Snow Subdivision Device and Snowfall Device

The present invention relates to a snow subdivision device and a snowfall device.

Conventionally, as disclosed in JP 2022-109496 A, a snowfall device for artificially causing snow to fall in a room has been known. As shown in, the snowfall device disclosed in JP 2022-109496 A includes a drum(a bottom platea barrel portiona top plate) having an internal space for snow making, a collection portionthat collects fine snow supplied into the drum, and a scraping memberfor scraping snow dropping out from the collection portiondue to shaking of the collection portion. The snow dropping out from the collection portionaccumulates on the bottom plateof the drum, and the scraping memberscrapes the snow and moves the snow toward an openingprovided in the bottom plateThe snow on the bottom platedrops through the opening. This creates a snowfall environment in a test chamber under the drum.

In the snowfall device disclosed in JP 2022-109496 A, gathered snow may be pushed out toward the openingby the scraping member. In this case, there is a possibility that the snow collectively drops from the opening. Therefore, since there is a possibility that the gathered snow intermittently drops into the test chamber, a snowfall state different from a snowfall state in nature may occur.

An object of the present invention is to make it possible to reproduce snowfall in a form close to nature in a target area even when gathered snow drops.

A snow subdivision device according to one aspect of the present invention is a snow subdivision device for causing snow to dispersively fall, the snow collectively dropping from a snow growth mechanism, the snow subdivision device including: a receiving member having a receiving surface configured to receive the snow collectively dropping from the snow growth mechanism; and a transmission portion configured to change a posture of the receiving member so that an inclination of the receiving surface changes or the receiving surface moves by receiving an external force, wherein the receiving member is configured to drop the snow on the receiving surface part by part while temporally shifting the dropping by changing the inclination of the receiving surface or moving the receiving surface, so that the snow is caused to fall to a subject area.

A snowfall device according to another aspect of the present invention includes: a snow growth mechanism configured to grow snow; and the snow subdivision device.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

As shown in, a snow subdivision deviceaccording to the present embodiment is disposed below a snow growth mechanismto be used. The snow subdivision deviceis used to receive snow S collectively dropping from the snow growth mechanismand cause the received snow to fall part by part to a subject area SA while temporally shifting the dropping.

The snow subdivision deviceincludes a receiving memberdisposed below the openingprovided in the snow growth mechanism, and a transmission portionfor changing a posture of the receiving member.

The receiving memberis a block-shaped (solid) member having a receiving surfacethat receives the snow S dropping from an openingof the snow growth mechanism. If the openinghas an elongated shape in one direction, the receiving surfacepreferably also has an elongated shape in the same direction. However, the shape of the receiving surfaceis not limited to a shape elongated in one direction as long as the snow S dropping from the openingcan be temporarily placed.

The receiving surfaceis configured by an upper surface of the receiving member. As shown in, the receiving surfaceis a flat surface, but the present embodiment is not limited thereto. For example, as shown in, the receiving surfacemay be curved so as to bulge outward, or may be curved so as to be recessed inward. The receiving memberis configured to be rotatable as described later. Therefore, how much the receiving surfaceshould be curved or should be flat may be appropriately set according to a rotation range. In addition, the receiving surfacemay have a configuration in which a flat surface and a curved surface are combined.

The receiving memberhas a pair of first side surfacesconfiguring end surfaces of the receiving memberin a longitudinal direction (a first direction), and a pair of second side surfacesconfiguring end surfaces of the receiving memberin a width direction (a second direction orthogonal to the first direction).

The receiving memberis rotatably supported around an axis by a rotation shaft. The rotation shaftis fixed to the pair of first side surfacesso as to extend in the first direction. Therefore, the receiving memberis rotatable around an axis extending in the first direction. The rotation shaftis rotatably supported by, for example, a support member (not shown) fixed to a bottom plate(described later) of the snow growth mechanism. Note that the support member may be supported not by the bottom platebut by a part of a container(see, for example,) having the bottom plate. Further, the rotation shaftmay be fixed to only one of the pair of first side surfacesinstead of being fixed to the pair of first side surfaces

The rotation shaftsupports the receiving memberabove a gravity center position G of the receiving member. That is, when the receiving memberis not subjected to an external force, the receiving memberis stabilized in a posture (a basic posture) in which the gravity center position G is at a lowest position with respect to the rotation shaft. On the other hand, as will be described later, when the transmission portionreceives an external force so that the posture of the receiving memberchanges, the gravity center position G of the receiving membermoves from the lowest position to an upper position, so that the receiving membertries to return to the basic posture. Therefore, it is not necessary to provide a mechanism for returning the receiving memberto the basic posture after the application of the external force to the transmission portionis released.

