JPH0444781A - Artificial skiing ground slope and its manufacture - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To keep the snow quality suitable to skiing by forming a protruding part space between a heat insulating material layer and a foundation bed, and containing a cooling means in the protruding part space. CONSTITUTION:On a heat insulating material layer G such as foamed polystyrene for external heat insulation, an artificial snow 1 consisting of a reinforcement plate E, a foundation bed D having uneven cross section, a grating C, a root snow layer B and a surface skin layer A is disposed, a cooling means F such as dry ice is contained in a protruding part space H formed between the heat insulating material layer G and the foundation bed D, and the artificial snow 1 is cooled by the cooling means F. Thus, snow pressing is not required, and a slope condition linked by skiers can easily be maintained as the snow quality is less changed on standing.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an artificial ski slope and its manufacturing method.

More specifically, it is a slope using artificial snow that is especially suitable for indoor ski resorts, making it suitable for skiing. 1- It relates to a ski slope that is easy to manufacture, maintain, and repair, and a method for manufacturing the same.

[Prior Art] (Natural Snow) In recent years, snowfall has been decreasing year by year, which has hindered the opening of ski resorts. Moreover, the natural snow on the ground is too soft and difficult to ski on, making it unsuitable for ski slopes as it is, so the snow has to be compacted many times with F11 trucks. Compacting the snow with a snow compactor is not suitable for competitions, so methods such as ``tsubo-ashi'', where people step on the snow with only their shoes, and methods of sprinkling water on the snow that has been packed down, have been adopted. The ski slopes measured in this way are greatly affected by the outside temperature, and the quality of the snow changes over time. Sublimation inside the snow cover
This is because condensation occurs and changes in snow crystals progress.
The snow progresses from "small snow" to "rough snow." Zaramefu is extremely slippery snow for skiers, so they have to break up the snow and do a lot of pruning and blooming, but even then, there aren't enough videos of it.

(Artificial snow) Recently, artificial snowfall has been increasingly introduced at ski resorts in Japan in order to hasten or extend the skiing season. There are two types of artificial rain equipment: gun type and fan type. The most popular method for making snow using these devices is to use adiabatic expansion of compressed air using high-pressure water at temperatures below 0°C, or to make fine ice using cold air. Artificial snow made in this way has a water content of 10% or more, a density of 0.3-0.4 g/cm3, a strength of less than I Kg/cm2, and is not suitable for skiing unless it is compacted. In addition, compared to natural snow, the quality of snow changes rapidly, and after a few days, the outer diameter changes from about 1 to 1.
In some cases, you may advance to coarse snow of 5 mw+. As mentioned above, rough snow is a troublesome snow quality for skiing, and the same countermeasures as mentioned above are taken.

Artificial snowmaking machines have also been introduced that freeze water into ice cubes and apply physical impact to crush them into ice particles and snowflakes.
This also has the drawback that only the difficult snow quality, shaved ice-like snow or rough snow, can be obtained, so the same countermeasures as mentioned above are taken.

In addition, in the case of artificial snow made by mixing a water-swellable material (water-absorbing resin) with water and freezing it after aeration, as disclosed in Patent Application Publication No. 63-5005213, the density of the snow The strength varies easily depending on aeration conditions and freezing conditions, and the density is 0.4 to 0.9 g/cm3, and the strength is 10 to several 100 kg/cm3. Such snow is more like rough, fine ice or ice burn than snow. If it is in the same state as an ice burn, it must be crushed into ice grains or snowflakes by applying a physical impact as described above, and only a rough snow-like material can be obtained. Therefore, when making artificial snow using only water-swellable materials, in order to make it suitable for skiing, it is necessary to add a surfactant or adjust the particle size and water absorption ratio so that the frozen particles do not bond together more than necessary. or blooming frequently. Such snow can be said to be extremely difficult to use at ski resorts.

Furthermore, since outdoor ski resorts are dependent on the weather, indoor ski resorts that can be used throughout the year are becoming increasingly popular. Artificial slopes at indoor ski resorts are also constructed by placing the above-mentioned artificial snow, artificial ice particles, snowflakes, etc., or artificial snow made from water-swellable materials (water-absorbing resins) and water on artificial slopes. However, indoor ski resorts built using these methods also have the same problems as above.

In addition, the water-swellable material (water-absorbing resin) and water were mixed on the artificial slope of an indoor ski resort (weight ratio, approximately 1,780 to 1/2
100) There are also artificial ski slopes where ice is placed over the entire surface of the slope like a skating rink, and then only the surface is bloomed to scrape off the ice and create artificial snow. In addition to the problems mentioned above, indoor ski resorts built using this method also have other problems, such as the fact that there is a layer of ice underneath the artificial snow, making it difficult for ski poles to stand.

