AU673815B2 - Sports apparatus - Google Patents

Description

r I 1 SPORTS APPARATUS This invention relates to artificial ski slope assembly.

This invention has particular but not exclusive application to snow skiing, and for illustrative purposes reference will be made to such application. However, it is to be understood that this invention could be used in other applications, such as roller skating. Hereinafter the term skiing and analogous terms is to be taken as a general reference to snow or non-snow surface skiing as well as skating.

Skiing is a popular sport in most countries where snowcovered slopes are available. It is highly seasonal, and can only be practiced at certain times of year and in specific locations, generally locations which are remote from centres of population. On occasions when natural snow cover is inadequate, resorts are forced to generate artificial snow, and this process becomes quite expensive when long slopes must be treated.

The present invention aims to alleviate the above 0* 20 disadvantages and to provide sports apparatus which will be reliable and efficient in use. Other objects and advantages of this invention will hereinafter become apparent.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, this invention in one aspect resides broadly in an artificial ski 25 slope assembly having:a flexible substantially annular form conveying means which is inclined and provided with a skiing surface and *rotatable so as to convey the skiing surface through a skiing zone disposed at the ascending side of said conveying means; support means for rotatably supporting said conveying Smeans; drive means for rotating 8aid conveying means, and said support means supporting said conveying means so that the skiing surface is non-planar in said skiing zone whereby stationary horizontal ski positions relative to the skiing surface and within at least the lower portion of said ski zone are maintained substantially horizontal as those stationary ski positions are elevated through the lower portion of said ski zone by said conveying means.

The skiing surface may be formed of a low-friction medium such as snow, whereby a skier may ski down said skiing zone against the movement of said skiing surface at a selected speed to provide the desired relative movement between the skier and the skiing surface. The annular conveying means may be in the form of a flat ring formed of a flexible material or it may be a flexible structure.

The conveying means may be formed from a plurality of rigid segments joined by flexible joints along adjacent edges such that circumferential flexibility is provided for the conveying means. The flexible joints may be in the form of flexural or rotational pivots, or may be in the form of linkages. The linkages may be formed such that adjacent rigid segments pivot at a selected height above their upper surfaces such that cracking of the snow layer at the flexible S: 20 joint is minimised.

The support means may be in the form o- rollers attached to the conveying means and running on rails mounted beneath the conveying means, and the drive means may take the form of friction drive wheels mounted beneath the conveying means.

S: 25 Of course, other forms of support means, such as gas bearings or magnetic levitation, may be used if desired, and other forms of drive means, such as gears or direct-drive linear motors may also be used.

Preferably, the upper surface of the conveying means is 30 formed into a complex shape such that a skiing zone of S substantially constant or skiable slope is provided which extends about a large a portion of the conveying means and the non-si Ling zone of the conveying means formes a return or ascending portion. Preferably the conveying means has a mean or average inclination of between five and fifteen degrees.

The ski slope assembly may be situated outdoors, and natural snow cover may be utilised to form the skiing surface on the conveying means. However, it is preferred that refrigeration means be provided for preserving the snow cover on the conveying means and that the non-skiing zone be at least partly enclosed such that heat influx from the environment to the skiing surface is minimised. Snow apparatus for the application of artificial snow to the conveying means may be used to form the skiing surface on the conveying means.

The snow apparatus and the refrigeration means may be enclosed within a refrigeration housing which also encloses the non-skiing zone. It is preferred that the refrigeration housing enclose the portion of the conveying means remote from said skiing zone, and that the operational or skiing zone of the conveying means be external to the refrigeration housing such that skiers may not be subjected to the direct effects of refrigeration and snow making.

Of course, if desired, the skiing zone may be provided 20 with shelter means, such as a sunshade or a housing, such that heat inputs to the snow from solar or other environmental effects may be minimised. Such shelter may be fixed or adjustable. It may, for example, be in the form of AS flexible covers which may be adjusted to shield selected 25 portions of the apparatus. The upper surface of the conveying means may be formed from a flexible material such as fabric or metal-reinforced rubber. However, it is preferred that the upper surface of the conveying means include:- 30 a support layer of sheet material such as metail formed with downward-facing grooves, such as "BONDECK"; a seal layer of impervious plastics sheet material, such as "VISQUEEN" above the support layer; an intermediate layer of waterproof plastics foam ir'Mlating material, such as DOW CORNING "STYROFOAM" above the seal

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layer, approximately forty millimetres thick, and a layer of synthetic membrane material or synthetic grass material above the intermediate layer and upon which the snow layer 12 is formed.

