Patent Description:
Generally, a snow tiller for the preparation of ski runs comprises a frame; a rotating shaft; a plurality of tools that protrude from the shaft; a casing arranged around the shaft and delimiting a processing chamber in which the snow is processed by the tools; and a finisher that, in this case, comprises a pressure bar and a flexible mat, which is connected to one end of the casing and has the function of compacting the tilled snow.

The snow tiller is generally dragged over the snow cover by a tracked vehicle in a traveling direction by means of a drawbar.

The snow tiller, at the rear, rests on the snow cover, in this case, the snow tiller rests on the finisher and, at the front, is supported by the drawbar, which is, in turn, connected to and controlled by the tracked vehicle.

Document <CIT> discloses a snow tiller for keeping the flexible mat permanently in contact with the snow cover.

Document <CIT> discloses a levelling device for snow surfaces, in particular for the preparation and/or maintenance of ski slopes.

As is well known, the properties of a ski run's snow cover, such as the thickness and mechanical properties of the snow, vary within very wide ranges depending on the weather conditions. Therefore, the optimal preparation of a ski run is conditioned by the properties of the snow cover itself, which can vary considerably both depending on the area of the processed run and over short periods of time.

In particular, the optimal preparation of a ski run involves eliminating irregularities in the snow cover in order to achieve an aesthetically pleasing snow cover.

This operation is particularly complicated, given the considerable variability of the snow cover properties, e.g. in the case of ski runs that have both areas of frozen snow cover and areas of soft snow cover.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a snow tiller that mitigates the drawbacks of the prior art.

In accordance with the present invention, a snow tiller is provided for the preparation of the snow cover of ski runs according to claim <NUM>. The snow tiller is configured to be advanced in a traveling direction and comprising:.

Thanks to the present invention, the controlled adjustment of the distance between the pressure bar and the casing makes it possible to adjust the configuration of the flexible mat portion between the pressure bar and the casing, which can selectively determine an accumulation of a suitable amount of tilled snow between the pressure bar and the casing to fill in irregularities in the snow cover in order to obtain an aesthetically pleasing snow cover. In practice, the portion of flexible mat between the pressure bar and the casing can take on a plurality of configurations between an extended configuration, to be used in fresh snow conditions, and an arched configuration, with a concavity facing upwards, to increase the accumulation of snow in the processing chamber and the levelling of irregularities in the snow cover. This second configuration is to be used when there is compact snow.

In other words, when the snow cover is icy, a greater accumulation of snow is required to fill any holes or unevenness in the snow cover, while in soft snow conditions, the snow tiller can operate with lower snow accumulations.

In other words, the present invention enables an optimal and aesthetically pleasing snow cover to be obtained, in the case of ski runs that have both areas of frozen snow cover and areas of soft snow cover.

In addition, the free oscillation of the pressure bar around an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis is independent with respect to the tiller module and enables the pressure bar and the flexible mat to adapt to the transverse profile of the snow cover, even when the snow cover has close variations in the traveling direction.

In particular, when the snow tiller processes a snow cover that has variations in slope or irregularities, such as holes or hollows, this free oscillation of the pressure bar makes it possible for the flexible mat to remain in constant contact with the snow cover to obtain an optimal and aesthetically pleasing snow cover.

Moreover, thanks to the spherical joint, it is possible to enable the crossbar and the pressure bar to freely oscillate around an axis passing through the spherical joint and substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis and the crossbar and pressure bar to oscillate in a controlled manner around an axis passing through the spherical joint and transverse to the longitudinal axis.

In practice, the rear end of the casing, to which the flexible mat is coupled, is slightly higher than the pressure bar.

According to a preferred embodiment, the adjusting assembly is configured to selectively control the pressure bar's oscillating around an axis transverse to the longitudinal axis in order to adjust the distance between the pressure bar and the casing.

In this way, its construction is simple and effective.

According to a preferred embodiment, the adjusting assembly comprises a linear actuator coupled to the frame by means of a first universal joint and coupled to the crossbar by means of a second universal joint. The linear actuator is, in this embodiment, configured to control the crossbar's oscillating around an axis passing through the spherical joint transversal to the longitudinal axis in order to adjust the distance between the pressure bar and the casing.

