Abstract:
The invention concerns a device consisting of at least a valve comprising a body ( 1 ) with a through channel ( 5 ), provided with several orifices and in particular orifices ( 4 ) serving both as intake and/or through passage, which orifices ( 4 ) are provided to enable, by means of accessory components, two bodies to be juxtaposed, and provide a common supply to several valves. The communication between the intake channel ( 5 ) and the outlet port ( 9 ) is provided by means of a cylindrical bore and a slide valve mobile in said bore. The outlet port ( 9 ) is located above the channel ( 5 ) and a bleed orifice ( 16 ) is located beneath said channel. Said bleed orifice ( 16 ) is in communication with the outlet port by means of the slide valve.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This is the 35 USC 371 national stage of International Application PCT/FR00/01772 filed on Jun. 23, 2000, which designated the United States of America. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a supply device for a snow gun. 
     This equipment is used under very particular and very severe conditions, notably from a climatic viewpoint. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     An example of equipment is described in the document FR-2 573 854. This document gives the detail of a snow making plant and in particular a supply device for a high pressure-type snow gun. 
     To take maximum advantage of the climatic conditions, it is conventional to use several high pressure-type snow guns, each having different, but complementary characteristics in terms of flow rate. 
     In such a case, each snow gun comprises its own supply device, of the a type described in the document mentioned above. 
     This type of supply device is not adequate for snow guns or spray devices any longer, of the type described in the document FR-2 784 905 which require several distinct pressurised water supplies or for any other types of snow gun that operate without resorting to any special pressurised water supply system. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention suggests a supply device that enables to meet the new requirements of snow guns. 
     This supply device comprises at least a valve for circulating either pressurised water or pressurised air, which valve contains, in a single piece body, for example: 
     a through channel forming the fluid intake and also serving as a through passage for the said fluid, 
     a fluid outlet port, situated above the said channel, 
     a bleed orifice beneath the said channel, 
     a cylindrical bore arranged according to an axis perpendicular to that of the said channel, to accommodate a slide valve that is mobile under the effect of a driving member, which slide valve is provided to, in one case, put the channel in communication with the said outlet port, and to, in another case, put the said outlet port in communication with the said bleed orifice in order to bleed the fluid outlet system. 
     Still according to the invention, the supply device comprises at least one valve and in particular a valve whose body is arranged, at the level of both ends of the through channel, in an identical fashion, for accommodating and fixing either various accessories such as connectors, plugs or others, or other valve bodies. 
     This arrangement of the valve body thus enables to juxtapose, as required, several bodies forming a kind of compact cluster that is easier to install than a multitude of valves in shelters or others, on the border of skiing tracks for example. 
     According to another arrangement of the invention, the slide valve comprises a bleed channel consisting of an axial bore located at its lower section, which channel leads, via a conduit situated on the radial plane of the said slide valve, into the outlet port to perform the said bleeding, which channel is open or closed according to the position of the said slide valve by means of a plug extending axially from the lower end of the body, and that cooperates with the said bleed channel. 
     According to another arrangement of the invention, the slide valve is guided at its lower end into a socket forming a kind of jacket integral with the valve body, which socket comprises a punched bottom to enable the fluid to flow during the said bleeding, which bottom supports the closing plug of the bleed channel of the said slide valve. 
     Still according to the invention, the cylindrical bore of the body comprises, between the intake channel and the outlet conduit, a zone provided in the form of a mixer enabling, in co-operation with the section forming the plug of the slide valve, to vary the through opening of the fluid as the slide valve moves from a completely open position with maximum flow rate to a closed position, which stops the circulation of the fluid through the said body. 
