초록 ▼

Method for making snow wherein snow is made within a closed environment by discharging water droplets into a body of air maintained by air conditioning means at a temperature and humidity such as to turn the water droplets into snow, falling on to a surface including coolant pipes which are covered

Method for making snow wherein snow is made within a closed environment by discharging water droplets into a body of air maintained by air conditioning means at a temperature and humidity such as to turn the water droplets into snow, falling on to a surface including coolant pipes which are covered with a layer of snow, the coolant being at a lower temperature than the air temperature such that there is a temperature gradient in the snow layer of the order of 0.1 degrees centigrade per centimeter depth, whereby during the initial part of the process a small quantity of small droplets is discharged to provide nucleating particles, and thereafter a larger quantity of droplets is discharged and whereby incoming air to be discharged into the body of air is drawn over cold surfaces.

대표청구항 ▼

The invention claimed is: 1. A method of making snow in which snow is made artificially within a closed indoor environment by discharging a mixture of water droplets and air into a body of air within the environment, the body of air being kept at a temperature and humidity, at least during snow mak

The invention claimed is: 1. A method of making snow in which snow is made artificially within a closed indoor environment by discharging a mixture of water droplets and air into a body of air within the environment, the body of air being kept at a temperature and humidity, at least during snow making, which causes the water droplets to turn into snow in the body of air, the water droplets and air being discharged from a self nucleating snow gun in such a manner as to encourage the formation of snow whereby during an initial part of the snow making process the snow gun is internally configured to produce a quantity of small droplets which are discharged into the body of air by the snow gun to provide nucleating particles, and thereafter the snow gun is internally reconfigured to produce a mixture of nucleating particles and larger bulk water particles which are discharged into the body of air by the snow gun. 2. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the change in configuration of the snow gun is accomplished by adjusting a flow of water into a mixing chamber of the snow gun through an orifice of the mixing chamber. 3. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the change in configuration of the snow gun after the initial part of the snow making process occurs after a predetermined time has elapsed. 4. A method as claimed in claim 3 wherein a flow rate of water into the mixing chamber increases after the initial part of the snow making process has been completed. 5. A method as claimed in claim 2 wherein a size of the orifice is controlled by a motor. 6. A method as claimed in claim 5 wherein the motor is responsive to the relative humidity of the body of air so that as the humidity rises the amount of water discharged from the snow gun is decreased by reducing the orifice size. 7. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the water droplet size is in the range of 5 to 60 microns during the initial part of the snow making process. 8. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the water droplet size is in the range of 5 to 40 microns during the initial part of the snow making process. 9. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the water droplet size is in the range of 5 to 100 microns after the initial part of the snow making process has been completed. 10. A method of making snow in which snow is made artificially within a closed indoor environment by discharging a mixture of water droplets and air into a body of air, the body of air being kept at a temperature and humidity, at least during snow making, which causes the water droplets to turn into snow in the body of air, wherein the body of air is maintained at the temperature and humidity by air conditioning means by which incoming air to be discharged into the body of air is drawn over cold surfaces, and cooled air is mixed during or after passage over the surfaces before discharge into the body of air, wherein the cold surfaces include a plurality of spaced fins arranged in a heat exchanger having an air inlet and an air outlet, and wherein a fan is provided to mix air passing over said cold surfaces. 11. A method according to claim 10 wherein the fan is provided across the outlet of air from the fins. 12. A method according to claim 10 wherein the fins are arranged at a spacing of the order of 8 mm. 13. A method according to claim 10 wherein said fins are substantially parallel to one another. 14. A method according to claim 10 wherein the fins are staggered so that fins over one region are located between fins in another region, having regard to a direction of flow of air over the fins, so as to cause air between the fins in one region to pass close to the fins in another region. 15. A method of making snow in which snow is made artificially within a closed indoor environment by discharging a mixture of water droplets and air into a body of air, the body of air being kept at a temperature and humidity, at least during snow making, which causes the water droplets to turn into snow in the body of air, wherein the body of air is maintained at the temperature and humidity by air conditioning means by which incoming air to be discharged into the body of air is drawn over cold surfaces, and cooled air is mixed during or after passage over the surfaces before discharge into the body of air, wherein the cold surfaces include a plurality of spaced fins, and wherein the fins are staggered so that fins over one region are located between fins in another region, having regard to a direction of flow of air over the fins, so as to cause air between the fins in one region to pass close to the fins in another region. 16. A method according to claim 15 wherein the fins are arranged at a spacing of the order of 8 mm. 17. A method according to claim 15 wherein said fins are substantially parallel to one another. 18. A method according to claim 15 wherein said fins are arranged in a heat exchanger having an air inlet and an air outlet. 19. A method according to claim 18 wherein a fan is provided in said heat exchanger for assisting the passage of air over said cold surfaces. 20. A method of making snow in which snow is made artificially within a closed indoor environment by discharging a mixture of water droplets and air into a body of air, the body of air being kept at a temperature and humidity, at least during snow making, which causes the water droplets to turn into snow in the body of air, wherein the body of air is maintained at the temperature and humidity by air conditioning means by which incoming air to be discharged into the body of air is drawn over cold surfaces, and cooled air is mixed during or after passage over the surfaces before discharge into the body of air, wherein the cold surfaces include a plurality of spaced fins, and wherein said incoming air is drawn over said cold surfaces by a fan having a variable drive speed for varying the passage of air over the cold surfaces depending on an operative state of the indoor environment. 21. A method according to claim 20 wherein the fins are arranged at a spacing of the order of 8 mm. 22. A method according to claim 20 wherein said fins are substantially parallel to one another. 23. A method according to claim 20 wherein said fins are arranged in a heat exchanger having an air inlet and an air outlet. 24. A method according to claim 20 wherein the fan is provided in said heat exchanger for assisting the passage of air over said cold surfaces. 25. A method according to claim 20 wherein the fan is provided across the outlet of air from the fins whereby to mix air passing over said cold surfaces. 26. A method according to claim 20 wherein the fins are staggered so that fins over one region are located between fins in another region, having regard to a direction of flow of air over the fins, so as to cause air between the fins in one region to pass close to the fins in another region.