In order that this invention may be more easily understood and put into practical effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention, wherein:- FIG. 1 is a pictorial view of a artificial ski slope assembly.

FIG. 2 is a cross section through the artificial ski slope assembly.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of segments of the conveying means; FIG. 4 is an end view of a conveyor segment; FIG. 5 is a partial top view of a conveyor segment; FIG. 6 shows the sub-surface arrangement of the conveying means; FIG. 7 is a graph contrasting elevation of thu inner and outer perimeters of the conveying means; FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic view of a further embodiment of the invention; FIG. 9 illustrates the central portion of the FIG. 8 embodiment; FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the artificial ski slope assembly illustrated in FIG. 8; FIG. 11 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the central portion corresponding to FIG. FIG. 12 is a further enlarged cross-section illustrating 30 mechanical mounting details, and FIG. 13 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the inclination of the skiing surface.

The ski slope assembly 10 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 has a main conveying means 11 covered with a layer of snow 12. The main conveying means 11 rotates clockwise at approximately km/h, and has an ascending skiing zone 13 and a descending zone 14. The return zone 14 is enclosed in a cooling tunnel within which refrigeration apparatus 16, snow-making apparatus 17, and snow grooming apparatus 20 are housed.

A static snow-covered ring 21 is formed adjacent to the inner edge 22 of the main conveying means 11, providing a starting area for skiers. Sensing equipment 23 at the ends of the cooling tunnel sense skiers entering the cooling tunnel 15 and controls retraction apparatus 24 which retracts the snow grooming apparatus 20 upon sensing the entry of skiers into the cooling tunnel A stairway 25 through the hollow core 26 provides access to the main conveying means 11 for skiers. An air chamber 27 around the outer edge 28 of the skiing zone 13 distributes cold air over the surface of the skiing zone 13 through vents 29 to assist in maintaining a blanket of cold air above the snow 12.

r Referring now to FIGS. 2, 3, 4, and 5, it will be seen S that the main conveying means 11 is formed of a series of conveying sectors 40 which are linked to one another along their radial edges by pivots 41. Each of the sectors 40 has a segment frame 42 with a top covering of ribbed sheet metal 43 with the ribs 44 placed downwards and aligned Sapproximately radially.

25 Each sector 40 is supported on an inner wheel 48 and an outer wheel 45 which run on tracks 46 supported on S. foundations 47. The main conveying means 11 is driven by electric motors 50 and gear boxes 51 attached to selected outer wheels 45. Electric power is supplied to the electric 30 motors 50 through slip rings 52 disposed around the inner *e edge 22 of the main conveying means 11.

As shown in FIG. 6, the ribbed sheet metal 43 covering the upper surface of each sector 40 supports an impervious layer of thin plastics sheet material 60 to keep water away from the ribbed sheet metal 43, and a sheet of waterproof plastics foam material 61 forty millimetres thick rests on the plastics sheet material 60. The plastics foam material 61 supports a layer of artificial grass material 62 upon which a layer of snow 63 approximately two hundred millimetres thick is formed.

FIG. 7 shows graphically the changes in elevation of the inner edge 22 and the outer edge 28 of the main conveying means 11 as it passes through one rotation. It will be seen that the first sixty degrees of rotation clockwise from the lowest point take the main conveying means 11 from a state of reverse camber, with the outer edge 28 lower than the inner edge 22, to a state of positive camber, with the outer edge 28 higher than the inner edge 22.