By connecting the linear actuator by means of the second and second universal joint, it is possible to enable the crossbar to freely oscillate around an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis and passing through the spherical joint.

According to a preferred embodiment, the first universal joint comprises an articulated head and/or the second universal joint comprises an articulated head.

According to a preferred embodiment, the pressure bar is coupled to the crossbar and to the flexible mat so as to allow a substantially translatory movement of the pressure bar along a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis.

According to a preferred embodiment, the pressure bar is made up of sections, which are rigid and coupled to each other so as to enable small relative oscillations between the sections with respect to axes substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis, the cross bar being connected to each section by a connecting element shaped like an articulated head.

In this way, it is possible to follow curved transverse profiles.

According to a preferred embodiment, the cross bar is coupled to the pressure bar so that the cross bar and the pressure bar are configured to oscillate solidly around an axis passing through the spherical joint and transverse to the longitudinal axis.

According to a preferred embodiment, the linear actuator comprises a double-acting hydraulic cylinder controlled by force.

Further features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description of a non-limiting embodiment thereof, with reference to the attached figures, wherein:.

With reference to <FIG> and <FIG>, the number <NUM> indicates a snow tiller <NUM>, as a whole, for the preparation of the snow cover on ski runs. The snow tiller <NUM> mainly extends symmetrically on opposite sides with respect to a longitudinal axis A1 and is configured to be dragged over the snow cover in a traveling direction D1 by means of a tracked vehicle (not shown in the attached figures). The snow tiller <NUM> is connected by means of a drawbar (not shown in the attached figures) to the tracked vehicle (not shown).

Throughout the present description, the terms "front", "rear", "frontal", and "side" will specifically refer to the traveling direction D1 of the snow tiller <NUM>.

The snow tiller <NUM> comprises a frame <NUM>; two tiller modules <NUM> (one of which is not shown) supported by the frame <NUM> and substantially aligned in a transverse direction with respect to the longitudinal axis A1; a finisher <NUM> at the rear; and an adjusting assembly <NUM> for each tiller module <NUM>.

The frame <NUM> comprises a front hitch <NUM> configured to be connected to the drawbar (not shown in the attached figures); a support bar <NUM>; two forks <NUM>, each of which is configured to support a respective tiller module <NUM> and to enable small oscillations of the tiller module <NUM> around an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis A1.

Each tiller module <NUM> is suspended from the respective fork <NUM>, so that it can oscillate, and is hinged to the adjacent tiller module <NUM> so that the snow tiller <NUM> is able to adapt to the ground hollows transverse to the traveling direction D1.

With reference to <FIG> and <FIG>, the frame <NUM> comprises a support <NUM> coupled to a respective fork <NUM> and configured to support the adjusting assembly <NUM>.

Each tiller module <NUM> comprises a motorised shaft <NUM>, which rotates around a rotation axis A2 that extends in a direction substantially transversal to the longitudinal axis A1 and is equipped with a plurality of tools <NUM> configured to penetrate the snow cover; and a casing <NUM> arranged around the shaft <NUM> and configured to define a processing chamber <NUM> in which the snow is processed. In the embodiment shown, the casing <NUM> also has a bearing function to support the shaft <NUM> and to connect the tiller module <NUM> to the frame <NUM>.

The finisher <NUM> comprises a flexible mat <NUM> coupled to the casing <NUM> to define the continuation of the casing <NUM>; and a pressure bar <NUM> that extends in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis A1 and is fixed above the flexible mat <NUM>.

The flexible mat <NUM> comprises a portion <NUM> that extends from the casing <NUM> to the pressure bar <NUM> and can be configured according to the distance between the pressure bar <NUM> and the casing <NUM>.

