David E Riley

US Patent:

54009669, Mar 28, 1995

Filed:

Aug 5, 1993

Appl. No.:

8/102555

Inventors:

Timothy J. Weaver - Great Valley NY
David B. Riley - Erie PA
William B. Smith - Akron OH
Donald Cutler - Warren PA

Assignee:

Holimont, Inc. - Ellicottville NY

International Classification:

F25C 304

US Classification:

239202

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. A spray nozzle manifold (22) is mounted annularly around the discharge outlet and supports a plurality of water nozzles comprising primary water nozzles (116A to 116F) that are automatically actuated when the machine is turned on to inject a primary 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, and secondary water nozzles (118A to 118K) that are selectively actuatable to augment the primary water shower. 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.

US Patent:

55181775, May 21, 1996

Filed:

Jun 9, 1994

Appl. No.:

8/257196

Inventors:

Timothy J. Weaver - Great Valley NY
David Riley - Erie PA
William B. Smith - Akron OH
Donald Cutler - Warren PA

Assignee:

Holimont Inc. - Ellicottville NY

International Classification:

E01H 400

US Classification:

239 22

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.