixing chamber.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
219 words
A snow gun comprising: a. a generally cylindrical mixing chamber; b. an air input nozzle oriented for directing high-pressure air axially into the input end of said mixing chamber; c. a vortex chamber coaxial with said mixing chamber and surrounding said air input nozzle adjacent said input end of said mixing chamber; d. a water input line oriented for directing water generally tangentially into said vortex chamber and generally perpendicular to the axis of said vortex chamber to form a vortex of water around said air input nozzle in said vortex chamber; e. said vortex chamber opening into said output end of said mixing chamber so said water enters and spins around the periphery of said mixing chamber and around the air blast from said air input nozzle; f. an output nozzle having a generally cylindrical nozzle bore for directing the air and wateR mixture from the mixing chamber out into the atmosphere; g. said nozzle bore having an inside diameter substantially less than the inside diameter of said mixing chamber and having a length approximately equal to said nozzle bore diameter; h. said nozzle having a conical surface leading from the inside surface of said mixing chamber to said nozzle bore; and i. said conical surface being inclined 25* - 30* from the axis of said mixing chamber.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The snow gun of claim 1 wherein said vortex chamber has the same inside diameter as said mixing chamber.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
The snow gun of claim 1 wherein said inside diameter of said nozzle bore is approximately one-half said inside diameter of said mixing chamber.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
The snow gun of claim 1 including a plurality of vanes between said air input nozzle and said mixing chamber, said vanes being generally aligned with the flow of said water into said mixing chamber.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
The snow gun of claim 4 wherein said vanes are oriented at about 45* to the axis of said mixing chamber.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
The snow gun of claim 1 wherein the volumetric flow capacity of said air input nozzle is approximately one-half the volumetric flow capacity of said mixing chamber.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
The snow gun of claim 1 wherein said vortex chamber has the same inside diameter as said mixing chamber, and said inside diameter of said nozzle bore is approximately one-half said inside diameter of said mixing chamber.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
46 words
The snow gun of claim 7 including a plurality of vanes between said input nozzle and said mixing chamber, said vanes being oriented at about 45* to the axis of said mixing chamber for generally aligning with the flow of said water into said mixing chamber.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
73 words
The snow gun of claim 1 including a converging ring around the inside of the middle region of said mixing chamber, said ring having an inside surface with a diameter larger than said inside diameter of said nozzle bore, and having a conical surface leading from said inside surface of said mixing chamber to said inside surface of said ring and inclined from 25* to 30* from the axis of said mixing chamber.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
37 words
The snow gun of claim 9 wherein said vortex chamber has the same inside diameter as said mixing chamber, and said inside diameter of said nozzle bore is approximately one-half said inside diameter of said mixing chamber.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
46 words
The snow gun of claim 10 including a plurality of vanes between said input nozzle and said mixing chamber, said vanes being oriented at about 45* to the axis of said mixing chamber for generally aligning with the flow of said water into said mixing chamber.
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) | 1976-11-26 | 1977-05-28 | 1977-11-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-11-26 | 1981-05-28 | 1981-11-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-11-26 | 1985-05-28 | 1985-11-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |