Method of forming an artificial snow layer

Abstract: A method of forming an artificial snow layer (3) is disclosed. Water content is added to to atmosphere above a floor by a humidifying device (13), or water mist is added to the atmosphere by a water-mist supplying device. The water content or the water mist is frost-frozen by a refrigerating device (6) incorporated at the floor, thus forming on the floor (2) an accumulated frost layer as an artificial snow layer (3). A method of maintaining the formed artificial snow layer (3) is also disclosed. After the formation of the artificial snow layer (3), an atmosphere refrigerating device (11) is stopped or reduced in its operation so as to release the maintenance of the atmosphere below the freezing point. Then, the refrigerating device (6) of the floor is operated to prevent melting of the formed artificial snow layer so as to prevent coagulation of water content in said atmosphere on a surface of the artificial snow layer (3) through humidity adjustment of the atmosphere by a humidity adjusting device (12,13).

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1 FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a method of forming an artificial snow layer, and more particularly a method of forming an artificial snow layer at e.g. an artificial snow indoor skiing slope . 2 DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART Conventional methods of forming an artificial snow layer will be described. According to a first conventional method, indoor atmosphere present immediately above a floor surface is refrigerated to e.g. a low temperature ranging between - 6 and - 10 degrees in Celsius and then cold water is sprayed through a spraying nozzle onto the floor with compressed air. With this, through the adiabatic expansion effect associated with the nozzle spraying and the refrigeration of the indoor air, the sprayed water is frozen into fine ice particles. Then, as the ice particles are accumulated on and spread over the floor, an artificial snow layer comprised of ice particles is formed on the floor surface. According to a second conventional method, water-absorbent resin particles containing water are sprayed over a floor surface and the layer of the sprayed water-containing resin particles is frozen there by means of a refrigerating means incorporated at the floor. Then, this frozen layer is pulverized into fine particles by a pulverizing machine, thereby to form on the floor surface an artificial snow layer comprising the layer of frozen water-absorbent resin particles. This method is described, for instance, in WO-A-86/02936. However, according to the first conventional method, an enormous amount of energy is required for maintaining the indoor atmosphere (the atmosphere can be huge in volume in case of e.g. the indoor skiing slope) at such low temperature ranging between - 6 and - 10 degrees in Celsius regardless of the outdoor temperature. The amount of energy required will be significant in the summer season. Therefore, this method suffers the problem of significant cost for the formation of the artificial snow layer. Moreover, the maintenance costs will also be significant for maintaining the indoor atmosphere at the low temperature of - 2 to - 3 degrees in Celsius for preventing the snow layer from being melted. In addition, since the indoor atmosphere is maintained at such low temperature as described above during the snow-layer forming operation and also during the actual use of the formed snow layer, the user of the slope, i.e. a skier, or a worker tends to feel uncomfortably cold or even feel dizzy due to a thermal shock from the drastic change in the temperature between the extremely low indoor atmosphere and the warm or hot (may exceed 30 degrees in Celsius in summer) outdoor atmosphere when he/she comes in and out of the construction. Thus, this method may cause the problems of health hazard and discomfort for the users and workers as well. On the other hand, according to the second conventional method, the artificial snow layer consists of a great number of water-absorbent resin particles. Then, although the layer is pulverized into fine particles, the layer consisting of the pulverized particles still gives a considerably different skiing feel to the users than they get from natural snow. In WO-A-89/12793 (Clulow) there is disclosed a method of making snow involving controlling temperature and humidity during the formation of the snow wherein water droplets are discharged into a confined envelope of air maintained at a temperature below the freezing point of water and at a humidity below 100%. In the fifth paragraph of page 6 it is stated that after snow discharge has ceased air temperature should not be allowed to rise in excess of -1°C. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Taking the above-described state of the art into consideration, a primary object of the present invention is to provide a method of forming an artificial snow layer which can form the snow layer in an efficient manner and without the afore-described problems of the prior art. This object is achieved by a method as defined in claim 1. Water content added by a humidifier to atmosphere present immediately above a floor surface or water mist fed to the atmosphere by a water-mist feeder is frost-frozen to form on the floor surface an artificial snow layer comprised of a layer of frozen frost. Functions and effects of this method will be described next. The water-content or the water-mist added (preferably very fine water particles in the form of mist having a particle diameter ranging below 10 µm) to the atmosphere present immediately above the floor surface can be frost-frozen on the site without being directly influenced by the temperature of the atmosphere if a temperature at the site on the floor goes down below a value low enough to allow frost-freezing. Accordingly, when the water content or the water mist in the atmosphere is frost-frozen by means of a refrigerating means incorporated at the floor to form a layer of artificial snow, the method of the invention, unlike the afore-described first conventional method, can eliminate the necessity of maintaining the atmosphere at such significantly low temperature ranging between - 6 and - 10 degrees in Celsius. Further, since only the floor surface where the snow layer is to be formed is refrigerated in a concentrated manner by means of the refrigerating means incorporated at the floor, the method allows significant reduction in the refrigerating load in comparison with the first conventional method where the entire indoor atmosphere present above the floor surface must be maintained at the refrigerating temperature against the outdoor atmosphere condition. In addition, the method of the invention basically requires only water or water mist to be added to the atmosphere for forming the artificial snow layer, in contrast to the second conventional method which requires a great volume of water-absorbent resin particles. Moreover, the frozen-frost layer formed by the frost-freezing of the water content or water mist added to the atmosphere consists of fine frost crystals having fine gaps between the adjacent crystals like natural snow. Accordingly, this layer can give a comfortable skiing feel very similar to that given by natural snow. Also, unlike the second conventional method, there arises no necessity of pulverizing the frozen layer by using a large amount of energy. When there arises a necessity of compressing or crushing the frost layer in order to appropriately condition the snow surface to suit a particular purpose, the method of the present invention requires much less energy and/or labor force for this work in comparison with the second conventional method requiring the pulverization of the frozen layer on the floor surface. Consequently, the method of the present invention can significantly reduce the energy for the refrigeration and can also eliminate the necessities of any special material such as the water-absorbent resin particles and of the pulverizing operation using a large amount of energy. So that, in contrast to the conventional methods, the method can achieve a significant reduction in the entire costs for forming an artificial snow layer as well as improvement of quality of the snow surface to produce a snow texture quite similar to that of natural snow. Further, in the respect of the maintenance of the artificial snow layer, as in the above case of the snow layer formation, the method can maintain the formed artificial snow layer by preventing melting of the snow layer by the refrigerating means incorporated at the floor. Thus, unlike the first conventional method, the method of the present invention can solve the problems that the user or the worker may feel uncomfortably cold because of the maintenance of the atmosphere adjacent the floor surface at the extremely low temperature and that he/she may feel a thermal shock due to the significant temperature difference between the low-temperature indoor atmosphere and the high-temperature outdoor atmosphere. So that, the method of the invention is superior in the respects of health and comfort of the worker and the user. Incidentally, it is conceivable to effect, by means of a refrigerating machine, the frost-freezing operation of the water content or the water mist in the atmosphere at a site different from the one where a snow layer is to be formed. Then, this frost will be collected and transported to the object site to be sprinkled over its surface thereby forming an artificial snow layer on the surface. This, however, has the disadvantage of cost and labor increase for the collection and transportation of the frost. In this respect too, according to the method of the present invention, the frost-freezing operation of the water content or the water mist added to the atmosphere is effected by means of the refrigerating means incorporated at the floor which per is the site where the snow layer is to be formed and through this frost-freezing process the accumulated frost layer as an artificial snow layer is developed and formed on the floor surface. That is, the method of the present invention can eliminate the collection and the transportation of the frost, thereby achieving reduction in the cost and labor associated with the formation of the artificial snow layer. According to one preferred embodiment of the present invention, prior to the formation of -the accumulated frost layer, fine ice particles are sprinkled over the floor surface. Then, this layer of sprinkled ice particles is impregnated with additional water, so that the additional water content is then