Patent GB-722880-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to an ice-rink resurfacing machine
IPC: E01H4/02
Filed: 1953-02-05
Abstract: 722,880. Resurfacing ice-rinks. ZAMBONI, F. J. Feb. 5, 1953. No. 3252/53. Class 29. An ice-rink resurfacing machine comprises a vehicle having a receptacle attached thereto, a frame connected to the vehicle and sliding on the ice while being supported solely by the ice when the machine is in operation, a sharp-edged blade mounted on the frame transverselv to the line of motion of the vehicle and adapted to shave the ice-surface and means for collecting the shaved-off ice and transferring it to the receptacle. The blade 70 is suspended at its ends by two hooks from the ends of the frame which comprises transverse beams 57, 58 and cross braces. These hooks are adjustable in height to vary the height of the blade which is urged downwardly by two springs 105 and can be adjusted in inclination by a handle 90 and an arm 99 fixed to the blade. The ends of the frame are provided with side plates 60 acting as skids and in which is journaled a shaft 121 carrying a helical conveyer 120, the two halves of which feed shaved-off ice towards the centre where it is picked up by blades 131 on a conveyer chain 130. This chain passes upwardly in a housing 132 carried at its lower end by the frame 57, 58 and its upper end by an arm 175 pivoted at 176 to a beam 144 fixed to the machine chassis 32. The chain passes round sprockets 136, 141, 151 and 126, the latter driving the helical conveyer 120. The chain is driven by a power take-off 162 from the vehicle engine and a chain. 140 and the blades 131 deposit the ice in a receptacle 50 carried by the vehicle, the arrangement being such that, as the rear end of the receptacle is filled, the conveyer carries the ice further towards the front end. The receptacle has one side hinged for emptying at 235. The chassis 22 carries at its rear end a seat 42 and the machine controls and has depending rods 114 which pass through straps 115 fixed to the frame so that they drive the frame forwardly as the vehicle moves. The straps 115 are elongated so that the frame has a limited side to side motion e.g. at corners. Extending rearwardly from each side plate 60 is a chain 202 which tows a distributer for. water comprising two transverse pads 187, 188 separated by a channel 19.0 having closed ends. This channel is supplied with water from a tank 55 through pipes 197, 196, 194 and a hand-controlled regulating valve 198 so that only water sufficient to restore the thickness of the ice need be supplied. This may be assured by supplying heat to the receptacle 50 and using the melt from the shaved-ice to supply the resurfacing water. The water distributor is suspended by chains from the rear ends of arms 213 which are pivoted to the frame at 214 and pass between brackets 216 joined at their upper ends by a bolt 220. The arms 213 are suspended by chains 212 from arms 211 fixed to a shaft 209 rotatable on the vehicle chassis by a lever 208 and a hydraulic cylinder 203 supplied with fluid from a pump 221 through a control valve 225. To render the machine inoperative, a control 230 for the valve 225 is operated and the piston of cylinder 203 descends to raise the arms 211 and the chains 212. The arms 213 first pivot about their pivots 214 to raise the water distributer and then abut the cross bolts 220 whereupon the frame 57, 58 with the blade 70, the conveyer 120, the housing 132 and the chain 130 and arm 175 are raised clear of the ice surface. In a modification Figs. 9 and 10, (not shown), the vehicle is a jeep.