With reference to <FIG>, the pressure bar <NUM> is made up of sections <NUM>, which are rigid and coupled to each other so as to enable small relative oscillations between adjacent sections <NUM> around axes substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis A1 and, thus, to adapt the pressure bar <NUM> and the flexible mat <NUM> to the irregularities and undulations of the snow cover transversely to the traveling direction D1. Preferably, the sections <NUM> are made of metallic material, especially aluminium.

The adjusting assembly <NUM> comprises a crossbar <NUM> that extends transversely to the longitudinal axis A1 directly above the pressure bar <NUM>, and is coupled to the pressure bar <NUM> and to the support <NUM>.

In particular, the crossbar <NUM> is connected to each section <NUM> of the pressure bar <NUM> by means of respective connecting elements <NUM>.

In a particular, non-limiting embodiment of the present invention, each connecting element <NUM> comprises an articulated head so as to enable small independent oscillations of each section <NUM> of the pressure bar <NUM> around a plurality of axes passing through the respective articulated head.

With reference to <FIG> and <FIG>, the adjusting assembly <NUM> comprises a universal joint <NUM> to connect the crossbar <NUM> to the support <NUM>, and a linear actuator <NUM>, which is coupled to the frame <NUM> by means of a universal joint <NUM> and to the crossbar <NUM> by means of a universal joint <NUM>.

The linear actuator <NUM> is a hydraulic cylinder selectively controlled by force and in a position to adjust the distance between the pressure bar <NUM> and the casing <NUM>.

In a non-limiting example of the present invention, the snow tiller <NUM> comprises two adjusting assemblies <NUM>, in which each linear actuator <NUM> is coupled to the respective fork <NUM> and in which each crossbar <NUM> is coupled to the respective support <NUM>.

In more detail, a housing for the universal joint <NUM>, which is a spherical joint, is located in the central portion of the body of the crossbar <NUM>.

In a non-limiting embodiment of the present invention, the linear actuator <NUM> is a double-acting hydraulic cylinder the ends of which are coupled, respectively, to the frame <NUM> by means of a universal joint <NUM> and to the crossbar <NUM> by means of a universal joint <NUM>.

In particular, a central portion of the crossbar <NUM> comprises a seat for connecting to the linear actuator <NUM> by means of the universal joint <NUM>, which comprises an articulated head.

In use, the adjusting assembly <NUM> enables the selective adjustment of the distance between the pressure bar <NUM> and the casing <NUM>, by means of adjusting the length of the linear actuator <NUM>. The adjustment of the distance between the pressure bar <NUM> and the casing <NUM> enables the configuration of the portion <NUM> of flexible mat <NUM>, between the pressure bar <NUM> and the casing <NUM>, to be adjusted, thus varying the amount of snow present in the processing chamber <NUM>. In particular, with reference to <FIG>, when the linear actuator <NUM> is extended, the crossbar <NUM> rotates counter-clockwise around an axis passing through the universal joint <NUM> and parallel to the extension direction of the crossbar <NUM>, causing the pressure rod <NUM> to approach the casing <NUM>. In this configuration, the portion <NUM> of the flexible mat <NUM> is compressed and arches, defining a concavity towards the top.

In contrast, with reference to <FIG>, when the linear actuator <NUM> is retracted, the distance between the pressure bar <NUM> and the casing <NUM> is greater than when the linear actuator <NUM> is extended. In this configuration, the portion <NUM> of flexible mat <NUM> is stretched out and takes on a substantially flat shape. In this configuration, the accumulation of snow in the processing chamber <NUM> is reduced. The configuration shown in <FIG> with a substantially reduced snow accumulation is suitable for processing snow covers with fresh or soft snow, while the configuration in <FIG> accommodates a greater snow accumulation in the processing chamber <NUM> and is suitable for working with icy snow covers.

In a particular embodiment, the length of the linear actuator <NUM> is manually controlled by the driver of the tracked vehicle by means of a special control interface arranged in the cab (not shown in the attached figures).

In a particular embodiment, the length of the linear actuator <NUM> is controlled automatically. In particular, the length of the linear actuator <NUM> is controlled according to some parameters detected by special sensors (not shown in the attached figures), preferably according to the properties of the snow cover, the height of the shaft <NUM> with respect to the snow cover, and the position of the shaft <NUM> with respect to the casing <NUM>.