In addition, the super absorbent resin granules developed by the present inventors can be used to absorb water, but snow can also be made using natural snow, artificial snow made using an artificial RMH system, or artificial snow made using an artificial snow-making machine. The above problem can be solved by using artificial snow made by mixing and freezing the ice and snow, but artificial snow made by this method is suitable for outdoor use, and when used at indoor ski resorts, it is better to use natural snow. There is a need for artificial snow that can be used as is without being mixed with artificial snow or ice made by other methods, and that can be easily maintained to make the slopes suitable for skiing.

On the other hand, in order to maintain the condensation level of these artificial snow and snow suitable for skiing, a layer of insulation is placed on the artificial slope, and on top of that is a layer of insulation material, which is then covered with pipes and panels for passing refrigerant, and cooled by a refrigerator. A method is being used to cool the artificial snow or artificial ice and snow on top of the snow by passing a temperature-controlled refrigerant through it.

Figure 2 shows an example of a cross section of a conventional indoor ski slope. On top of (D) is a styrofoam insulation layer with a thickness of about 75 mm (G), a freezing pipe through which the refrigerant passes (2), a sand layer with a thickness of about 30 mm (3), and a lath metal layer (4). ), made from water-swellable material (water-absorbing resin) and water? Artificial snow (1) with a thickness of about 150 mm is arranged in this order, consisting of the aM layer (B) and the surface snow (A).

A refrigerant from a refrigerator (not shown) passes through the cooling pipe (2) and is controlled at about -15 to -20"C. Most of the artificial snow (1) is a frozen layer (B), Approximately 3 cal of the surface is surface snow (A), and its temperature is approximately -2° C. The room temperature of an indoor ski resort is normally maintained at 10 to 15° C. by air conditioning equipment.

It is difficult to maintain snow quality suitable for skiing on such artificial slopes, and constant blooming is required.In addition, construction costs for air conditioning and refrigeration equipment are high, and running costs are high. There are drawbacks.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] The slopes of conventional artificial ski resorts have the following problems.

■Construction costs and running costs are high.

■If refrigerant leaks, there is a problem of ozone layer depletion due to fluorocarbons.

■It is difficult to maintain snow quality suitable for skiing, and it is necessary to constantly bloom the snow.

■It is difficult to maintain snow quality suitable for skiing unless it is mixed with natural snow or artificial snow.

■The material obtained from water-swellable material (water-absorbent resin) and water becomes ice blocks, so 1. If it is not crushed, it cannot become artificial snow, and maintenance is difficult.

[Means for Solving the Problems] As a result of extensive research in order to solve the conventional problems, the present inventors have found a slope configuration suitable for an indoor ski resort, and an artificial structure suitable for an indoor ski resort. It was discovered that the objective could be achieved by using snow, and the present invention was completed.

A first object of the present invention is to provide a slope at an artificial ski resort that has low construction and running costs and can easily maintain snow quality preferred by skiers.

A second object of the present invention is to provide a method for manufacturing slopes for ski resorts that does not cause environmental damage or pollution such as ozone layer destruction.

The invention of claim (1) of the present invention provides the following: A base having an uneven cross section is disposed on the heat insulating material layer.
Second, in the Daio Ski Resort slope where artificial snow and/or Daen snow is provided, a convex space is formed between the heat insulating material layer and the base, and a cooling means is built into the convex space. Daio Ski Resort is a slope with a unique feature.

The invention of claim (2) of the present invention is characterized in that after a grating is placed on the base, artificial snow and/or natural snow is placed on it. It is a ski slope.

The invention according to claim (3) of the present invention is the Daio Ski Resort slope according to claim (1), characterized in that the cooling means is dry ice.

The invention according to claim (4) of the present invention is the Daio ski resort slope according to claim (1), characterized in that a base having a large number of small through holes is used.

The invention according to claim (5) of the present invention is the Daio Ski Resort slope according to claim (1), characterized in that the artificial snow and/or the natural type consists of a falling-geese-like root snow layer and a smooth surface snow. .

The invention of claim (6) of the present invention provides that artificial snow is made of super absorbent resin spheres having the following characteristics.
The Daio Ski Resort slope according to claim (1), wherein the ski slope is made by absorbing up to 100 times more water and freezing it.

