WINTER SCENE ROOM OR SPACE STUDY

Abstract: The invention relates to a winter scene space study. A space separated from the surroundings by transparent walls (2) is provided with refrigerator equipment (3-6) as well as with equipment (4, 7; 8-10) for producing water vapour and water jets or running water in said space. Temperature of the space is adapted to be controlled or set in a manner that water vapour crystallizes into snow crystals and/or frost or water jets or running water at least freeze. Especially, by arranging the temperature to fluctuate on either side of O DEG C, the ice, frost and/or snow crystals can be alternately melted and re-formed. By adjusting temperature and the amount of water vapour properly, it is possible to create snowfall in the space.

Description: Winter scene room or space study The present invention relates to a winter scene room or a space study, which in a compact embodiment can be used as a piece of dδcor kept on top of a table or a cabinet and in a larger-size embodiment it can be used as a winter garden room for just spending time, walking in snow or even for winter-time swimming. According to the invention it has been realized that particularly interesting and beatiful visual effects can be created by refrigating water vapour, water jets or running water in a closed space in a manner that water vapour crystallizes into snow crystals and/or frost or that running water freezes at least partially. The characterizing features of the invention are set forth in the annexed independent claims 1 and 2. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, temperature is adapted to alternately rise and fall on either side of 0 c to effect melting and re-freezing, frosting and/or crystallizing of ice, frost and/or snow crystals. Observing such a dynamic process is both interesting and educational while watching the space study also offers aesthetic pleasure. A space study of the invention is particularly suitable for use in the lobbies and hallways of public buildings and in various waiting rooms. While the watching of a space study entertains people, such a space study can be used for refrigerating the ambient space. Especially in hot- climate countries, there is thus a significant utility for the space study also as a refrigerating unit. The need for cooling public facilities exists also in Nordic countries in summertime. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the temper¬ ature and the amount of water vapour in the space is adjusted for creating snowfall in the space. Thus, the floor of the space can be covered with snow. One embodiment of the invention will now be described in more detail with reference made to the accompanying draw¬ ing, which is a perspective and partially schematic view of a space study according to one embodiment of the in¬ vention. The drawing illustes an embodiment which is only intend¬ ed for showing a technical application of the invention. In practice, the design of a space study can be freely selected and the same is true with the interior decora¬ tion of the space by using various elements, such as snow or ice sculptures, which add to the visual experi¬ ences of a person viewing the study. Some of the wall surfaces can be built by using mirrors. In the case shown in the drawing, the space of a space study is separated from the surrounding room by trans¬ parent walls 2 supported on a framework 1. The frame¬ work 1 can be made of metal tubes or metal profiles. The walls 2 can be made of sheets of glass or plexiglass. If necessary the walls 2 can be multi-layered for im¬ proved heat insulation. Refrigeration of the space is effected by means of a conventional refrigerator unit, wherein refrigeration is based on the vapourization of a liquid and the adiabatic expansion of a gas. The pressure of a cool¬ ant circulating in a closed coolant pipework is raised by means of a compressor 3 (or by heating) . The heated coolant is cooled in a condenser 4, wherein the coolant condensates into a liquid forced through an evaporating valve 5 to an evaporator 6, wherein the expanded coolant turns into vapour or gas and binds heat from its environ¬ ment. The condenser 4 is placed in a water basin 7 for evapo¬ rating water vapour therefrom. The rising water vapour cools and crystallizes into snow crystals as well as frosts on the surfaces of elements positioned in the space. The dried plants, bushes or trees located in the space thus receive a decorative coating. Producing water vapour from basin 7 by means of condenser 4 in¬ cluded in a refrigerator unit is particularly preferred, since the refrigeratorunit thus becomes effective and the energy spent for cooling can be utilized for pro¬ ducing water vapour which is needed for creating frost and snow crystal effects in the space. In case of a more effective cooling (condenser 4 heat¬ ing vigorously) too much vapour could form in the space. This can be prevented by placing on top of basin 7 a vapour-collector hood (not shown) for passing vapour outside the space, e.g. for the humidification of ambi¬ ent air. The basin 7 can be replenished with fresh water from outside. Thus, the heat bound by water upon the vapourization thereof will be transferred out of the space for an effective and rapid refrigeration there¬ of. In the present case, the space is provided with a water jet device whose stand 8 is fitted with a pump for dis¬ charging water jets from a nozzle head 10. Water can be acquired from basin 7 by way of a pipe 9. If the space temperature is tens of degrees below freezing, the water jets are capable freezing in mid-air or they can be form¬ ed as ice cones on the floor of the. space. Alternative- ly, it is possible to employ any form of running water and to adjust temperature in a manner that water freezes at least partially in the course of its running and thus forms ever-changing works of art. Every once in a while the space temperature can be raised above 0 * C for deicing and desnowing the space, so that another creation of a winter scene can be initiated at the next refrigeration step. Outside the space is mounted a control panel 11 for con¬ trolling the rise and fall of temperature in the space or the spraying or vapourizing effect of water. Additional special effects can be.created by illuminating the space with coloured lights, the colour combinations being selectively variable. The light beams can be slow¬ ly or rapidly moving, enhancing or dimming. By using a combination of a suitable amount of vapour and tempera¬ ture for generating fog in the space, a variety of visual effects can be created by means of, especially by moving coloured lights. The interior decorating elements of the space may com¬ prise various surface materials in which water vapour condensates in a variety of ways for thus producing de¬ corative frost and ice crystal surfaces. A space study of the invention is also suitable for use as a winter-swimming spot to be built in connection with health spas and indoor swimming pools. In this case, a basin 7 is made sufficiently deep and large for a dip in cold water and it can be surrounded by snow. If basin 7 is furnished with a condenser which heats the water of basin 7 too warm for a cold-water dip, it is possible to beuid another, chilled-water basin adjacent thereto. Thus, it is possible to take a dip in either one of the basins or alternately in each. A compact, portable space study to be kept on top of a table or a cabinet can be adapted to be refrigerated directly by electric power. In Peltier effect, for example, the cooling effect is created as electric cur¬ rent travels along the junction of two materials. It is also possible to reflect onto a wall behind the space wall a three-dimensional hologram image which can be made active or living by what is happening inside the space study. The hologram image can be made vari¬ able automatically or by manual control for finding an image matching the events in the space study. A winter scene room of the invention need not be necess¬ arily provided with transparent walls when it is used as a cold relaxation room built in connection with a sauna or a health spa. In this case, the room is pro¬ vided with a refrigerator unit 3-6 and a device 4, 7 for generating vapour in the room space which is refrigerated below 0 * C for producing and maintaining snow and/or frost. This type of cold relaxation room is preferably provided with a water basin serving as an opening for a cold-water dip. It is prior known to build cold-water tanks in connection with saunas but such tanks or basins have not been earlier built in a winter scene room. When the space is provided with transparent walls 2, such walls can be kept clear of frost e.g. by means of air flows which is why a frame pipe 1 can be provided with orifices for blowing air jets along the internal surfaces of wall panels 2. In any case, air flows can be produced in the space by means of fans. It is obvious that the invention is not limited to the above embodiment but various modifications and combina¬ tions of details thereof are possible within the scope of the annexed claims. Thus, for example, a refrigera¬ tor mechanism can be mounted outside the space to be refrigerated and just a coolant is circulated through the space to be refrigerated. Especially, the sound- producing equipment, such as a compressor, is preferably mounted outside the space to be refrigerated in order to avoid disturbing sounds in the refrigerated space. Hence, this corresponds to the present-day practice in connection with the prior known refrigerating systems used in cold rooms and living quarters.