The next one hundred degrees of clockwise rotation of the main conveying means 11 take it through the lower portion of the skiing zone 13, and within the latter, the tangential *r and radial inclinations of the main conveying means 11 are approximately constant. Thus stationary horizontal ski o positions relative to the skiing surface (ie. the expected 20 ski positions for a fallen skier about to regain his feet) and within at least the lower portion of said ski zone are maintained substantially horizontal as those stationary ski positions are elevated through the lower portion of said ski Szone by said conveying means. For the next fifty degrees of rsaid S: 25 rotation, the outer edge 28 rises sharply, and the inner edge 22 rises somewhat less sharply before the main conveying means enters the cooling tunnel After rising slightly to its maximum elevation approximately two hundred and thirty degrees from its minimum 30 elevation, the main conveying means falls rapidly in the Scooling tunnel 15, the outer edge 28 falling more steeply than the inner edge 22 until the camber of the main conveying means 11 changes from positive to negative some sixty degrees before it reaches its minimum elevation.

In use, the main conveying means 11 is set in clockwise rotation by energising the electric motors 50, driving the outer wheels 45 along tracks 46. The snow-making apparatus 17 and the refrigeration apparatus 16 commence operation, building up a snow layer 12 on the main conveying means 11.

When the snow layer 12 has built up to a satisfactory thickness, skiing may commence. The snow grooming apparatus traverses the snow layer 12 radially, smoothing it out progressively.

Skiers enter the skiing zone 13 by c. imbing the stairs 25 through the hollow core 26, and move across the stationary inner ring 21 to join the skiing zone 13 at the inner edge 22. Skiers may ski at a suitable angle to the slope of the skiing zone 13, or control their downhill speed by ski movement, to make their downhill speed equal to the rotational speed of the main conveying means whereby they may maintain their position in the skiing zone 13. If a skier's speed falls, he will rise upward through the skiing zone, and if his speed increases, he will slide down through the skiing 6. zone 13.

20 If a skier should enter the cooling tunnel 15, the sensing apparatus 23 detects the entry, and operates the retraction apparatus 24 to retract the snow grooming apparatus 20 such that no obstructions are presented to the skier as he passes through the cooling tunnel Water produced by the melting of the snow layer 12 percolates down to the synthetic grass 62, and drains radially from the main conveying means 11. Water which off passes through the plastics foam layer 61 is caught in the grooves formed in the plastics sheet 60 by the ribs 44 in the 30 ribbed sheet material 43, and also drains radially from the main conveying means 11.

The sport apparatus 100 illustrated in FIGS. 8 to 13, is similar to the earlier described apparatus. However, it provides a central beginners skiing area 101 and a stationary transfer zone 102 interposed between the beginners area 101 8 and the skiing surface 99.

In this embodiment the beginners skiing area 101 is in the form of a dished central disc 104 which is supported for rotation about an inclined axis 105 which in this embodiment is inclined at ten degrees to the vertical. This disc 104 is suitably of about thirty metres diameter and is rotated very slowly at about one revolution per hour so that beginners may ski down the small substantially stationary sloped skiing zone 106 of the disc 104 which is opposite the snow replenishment plant 107. Rotation of the disc 104 is provided so that the snow skiing surface thereon is replenished from a tapered delivery arm 108 which extends inwardly from the refrigeration plant 107 to the centre of the disc 104. Snow may be delivered to the taped delivery arm 108 by a continuous belt mechanism 128 from a suitable refrigeration plant which may produce ice which is converted i into snow prior to delivery by the arm 108.

As illustrated, the snow replenishment plant 107 is covered by a membrane structure 109 supported by three pylons 110. The membraned structure extends part way across the central disc 104 leaving the skiing zone 106 is exposed. The membrane structure includes insulating curtains for keeping 2 heat from the snow replenishment plant and moveable curtains which may be supported by lower annular tracks for movement from a stowed position, as illustrated, to a covering *t position at which the curtains may cover substantially the whole area of the skiing surface 111.

As can be seen in Fig. 11 and Fig. 12, the dished central disc 104 is supported for rotation about an inclined 30 axis and provides a skiing zone 106 which has a gentle beginners slope at one side of the disc 104 and a substantially horizontal portion 112 at the other side of the disc. This side 112, represents the covered portion at which snow replenishment is performed. The central disc 104 is formed as a framed truss structure which is supported peripherally by load bearing wheels 113 which engage the underside of the disc 104 and located by further wheels 114 supported on the disc 104 and engageable with side rail 115.

The rail 115 is mounted on the fixed structure 116 supported intermediate the central disc and the skiing surface 111. The fixed structure 116 forms the part annular transfer deck 102 which extends about the exposed portion of the central disc 104 and provides a users step-off point for transfer to either the beginners zone 106 at one side or the skiing surface 111 at the other side. The transfer deck is suitably covered with a synthetic grass or the like material, as illustrated.

As shown in cross-section at FIG. 10, the ski slope assembly 100 may be supported on a suitably contoured earth bed 118 provided with supports for rotatably supporting both the central disc 104 and the outer disc 119 which rotates about the transfer deck 102. The pylons 110, supporting the membrane structure 109, may provide cable anchors for cables 120 and 121 which extend therefrom to ground anchors 122 and 123 respectively. The cable 120 may provide a support for the covering in its extended position at which it covers .w substantially the full area of the skiing surface 99.

Suitable detecting and control means may be employed to control the positions of the coverings to prevent unduly high wind loadings being applied thereto.

The central disc 104 and the outer disc 119 are suitably gear driven by electric motors whereby the speed of rotation may be selectively controlled. The outer disc may be rotated 30 such that it rotates at a relatively slow average deck speed of three to five kilometres per hour which will provide a skiing zone 103 which is suitable for beginners.

Alternatively, the outer disc may be driven such that it has an average deck speed of about ten kilometres per hour across the skiing zone 103 whereby the apparatus may be used to simulate skiing down a surface of approximately three hundred metres from top to bottom. At this speed a skier is able to experience the downward drop of a conventional slope.

Preferably however, the outer disc is rotated at a speed in the order of twenty to twenty-five kilometres per hour such that skiers may be able to maintain equilibrium as they ski down the slope and thereby provide a non-stop ski of any selected duration.

It will of course be realised that while the above has been given by way of illustrative example of this invention, all such and other modifications and variations thereto as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of this invention as is defined in the appended claims.

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Claims (12)

1. An artificial ski slope assembly having:- substantially annular or part-conical conveying means which is inclined and covered with a skiing surface and rotatable so as to convey the skiing surface through a skiing zone disposed at the ascending side of said conveying means; support means for rotatably supporting said conveying means; drive .leans for rotating said conveying means, and said support means supporting said conveying means so that the skiing surface is non-planar in said skiing zone whereby stationary horizontal ski positions relative to the skiing surface and within at least the lower portion of said ski zone are maintained substantially horizontal as those stationary ski positions are elevated through the lower portion of said ski zone by said conveying means.

2. An artificial ski slope assembly as claimed in claim 1, t wherein said skiing surface is a snow covered surface and the descending side of said conveying means passes through a non-ski zone at which snow is deposited onto said conveying means.

3. An artificial ski slope assembly as claimed in claim 1 oi claim 2, wherein said conveying means is formed from pivotally interconnected wheel supported sectors arranged for travel around inner and outer endless supporting tracks contoured to conform said conveying means into said non-planar form in said skiing zone.

4. An artificial ski slope assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein said tracks are so arranged that their respective slopes differ at common radial positions through said skiing zone.

An artificial ski slope assembly as claimed in claim 3 or claim 4, wherein each said wheel supported sector includes a ,z -A isV\ o \a 12 supporting base, an intermediate insulating medium and an upper layer of snow.

6. An artificial ski slope assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the snow is artificially produced.

7. An artificial ski slope assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said annular conveying means extends about an inner skier supporting deck.

8. An artificial ski slope assembly as claimed in claim 7, wherein said skier supporting deck is a stationary deck.

9. An artificial ski slope assembly as claimed in claim 7, wherein said skier supporting deck is a disc-like support structure at the centce of said skiing surface and independently rotatable relative to said conveying means.

An artificial ski slope assembly as claimed in claim 9, wherein said disc-like support structure is rotatable about an inclined axis at a relatively slow speed to provide a beginners slope.

11. An artificial ski slope assembly as claimed in claim 9 or claim 10, wherein said disc-like support structure is concave shaped.

12. An artificial ski slope assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any one of the accompanying drawings. DATED THIS Twenty-fifth DAY OF February, 1993. KEVIN STEWART FERRIS BY PIZZEY COMPANY PATENT ATTORNEYS