frozen by means of the above-described refrigerating means. Thereafter, on the ice layer containing the frozen water content, the water content or the water mist added to the atmosphere above the layer is frost-frozen to form an artificial snow surface on the ice layer. That is, for stable maintenance of the artificial snow surface against possible variation in the thermal load or actual use of the snow surface, it is necessary to retain a certain amount of cold heat on the floor surface by e.g. appropriately enlarging thickness of the accumulated frost layer or by providing, under the frost layer, an ice layer having a certain thickness. However, it takes a significant amount of time to develop the frost layer, through repeated frost-freezing operations, up to such a thickness as to allow the frost layer alone to retain such capacity of cold heat on the floor surface without the aid of the ice layer. On the other hand, in the case of forming an ice layer of sufficient thickness for the retention of desired capacity of cold heat under the accumulated frost layer as the artificial snow layer, it also takes a large amount of time to sprinkle water onto the floor surface and then to freeze the sprinkled water by the refrigerating means of the floor in order to form an ice layer of the predetermined thickness on the floor surface. In this respect, according to a preferred way of carrying out the method of the invention also, an ice layer is formed under an accumulated frost layer as an artificial snow layer. Yet, in the formation of the ice layer, the ice layer in the form of fine particles is formed by sprinkling fine ice particles onto the floor surface and the water added to the layer of the fine ice particles is frozen by the refrigerating means of the floor. That is, only the water added to the fine ice particle layer is frozen by means of the refrigerating means prior to the formation of the accumulated frost layer. Therefore, in comparison with the foregoing method where water is sprinkled onto the floor surface and this sprinkled water is frozen by means of the refrigerating means of the floor to form an ice layer of a predetermined thickness, with the above-described method, it is possible to form an ice layer of a predetermined thickness needed for retain a predetermined cold heat capacity on the floor surface within a short period of time. As described above, the ice layer is efficiently formed by freezing the water added to the fine ice particle layer and then the water content or the water mist added to the atmosphere is frost-frozen on this ice layer by the refrigerating means to form an accumulated frost layer as an artificial snow layer. Therefore, in comparison also with the method where the accumulated frost layer having a thickness sufficient to retain a desired cold heat capacity is developed only through the gradual frost-freezing of the water content or the water mist added to the atmosphere without the formation of the ice layer under the accumulated frost layer, with the method of the invention, it is possible to form an artificial snow layer comprised of an accumulated frost layer capable of retaining a desired cold heat capacity on the floor surface in an efficient manner and within a short period of time. Further, as an alternative in embodying the method of the present invention, in the course of development of the accumulated frost layer, the accumulated frost layer will be compressed and this compressed layer will be impregnated with additional water content. Then, this water content will be frozen, and on this frozen frost layer the water content or the water mist added to the atmosphere will be frost-frozen to form the accumulated frost layer. As a further alternative in embodying the method of the present invention, in the course of the development of the accumulated frost layer, the accumulated frost layer will be impregnated with additional water content, so that this water content will be frozen and on this frozen layer the water or the water mist added to the atmosphere will be frost-frozen to develop the accumulated frost layer. That is, since the accumulated frost layer has fine gaps between the frost crystals, the layer per se has a heat insulating effect. Therefore, if the water content or the water mist added to the atmosphere is gradually frost-frozen on the layer surface through the refrigerating effect of the refrigerating means of the floor, with the increase in the thickness of the accumulated frost layer as being developed, there occurs significant reduction in the heat transmission efficiency between the refrigerating means of the floor and the surface of the accumulated frost layer. So that, with the development of the accumulated frost layer up to a certain thickness, it becomes impossible to further increase the thickness of the accumulated frost layer as the artificial snow layer through the continuous development of the accumulated frost layer through the frost-freezing on the frost layer. Moreover, in order to further increase the thickness of the accumulated frost layer through the continuation of the frost-freezing operation on the frost layer to cope with the reduction in the heat transmission efficiency between the refrigerating means of the floor and the surface of the accumulated frost layer, it becomes necessary to further