John C Mcgregor

US Patent:

61617695, Dec 19, 2000

Filed:

Dec 15, 1998

Appl. No.:

9/211323

Inventors:

Everett Frank Kircher - Boyne Falls MI
John Dean McGregor - Harbor Springs MI
James Simon Milbrandt - Pellston MI
William James Waugaman - Grosse Pointe MI
Joel Maurice Woods - Harper Springs MI

Assignee:

Boyne USA, Inc. - Boyne Falls MI

International Classification:

F25C 304

US Classification:

239 22

Abstract:

Method and apparatus for making snow by generating water spray from a triple array of multiple nozzle sub-boom branch-pipes transversely protruding from the upper end of a main boom of a pivotably adjustable snow making pipe tower. Three air jet streams, one for each branch pipe, are simultaneously discharged under high pressure into and sequentially through the throats of each associated multiple stack of water sprays issuing from each set of branch pipe nozzles to thereby form multiple spray plumes of atomized and seeded water all directed forwardly from the upper end of the tower pipe. The water pipe may be an elliptical aluminum extrusion with two interior air tubes respectively controllably feeding large and small diameter air jet arrays to thereby provide a range of air jet water spray interaction. The pipe tower may be pivotally raised and lowered by a block-and-tackle or chain fall type drive mechanism that may be recoupled to the tops of a lifting pole and tower pipe for bodily raising the entire tower pipe and its support pipe telescopically on a ground support pole. Spreader-supported guy wires may be used to brace the tower pipe and also provide an electrical deicing circuit.