When receiving the force, the transmission portiontransmits the force to the receiving memberso as to generate a moment around the rotation shaftin the receiving member. A member configuring the transmission portionis, for example, a rod-shaped member fixed to one of the first side surfacesof the receiving member. The transmission portionis fixed to the receiving memberin a posture extending in a direction perpendicular to the extending direction of the rotation shaftat a position shifted from the rotation shaft. Therefore, when the transmission portionreceives the external force, the transmission portiongenerates a moment in the receiving member. The transmission portionextends outward (upward in) from the first side surfacebeyond the receiving surface

Note thatshows an example in which the transmission portionis configured by a member provided on the one of the first side surfacesbut the transmission portionmay be provided on each of the pair of first side surfaces

For example, the transmission portionis configured to get inclined by receiving a force from a scraping memberprovided in the snow growth mechanism.

The snow growth mechanismis, for example, a mechanism configured to generate snow S to be fallen in the subject area SA, and includes a bottom platethat temporarily accumulates (or places) the generated snow S. The bottom plateis provided with an openingfor dropping the snow S on the bottom plate, and the scraping memberis provided to push the snow S on the bottom platetoward the opening. That is, the scraping memberis configured to move on the bottom platein a horizontal direction toward the openingby a driving portion (not shown).

As shown in, the transmission portionis disposed at a height position where a lower end of the scraping membercan collide with an upper end of the transmission portion. Note that the receiving memberhas the basic posture shown inunless receiving an external force, and when in this basic posture, the lower end of the scraping membermay collide with the upper end of the transmission portion. The basic posture is a posture in which the receiving surfaceis horizontal when the receiving surfaceis a flat surface, and is a posture in which both ends in a width direction (second direction) of the flat surface are at a same height position when the receiving surfaceis a curved surface.

As shown in, the scraping membercan push the upper end of the transmission portionso as to change the posture of the transmission portion. At this time, as the receiving memberrotates around the rotation shaft, an inclination of the receiving surfacechanges (a snow dropping posture). In other words, the transmission portionis configured to change the posture of the receiving memberby receiving an external force. As a result, even when the snow S is collectively placed on the receiving surfacethe snow S on the receiving surfacedrops dispersively. In this snow dropping posture, the snow S on the receiving surfacedrops from an end portion on one side (a left side in) of the receiving surfacein the width direction (the second direction) as the receiving surfaceis inclined. As a result, a snowfall state is created in the subject area SA. At this time, all the snow S on the receiving surfacemay drop, but a part of the snow S may drop from the receiving surfaceand the remaining snow S may remain on the receiving surface

Moreover, the receiving memberis rotatable around the rotation shaftlocated above the gravity center position G of the receiving member. Therefore, when the scraping memberpasses through the upper end of the transmission portion, the movement of the receiving memberis reversed in an attempt to return from the snow dropping posture to the basic posture. At this time, as shown in, the receiving memberexceeds the basic posture by inertia, and changes the posture until the receiving surfaceis inclined in an opposite direction (a snow dropping posture in an opposite direction). As a result, the snow S on the receiving surfacedrops from an end portion on another side (a right side in) of the receiving surfacein the width direction (the second direction). That is, in the receiving member, the snow on the receiving surfacedrops in the direction (the left direction in) in which the transmission portionreceives the external force and in the opposite direction (both the sides of the receiving surface).

Therefore, when the receiving surfaceis inclined to the one side (the state of), at least a part of the snow S remaining on the receiving surfacedrops from the receiving surfacein the snow dropping posture in the opposite direction. In addition, even in the snow dropping posture in the opposite direction, since the snow S drops dispersively, the snowfall state continues in the subject area SA. Moreover, following the state of, the snow S drops in a scattered manner even in the state of, so that snowfall in a form close to nature is reproduced. Note that the receiving membermay continue to swing between the snow dropping posture () and the snow dropping posture in the opposite direction () in a state where the receiving memberdoes not receive an external force after the scraping memberpasses. In this case, the snowfall state in which the snow S drops from the receiving surfacemay be continued.

