Snow production cannon

Abstract: To provide a cannon (1) of optimum efficiency, which is able to produce an artificial snow of various characteristics and also as close as possible to those of natural snow, and is quieter than current cannons for equal nozzles installed, use is made of water atomization nozzles (8) provided with a sized capillary hole (11) having lobes (12) positioned on opposite sides of the central axis of symmetry (9) of the nozzle (8), (Figure 5).

Description: This invention relates to a snow production cannon. WO 94/03764 describes a snow production cannon in accordance with the classifying part of claim 1. These types of cannon are also commonly known as low pressure cannons. In this type of cannon the sole function of the nozzles is to atomize the water as finely as possible within the air flow produced by the cannon. The air flow (having a temperature of less than zero °C) performs the double function of freezing the minuscule water droplets and conveying them onto the ground on which the snow is required. From the aforegoing it is therefore apparent that each nozzle is therefore one of the basic components of the cannon in that the cannon efficiency also depends on it. In this respect, the nozzle provides the thermodynamic transformations which are fundamental both to the formation of the artificial snow and to its quality. In brief, the cannon efficiency, its quietness and the snow quality all depend mainly on the nozzle. Current nozzles and hence the cannons using them are all susceptible to improvement in relation to the aforestated characteristics. Document US-A-3 979 061 discloses a snow production cannon according to the preamble of claim 1. The object of the present invention is therefore to provide a cannon able to offer better performance than current cannons, ie a cannon which has greater efficiency than known cannons (increase in snow produced for equal energy expended), is able to produce an artificial snow with characteristics as close as possible to those of natural snow, and is quieter than current cannons for equal nozzles installed. This object is attained by a snow cannon in accordance with claim 1. The provision of lobes oppositely positioned about the central axis of symmetry enables the water to be atomized in a form which is closer to snow crystals than the crystals produced by the traditional sized capillary holes of circular plan shape. There is an increase in snow produced for equal energy expended and hence a greater cannon efficiency, leading also to a reduction in the energy wasted as noise production. Snow of different type can be obtained by varying the number of lobes. Various types of snow can be produced by using simultaneously on the same cannon various nozzles of different sized capillary holes. These types of snow can be chosen on the basis of its use and the meteorological conditions. The cannon of the invention therefore has considerable flexibility of use not attainable by known cannons using nozzles only with circular shaped nozzles. A possible embodiment of the invention is described hereinafter by way of non-limiting example. Said embodiment is described with the aid of the accompanying figures. Figure 1 is a schematic illustration of a cannon according to the invention. Figure 2 is a perspective front view of the cannon of Figure 1. Figure 3 is a partly full and partly sectional view of a first nozzle of the cannon according to the invention for atomizing only water. Figure 4 is a partly full and partly sectional view of a second nozzle of the cannon according to the invention for simultaneously atomizing water and air. Figure 5 is a front view of the nozzles of Figures 3 and 4. Figures 6-12 and 15-17 are cross-sections, or plan views of some types of outlet ports of the nozzles fitted to the cannon of the invention. Figures 13 and 14 are other cross-sections, or plan views of outlet ports of the nozzles, which are not claimed by this invention. With reference to said figures and in particular to Figure 1, the snow production cannon according to the invention, indicated overall by 1, is of the type comprising essentially a tubular body 2 operationally associated with means 3 for generating an air flow, means 4 for producing pressurized water and means 22 for producing compressed air. It should be noted that the means 4 and 22 usually form part of a system simultaneously feeding several cannons 1. The air flow generating means 3 generate an air flow F entering through a first mouth 5 located at the rear end of the tubular body 2 and leaving from the second mouth 6 located at the front end of the tubular body 2 parallel to the axis 7 of said tubular body 2. The pressurized water production means 4 feed at least one nozzle 8 of the first type positioned in correspondence with the front mouth 6 of the tubular body 2 and arranged to atomize only the pressurized water by directing it into the air flow F leaving the tubular body 2. The nozzles 8 of the first type are therefore fed only with pressurized water. In the illustrated embodiment a plurality of nozzles 8 of the first type are provided arranged along one or more concentric circles in correspondence with the front mouth 6. The compressed air production means 22 and the pressurized water production means 4 simultaneously feed at least one nozzle 23 of the second type positioned in correspondence with the front mouth 6 of the tubular body 2. The nozzles 23 of the second type are therefore arranged to atomize water with the aid of the compressed air and direct the atomized water towards the interior of the air flow F leaving the tubular body 2. In the illustrated embodiment there are provided a plurality of nozzles 8 of the first type arranged along concentric circles in correspondence with the front mouth 6 but more internal than the