초록 ▼

A snowmaker is comprised of a head which has an outer ring of nozzles which form a flow of primary water into droplets which move downstream preferably along paths running at a slight radially outward angle, together with a central nucleator which discharges frozen nuclei particles outwardly from a

A snowmaker is comprised of a head which has an outer ring of nozzles which form a flow of primary water into droplets which move downstream preferably along paths running at a slight radially outward angle, together with a central nucleator which discharges frozen nuclei particles outwardly from a plurality of atomizers at the downstream end cap end of the nucleator. The nucleator is readily disconnectable from the ring. Secondary water flow is fed to the nucleator so it swirls at high velocity within, to greatly enhance the warming effect of the water on the nucleator parts, and to thereby inhibit accumulation of exterior ice. The secondary water is mixed with compressed air as they both enter the atomizers of the end cap. A resultant flow of nuclei from the atomizers is discharged so the flow merges with the plume of primary water droplets from the nozzle. Preferably, flat spray nozzles are used. The lengths of the oblong cross sections of spray pattern are oriented so they lie along the radii of the head; and, the atomizers are oriented so they intersperse nuclei between the spaced apart spray patterns. Desirable air/water ratios of up to 170:1 are obtained by the nucleator. The head mounts on a portable tower and effectively projects snow without fan augmentation.

대표청구항 ▼

[ I claim:] [1.] A device for making snow, by use of pressurized water and compressed air, which comprises:means for dividing a flow of pressurized water into a primary water flow and a secondary water flow;means for disintegrating the primary water flow into a multiplicity of water droplets flowing

[ I claim:] [1.] A device for making snow, by use of pressurized water and compressed air, which comprises:means for dividing a flow of pressurized water into a primary water flow and a secondary water flow;means for disintegrating the primary water flow into a multiplicity of water droplets flowing generally downstream along the path of a central axis; and, a nucleator, having an upstream end and a downstream end, and a plurality of atomizers at the downstream end; the nucleator merging the flow of secondary water with a flow of compressed air and discharging the water and air from the plurality of atomizers to form a multiplicity of frozen particle nuclei flowing generally along said axis, so the nuclei intermingle with said multiplicity of primary water droplets to induce said droplets to freeze as snow; the nucleator having a first chamber for receiving secondary water; and,means for causing swirling flow of secondary water inside the first chamber, to thereby cause heat transfer from the secondary water to the nucleator when the nucleator is exposed to external temperatures less than the freezing point of water.