Claims: Claims 1. A winter scene room or a space study, c h a r a c - t e r i z e d in that a space separated from the sur¬ roundings by at least partially transparent walls (2) is provided with refrigerator equipment (3-6) as well as with equipment (4, 7; 8-10) for producing water vapour or water jets or running water in said space, the space temperature being adapted to be adjusted or set in a manner that water vapour crystallizes into snow crystals and/or frost or water jets or running water at least partially freezes. 2. A winter scene room, built especially in connection with a sauna or a health spa, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that said room is provided with refrigerator equip¬ ment (3-6) as well as with equipment (4, 7) for pro¬ ducing water vapour in the room air which is cooled be¬ low 0 * C for producing and maintaining snow and/or frost. 3. A winter scene room or a space study as set forth in claim 1 or 2, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the space temperature is adapted to alternately rise and fall on either side of 0 * C to effect melting and re- freezing, frosting and/or crystallizing of ice, frost and/or snow crystals. 4. A winter scene room or a space study as set forth in claim 1, 2 or 3, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the space temperature and the amount of water vapour are ad¬ justed to produce snowfall in the space. 5. A winter scene room or a space study as set forth in claim 1 - 4, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the space is designed as a winter garden room which contains dried plants. bushes or trees. 6. A winter scene room or a space study as set forth in any of claims 1 - 4, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the space contains a heated water basin (7) for evapo¬ rating water therefrom. 7. A winter scene room or a space study as set forth in claim 6, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that a condenser (4) for the refrigerator unit is placed in water basin (7) and an evaporator (6) for the refrigerator unit is placed in the top section of the space or room. 8. A winter scene room or a space study as set forth in any of claims 1 - 7, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the snow and/or frost and/or fog contained in the space is illuminated with coloured lights, which are movable or whose colour combinations can be selectively varied. 9. A winter scene room or a space study as set forth in any of claims 1 - 8, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the rise and fall of temperature in the space or water spraying or water evaporation effect is adapted to be controlled from a control panel (11) mounted outside the space, 10. A space study as set forth in claim 1, 3, 4, 6, 8 or 9, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the refrigeration of a compact, portable space study is effected by using a direct electric cooling, e.g. a cooling based on the Peltier effect. - 11. A winter scene room or a space study, c h a r a c - t e r i z e d in that the room or the space separated from the surroundings by at least partially transparent walls (2) is provided with a refrigerator unit (3-6) for cooling the space temperature to a temperature of circa 0"C, the temperature being adapted to be adjust¬ ed preferably on either side of 0 * C, and that the room or the space contains snow or ice sculptures.

Inventors: LAIJOKI-PUSKA RITVA, LAIJOKI-PUSKA, RITVA
Applicants: LAIJOKI PUSKA RITVA, LAIJOKI-PUSKA, RITVA
Application year: 1990
Main classification: E04H3
IPC codes: A01G9, A61H33, B44C5, B44F9, E04H3