     The valve also has a compact shape forming a true module that can be replaced easily in case of any incident. Thus, according to the invention, the control means of the slide valve consist of a reduction gear located in a cap, itself attached to the top of the body, which cap also contains the control system of the said reduction gear, the limit switches of the said slide valve, the heating control system of the body and, possibly, the water pressure measuring means in the intake channel and in the outlet channel, whereas the systems are gathered on a wafer in the form of an integrated circuit, which wafer also comprises the limit switch system placed opposite to a control finger integral with the said slide valve, and the body comprises a connector and a tight grommet orifice. 
     According to another arrangement of the invention, the intake and/or through orifices comprise a double cylindrical bore, one of which, situated inwardly, provides the necessary tightness with the associated part or element, and the other, situated at the intake, enables to fasten the latter by means of a transversal keying system, which system comprises keys such as needles, that are diametrically opposite, guided through orifices of the body opening into the intake bore, which needles co-operate with a circular groove provided in the accessory part and in particular on the periphery of a cylindrical section inserted into the intake bore of the valve body. 
     Still according to the invention, the keys are connected together, forming a kind of U that is fixed to the body by any appropriate means and preferably by a screw serving simultaneously as a blocking member of the accessory part in relation to the valve body. 
     Still according to the invention, the accessories liable to be associated with the valve body may consist of a junction and assembly socket of two bodies ensuring communication of the supply channel of each of them, or even consist of a plug socket blanking off one of the orifices of the supply channel or still separating two bodies, whereas one of them can be used for water supply while the other is used for air supply of the spray device. 
     Still according to the invention, the accessories may also consist of connectors for the water and air supply pipes, which connectors would simply be in the form of sockets, T, elbows, etc. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention shall be detailed further using the following description and appended drawings, given for exemplification purposes and on which: 
     FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a valve of the supply device according to the invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a sectional view along a vertical plane through the axis of the supply channel, the valve body and the plug placed in the said body; 
     FIG. 3 is a sectional view along a vertical plane through the outlet channel, the valve assembly with the plug, half in completely open position and half in a completely closed position, enabling to bleed the said outlet channel; 
     FIG. 4 shows the grouping of the valves together, 
     FIG. 5 is a partial view of a valve body assembly with an accessory; 
     FIG. 6 shows the locking means of an accessory on the valve body and the valve body fitted with means for locking a sleeve on the outlet orifice; 
     FIG. 7 shows the various possibilities to vary the angular position of the valve bodies in relation to one another. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The valve represented schematically on FIG. 1 comprises a valve  1  topped with a cap  2 . The body  1  is for instance made of a single moulded piece, of right alloy such as aluminium. The cap is made of plastic material, for example, and contains as detailed further, the control gears and the electrical circuits. This cap  2  is assembled and fixed in a tight fashion to the top of the body  1 . 
     The body  1  comprises several orifices and channels. There are, at its lower section, centre on the axis  3 , orifices  4  situated on either side of the body at the ends of a channel  5  centred on the axis  3 , which channel  5  forms the supply or intake channel. 
     The orifices  4  are therefore intake, but also through orifices, i.e. enabling to supply a valve body juxtaposed as detailed below. 
     This intake channel  5  is situated in kind of block  6  in form of a parallelepiped making up the lower section of the body  1 . This block  6  is topped with another block  7  oriented perpendicularly, which comprises the outlet orifice  9  and contains an outlet port  10  as shown on FIG.  3 . 
     Through both these blocks  6  and  7  go a transversal bore  12  centred on an axis  13  perpendicular to the axis  3  of the channel  5  of the block  6 . This cylindrical bore  12  illustrated on FIGS. 2 and 3, enables to accommodate the slide valve  14  that will be detailed below. 
     This cylindrical bore  12  extends above the block  7  in a cylindrical section  15  that is accommodated inside the cap  2 . 
     The lower section of the block  6  comprises an orifice  16  that corresponds to the bleed orifices This orifice  16  is situated in the extension of the bore  12 , at its lower section. 