■It maintains its spherical shape even when it absorbs water, and is non-adhesive to each other; ■The water absorption capacity is approximately 30 to 500 times that of ion-exchanged water; ■The particle size before water absorption is approximately 20 to 500μ; ■The particle size after water absorption is approximately 0.05-5 ml.

The invention according to claim (7) of the present invention is the Daio Ski Resort slope according to claim C1), wherein the artificial snow is an artificial snow containing a super absorbent resin having the following characteristics.

0 Maintain spherical shape, 0 particle size is approximately 0.05-2m1I+.

■The weight ratio of ice/super absorbent resin is approximately 5 to 100°.The invention of claim (8) of the present invention provides that a base having an uneven cross section is placed on the heat insulating layer 1-, and artificial snow is placed on the base having an uneven cross section. and/or natural snow is provided, a convex space is formed between the heat insulating material layer and the base, and a cooling means is built into the convex space. 5 to 100 to super absorbent resin spherical bodies with characteristics
The water absorbed twice as much water is placed on the base 11 and frozen by the cooling means to form a root snow layer consisting of fallen wild goose-shaped artificial bodies,
This is the manufacturing method of the Daio Ski Resort slope, which is characterized by providing two layers of surface snow.

■It maintains its spherical shape even when it absorbs water, and is non-adhesive to each other; ■The water absorption capacity is approximately 30 to 500 times that of ion-exchanged water; ■The particle size before water absorption is approximately 20 to 500μ; ■The particle size after water absorption is approximately 0.05~5m+10 The invention of claim (9) of the present invention provides the artificial ski resort slope of claim (8), characterized in that dry ice is used as the base having a large number of small through holes and the cooling means. This is the manufacturing method.

The invention of claim (10) of the present invention provides the following: a base having an uneven cross section is placed on the heat insulating layer, artificial snow and/or natural snow is placed on the base, and the heat insulating layer and the base When building an artificial ski slope where a convex space is formed between the base and the convex space and a cooling means is built into the convex space,
Blocks or plates of rakugan-shaped artificial snow made by freezing superabsorbent resin spheres having the following characteristics that have absorbed 5 to 100 times the water are placed on the base, and then the base and the rakugan are placed on top of the base. This is a method for manufacturing an artificial ski slope, which is characterized in that water is flowed between the artificial snow and the foundation to firmly connect the artificial snow and the base.

■It maintains its spherical shape even when it absorbs water, and is non-adhesive to each other;■The water absorption capacity is approximately 30 to 500 times that of ion-exchanged water.■The particle size before water absorption is approximately 20 to 500μ■.■The particle size after water absorption is approximately 0.05-5 ml.

The snow used in the present invention includes natural snow, artificial snow made by the above-mentioned artificial snow-making device, ice grains and snowflakes made by crushing ice blocks with an artificial snow-making machine, and water-swellable materials (water-absorbing resin). ) and water in a mixed manner, artificial snow made by aeration and freezing, etc. may be used, or super absorbent resin granules developed by the present inventors may be used to absorb water. Alternatively, artificial snow made by mixing and freezing natural snow, artificial snow made by artificial snowfall xgrz, or ice and snow made by an artificial snowmaking machine without absorbing water may be used. Artificial snow, which is obtained by absorbing water into super absorbent resin spheres and freezing it, may also be used.

Among these, artificial snow developed by the present inventors and obtained by absorbing water into superabsorbent resin spheres and freezing it is preferable because it is suitable for indoor ski slopes. This artificial snow will be explained below.

The super absorbent resin used in the present invention includes starch,
These include cellulose and synthetic resins such as polymers such as acrylamide, acrylic acid, acrylates, methacrylates, styrene, and vinyl ethers, copolymers, and terpolymers. polyacrylate obtained by phase suspension polymerization,
Saponified copolymers of vinyl alcohol and acrylate copolymers or copolymers of imbutylene and maleic anhydride are preferred.

The superabsorbent resin used in the present invention has a spherical shape,
It is preferable that the particle size is about 20 to 500 μm before water absorption and about 0.05 mm to 2 mm after water absorption. If the particle size is less than about 20 microns before water absorption, it will be too fine and the artificial snow will become too hard, and if it is more than 500 microns, the artificial snow will become rough, which is not preferable.

The reasons why spherical superabsorbent resin is preferable are that it is easy to handle, the artificial snow obtained by freezing is also spherical, and because it is spherical artificial snow, it is easy to ski on, and it is difficult to melt due to the influence of outside air, so it is easier to maintain the slope. Examples include the fact that it can be done economically and easily, and that it can be easily mixed with natural snow.

In order for the superabsorbent resin used in the present invention to maintain its spherical shape and fluidity even after absorbing water and to be non-adhesive to each other, the degree of crosslinking may be increased using polyvalent epoxy or polyvalent amine.
Excessive crosslinking lowers the water absorption capacity, so adjust the amount of crosslinking agent to obtain an appropriate water absorption capacity.

The reason why the superabsorbent resin used in the present invention maintains its spherical shape and fluidity even after absorbing water is thought to occur because there is little water adhering between the absorbed particles, and the particles slide against each other, creating voids.

Some super absorbent polymers become glue-like when they absorb water, but once they become glue-like, they become one large block of ice when frozen, and unless they are crushed into small pieces, they cannot be used as artificial snow for skiing. This artificial snow is undesirable because, as mentioned above, it is difficult to maintain it in a manner suitable for skiing.

The artificial snow of the present invention, which is obtained by freezing water-absorbed superabsorbent resin spheres, can range from "free-flowing" with finely and uniformly dispersed particles to finely and uniformly dispersed snow, depending on the freezing method, particle size, water absorption capacity, water absorption capacity, etc. For example, a ``rakugan-like'' object, similar to the ``rakugan'' sweets, is created in which the ``rakugan'' is lightly glued together.

The superabsorbent resin used in the present invention has a water absorption capacity of 30 to 500 times, preferably 50 to 200 times, relative to ion-exchanged water. If the water absorption capacity is less than 30 times, the water absorption capacity of the resulting artificial snow will be low, making it difficult to maintain the desired snow quality by absorbing the liquid water generated when the artificial snow melts. On the other hand, if it is larger than 500 times, the gel strength will be weak when water is absorbed, and if pressure is applied, it will break and become loose, which is not preferable.

The amount of water absorbed by the super absorbent resin is less than the maximum water retention amount of the super absorbent resin, and the water absorption capacity is about 5 to 100 times. Soft people] - If you want to get snow, it is preferably about 5 to 50 times as much, and if you want to get artificial snow, it is preferably about 30 to 100 times.

The maximum water retention capacity of super absorbent resin is to absorb water.
The person who created it by freezing] ゛Snow still has the ability to absorb water,
By absorbing the liquid water generated when artificial snow melts due to outside temperature, it is possible to maintain the desired snow quality so that it does not change.

For example, if you want to obtain hard and heavy snow quality, the particle size should be small (
20-150μ fertilizer) and increase the ratio of water absorption capacity/water absorption capacity (30-80%).

On the other hand, if you want to get soft and light snow, use a large particle size (150
~500μm), and the ratio of water absorption capacity/water absorption capacity was reduced (1
0 to 50%).

Any method can be used to make the super absorbent resin absorb water.
For example, it is enough to put the particles into stirred water and leave it open for several minutes, depending on the water absorption capacity.

The water absorption rate is affected by the water temperature, and the water absorption rate tends to be slow at low temperatures and faster at higher temperatures.For example, if the water temperature is below 10°C, it is desirable to heat the water to absorb water.

Even if the superabsorbent resin that has absorbed water is left at room temperature, it will not release moisture and can be kept stable for a long time. (Monthly income) There will be no particular negative impact.

Since the superabsorbent resin itself is water absorbent, when storing it, it is desirable to store it in a sealed container, for example, to prevent moisture absorption.

There are two ways to freeze super absorbent resin spheres that have absorbed water: one method is to create "smooth artificial snow," and the other is to create "parallel-shaped artificial snow."
It is different when building.

When making "smooth artificial snow," you may use the above-mentioned artificial snowmaking machine or snowmaking machine, but it is preferable to mix it with agitation while in direct contact with a coolant such as dry ice, liquid nitrogen, or liquid air. Use a rapid freezing method. More preferred is a method using powdered dry ice.

The amount of these coolants and the mixing time are not particularly limited. The temperature of the frozen artificial snow is preferably about 0 to -30°C, but it varies depending on various conditions, so it is best to select it appropriately. In the case of dry ice, the mixing state changes depending on the size and stirring speed, so it is desirable to ensure that freezing proceeds uniformly and rapidly.

When creating ``rakugan-shaped artificial snow,'' super absorbent resin spheres are placed on a base such as a pipe, sort, floor, or board that has been cooled with a coolant and frozen. The temperature of the base is preferably about -40°C or lower, and the lower the temperature, the harder it will be.