circle along which the nozzles 23 of the second type are arranged. According to an important characteristic of the invention, said nozzles of the first type 8 and second type 23 comprise a sized capillary hole 11 in which the port of said sized capillary hole 11 has a geometrical shape in plan view formed from at least two lobes 12 oppositely positioned about its central axis of symmetry 9. The nozzles 8 of the first type and the nozzles 23 of the second type are provided with means for their fixing to the front mouth 6 of the cannon 1 comprising a third external thread 16 and an operating hexagon 17, these being provided on the outer surface of the hollow body 24 of the nozzles 8 and 23. The difference between a nozzle 8 of the first type and a nozzle 23 of the second type is mainly in their internal structure, ie the shape of the respective first core 13 and second core 14, their hollow bodies 24 being identical. This results in a substantial reduction in the production and storage costs of said nozzles. In particular, the production of the sized capillary holes 11 is facilitated in that these are always produced in one and the same element (ie the hollow body 24) irrespective of whether said element 24 is intended for nozzles 8 of the first type or nozzles 23 of the second type. The cores 13 and 14 perform the important function of helping the capillary hole 11 to atomize the fluid. The first core 13 is formed from an elongate element 25 positioned within the concavity of the body 24 of the nozzle 8, coaxial to the central axis of symmetry 9 of the nozzle and hence of the sized capillary hole 11. The element 25 has: a first end connected to the body 24 of the nozzle 8 by a first thread 26 interrupted by at least one first groove 27 parallel to the central axis of symmetry 9 for water passage, a second end spaced from the inner surface of the body 24 of the nozzle 8, its outer surface provided with at least one helical groove 28 arranged to also transmit a rotary component to the fluid passing through the nozzle 8. The second core 14 is formed from a tubular element 29 positioned within the concavity of the body 24 of the nozzle 23, coaxial to the central axis of symmetry 9 of the nozzle 23 and hence of the sized capillary hole 11. The element 29 has: a first end connected to the body 24 of the nozzle 23 by a second thread 30 interrupted by at least one second groove 31 for water passage, a second end tapered and spaced from the inner surface of the body 24 of the nozzle 23, smooth inner and outer surfaces. In the nozzles 23 of the second type, the water passes between the inner surface of the nozzle hollow body 24 and the outer surface of the tubular element 29, the air passing within the tubular element 29. Air and water mix within the nozzle body 24 upstream of the sized capillary hole 11 before leaving through said sized capillary hole 11. In the particular embodiment illustrated in Figure 1 the electrical and electronic remote operating and control equipment for the cannon 1, indicated overall by 20, is housed on the carriage 18 provided with wheels 19 or alternatively with skis, not shown. The cannon 1 also comprises hydraulic means 21 for varying the range. These means can also be remotely controlled. Figures 6-12 and 15-17 show some of the further geometrical forms which the sized capillary hole 11 can have when viewed in plan. According to said figures: the port of the sized capillary hole 11 has the following geometrical plan shape: three lobes 12 positioned 120° apart about the central axis of symmetry; the port of the sized capillary hole 11 has the following geometrical plan shape: three lobes 12 positioned 120° apart about the central axis of symmetry and having rounded ends, with the width of the lobes 12 decreasing from the central axis of symmetry towards the outside; the port of the sized capillary hole 11 has the following geometrical plan shape: three lobes 12 positioned 120° apart about the central axis of symmetry and having right-angled ends, in which two lobes 12 are of equal length, which is less than the length of the remaining lobe 12; the port of the sized capillary hole 11 has the following geometrical plan shape: three lobes 12 positioned 120° apart about the central axis of symmetry and having right-angled ends, in which two lobes 12 are of equal length, which is greater than the length of the remaining lobe 12; the port of the sized capillary hole 11 has the following geometrical plan shape: four lobes 12 oppositely positioned about the central axis of symmetry 9 and having right-angled ends; the port of the sized capillary hole 11 has the following geometrical plan shape: four lobes 12 oppositely positioned about the central axis of symmetry 9 of the nozzle and having rounded ends; the port of the sized capillary hole 11 has the following geometrical plan shape: five lobes 12 radially or oppositely positioned about the central axis of symmetry 9 of the nozzle and having rounded ends; the port of the sized capillary hole 11 has the following geometrical plan shape: five lobes 12 radially or oppositely positioned about the central axis of symmetry 9 of the nozzle and having right-angled ends; the port of the sized capillary hole 11 has the following geometrical plan shape: six lobes 12 oppositely positioned about the central axis of symmetry 9 of the nozzle and having right-angled ends; the port of the sized capillary hole 11 has the following geometrical plan shape: six lobes 12 oppositely positioned about the central axis of symmetry 9 of the nozzle and having rounded ends; the port of the sized capillary hole 11 has the following geometrical plan shape: eight lobes 12 oppositely positioned about the central axis of symmetry 9 of the nozzle and having right-angled ends; the port of the sized capillary hole 11 has the following