Fluid sprinkling – spraying – and diffusing – Processes – Of weather control or modification
Patent
1992-04-27
1994-06-21
Merritt, Karen B.
Fluid sprinkling, spraying, and diffusing
Processes
Of weather control or modification
239 142, F25C 304
Patent
active
053222180
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention relates to a method and apparatus for making snow.
In one known method for making snow, water is sprayed into a high-volume air stream which is at a relatively low pressure and is at or below 0.degree. C., such that the water spray droplets crystallize and fall to the ground as snow. The air stream is generated by a typically power driven fan, with the air stream confined for a distance downstream from the fan by a cylindrical housing. The power drive for such a fan, in order to provide a sufficient power output, has the major disadvantage of being noisy. This is unpleasant for operators, while it also is a problem in that snow making frequently is required to be done at night near living quarters. Also, the mechanical action of a fan in generating the required high velocity air-stream causes a slight increase in temperature of the air, and this can be sufficient to preclude efficient snow making where the ambient air temperature is close to the acceptable upper limit. Examples of such method are disclosed by U.S. Pat. No. 2,968,164 to Hanson, U.S. Pat. No. 3,979,061 to Kircher and U.S. Pat. No. 4,105,161 to Kircher et al.
An alternative method for making snow is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,964,682 to Tropeano. In this, high pressure air and water are ejected from a co-axial snow-making nozzle, and the resultant mixture expanded and cooled to form a stream of snow particles. Further high pressure water jets spray higher velocity water droplets into the stream of snow particles, to enhance the overall volume of snow and the wetness of the snow, and to extend the range over which the snow is dispersed. This alternative method obviates problems attributed to use of a fan generated air stream, but adds substantially to the complexity and resultant cost.
A pneumatic device, referred to as either an air mover or air pump, is capable of providing a high velocity air stream, but is not known to have previously been proposed for use in snow making. Such device has a tubular body defining a through bore. Between the ends of the bore, the body or a fitting secured thereto, defines an annular chamber which extends substantially concentrically around the bore. Pressurized air supplied to the chamber discharges into the bore as high pressure jets, via a plurality of passages providing communication between the chamber and the bore. The passages open toward one end of the bore such that a discharged high-volume air stream issues from that end. The pressurized air jets generate a reduction in pressure in the bore upstream from the passages, such that air is able to be drawn along the bore to increase the volume of the air stream. The passages providing communication between the chamber and bore extend in radial planes through the axis of the bore, and are inclined toward the axis, so that the jets converge at an axial location downstream of the chamber.
The present inventor has developed a modified form of such pneumatic device which substantially enhances its range of application. Such modified form is the subject of his Australian patent specification 607079 (AU-B-37279/88). In the modified device, the passages providing communication between the annular chamber and the bore are inclined so as to extend inwardly, but at an angle inclined to the axis of the bore, such that the jets do not converge to an axial location. Rather, the jets converge to define a throat of lesser diameter than the bore, and thereafter diverge outwardly.
It has been found that such pneumatic device, most preferably of the modified form, is able to be adapted for use in snow making apparatus. The present invention is directed to snow-making based on this discovery.
Snow making apparatus according to the invention includes a housing means which defines a bore open at least at one of opposed ends thereof. The housing means also defines first and second chambers which extend around the axis of the bore, and first and second connecting means for connecting the first and second chamber respectively to a source of pressurized water and
REFERENCES:
patent: 2968164 (1961-01-01), Hanson
patent: 3964682 (1976-06-01), Tropeano et al.
patent: 3979061 (1976-09-01), Kircher
patent: 4004732 (1977-01-01), Hanson
patent: 4101073 (1978-07-01), Curran
patent: 4105161 (1978-08-01), Kircher et al.
patent: 4488407 (1984-12-01), Delano
patent: 4634050 (1987-01-01), Shippee
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