The person of the present invention]-1 can be used as is on the slopes. The soil can be used directly alone to easily create an artificial ski slope, and is easy to maintain. However, it may be used in combination with natural snow, artificial snow made by a method other than the present invention, ice and snow, etc. as appropriate. The blending ratio may be arbitrary.

When building a ski slope, for example, if you lay down a ``rakugan-shaped artificial snow I'' and put ``smooth artificial snow J'' on top of it, each layer having an appropriate thickness, you will be able to ski without the above-mentioned problems. You can create a suitable slope, and there are no problems such as not having enough stock.

The superabsorbent resin spheres used in the present invention can be separated and recovered by an appropriate method, dried, etc., and reused.

The superabsorbent resin spheres used in the present invention are themselves photodegradable and biodegradable, so there is no problem with disposing of them after use. Known accelerators, catalysts, additives, etc. for photodegradation and biodegradation may be blended, added, impregnated, coated, etc. to the water-absorbing resin. Since the superabsorbent resin itself is safe for the human body, these additives are also preferably selected with safety in mind.

The artificial snow of the present invention and/or the superabsorbent resin used in the present invention may be colored by a known method using pigments, dyes, etc. Colored artificial snow is beautiful and can add new commercial value. For example, it can be used to distinguish ski slopes for advanced skiers, slopes for beginners, etc. by color, making skiing more enjoyable.

New commercial value can be added to the artificial snow of the present invention and/or the superabsorbent resin used in the present invention by using known perfumes, fragrances, scents, etc.

Adding antioxidants, ultraviolet absorbers, fluorescent agents, nucleating agents, fillers, substances with a low coefficient of friction, and other additives to the superabsorbent resin used in the present invention within a range that does not impair the gist of the present invention; It may be blended, applied, impregnated, etc.

The artificial ski slope of the present invention and its manufacturing method will be described with reference to the drawings, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of the slope of the artificial ski resort of the present invention. On top of the heat insulating material layer (G) such as expanded polystyrene for insulation from the outside, there are a reinforcing plate (E), a base for growing an uneven cross section (D), a grating (C), a root snow layer (B) and a skin layer ( Artificial snow (1) consisting of A) is arranged as shown in the figure, and dry ice, etc. is placed in the convex space (H) formed between the insulation layer (G) and the base (D). cooling means (F
) is built in, and the artificial snow (1) is cooled by this cooling means (F).

A layer of insulation material such as expanded polystyrene (
G), cooling means such as dry ice (F
) can efficiently cool artificial snow.

The material for the heat insulating layer (G) is not particularly limited, but a plastic foam containing closed cells is preferred since it is lightweight and has a good heat insulating effect. The thickness of the heat insulating material layer (G) etc. are designed depending on the artificial ski resort.

The base (D) having an uneven cross section has a convex space (
Since it helps the cooling means (F) built in H) to cool the artificial snow and is a strength member of the slope, it is preferably constructed of a metal material such as steel that has high thermal conductivity and strength. . Since the shape, dimensions, and wall thickness of the uneven cross section of the base (D) are also related to heat conduction and strength, cooling means (F) such as dry ice can be inserted, and the heat transfer coefficient can be increased to increase strength. It is preferable to have enough snow on the slope, and to have a design that prevents the artificial snow from sliding down the slope.

Further, it is desirable that the substrate (D) is provided with a large number of through holes all over its surface. These small holes are provided to help cool the artificial snow by raising cold air.
When the cooling means (F) is particularly dry ice, cooling of the artificial snow is effective by passing the vaporized cold air through the small through-holes, passing through the artificial snow as shown by the arrow, and exiting from the surface of the artificial snow. In addition to being carried out visually, the white smoke that rises on the surface of the artificial snow also creates a visual effect.

Since the cold air of vaporized carbon dioxide effectively cools the artificial snow, the snow in the skin layer (A) is kept at a temperature of about -2 degrees Celsius, making it less likely to melt due to radiation or heat transfer due to outside temperature. In conventional indoor Niski resorts, it is not possible to maintain the snow on the surface layer Jl (A) at around 12°C without air conditioning to keep the indoor temperature at about 10 to 15°C or lower, but with the method of the present invention, For example, it is okay even if the indoor temperature is around 20°C.

The number and size of the through holes are appropriately designed depending on the strength and cooling efficiency. Since the cold air leaving the small holes exits through the grating (C), the snow root layer (B) and the skin layer (A), it is particularly ineffective if the root snow layer (B) is ice burn. Root snow layer (B) and epidermis J! ! If (A) is the artificial snow preferably used in the present invention, there will be no problem because the root snow layer (B) is like a falling wild goose, so vaporized cold air can pass through it easily, and the skin layer (A) is made of smooth artificial snow. , the effect of the small through hole becomes greater.

The grating (C) is provided to prevent the artificial snow (1) from sliding down the slope, and is preferably made of metal such as steel, aluminum, or plastic that can withstand temperatures as low as -80°C. The shape, dimensions, etc. of the grid may be determined as appropriate.

As the cooling means (F), pipes or panels through which a refrigerant such as dry ice or a cryogen made by mixing ice and salt such as table salt or calcium chloride can be used can be used. Dry ice is preferable because it is easy to handle, can be used cleanly so there is no problem of environmental damage, is easily available and inexpensive, and has an aesthetic effect due to white smoke. However, these cooling means may be used for 4JT. The shape and size of the cooling means (F) such as dry ice,
Although a 30 to 4 Qes angle is easy to handle, it is designed according to the slope of the artificial ski resort by calculating handling angle, cooling efficiency, etc.

As the reinforcing plate (E), an appropriate material such as a metal plate may be used, and depending on the case, there is no problem even if it is omitted.

When constructing the artificial ski slope of the present invention, a super absorbent resin spherical body having the characteristics listed in mj that has absorbed 5 to 100 times more water is placed on the base (D), and the cooling means (F) A root snow layer (B) consisting of a falling wild goose-like artificial snow was created by freezing, and on top of that, the surface layer W (A) of the people ff and W was made smooth.
It is good to have a

More preferably, this root snow layer (B) or a separate root snow layer! After arranging the rakugan-shaped artificial snow blocks and board canes as shown in (B) on the base (D), water is flowed between the two and frozen, thereby firmly joining the two parts. According to this method, it is possible to easily create an artificial ski slope, and therefore the construction period can be shortened, the slope can be repaired in a short time, and the slope can be easily maintained.

What are the thickness, hardness, etc. of the root snow layer (B) and the skin layer (A)?
- Since it differs depending on the slope for relatives, the slope for beginners, etc., it is preferable to design it appropriately as described above, and it is not particularly limited.

"Examples" Next, the present invention will be specifically explained with reference to Examples, but the present invention is not limited to these Examples.

In addition, the water absorption capacity, fluidity, density and strength of artificial snow after freezing in the following Examples and Comparative Examples are determined by the following operations.

(Water absorption capacity for ion-exchanged water) Disperse 0.5 g of dry polymer in 11 ion-exchanged water,
Immediately after the polymer was allowed to stand still for 24 hours, the water-swelled weight (W) of the resulting polymer was measured by filtration through a 60-mesh wire mesh, and this value was divided by the initial dry polymer (W).

(Fluidity after water absorption) Dry polymer 1. After adding 50 cc of ion-exchanged water to Og and absorbing all the water, water swelling was observed without movement, and fluidity was indicated by ○ and ×1△.

The angle of repose was measured.

(People after freezing - density of snow) Remove the snow whose volume is known, weigh it, and divide the weight by the volume. Unit: g/C11Jo When the snow is soft, insert a thin stainless steel box with a known internal volume into the snow to remove the snow with a known volume. For hard snow, cut the snow into squares with a saw, measure the dimensions with a ruler, and calculate the volume.

(Strength of artificial snow after freezing) Drop a weight onto the artificial snow using a Sandmeter (Thursday) and measure the strength of the fall. The unit is kg/cm2. Replace the adapter so that the disc sinks 7 to 30 cm into the artificial snow, and calculate the strength from the conversion table.

(Example of synthesis of super absorbent resin spheres) 150 g of ion-exchanged water was charged into a 5001 separable flask equipped with a stirrer, a reflux condenser, a drip drain 4, a thermometer and a nitrogen gas inlet tube, and used as a dispersant. Partially saponified polyvinyl alcohol (GH-23 manufactured by Nippon Gosei Kagaku Co., Ltd.) 0.
After adding 2 g and heating and melting, the atmosphere was replaced with nitrogen.

Meanwhile, in an Erlenmeyer flask, lauryl acrylate and tridecyl mixed ester (LTA, manufactured by Osaka Organic Chemical Co., Ltd.)
) 22.5g, hydroxyethyl methacrylate 10.
1.0 g of azobisdimethylvaleronitrile was added and dissolved in 17.5 g of methyl methacrylate, and the solution was added dropwise to the above separable flask over 1 hour under nitrogen bubbling. The reaction was completed by holding at 65° C. for 5 hours, and after cooling, the solid matter was filtered, washed with water, and dried under reduced pressure to obtain a bead-like dispersant.

