US3945567A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Snow making apparatus
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1975-07-17
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Granted: 1976-03-23
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Expires: 1995-07-17
Abstract
Abstract A snow-making system having a relatively large number of remotely located snow-making devices supplied with compressed air and pressurized water from sources thereof at a generally centralized location. Each device includes a compressed air driven motor for driving impeller blades which move external air at ambient, below freezing, temperatures through the device. Each device further includes means for mixing compressed air and pressurized water which mixture is combined with exhaust air from the air motor, such combination thereupon being further combined with the external air, the latter combination thereupon exiting from one end of the device. The exiting combination comes into contact with a spray of pressurized water at a location external to the device which contact produces nucleated particles which fall to the ground as artifically produced snow. Each snow-making device can operate generally at ambient temperatures as low as about 26°F and each is sufficiently mobile to permit it to be moved relatively easily from one ski slope location to another, even where such slopes are relatively steep.
Inventors
- 👤 Gerry Rambach
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 12:59
CPC Classifications
F; F04; F04F; F04F5/00; F04F5/44; F04F5/46; F04F5/466; F25; F25C; F25C3/00; F25C3/04; F25C2303/00; F25C2303/048; F25C2303/0481
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
187 words
A device for making artificial snow comprising means responsive to compressed air supplied thereto for moving air external to said device through said device from an input to an output thereof, said external air being at ambient temperature and pressure, and said air moving means further having exhaust air produced therefrom; means responsive to compressed air supplied thereto and to water supplied under pressure thereto for forming a mixture of said compressed air and said pressurized water; first means responsive to said mixture and to said exhaust air for combining said mixture and said exhaust air to form a combined stream thereof; second means for further combining said stream with said external air moving through said device, the combination of said stream and said external air thereupon exiting from said device at said output thereof; and means responsive to water supplied under pressure thereto for producing a spray of pressurized water external to said device at said output thereof and for directing said spray into contact with the combination of said stream and said external air exiting from said device at said output to produce artificial snow.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
187 words
A device for making artificial snow comprising means responsive to compressed air supplied thereto for moving air external to said device through said device from an input to an output thereof, said external air being at ambient temperature and pressure, and said air moving means further having exhaust air produced therefrom; means responsive to compressed air supplied thereto and to water supplied under pressure thereto for forming a mixture of said compressed air and said pressurized water; first means responsive to said mixture and to said exhaust air for combining said mixture and said exhaust air to form a combined stream thereof; second means for further combining said stream with said external air moving through said device, the combination of said stream and said external air thereupon exiting from said device at said output thereof; and means responsive to water supplied under pressure thereto for producing a spray of pressurized water external to said device at said output thereof and for directing said spray into contact with the combination of said stream and said external air exiting from said device at said output to produce artificial snow.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
59 words
A device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said air moving means includes one or more air impeller blades positioned near said input of said device; and an air motor responsive to compressed air supplied thereto for actuating said air impeller blades to move said external air through said device, said air motor having said exhaust air produced therefrom.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
78 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 2 wherein said mixture forming means comprises a mixing chamber; a first nozzle means responsive to compressed air supplied thereto for directing said compressed air into said chamber; and a second nozzle means responsive to water supplied under pressure thereto for directing said pressurized water into said chamber, said compressed air and said pressurized water impinging upon one another within said chamber so as to form a mixture thereof in said chamber.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
57 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 3 wherein said mixture forming means further includes a channel means having a first opening in communication with said mixing chamber for re-receiving said mixture and a second opening for directing said mixture outwardly from said channel means into said first combining means for combining said mixture with said exhaust air.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
79 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 4 wherein said first combining means includes means at least partially enclosing the region where said mixture and said exhaust air are combined, said means receiving water supplied under pressure thereto for maintaining the temperature of said region at a level sufficiently high to prevent the formation of ice at the second opening of said channel means; and means for conveying said pressurized water from said enclosing means to said second nozzle means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
52 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 5 wherein said pressurized water spray producing means is generally annularly-shaped and includes a plurality of nozzles positioned at the output of said device, the combination of said stream and said external air thereby exiting from said device through the opening formed by said annularly-shaped means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
62 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 6 wherein said pressurized water spray producing means further includes a first annular chamber at the output of said device, said plurality of nozzles being mounted at said chamber, said chamber receiving water under pressure for maintaining the temperature of said plurality of nozzles at a level sufficiently high to prevent the formation of ice thereat.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
64 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 7 wherein said pressurized water spray producing device further includes a second annular chamber displaced from said first annular chamber; means for supplying water under pressure from said first annular chamber to said second annular chamber; and means for conveying said pressurized water from said second annular chamber to said plurality of nozzles at said first annular chamber.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
254 words