     It can be noted that the outlet orifice  9  situated in the block  7 , is centred on an axis  19  describing an angle in the order of 45° with respect to the axis  13 , oriented towards the top of the valve. This axis  19  and the outlet duct  19 , are centred on a plane perpendicular to the axis  3 , going through the axis  13  of the bore  12 . 
     FIG. 1 represents the compactness of the valve and its capacity to form a kind of module that enables as shown on FIG. 4, to create a supply device for a snow gun while gathering several valves V 1 , V 2 , V 3 , V 4  in order to form, from a single and unique general water and air supply system, a water and air distribution plant wherein pressures and flow rates can be selected to suit the requirements. 
     Juxtaposition of the valve bodies is enabled by means of an arrangement of the orifices  4  situated on either side of the block  6  of the valve. These orifices  4  comprise an internal bore  20  at the end of the channel  5  and an external bore  21  close to the end face of the block  6 . This arrangement of the orifice  4  enables to accommodate various accessories such as for example a socket  22  as represented partially on FIG.  5 . This socket  22 , of tubular shape, comprises at one of its ends a cylindrical portion  23  fitted with an O-ring  24  that cooperates with the internal bore  20  provided at the level of the orifice  4 , This cylindrical portion  23  is followed by a second cylindrical portion  25  fitted with a groove  26 . This second cylindrical portion  25  cooperates with the external bore  21  of the orifice  4 . 
     This bore  21  comprises holes  29 , diametrically opposite and parallel to one another, centred on a plane perpendicular to the axis  3 . These holes enable the passage of keys  30  that are in the form of needles. The orifices  29  open into the bore  21 , enabling to position the needles  30  in the groove  26  provided at the level of the cylinder  25  of the accessory  22 , thereby locking this accessory in the orifice  4 . 
     As represented on FIG. 6, the needles  30  are connected together by a small bar  31  that enables to immobilise them in active position by means—of a screw  32  engaging into the body  1 , in an appropriate thread and—of a nut  33  clamping the assembly together. The screw  32  may also enable to lock the position of the accessory  22  in order to prevent it from turning inside the orifice  4 , round the axis  3 . 
     Still on FIG. 6, the needles  30  are represented facing the holes  29  provided on either side of the orifice  4  in the block  6 . 
     This arrangement of the orifices  6  can be found similarly at the level of the outlet port  9  of the body  1 . So, the same needles  30  appear in normal position for locking an accessory  34  consisting of a male connector placed at the level of the outlet port  9  of the body. 
     FIG. 7 shows lateral views of a valve V represented in full lines and a second valve V′ coupled to the former, represented in mixed thin lines and tilted with respect to the form by an angle of 30°. This possibility to vary the angle of the outlet axes  19  of each valve simplifies the connections of the valves with the supply pipes of the snow gun(s). 
     This possibility of angular variation is however limited by the necessity to keep a gravitational flow in order to bleed the outlet system. 
     FIG. 4 shows several kinds of accessories that enable to group valves V 1 , V 2 , V 3 , V 4  to form a supply device. 
     Thus, there is a T-shaped accessory  36  situated in the middle of both groups of valves. This accessory  36  enables to feed the different valves and in particular the valves V 1 , V 2  situated on its right on the figure and the valve V 3  on its left. 
     The bodies of the pair of valves V 1 , V 2  are interconnected by means of an accessory  22  in the form of a single socket as illustrated on FIG.  5 . At the end, on the valve V 2 , an accessory  37  in the form of a plug blanking off the orifice  4  of the body  1  can be seen. The valve V 2  is supplied via the valve V 1 . 
     The valve V 1  is fixed to the T  36  using a socket  22  identical to that provided between the valves V 1  and V 2 . 
     The valve V 3  situated on the left of the T  36  on the figure is also fixed to that T  36  by means of a socket  22 . The valve V 3  is supplied with water also through the T  36 . 
     The valve V 4  grouped with the other valves, is used to control the passage of the compressed air. 
     This valve V 4  is fixed to the valve V 3  by means of a plug socket  39  that enables to plug one of the orifices  4  of the valve V 3  of the valve V 4  simultaneously. 