In a 10100O separable flask equipped with a stirrer, reflux condenser, dropping funnel, thermometer and nitrogen gas inlet tube,
360.7 g of hexane and 4.32 g of the above dispersant were charged, heated to 50° C. to disperse and dissolve, and then replaced with nitrogen.

Meanwhile, 72% of acrylic acid was prepared in advance in an Erlenmeyer flask.
0g was partially neutralized with 32.2g of sodium hydroxide dissolved in 103.8g of ion-exchanged water, and further 0.24g of potassium persulfate was dissolved at room temperature. This monomer aqueous solution was added dropwise to the above separable flask at a stirring speed of 300 rpm over 1 hour under nitrogen bubbling, and after refluxing for 2 hours, 0.1 g of 30% hydrogen peroxide was added, and the mixture was further refluxed. The polymerization was continued for 1 hour to complete the polymerization. Thereafter, 0.73 g of ethylene glycol diglycidyl ether was added, and the mixture was sieved with ice, filtered, and dried under reduced pressure to obtain white superabsorbent resin spheres.

(Example 1) The superabsorbent resin spherical bodies have an average particle size of about 100 μm and exhibit excellent fluidity.

When it was allowed to absorb water for 18 seconds while stirring in water at room temperature, it absorbed 50 times the water and swelled, with an average particle size of 0.4 m, which also showed excellent fluidity. The swollen superabsorbent resin spheres were allowed to stand at room temperature for more than 60 days, but were able to be stably maintained without watering.

The water absorption capacity was 100 times higher than that of ion-exchanged water.

Table 1 shows examples in which the manufacturing method, particle size, water absorption capacity, etc. of superabsorbent resin spheres were changed.

(Example 2): Example 1 of manufacturing artificial snow Dry ice was placed under an aluminum plate with a thickness of 1 cm,
After cooling to below -40°C, super absorbent resin spheres (temperature: about 19°C) that had been swollen by absorbing 50 times more water were placed on a plate (1
0c + *
Freeze for 2 hours. The results are shown in Table-2.

When a small amount of water was poured between the obtained rakugan-shaped artificial snow and the aluminum plate, the water froze, and the artificial snow and the aluminum plate were firmly bonded.

This artificial snow was stored at -1℃ and its changes over time were investigated.
Even after one month, the condition was still maintained just after manufacturing.

(Example 3): Manufacture example 2 of artificial snow 100 parts by weight of highly water-absorbent resin spheres swollen by absorbing 50 times water and 60 parts by weight or more of granular dry ice were mixed with -8.3
Mix at room temperature of ℃ for about 5 minutes using a household hand mixer (Hitachi hand mixer HF-330) and freeze.
We made artificial snow.

The results are shown in Table-3.

The resulting artificial snow was stored at -1°C and its changes over time were examined, but even after one month, it still remained in the same state as immediately after production.

(Example 4) Example of manufacturing an artificial ski slope In the slope of an artificial ski slope shown in FIG.
Aluminum corrugated plate with small holes with a diameter of 0.11 m on the entire surface (
The convex part of the wave is a base (D) consisting of a base (D) consisting of a 20 cm thick foamed polystyrene insulation layer (G) with a width of about 40 cm and a dry ice (width and thickness of about 3 cm) as a cooling means.
0 cm, length approximately 40 cm). Separately, after cooling the aluminum corrugated plate to below -40°C, super absorbent resin spheres (temperature: about 19°C) that had been swollen by absorbing 50 times more water were placed on the plate, and the plate was placed at a room temperature of -8.3°C. Freeze it for about 1 to 2 hours and make a rakugan-shaped block of artificial snow about 15 cm thick.
This was spread on the corrugated aluminum plate on the ski slope.

When a small amount of water was poured between the rakugan-shaped artificial snow and the aluminum plate, the water froze and the artificial snow and the corrugated aluminum plate were firmly bonded.

100 super absorbent resin spheres that have been swollen by absorbing 50 times more water
-8 parts by weight and 60 parts by weight or more of granular dry ice
A ski slope was created by mixing and freezing the artificial snow for about 5 minutes at room temperature of 3° C. using a mixer to obtain smooth artificial snow, which was spread to a thickness of about 5 cm on top of the above-mentioned rakugan-shaped artificial snow.

We were able to maintain this slope suitable for skiing for one month at an indoor temperature of 20°C.

The cold air from the dry ice passed through the holes and created white smoke on the surface of the artificial snow, creating a beautiful atmosphere.