With reference to <FIG> and <FIG>, the universal joint <NUM>, which is a spherical joint, enables the crossbar <NUM> to oscillate, in a controlled manner, around an axis transverse to the longitudinal axis A1 and passing through the universal joint <NUM> in order to adjust the distance between the pressure bar <NUM> and the casing <NUM>. However, it also enables the crossbar <NUM> to oscillate freely around the universal joint <NUM> to adapt the pressure bar <NUM> and the flexible mat <NUM> to the transverse profile of the ski run, independently of the tiller module <NUM>. In this way, the flexible mat <NUM> is able to remain in constant contact with the snow cover, even when the ski run has close variations in the transverse profile in the traveling direction D1.

The adaptation of the pressure bar <NUM> to the snow cover conformation is also favoured by the connecting elements <NUM> comprising the articulated heads that make it possible for each section <NUM> to make small independent oscillations around a plurality of axes.

In a particular, non-limiting embodiment of the present invention, a plane P on which the rotation axis A2 lies and passing through the universal joint <NUM> identifies a first spatial region above the plane P and a second spatial region below the plane P. The linear actuator <NUM> is arranged in the first spatial region, while the pressure bar <NUM> and the end of the flexible mat <NUM>, which is connected to the casing <NUM>, are arranged in the second spatial region.

Thanks to the possibility of adjusting the configuration of the portion <NUM> of the mat <NUM>, the amount of snow contained in the processing chamber <NUM> can be selectively adjusted so as to enable sufficient snow accumulation, when processing a snow cover, in order to level out irregularities in the snow cover or to avoid excessive amounts of tilled snow in the processing chamber <NUM> when not required.

Claim 1:
A snow tiller for the preparation of a snow cover of ski runs, the snow tiller (<NUM>) being configured to be advanced in a traveling direction (D1) and comprising:
- a frame (<NUM>) extending symmetrically on opposite sides of a longitudinal axis (A1) parallel to the traveling direction (D1);
- at least one tiller module (<NUM>) coupled to the frame (<NUM>) and comprising a shaft (<NUM>), which rotates around a rotation axis (A2) transversal to the longitudinal axis (A1) and is equipped with a plurality of tools (<NUM>) configured to penetrate the snow cover; and a casing (<NUM>), which is arranged around the shaft (<NUM>) and delimits a processing chamber in which the snow is processed;
- a finisher (<NUM>), which comprises a flexible mat (<NUM>), which is configured to define a support area for the snow tiller (<NUM>) on the snow cover and comprises an end coupled to the casing (<NUM>); and a pressure bar (<NUM>) which extends transversely to the longitudinal axis (A1), and is fixed to the flexible mat (<NUM>) at a distance from the end coupled to the casing (<NUM>); and
- at least one adjusting assembly (<NUM>) connected to the pressure bar (<NUM>) and to the frame (<NUM>) and/or casing (<NUM>) and configured to allow a free oscillation of the pressure bar (<NUM>) around an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis (A1) of the snow tiller (<NUM>), and selectively adjust the distance between the pressure bar (<NUM>) and the casing (<NUM>), such that the portion of flexible mat (<NUM>) between the pressure bar (<NUM>) and the casing (<NUM>) can take on a plurality of configurations between an extended configuration, to be used in fresh snow conditions, and an arched configuration, with a concavity facing upwards, to increase the accumulation of snow in the processing chamber (<NUM>) and the levelling of irregularities in the snow cover;
wherein the at least one adjusting assembly (<NUM>) comprises a crossbar (<NUM>), which extends transversely to the longitudinal axis (A1), and is coupled to the pressure bar (<NUM>) and, by means of a spherical joint (<NUM>), to the frame (<NUM>);
wherein a plane (P) on which the axis of rotation (A2) lies and passing through the spherical joint (<NUM>) identifies a spatial region under the plane (P); the pressure bar (<NUM>) and the end of the flexible mat (<NUM>) coupled to the casing (<NUM>) being arranged in said spatial region.