The transmission portionis located on a downstream side (a left side in) with respect to the gravity center position G of the receiving memberin a moving direction of the scraping member. In addition, an edge portionof the openingon an upstream side (the right side in) in the moving direction of the scraping memberis located on the upstream side in the moving direction of the scraping memberwith respect to the gravity center position G of the receiving member. As a result, when the snow S is pushed out by the scraping memberand drops from the openingto the receiving surfacethe transmission portioncan be brought into a state of not yet being pushed by the scraping member. Therefore, in a state where the receiving memberis in the basic posture, the receiving surfacecan receive gathered snow from the snow growth mechanism.

That is, if the transmission portionhas already been pushed by the scraping memberwhen the snow S falls from the opening, the receiving surfaceis also inclined accordingly. In this case, when the gathered snow S drops from the opening, there is a possibility that the snow S falling from the receiving surfaceis not sufficiently dispersed. That is, there is a possibility that snow dropping from the openingdirectly drops to the subject area SA along the inclined receiving surfaceTherefore, when the transmission portionis configured to be moved by the scraping member, a positional relationship between the transmission portionand the edge portionof the openingis preferably set as described above. Note that when the transmission portionis not configured to be moved by the scraping memberor when the transmission portionis not configured in a rod shape, it is not necessary to set the above-described positional relationship.

The transmission portionis disposed so as to cause the posture change of the receiving memberby receiving the force (the external force) from the scraping member, but the present embodiment is not limited thereto. For example, the transmission portionmay be disposed such that the upper end of the transmission portionis pushed in the direction around the rotation shaftby receiving an external force from a member other than the scraping member. The other member in this case may be a member disposed so as to periodically push the upper end of the transmission portionin a lateral direction. For example, the other member may be configured by a rod-shaped member extending in the horizontal direction, and may be configured to rotate around a vertical axis by a motor (not shown) around one end portion of the other member. In this case, the other member pushes the upper end of the transmission portionby another end portion, then makes one round, and pushes the upper end of the transmission portionagain. Therefore, the upper end of the transmission portioncan be pushed every predetermined time. The motor at this time may be a motor provided in the snow growth mechanism, or may be a motor provided separately from the snow growth mechanism. In addition, the motor may be a motor included in the snow subdivision deviceor a motor provided outside the snow subdivision device.

As described above, in the snow subdivision deviceof the present embodiment, the receiving surfacecan take the basic posture and the snow dropping posture below the snow growth mechanismand above the subject area SA. Therefore, in the snow subdivision device, even if the snow S collectively drops from the snow growth mechanism, the snow S is temporarily received on the receiving surfaceof the receiving member, so that it is possible to prevent the snow S that has collectively dropped from directly dropping to the subject area SA. Moreover, the receiving memberdrops the snow S on the receiving surfacepart by part while temporally shifting the dropping by changing the inclination of the receiving surfaceFor this reason, since it is possible to cause the snow S on the receiving surfaceto fall in the subject area SA while dropping the snow S part by part, it is possible to prevent the snow from falling in a way different from a way of snowfall in nature, and it is possible to reproduce snowfall in a form close to nature.

Moreover, in the present embodiment, the receiving memberis configured to be capable of alternately inclining the receiving surfacein both the directions so that the snow S on the receiving surfacedrops from both the sides of the receiving surfaceTherefore, since it is possible to drop the snow S from both the sides of the receiving surfaceand cause the snow S to fall in the subject area SA, the snowfall range can be expanded.

Moreover, the receiving memberis configured such that the movement of the receiving surfaceof the receiving memberis reversed when the transmission from the transmission portionis released. Therefore, even in the configuration in which the transmission portioninclines the receiving surfacein one direction, the receiving surfacecan be alternately inclined in both the directions. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the configuration for dropping the snow S from both the sides of the receiving surfacefrom being complicated.

In addition, in the present embodiment, the inclination of the receiving surfacechanges as the receiving memberrotates around the rotation shaft. Therefore, with the simple configuration in which the receiving memberis rotated around the rotation shaft, the snow S on the receiving surfacecan be dropped part by part while temporally shifting the dropping.

In addition, the rotation shaftsupports the receiving memberabove the gravity center position G of the receiving member. Therefore, when the receiving memberrotates around the rotation shaftso that the inclination of the receiving surfaceis changed by the transmission portion, the gravity center position G of the receiving memberwith respect to a support position by the rotation shaftrelatively rises. Therefore, the receiving membertries to return to the original posture by its own weight so that the gravity center position G returns to the original position. Therefore, since a mechanism for returning the receiving memberto the original posture is unnecessary, it is possible to prevent the device configuration from becoming complicated.