[Effects of the Invention] The present invention provides a slope particularly suitable for indoor ski resorts and a method for manufacturing the slope. We use excellent artificial snow that improves the drawbacks of conventional natural snow and artificial snow, especially suitable for indoor ski slopes, and we also use artificial snow that is frozen or cooled without using a refrigerator. By configuring a slope suitable for an indoor ski resort, there is no need to compact the snow, and there is little change in snow quality over time, making it easier to maintain the slope conditions preferred by skiers. It is possible to provide an artificial ski slope that has features such as low maintenance costs, no problems such as environmental destruction or pollution, etc.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 shows an example of a sectional view of an artificial ski slope of the present invention. FIG. 2 shows an example of a cross-sectional view of a slope at a conventional artificial ski resort. Artificial snow 2: Frozen pipe 3: Sand 4: Rust metal A: Surface snow or skin layer B: Frozen layer or root snow layer C Nigelating D: Decking plate E: Reinforcement plate F Nidry ice G: Insulating material H: Convex part space

Claims (11)

[Claims] (1) Placing a base with an uneven cross section on the heat insulating layer,
In an artificial ski slope on which artificial snow and/or natural snow is placed, a convex space is formed between the heat insulating material layer and the base, and a cooling means is built into the convex space. An artificial ski slope that is characterized by: (2) The artificial ski resort slope according to claim (1), characterized in that a grating is placed on the base, and artificial snow and/or natural snow is arranged on the grating. (3) The artificial ski slope according to claim (1), wherein the cooling means is dry ice. (4) The artificial ski slope according to claim (1), characterized in that a base having a large number of through holes is used. (5) A claim characterized in that the artificial snow and/or natural snow consists of a falling-geese-like root snow layer and a smooth surface snow (
1) The artificial ski slope mentioned above. (6) The artificial ski slope according to claim (1), wherein the artificial snow is obtained by making super absorbent resin spheres having the following characteristics absorb 5 to 100 times more water and then freezing it. [1] Even after absorbing water, they maintain their spherical shape and are non-adhesive to each other; [
2] The water absorption capacity is about 30 to 500 times that of ion-exchanged water. [3] The particle size before water absorption is about 20 to 500 μm. [4] The particle size after water absorption is about 0.05 to 5 mm. (7) The artificial ski slope according to claim (1), wherein the artificial snow is an artificial snow containing a super absorbent resin having the following characteristics. [1] Maintains a spherical shape; [2] Particle size is approximately 0.05-2 mm; [3] Ice/super absorbent resin weight ratio is approximately 5-100. (8) Placing a base having an uneven cross section on the heat insulating layer,
Artificial snow and/or natural snow is placed on top of it, a convex space is formed between the heat insulating material layer and the base, and a cooling means is built into the convex space. When manufacturing, 5 to 1
00 times water absorption is placed on the substrate and frozen by the cooling means to form a root snow layer consisting of falling wild goose-shaped artificial snow,
A method for manufacturing an artificial ski slope, which is characterized by providing a surface layer of smooth artificial snow on top of the snow. [1] Even after absorbing water, they maintain their spherical shape and are non-adhesive to each other; [
2] The water absorption capacity is about 30 to 500 times that of ion-exchanged water. [3] The particle size before water absorption is about 20 to 500 μm. [4] The particle size after water absorption is about 0.05 to 5 mm. (9) Claim (8) characterized in that dry ice is used as the base having a large number of through holes and the cooling means.
The method for manufacturing the artificial ski slopes described. (10) A base having an uneven cross section is placed on the heat insulating layer, artificial snow and/or natural snow is placed on top of the base, and a convex space is formed between the insulating layer and the base. When building an artificial ski slope with a built-in cooling means in the convex space, five to five super absorbent resin spheres having the following characteristics are used.
Blocks or plates of artificial snow made by freezing 100 times more water are placed on the base, and then water is flowed between the base and the artificial snow to freeze it. , A method for manufacturing an artificial ski slope, characterized by firmly joining the rakugan-shaped artificial snow and the base. [1] Even after absorbing water, they maintain their spherical shape and are non-adhesive to each other; [
2] The water absorption capacity is about 30 to 500 times that of ion-exchanged water. [3] The particle size before water absorption is about 20 to 500 μm. [4] The particle size after water absorption is about 0.05 to 5 mm. (11) Claim (1) characterized in that dry ice is used as the substrate having a large number of small through holes and the cooling means.
0) The method for manufacturing the artificial ski slope described above.