reduce the temperature provided by the refrigerating means of the floor. Then, this reduction in the temperature will cause deterioration in the operational efficiency and increase in the loss of radiated cold heat on the side of the refrigerating means. To solve the above problem, the compression treatment is effected on the accumulated frost layer in the course of the development of this layer and this layer is impregnated with the additional water content. With this, the accumulated frost layer becomes somewhat similar to an ice layer so as to restore the heat transmission efficiency of the accumulated frost layer. Accordingly, while the refrigerating temperature of the refrigerating means of the floor is maintained constant, the frost-freezing operation on the accumulated frost layer by the refrigerating effect of this refrigerating means can be promoted thereby to continue the further development of the accumulated frost layer in an efficient manner. Consequently, the thickness of the accumulated frost layer as an artificial snow layer can be increased very efficiently. In embodying the method of the present invention, it is conceivable to cover the space above the floor surface so as to limit the atmosphere to which the water content and the water mist is to be added. With the above arrangement, in case the atmosphere area on the floor surface comprises an open atmosphere or even an indoor atmosphere area, as in the formation process of the artificial snow layer this atmosphere area above the floor surface is covered to limit the extension of the atmosphere area to which the water content or the water mist is added, it becomes easier to increase the density of the water content or the water mist in the atmosphere on the floor surface up to a value suitable for the formation of the accumulated frost layer through the frost-freezing operation and to maintain the density as such. As a result, the formation operation of the accumulated frost layer through the frost-freezing process can be conducted more efficiently. Further effects of the invention will become more apparent from the following more detailed description of the embodiments of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is a view showing a construction of an indoor artificial snow skiing slope relating to the method of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a principle diagram of a humidifier, Fig. 3 is a view showing a construction of another indoor artificial snow skiing slope relating to the method of the present invention, and Fig. 4 is a view showing a construction of an indoor artificial snow skiing slope relating to a method of maintaining an artificial snow layer formed by the method of the invention. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of a method of the present invention of forming an artificial snow layer will be particularly described next with reference to the accompanying drawings. Fig. 1 shows an indoor artificial snow slope, in which a numeral 1 denotes a building construction and a numeral 2 denotes a floor on which an artificial snow layer 3 as a skiing slope is to be formed. The floor 2 incorporates therein a plurality of refrigerating medium pipes 6 for circulating through a circulating passage 5 a refrigerating medium (e.g. brine at -10 to -20 degrees in Celsius) refrigerated by a refrigerating device 4. Through this refrigeration of the refrigerating medium pipes 6, the artificial snow layer 3 is formed on the floor 2 and also melting of this snow layer 3 is prevented, so that the artificial snow layer 3 is maintained. As an air-conditioning system for an indoor space 7, an air-conditioning device 10 is provided for conditioning temperature and humidity of the indoor atmosphere recycled through a recycling duct 8 (the indoor atmosphere can be mixed with new fresh outdoor atmosphere) and then feeding this conditioned atmosphere A through a feed duct 9 into the indoor space 7. This air-conditioning device 10 includes a temperature-conditioning coil 11, a dehumidifier 12 and a humidifier 13 with these devices being selectively operable depending on the conditions. For the formation of the artificial snow layer 3, the refrigerating medium is circulated through the refrigerating-medium circulating pipes 6 and with this operation atmosphere A added with water content by operation of the humidifier 13 is fed into the indoor space 7. With this, the water content added to the atmosphere A fed into the indoor space 7 is frost-frozen through the refrigeration by the refrigerating-medium pipes 6, so that an accumulated frost layer 3 having a predetermined thickness (d) is formed as an artificial snow layer on the floor 2. In the initial stage of the formation of the accumulated frost layer when the water content in the fed atmosphere A is frost-frozen directly on surfaces of the refrigerating-medium pipes 6, the amount of humidity provided by the humidifier 13 is controlled by an appropriate control device so as to maintain an absolute humidity Xa of the fed atmosphere A higher than an absolute humidity Xp of saturated atmosphere at a pipe surface temperature Tp of the refrigerating medium pipe 6 more than by a predetermined difference dX1 (e.g. dX1 = 5gr./Kg'). Thereafter, in the next stage of development of the accumulated frost layer when the water content added