In the present embodiment, the receiving memberis configured to alternately rotate in both the directions with respect to the basic posture, but the present embodiment is not limited thereto. That is, the receiving membermay be configured to change the posture between the basic posture and the inclined posture in which the snow S on the receiving surfaceis dropped while being inclined in one direction with respect to the basic posture. In this case, the receiving memberreturns to the basic posture without taking a posture inclined to an opposite side of the inclined posture. In order to realize such a configuration, a configuration in which the transmission portionis driven by a motor (not shown) so as to swing within such a range can be adopted.

In the present embodiment, the receiving memberis configured to change its posture so as to change the inclination of the receiving surfaceAlternatively, the receiving membermay be configured to move the receiving surfacewithout changing the inclination of the receiving surfaceIn this case, for example, as shown in, the receiving surfacemay be configured in an arc shape centered on the rotation shaft. In this case, even when the receiving memberrotates around the rotation shaft, the inclination of the receiving surfacedoes not change. However, when the scraping memberpushes the upper end of the transmission portion, the receiving surfacemoves in a circumferential direction by the receiving memberrotating around the rotation shaft, so that the snow S placed on the receiving membercan be dropped. That is, since a portionlocated at an upper end of the receiving surfacemoves in the circumferential direction along with the rotation of the receiving member, the snow S placed on the portionand a vicinity thereof can be dropped in a scattered manner. At this time, even when the receiving memberis rotating, a gap width between the receiving surfaceand the edge portionof the openingof the bottom platedoes not change. Also in this case, the receiving surfacetakes a basic posture in which the portionlocated at the upper end is located at an uppermost position and a snow dropping posture in which the portionis located lower than in the basic posture.

In this case, the receiving membermay be configured such that the receiving memberis rotated by the external force (the force from the scraping member) received by the transmission portionor may be configured such that the receiving memberis rotated around the rotation shaftby a motor (not shown). In the case where the receiving memberis configured to be rotated by the motor, the gear mechanism (not shown) or the like disposed between the motor and the rotation shaftfunctions as a transmission portion that changes the posture of the receiving memberby receiving the external force from the motor.

The receiving membermay be configured to alternately rotate in both the directions to drop the snow from both the sides from the receiving surfacebut alternatively, may be configured to rotate in one direction to drop the snow from the receiving surfaceand rotate in the opposite direction to return to the basic posture. In this case, the snow drops only from the one side in the width direction of the receiving surfaceNote that in the case where the receiving memberis alternately rotated in both the directions to drop the snow from both the sides, the snow S alternately drops from both the sides of the receiving member, so that the snowfall range can be expanded.

In the present embodiment, the rotation shaftis located above the gravity center position G of the receiving member, so that the receiving membernaturally returns to the basic posture after rotating to the snow dropping posture. However, the configuration in which the receiving memberreturns from the snow dropping posture to the basic posture is not limited thereto. For example, the receiving membermay be configured to return from the snow dropping posture to the basic posture by a spring (not shown). In this case, the positional relationship between the position of the rotation shaftand the gravity center position G of the receiving memberis arbitrary.

In the case where the receiving memberis not configured to naturally return to the basic posture after rotating to the snow dropping posture (for example, in the case where the receiving member is configured to return to the basic posture by the spring), the receiving member may not be configured by a block-shaped member. For example, the receiving membermay be configured by a plate-like member. When the receiving memberis formed of the plate-shaped member, one surface of the plate-shaped member serves as the receiving surfaceIn this case, the receiving membermay be rotatably supported by the rotation shaftconnected to an end surface or a lower surface.

A snow subdivision deviceis combined with a snow growth mechanismshown into configure a snowfall deviceaccording to a second embodiment. The snowfall deviceis a device for forming a snowfall environment in a subject area SA (see) such as a test chamber. Note that here, the same components as those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

The snow growth mechanismincludes a containerhaving an internal space IS, a collection portiondisposed inside the internal space IS, a motorthat drives the collection portion, and a scraping memberattached to the collection portion. A snow making ductis connected to the container.

The snow making ductis connected to a cooling devicethrough an introduction pathas schematically shown in. The cooling deviceis configured to cool air below a freezing point, and the low temperature air cooled below the freezing point is introduced into the snow making ductthrough the introduction path. The introduction pathis provided with a nozzlefor atomizing and injecting water, and the atomized water is also introduced into the snow making ductin addition to the low temperature air. Inside the snow making duct, the atomized water freezes to obtain fine snow.

