Abstract: An improved snow making machine (10) is described, comprising a housing (14) and a nucleator (18) disposed inside the housing to mix compressed air with pressurized water to generate a wide angle round spray (24) pattern of ice crystal nuclei. An air hydrant heater device (12) is connected in the compressed air line (74) to heat the compressed air so that humidity present in the air will not freeze and render the nucleator inoperative at relatively low operating temperatures. A spray nozzle manifold (24) is mounted annularly around the housing discharge outlet (14A) and supports a plurality of water nozzles (28) that inject a cold water shower into the air flow, which water shower commingles with the ice crystal nuclei to thereby form ice granules as the two travel through the cold ambient air. The snow making machine can be mounted on a tower like support structure that provides for adjusting the discharge direction and tilt angle of the discharge outlet from a ground level elevation.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
June 9, 1994
Date of Patent:
May 21, 1996
Assignee:
Holimont Inc.
Inventors:
Timothy J. Weaver, David Riley, William B. Smith, Jr., Donald Cutler
Abstract: An improved tower mounted snow making machine (10) that provides for covering a ski slope (48) with artificial snow (50) is described. The snow making machine comprises a housing (12) having a frusto-conical section (84) that provides for maintaining the generated velocity of a high-volume air flow out through a discharge outlet (12A) and with a nucleator (16) disposed inside the housing to generate a wide angle round spray pattern of ice crystal nuclei (21) that diverge towards the discharge outlet without impinging on the inside of the housing.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
August 5, 1993
Date of Patent:
March 28, 1995
Assignee:
Holimont, Inc.
Inventors:
Timothy J. Weaver, David B. Riley, William B. Smith, Jr., Donald Cutler