geometrical plan shape: eight lobes 12 oppositely positioned about the central axis of symmetry 9 of the nozzle and having rounded ends; the port of the sized capillary hole 11 has the following geometrical plan shape: three lobes oppositely positioned about the central axis of symmetry 9 of the nozzle, their dimensions increasing from the vertices towards said central axis of symmetry 9 so as to assume the form of a triangle; the port of the sized capillary hole 11 has the following geometrical plan shape: three lobes oppositely positioned about the central axis of symmetry 9 of the nozzle, their dimensions increasing from the vertices towards said central axis of symmetry 9 so as to assume the form of a triangle with rounded vertices. To obtain a snow of the desired quality, ie that which is most suitable for the meteorological requirements of the moment and/or for the use to be made of it, the same cannon 1 can be provided with nozzles 8 having the ports of the sized capillary hole 11 of different geometrical plan shapes. Hence it is not excluded that traditional nozzles with circular ports can operate together with nozzles the sized capillary holes of which have ports represented by the lobes 12. By means of the cannon according to the invention the energy necessary to produce the same quantity of snow can be reduced up to 1/4. It has also been noted that the artificial snow produced by said cannon has greater persistence than natural snow or than that obtained by cannons using nozzles with circular ports. In a further embodiment (not shown) the cannon according to the invention can be operationally associated with a high pressure cannon provided with a nozzle housed in correspondence with the second mouth 6 and directing its flow parallel to the axis 7, arrow F.

Claims: Snow production cannon (1), comprising a tubular body (2) operationally associated with means (3) for generating an air flow (F), means (4) for producing pressurised water and means (22) for producing compressed air, in which said air flow generating means (3) generate an air flow (F), entering through a first mouth (5), located at the rear end of the tubular body (2), and leaving from a second mouth (6), located at the front end of said tubular body (2), which is parallel to the axis (7) of said tubular body (2), said pressurised water production means (4) feeding first nozzles (8) and second nozzles (23), which are positioned in correspondence with said second mouth (6) of the tubular body (2) and being arranged to atomise pressurised water by directing it into said air flow (F) leaving the tubular body (2), and said compressed air production means (22) feeding said second nozzles (23) positioned in correspondence with said second mouth (6) of the tubular body (2) and being arranged to atomise pressurised water by directing it into the air flow (F) leaving the tubular body (2), said first (8) and second nozzles (23) comprising respectively first (13) and second cores (14) for pre-channelling respectively the water and the water and air traversing them, said nozzles (8, 23) having capillary holes (11), characterised in that these holes (11) have a geometrical plan view formed by at least three lobes (12) starting from a central point (9) of the capillary holes (11). Snow production cannon (1) as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that said first nozzles (8) are arranged along first concentric circles around said second mouth (6) of the cannon (1). Snow production cannon (1) as claimed in claim 2, characterised in that said second nozzles (23) are arranged around said second mouth (6) of the cannon (1) and along a second concentric circle, which is external to said first concentric circles. Snow production cannon (1) as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that each of said first cores (13) is constituted by an elongated element (25), positioned within a concavity of each first nozzle (8) coaxial to a central axis of symmetry of said first nozzle (8), said elongated element (25) having a first end connected to said first nozzle (8) by a first thread (26) interrupted by at least one first groove (27) for water passage and a second end spaced from the inner surface of said first nozzle (8), said first nozzle (8) having an outer surface provided with at least one helical groove (28) arranged to transmit a rotary component to water passing through. Snow production cannon (1) as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that each of said second cores (14) is constituted by a tubular element (29), arranged within a concavity of each second nozzle (23) coaxial to a central axis of symmetry of said second nozzle (23), said tubular element (29) having an outer surface, a smooth inner surface, a first end.connected to said second nozzle (23) by a second thread (30) interrupted by at least one second groove (31) for water passage and a second end tapered and spaced from the inner surface of said second nozzle (23). Snow production cannon (1) as claimed in claim 5, characterised in that water flows between the inner surface of each second nozzle (23) and said outer surface of each tubular elements (29), while air flows within said tubular elements (29), air and water mixing within each second nozzle (23) and upstream of each capillary hole (11), before being sprayed outside the cannon (1). Snow production cannon (1) as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that each of said first (8) and second nozzles (23) is fixed to said second mouth (6) of the cannon (1) by means of a third thread (16) and through an operating hexagon (17), which are provided on the outer surface of said nozzles (8, 23).

Inventors: LEITNER KURT, LEITNER, KURT
Applicants: LEITNER SPA, LEITNER S.P.A.
Application year: 1998
Main classification: F25C3
IPC codes: F25C3