The fine snow obtained in the snow making ductis introduced into the internal space IS of the containertogether with the low temperature air. The containeris formed in a hollow shape by a top plateto which the snow making ductis connected, a bottom platedisposed below the top plateand an outer peripheral plateconnecting an outer periphery of the top plateand an outer periphery of the bottom plateto each other.

A return pathis connected to the top plateand the low temperature air inside the internal space IS is returned to the cooling devicethrough the return path. That is, the introduction pathand the return pathform a circulation flow path for circulating the low temperature air between the cooling deviceand the internal space IS. The return pathis provided with a blowerfor circulating low temperature air.

The internal space IS of the containeris provided with the collection portionfor collecting the fine snow introduced into the internal space IS. The collection portionhas a plurality of collection membersrotatable around a driving shaftinside the internal space IS, and the plurality of collection membersare driven to collect the fine snow. Specifically, the collection portionhas a plurality of framesradially provided on the driving shaftprovided to be rotated around the driving shaftby the motor, and the plurality of collection memberssupported in a loosened state by the framesThe frameseach includes a pair of upper and lower frame membersextending in a radial direction from axially spaced portions of the driving shaftand upper and lower ends of the collection membersare attached to these frame members

The collection membersare each configured by, for example, a mesh-like member, and collect the fine snow drifting in the internal space IS by moving around the driving shaftof the motor. When the collection membersmove in the internal space IS while collecting the fine snow, the fine snow is bonded on the collection membersand grows into snow.

On the containeror inside the container, a dropout meansfor swinging the collection membersto drop out the snow S adhering to the collection membersThe snow S that has dropped out from the collection membersby the action of the dropout meansaccumulates on the bottom plate.

Note that the dropout meansmay have a nozzlethat blows compressed air to the collection memberscirculating around the driving shaftand may be configured to swing the collection membersby the compressed air. In addition, the dropout meansmay be configured by an impact portion that applies an impact to the framesto swing the collection members

The lower frame membersare provided with the scraping membersfor scraping the snow S accumulated on a bottom portion (the bottom plate) of the container. The scraping memberis disposed such that a lower end portion thereof is in contact with the bottom portion (the bottom plate) of the container, and moves around the driving shaftwhile sliding on the bottom portion (the bottom plate) of the containerwhen the driving shaftrotates around the axis. That is, the scraping membermoves inside the internal space IS by the motorthat drives the collection portion. Note that a lower end portion of the scraping memberdoes not need to be in contact with the bottom plate, and may be disposed with a slight gap from the bottom plate.

The framesare provided with upper-side scraping-off membersfor scraping off the snow S adhering to the top plateand outer peripheral-side scraping-off membersfor scraping off the snow S adhering to the outer peripheral plateNote that the upper-side scraping-off membercan be omitted. Note that the outer peripheral-side scraping-off membercan also be omitted.

The bottom plateis provided with openingsfor dropping the snow S. That is, the snow S accumulated on the bottom platemoves on the bottom plateby the scraping membersand is dropped to a lower side of the containerthrough the openings. That is, the scraping membersand the driving portion (the motor) that drives the scraping membersconfigure a pushing-out portionthat moves the snow S temporarily stored in the bottom portion (the bottom plate) of the containertoward the openings. Note that the pushing-out portionis not limited to the configuration including the scraping membersthat move along the bottom portion (the bottom plate) of the container. For example, the pushing-out portionmay be configured to include a vibrator that vibrates the container. By the containervibrating, the snow stored in the bottom portion (the bottom plate) of the containercan be moved toward the openings

The openingsmay each have, for example, a shape elongated in the radial direction of the driving shaftNote that althoughshows the configuration in which the plurality of openingsare formed at intervals in the circumferential direction, the present embodiment is not limited thereto, and only one openingmay be formed.

The snow subdivision deviceis disposed below the opening. In the present embodiment, since the plurality of openingsare provided, the snow subdivision deviceis provided in each of the openings. The snow subdivision devicesare disposed in an upper portion of the subject area SA or above the subject area SA in which the snow is caused to fall. The subject area SA may be, for example, a test chamber (or a snow environment chamber) for performing a test of forming a snow environment and exposing a specimen to the snow environment.