to the atmosphere A is frost-frozen, the amount of humidity provided by the humidifier 13 is again controlled by the appropriate control device so as to maintain the absolute humidity Xa of the fed atmosphere A higher than the absolute humidity Xp of saturated atmosphere at the pipe surface temperature Tp of the refrigerating medium pipe 6 more than by a further predetermined difference dX2 (e.g. dX2 = 5gr./Kg'). With this, through the initial stage and the development stage, the accumulated frost layer 3 can be maintained and developed in an efficient manner. As described above, in the formation of the accumulated frost layer 3 on the floor 2 through the frost-freezing of the fed atmosphere A by means of the refrigerating effect of the refrigerating-medium pipes 6 incorporated at the floor 2, a temperature Ta of the fed atmosphere A is not particularly an important factor. However, in the present embodiment, this temperature Ta of the fed atmosphere A is so adjusted as to render a relative humidity Ra of the atmosphere A over 100% in order to further promote the formation of the accumulated frost layer 3 through the frost-freezing operation. On the other hand, in the adjustment of the temperature Ta of the fed atmosphere A, within the range where the relative humidity Ra is more than 100%, the temperature Ta of the atmosphere A is adjusted to as high a temperature as possible. This can avoid excessive cooling of the indoor space 7 thereby to prevent a user in the construction from feeling uncomfortably cold or a thermal shock due to a significant difference in the temperature between the indoor atmosphere and the outdoor atmosphere (for instance, in the development stage of the accumulated frost layer where the water content added to the atmosphere A is frost-frozen on the surface of the frost layer, if the surface temperature Ts of the accumulated frost layer 3 is -5 degrees in Celsius and the value dX2 is 5gr./Kg', an over-saturation atmosphere (containing very fine water particles) adjusted approximately to 8.0 degrees in Celsius DB, 7.5gr./Kg' is supplied). As the humidifier 13, various types can be used such as a vapor spraying type. Then, in this embodiment, as illustrated in Fig. 2, a so-called washer type humidifier 13 is employed. In operation, the atmosphere A to be adjusted is caused to pass a spraying region 13a where water having its temperature adjusted to a temperature equal to the temperature Ta of the atmosphere fed to the indoor space 7 is sprayed, so that the object atmosphere A is adjusted into the over-saturated atmosphere having the predetermined temperature Ta. Thereafter, as this adjusted atmosphere A is cause to pass through a plurality of separator plates 13b, water particles of relatively large particle diameters contained in the adjusted atmosphere A are trapped at the separator plates 13b. In comparison with the vapor spraying type humidifier, this type of humidifier is advantageous in the respect of thermal energy. Also, the temperature and humidity of the object atmosphere A are adjusted to those of the over-saturated atmosphere mixed with very fine water particles (preferably, ranging below 10 micron) suitable for the formation of the accumulated frost layer through the frost-freezing process described hereinbefore. In the development stage of the accumulated frost layer 3, when the frost layer has been developed to a certain thickness, a compressing treatment is effected on the thus developed frost layer 3a. Alternatively, the accumulated frost layer 3a is impregnated with additional water content supplied by sprinkling and the water content is frozen by the refrigerating function of the refrigerating-medium pipes 6, thereby rendering some of the accumulated frost layer 3a into an ice layer. Then, as the partial formation of the ice layer restores heat transmission efficiency of the accumulated frost layer 3a (i.e. the heat transmission efficiency between the refrigerating-medium pipes 6 and the surface of the accumulated frost layer 3a), through the frost-freezing of the water content in the atmosphere on either the compressed frost layer or the frozen frost layer 3a added with the water content, the accumulated frost layer 3b can be efficiently maintained and developed on the compressed frost layer or the frozen frost layer 3a added with the additional water content. The formation of the partial ice layer from the accumulated frost layer 3a through the compression process or the addition of the additional water content is done for a plurality of times with an appropriate time interval therebetween in the process of forming the accumulated frost layer 3 having the predetermined thickness (d) as an artificial snow layer. With completion of the accumulated frost layer 3 having the predetermined thickness (d) as an artificial snow layer, the operation of the humidifier 13 is stopped. Thereafter, this artificial snow layer is maintained against melting by the refrigerating function of the refrigerating-medium pipes 6. Also, in this maintenance condition of the artificial snow layer, the dehumidifier 12 of the air-conditioning device 10 is operated and also the absolute humidity XA of the atmosphere inside the indoor space 7 is maintained at a value substantially equal to the absolute humidity Xs of the saturated atmosphere at the surface temperature