     This valve V 4  Is supplied on its left by means of an accessory  40  in form of an elbow, for example. 
     FIGS. 2 and 3 show, in a more detailed fashion, the internal essential elements of the valve. The slide valve  14  comprises a cylindrical section  41  guided in the upper section of the body  1  in a hole  42  of the cylindrical bore  12 . The lower section of the slide valve  14  has the shape of cylindrical valve  43  connected to the cylindrical section  41  by a rod  44  whose diameter is approximately half that of the cylindrical sections. 
     Both cylindrical sections  41  and  43  have the same diameter. 
     The cylindrical section  43  serves as a valve and it is guided in a socket or jacket  45  that positions itself at the level of the bleed orifice  16 . This jacket  45  comprises a cylindrical section  46  engaging into the block  6  and even into the channel  6  with a shape enabling water to flow into the said channel  5 . A collar  47  enables to attach that jacket  45  to the lower section of the block  6  and the bottom  49  of the said jacket comprises orifices  50  that enable the evacuation of water during the bleeding. 
     The bleeding will be detailed further in connection with FIG.  3 . 
     The section forming a valve  43  moves inside the body  1  and in particular in the bore  53  situated between the supply channel  5  and the outlet duct  10 . The intake  54  of that bore  53  is shaped as a mixer in order to adjust the flow rate between the channel  5  and the outlet port  10 . This flow rate is adjusted by moving the slide valve  14  between the open position as represented on FIG. 2 and a closed position in which the upper joint  55  of the valve  43  isolates the supply channel  5  with respect to the outlet port  10 . 
     FIG. 3 shows two halves of the slide valve  14 ; the right-hand half of the figure is a normal open position as for FIG. 2 while the left-hand half on FIG. 3 is in normal position for blanking off the passage between the intake channel  5  and the outlet port  10 . 
     It can be noted that the valve  43  comprises an internal channel  59  that enables to bleed the outlet system. This channel  59  comprises a bore of the central portion of the valve  43  and an oblique duct  61  that connects the said bore to the outlet port  10 . It can be seen that in this closing position of the slide valve, water may flow through the bleed channel  59 , and away through the orifices  50  provided in the bottom  49  of the jacket  45 . 
     The bottom  49  comprises a plug  62  extending axially in the bleed channel  59 . This plug  62 , fitted with an O-ring  63  at it end, blanks off the bleed is channel  59  when the valve  43  is open in a position that enables water or air to flow between the intake channel  5  and the outlet duct  10 . Conversely, in normal closing position of the valve, the plug  62  opens the channel  59  and thus enables automatic bleeding of the outlet system. 
     The slide valve  14  moves under the effect of a control member consisting of a reduction gear  65 . This reduction gear  65  is integral with the body  1  and it is in particular flanged to the upper end of the cylinder  15  that extends the said body inside the cap  2 . The slide valve  14  comprises an internal bore  66  that is threaded and cooperates with the screw  67  driven by the reduction gear  65 . 
     The slide valve  14  comprises at its upper end, a finger  69  that is guided vertically in a light  70  of the cylinder  15 . This finger  69  also enables to trigger limit switches  71 . These limit switches are arranged on a wafer  72  provided in the form of an integrated circuit on which are gathered the various components that enable to operate the valve and also to collect the parameters linked to the operation of this valve. 
     Thus, the valve contains pressure transducers  73  and  74 . These pressure transducers are in communication with, on the one hand, the supply channel  5  and on the other hand, the outlet port  10 . 
     The body  1  is also fitted with a heating resistor  75  whose operation is controlled from the mechanism plate  72 . 
     The body  1  comprises an orifice  76  enabling the passage of supply and/or control wires connected to the mechanism plate  72 . A connector  77  or a grommet enables to connect the valve to a general control panel that supervises the operation of the snow gun(s).