Patent ID: 7364240
Filing Date: 2008-04-29
Classification: E01H

Abstract:
1. A method of resurfacing ice of the surface of an ice skating rink, which surface has a rut with a maximum depth of D, said method comprising: (a) providing an ice resurfacing machine including (b) driving the machine across the surface of the ice, with the blade on the surface and the bottom of the snow box adjacent the surface; (c) scraping the ice surface near the rut with the blade to remove a thin top layer of ice having an average thickness substantially less than D, to remove any projections of ice, thereby producing snow; (d) collecting the snow in the snow box on the surface of the ice; (e) carrying the snow in the snow box so that the collected snow slides along the surface of the ice; (f) depositing some of the collected snow into the rut; (g) continuing to carry the remainder of the collected snow in the snow box so that the snow slides along the surface of the ice; (h) applying, via the water distributor, water to the rut and to the ice surface surrounding the rut; (i) wiping the ice surface with the towel, thereby spreading the water over the ice surface and into any space remaining in the rut; (j) allowing the water in the rut to melt the ice in the rut, so that the rut is filled with water; and (k) allowing the water in the rut to solidify, so as to fill the rut with solid ice, thereby eliminating the rut and providing the resurfaced ice with a smooth surface.