Ts of the accumulated frost layer 3. In other words, the amount of humidity eliminated by the dehumidifier 12 is controlled by an appropriate control means so as to maintain the water vapor pressure of the atmosphere inside the indoor space 7 at a value substantially equal to the water vapor pressure at the surface of the accumulated frost layer 3. That is to say, during the formation and maintenance of the accumulated frost layer as an artificial snow layer, a refrigerating temperature Tp of the refrigerating-medium pipes 6 is so adjusted to a value sufficient to cause the layer 3 to develop into the predetermined thickness (d) and also to prevent melting of this accumulate frost layer 3 having the predetermined thickness (d) (e.g. a temperature where the surface temperature Ts of the frost layer 3 developed into the thickness of (d) ranges between -1 and -2 degrees in Celsius). While this can save the necessary energy, there arises, in turn, a new problem. That is, if the refrigerating temperature Tp of the refrigerating-medium pipes 6 is so controlled, during the maintenance of the artificial snow layer, the surface of this artificial snow layer 3 tends to become sticky. For, further water content supplied into the atmosphere through introduction of outdoor atmosphere or breaths of the users present inside is coagulated on the surface of the accumulated frost layer 3, so that the additional water content may be coagulated on the surface of the accumulate frost layer 3 which temperature is higher than the refrigerating temperature Tp of the refrigerating-medium pipes 6. Moreover, the coagulation of the additional water content in the indoor atmosphere on the surface of the accumulated frost layer 3 causes also transfer of potential heat from the indoor atmosphere to the accumulated frost layer 3. Accordingly, there occurs increase in the refrigerating load of the pipes 6 in maintaining the artificial snow layer and this increase will interfere with the saving of energy. In this respect, as described hereinbefore, the dehumidifying treatment is effected on the indoor atmosphere in the snow layer maintaining situation thereby to prevent such coagulation of the water content in the atmosphere on the surface of the accumulated frost layer 3 (i.e. snow surface) while controlling the required refrigerating temperature of the refrigerating-medium pipes 6. With this arrangement, it is possible to stably maintain the snow surface at a good condition suitable for skiing and also to achieve saving of energy through effective avoidance of such increase in the refrigerating load of the pipes 6 resulting from the potential heat transfer from the indoor atmosphere to the accumulated frost layer 3. In the course of maintaining the artificial snow layer, in addition to the above-described dehumidifying operation, a temperature controlling coil 11 of the air-conditioning device 10 is operated to adjust the temperature of the atmosphere A to be fed into the indoor space 7. With this, it is possible to cool or warm the indoor space 7 without sacrificing the comfort of the users such as the skiers and also without interfering with the prevention of melting of the accumulated frost layer 3 by means of the refrigerating function of the refrigerating-medium pipes 6. In case the thickness of the accumulated frost layer 3 as the artificial snow layer decreases due to scraping of the snow surface by skiing, like the case of the initial formation of the artificial snow layer, the humidifier 13 is operated, to that the additional water content added to the atmosphere A for the indoor space 7 is refrigerated by the refrigerating-medium pipes 6 to be frost-frozen on the remaining frost layer 3 thereby to restore the thickness of the accumulated frost layer 3. Next, alternate embodiments will be specifically described. The refrigerating means to be incorporated at the floor 2 is not limited to the plurality of refrigerating-medium pipes 6 employed in the foregoing embodiment. For instance, other constructions such as a construction having a refrigerating-medium passage at a gap between two floors or a further construction using a plurality of refrigerating panels disposed on the floor 2 can be employed instead. In the foregoing embodiment, the accumulated frost layer 3 is formed by frost-freezing the water content added to the atmosphere above the floor 2 by means of the refrigerating means 6. Alternatively, water mist can be supplied to the atmosphere above the floor 2 by means of e.g. a spraying nozzle, so that this sprayed water mist will be frost-frozen by means of the refrigerating means 6 incorporated at the floor 2. Further, as a combination of these methods, it is also conceivable to frost-freeze both the water content added to the atmosphere above the floor 2 and the water mist supplied also to this atmosphere above the floor 2 by means of the refrigerating means 6 incorporated at the floor 2. As the humidifier means for adding water content to the atmosphere above the floor 2 and the water mist supplying means for supplying this atmosphere with water mist, various other types can be employed. In the foregoing embodiment, the accumulated frost layer 3 is directly formed on the side of the floor 2. An alternative method is possible as illustrated in Fig. 3. That is, prior to the formation of the accumulated frost layer 3 as an artificial snow layer, an ice layer 14 is formed on the floor 2. Then, the additional water content or the water mist added to the atmosphere above the floor 2 is frost-frozen by the refrigerating function of the refrigerating-medium means 6 incorporated at the floor 2 so that the accumulated frost layer 3 as the artificial snow layer will be formed on the ice layer 14. For the formation of the ice layer 14, as illustrated also in Fig. 3, fine ice particles prepared by an ice making machine 15 are sprayed over the floor 2 and then the sprayed ice particles are added with water supplied by sprinkling, so that the added water is frozen by the refrigerating means 6 of the floor 2. In this way, the ice layer 14 is formed on the floor 2 prior to the formation of the accumulated frost layer 3 as an artificial snow layer. This method is more efficient than the foregoing method. For adding the additional water content to the atmosphere above the floor 2 by means of the humidifier and for supplying the water mist to the atmosphere above the floor 2, it is conceivable to limit the atmosphere above the floor 2 by covering the area above the floor 2 by means of a cover 16 as denoted by a broken line in Fig. 3, so that the addition of the additional water content or the water mist is effected only to the limited atmosphere. In particularly, this method using the cover 16 will prove very effective in case the atmosphere above the floor 2 comprises a large open atmosphere. Incidentally, after the formation of the accumulated frost layer 3 as the artificial snow layer, the cover 16 is removed, so that this cover 16 will not interfere with use of the artificial snow layer. In the foregoing embodiment, at the development stage of the accumulated frost layer 3, a compression treatment or water impregnating treatment and subsequently freezing operation of the impregnated water content, i.e. the formation of partial ice layer from the accumulated frost layer 3a being developed is done. However, in embodying the method of the invention, these treatments can be eliminated. After the formation of the accumulated frost layer 3 as an artificial snow layer, it is conceivable to effect a compression treatment or a raking treatment on the surface portion of the layer 3 in order to condition the snow layer surface. The use of the accumulated frost layer 3 as an artificial snow layer is not limited to skiing, but the layer can be used in various kinds of activities. The floor 2 can be of any type, e.g. a horizontal flat floor, a sloped floor, an uneven floor, a floor of a narrow passage, etc. The actual use of the artificial snow layer 3 formed by the method of the present invention is not limited to the use for skiing, but the snow layer can be used for other sporting activities such as bobsledding or other purposes, e.g. snow play for children or enjoyment of snow sight, etc. Further, the area above the floor is not limited to the indoor space, but may be an open outdoor space.

Claims: A method of forming an artificial snow layer comprising the steps of: adding water content to atmosphere above a floor (2) by a humidifying means (13) or adding water mist to said atmosphere by a water-mist supplying means; frost-freezing said water content or water mist by a refrigerating means (6) incorporated at said floor (2); and forming on said floor (2) an accumulated frost layer (3) as an artificial snow layer. A method according to Claim 1, characterized by the steps of: sprinkling fine ice particles over said floor (2) prior to said step of forming the accumulated frost layer (3); adding further water content to a layer of said fine ice particles; freezing said further water content by said refrigerating means (6); and frost-freezing, on the ice layer (14) comprised of the fine ice particles, said water content or said water mist in said atmosphere by said refrigerating means (6) thereby to form said accumulated frost layer (3) as an artificial snow layer on said ice layer (14). A method according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, characterized by the steps of: effecting a compression treatment on said accumulated frost layer (3) during a development stage of said frost layer (3) : and frost-freezing, on the thereby obtained compressed frost layer (3a), said water content or said water mist in said atmosphere by said refrigerating means (6) thereby to develop said accumulated frost layer (3). A method according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, characterized by the steps of: adding further water content to said accumulated frost layer (3) during a development stage of said frost layer (3) ; and frost-freezing, on the thereby obtained, frost layer (3a) said water content or said water mist in said atmosphere by said refrigerating means (6) thereby to develop said accumulated frost layer (3). A method according to any of claims 1 to 4, characterized by the step of: covering said atmosphere above the floor (2) with a cover (16) during a development stage of said accumulated frost layer (3) so as to limit said atmosphere to be added with the water content or the water mist.

Inventors: KASAHARA KO, MORIOKA KOJI, KASAHARA, KO, MORIOKA, KOJI
Applicants: TAIKISHA KK, TAIKISHA, LTD.
Application year: 1992
Main classification: F25C3
IPC codes: F25C3