A system for producing artificial snow comprising a first source of compressed air; a second source of pressurized water; one or more snow making devices located at positions remote from said first and second sources; means for supplying compressed air from said first source to said one or more snow making devices; means for supplying pressurized water from said second source to said one or more snow making devices; each of said snow making devices including means responsive to said compressed air for moving air external to said device through said device from an input to an output thereof, said external air being at ambient temperature and pressure, and said air moving means further having exhaust air produced therefrom; means responsive to said compressed air and to said pressurized water for forming a mixture of said compressed air and said pressurized water; first means responsive to said mixture and to said exhaust air for combining said exhaust air and said mixture to form a combined stream thereof; second means for further combining said stream with said external air moving through said device, the combination of said stream and said external air exiting from said device at said location thereof; and means responsive to said pressurized water from said second source for producing a spray of said pressurized water external to said device at said output thereof and for directing said spray into contact with the combination of said stream and said external air exiting from said device at said output to produce artificial snow.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
254 words
A system for producing artificial snow comprising a first source of compressed air; a second source of pressurized water; one or more snow making devices located at positions remote from said first and second sources; means for supplying compressed air from said first source to said one or more snow making devices; means for supplying pressurized water from said second source to said one or more snow making devices; each of said snow making devices including means responsive to said compressed air for moving air external to said device through said device from an input to an output thereof, said external air being at ambient temperature and pressure, and said air moving means further having exhaust air produced therefrom; means responsive to said compressed air and to said pressurized water for forming a mixture of said compressed air and said pressurized water; first means responsive to said mixture and to said exhaust air for combining said exhaust air and said mixture to form a combined stream thereof; second means for further combining said stream with said external air moving through said device, the combination of said stream and said external air exiting from said device at said location thereof; and means responsive to said pressurized water from said second source for producing a spray of said pressurized water external to said device at said output thereof and for directing said spray into contact with the combination of said stream and said external air exiting from said device at said output to produce artificial snow.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
44 words
A system in accordance with claim 9 wherein said air moving means includes one or more air impeller blades positioned near said input of said device; and an air motor for activating said air impeller blades to move said external air through said device.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
30 words
A system in accordance with claim 10 wherein said first source supplies said compressed air therefrom at a pressure within a range from about 70 psi to about 100 psi.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
A system in accordance with claim 11 wherein said compressed air is supplied at a pressure of about 70 psi.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
A system in accordance with claim 11 wherein said second source supplies water therefrom at a pressure within a range from about 250 psi to about 500 psi.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
19 words
A system in accordance with claim 13 wherein said water is supplied at a pressure of about 250 psi.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
75 words
A system in accordance with claim 10 wherein said mixture forming means comprises a mixing chamber; a first nozzle means responsive to said compressed air for directing said compressed air into said chamber; and a second nozzle means responsive to said pressurized water for directing said pressurized water into said chamber, said compressed air and said pressurized water impinging upon one another within said chamber so as to form a mixture thereof in said chamber.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
57 words
A system in accordance with claim 15 wherein said mixture forming means further includes a channel means having a first opening in communication with said mixing chamber for receiving said mixture and a second opening for directing said mixture outwardly from said channel means into said first combining means for combining said mixture with said exhaust air.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
77 words
A system in accordance with claim 16 wherein said first combining means includes means at least partially enclosing the region where said mixture and said exhaust air are combined, said means receiving said pressurized water for maintaining the temperature of said region at a level sufficiently high to prevent the formation of ice at the second opening of said channel means; and means for conveying said pressurized water from said enclosing means to said second nozzle means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
61 words
A system in accordance with claim 17 wherein said compressed air is supplied to said first nozzle means at a pressure of about 70 psi and said pressurized water is supplied to said second nozzle means at a pressure of about 250 psi and said exhaust air is supplied to said first combining means at a pressure of about 50 psi.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
52 words
A system in accordance with claim 17 wherein said pressurized water spray producing means is generally annularly-shaped and includes a plurality of nozzles positioned at the output of said device, the combination of said stream and said external air thereby exiting from said device through the opening formed by said annularly-shaped means.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
61 words
A system in accordance with claim 19 wherein said pressurized water spray producing means further includes a first annular chamber at the output of said device, said plurality of nozzles being mounted at said chamber, said chamber receiving pressurized water for maintaining the temperature of said plurality of nozzles at a level sufficiently high to prevent the formation of ice thereat.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
63 words
A system in accordance with claim 19 wherein said pressurized water spray supplying device further includes a second annular chamber displaced from said first annular chamber; means for supplying pressurized water from said first annular chamber to said second annular chamber; and means for conveying said pressurized water from said second annular chamber to said plurality of nozzles at said first annular chamber.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
24 words
A system in accordance with claim 21 wherein said pressurized water is supplied to said first chamber at a pressure of about 250 psi.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
33 words
A system in accordance with claim 22 wherein said pressurized water conveying means includes control means for supplying sasid pressurized water to said plurality of nozzles at a pressure of about 250 psi.
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) | 1979-03-23 | 1979-09-22 | 1980-03-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-03-23 | 1983-09-22 | 1984-03-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-03-23 | 1987-09-22 | 1988-03-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |