DESCRIPTION

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Technical field

The present invention relates to an ice resurfacing machine for resurfacing the frozen surface of a skating area.

In particular, the invention relates to an ice resurfacing machine configured to achieve a particular levelling of the frozen surface of a skating area, for example a hockey and/or fast and/or artistic ice skating field.

The invention further relates to a process for resurfacing the frozen surface of a skating area.

Preferably, the aforesaid process is based on the use of the aforesaid ice resurfacing machine.

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Prior art

It is known to use ice resurfacing machines for processing the frozen surface of a skating area.

Normally, such ice resurfacing machines comprise a towing vehicle to which a slide is connected, generally in a rear position, on which several devices useful for processing the frozen surface are fitted: cutting devices, devices for removing excess resurfaced ice, pressurised water nozzles adapted to clean the previous devices and to make a new layer of smooth and polished ice on the frozen surface so as to create a homogeneous surface and to cover the resurfacing and cutting operations performed previously.

Generally, ice resurfacing machines are used at predetermined periodic intervals or before and/or after an event or part of an event so as to restore the frozen surface of the skating area.

However, the wear of the frozen surface is not the same for the entire skating area, as it is strongly dependent on the zones where skaters or players most often pass. Thus the ice resurfacing machines cannot keep the frozen surface in a perfectly levelled condition.

Therefore, cyclically, before the intervention of the ice resurfacing machines, a step of checking the thickness of the ice is performed with special mechanical or electronic detection equipment.

However, such detection equipment usually requires coring or other processing of the frozen surface to obtain an accurate measurement of the ice thickness.

Consequently, since the current ice resurfacing machines are not capable of fully restoring the frozen surface of the skating area, the use of the aforesaid detection devices increases the timing and maintenance costs of the skating areas. In addition, the use of such detection equipment also requires the execution of further restoration operations aimed at fixing the areas where the necessary processing has occurred (e.g., coring) to allow the detection of the ice thickness.

Lastly, the cooling plate (i.e., the concrete bottom) on which the skating area is formed is generally not flat and, furthermore, its planarity may vary over time. Therefore, this implies that in the same zone of the skating area, the thicknesses of ice which form over time may differ as the shape/inclination of the underlying cooling plate changes. Therefore, the main disadvantages of the known art are as follows:

- it is not currently possible to detect the thickness of the entire area of the rink, but only some zones thereof;

- it is not possible to have a complete mapping of the thickness of the rink;

- it is not possible to accurately predict, zone by zone, the thickness of ice which regenerates in a specific time interval since the cooling plate is not planar and its planarity varies;

- it is not possible to have a controlled resurfacing of the entire area of the rink;

- energy consumption can become high (with the relative costs) if the thickness of the ice is excessively high, at least in some points. Consequently, it becomes necessary to further cool the surface of the ice to have an adequate surface temperature.

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In this context, the technical task at the basis of the present invention is to propose an ice resurfacing machine for resurfacing the frozen surface of a skating area and a related process which overcome the problems of the prior art cited above. In particular, an object of the present invention is to provide an ice resurfacing machine for resurfacing the frozen surface of a skating area which is configured to perform the detection of the ice thickness of the skating area in a simple and non-invasive manner. Another object of the present invention is to provide an ice resurfacing machine for resurfacing the frozen surface of a skating area capable of performing a faster and more dynamic detection of the ice thickness of the skating area. Therefore, specifically, the invention sets the object of measuring the thickness of the ice of the skating area during the movement of the same ice resurfacing machine along the same skating area.

A further object of the invention is to provide an ice resurfacing machine which is capable of reducing the processing times and costs of the frozen surface by performing targeted and/or preventive maintenance (e.g., resurfacing) in specific zones of the frozen surface.

An object of the present invention is to provide a process for resurfacing the frozen surface of a skating area capable of performing the detection of the ice thickness non- invasively and furthermore in real time during the movement of an ice resurfacing vehicle.

Lastly, a further object of the present invention is to reduce the energy consumption for maintaining a surface temperature suitable for the needs of use of the rink.

The stated technical task and specified objects are substantially reached by an ice resurfacing machine for resurfacing the frozen surface of a skating area and a related process, which comprise the technical features disclosed in the respective independent claims. The dependent claims correspond to further advantageous aspects of the invention.

It should be understood that this summary introduces a selection of concepts in simplified form, which will be further expanded on in the detailed description given below.

The invention relates to an ice resurfacing machine for resurfacing the frozen surface of a skating area.

In particular, the ice resurfacing machine comprises a towing vehicle, a slide connected to the vehicle at the frozen surface, at least one cutting device fitted on the slide and, furthermore, configured to perform an ice-resurfacing cut at the frozen surface of the skating area, means for removing ice configured to remove the ice resurfaced by the cutting device.

The ice resurfacing machine also comprises at least one sensor arranged on board the vehicle and configured at least to detect a thickness value of the ice below the frozen surface of the skating area during the movement of the vehicle without piercing or penetrating the thickness of the ice. In particular, the sensor is configured to detect the depth (or thickness) of the ice, understood as the distance between a bottom surface and the upper surface of the ice itself.

Preferably, the sensor is configured to generate one or more detection signals containing the detected ice thickness values according to the position of the vehicle. A control unit operationally connected to the sensor is configured to receive said one or more detection signals and to determine the depth (or thickness) of the ice along the skating area.

It should be noted that the detection by the sensor can be continuous or discrete (e.g., at predetermined intervals) during the movement of the machine on the ice surface.

In any case, the detection signal contains the thickness value of the ice detected in relation to the frozen surface which the machine is crossing. The data of such a detection signal are received by the control unit (which can be arranged on the machine or outside it) and, preferably, are used to adjust the resurfacing level of the ice in function of a comparison of the detected data relative to a reference value.

In practice, the control unit is configured to.

- receive the detected thickness value of the ice;

- compare it with a predetermined reference value; intervene on the position of the cutting device to reduce or increase the thickness of the ice.

In addition, the control unit can be configured to:

- receive the detected thickness value of the ice associated with a position of the machine relative to the entire area comprising the ice surface;

- map the entire area with the relative detected ice thicknesses;

- process the data and, preferably, transmit (in real time or at a later time) to the ice resurfacing machine the controls for the cutting device (raise or lower) to resurface the ice at one or more zones in function of the detected thickness data of the ice along the area.

It should be noted that the present invention, together with all the features described below, relates to an ice resurfacing machine and related process, but could also be used for other types of machines which do not resurface the ice, but which are configured for a movement along the ice surface.

Furthermore, it should be noted that the present invention extends to both ice resurfacing machines with a human pilot and to ice resurfacing machines with autopilot. In the latter case, the ice resurfacing machine can be piloted automatically in function of the data contained in the ice thickness detection signal.

The present invention further relates to a process for resurfacing the frozen surface of a skating area directly descending from the above described in relation to the machine to which full reference is made.

In particular, the process comprises the following steps: providing an ice resurfacing machine, preferably an ice resurfacing machine having the features described above; moving the ice resurfacing machine along at least part of the frozen surface of the skating area; detecting the depth or thickness of the frozen surface of the skating area by means of a detection sensor; performing an ice-resurfacing cut at the frozen surface of the skating area so as to smooth the aforesaid frozen surface.

Advantageously, the ice resurfacing machine and the related process for resurfacing the frozen surface of a skating area allow to detect the ice thickness value of the frozen surface of the skating area non-invasively (i.e., without having to perform coring or other processing on the frozen surface) and, furthermore, in real time during the movement of the same ice resurfacing machine along the skating area.

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Brief description of the drawings

Additional features and advantages of the present invention will emerge more clearly from the approximate and hence non-limiting description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of an ice resurfacing machine for resurfacing the frozen surface of a skating area, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which: figure 1 illustrates, according to a schematic view, an ice resurfacing machine for resurfacing the frozen surface of a skating area; figures 2 and 3 illustrate, according to a schematic view, two possible operating modes in which the ice resurfacing machine illustrated in figure 1 is capable of operating. figure 4 illustrates, according to a schematic view, a top view of the skating area and of the ice resurfacing machine movable therethrough; figure 5 shows, according to a schematic view, an alternative embodiment of the ice resurfacing machine of figure 1.

With reference to the drawings, they serve solely to illustrate embodiments of the invention for the purpose of better clarifying, in combination with the description, the inventive principles at the basis of the invention.

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Detailed description of at least one embodiment

The present invention relates to an ice resurfacing machine for resurfacing the surface of an area of ice which, with reference to the figures, has been generically indicated with the number 1 .

Any modifications or variants which, in the light of the description, would be evident to the person skilled in the art must be considered as falling within the scope of protection established by the present invention, according to considerations of technical equivalence.

Figure 1 shows an ice resurfacing machine 1 for resurfacing the frozen surface G of a skating area A.

As already stated, it should be noted that the ice resurfacing machine 1 can be of the human pilot or autopilot type.

In particular, the ice resurfacing machine 1 comprises a towing vehicle 2, a slide 3 connected to the vehicle 2 at the frozen surface G, at least one cutting device fitted on the slide 3 and configured to perform an ice-resurfacing cut to resurface the ice at the frozen surface G of the skating area A. Preferably, the ice resurfacing machine comprises means for removing ice 5 configured to remove the ice resurfaced by the aforesaid cutting device (e.g., by means of augers).

The ice resurfacing machine 1 also comprises at least one sensor 6 arranged on board the vehicle 2 and configured at least to detect a thickness value of the ice below the frozen surface G of the skating area A preferably during the movement of the vehicle 2. In particular, the sensor 6 is configured to generate one or more detection signals containing the detected ice thickness values according to the position of the vehicle 2 according to a continuous or discrete detection.

It should be noted that the sensor is arranged near the frozen surface G, above or in contact therewith, but it makes the measurements without interfering with the surface of the ice, i.e., without piercing the ice or penetrating therein.

A control unit (not illustrated) is operationally connected to the sensor 6 and, furthermore, is configured to receive said one or more detection signals.

That is, the ice resurfacing machine 1 is advantageously provided with a sensor 6 configured to detect the ice thickness value of the frozen surface G non-invasively and, furthermore, in real time during the movement of the vehicle 2.

It should be noted that the sensor 6 is configured to detect the distance between said frozen surface G of the skating area A and a bottom surface C (e.g., a cement floor) of the skating area A arranged below the frozen surface and on which the ice rests so as to determine the thickness of the ice, during the movement of said vehicle 2.

Furthermore, the sensor 6 is configured to generate one or more detection signals containing the detected ice thickness values according to the position of the vehicle 2. Preferably, the sensor 6 is configured to emit a mechanical wave or a light wave through the ice layer below said frozen surface G of the skating area A so as to detect the thickness of the ice, as a distance between the bottom surface C and the frozen surface G, without penetrating inside the thickness of the ice.

That is, the sensor 6 is configured to measure the thickness of the ice, understood as the distance between the bottom surface C and the frozen surface G.

The control unit is preferably arranged on board the ice resurfacing machine 1. However, it can be arranged in a separate control panel and can be connected to the machine wirelessly or in other manners not expressly mentioned herein. Therefore, the control unit is connected to at least the sensor 6 by means of a communication module, e.g., a wireless communication module, capable of transmitting said one or more detection signals.

Preferably, the sensor 6 comprises an ultrasound sensor. Advantageously, a sensor based on ultrasound technology is capable of non- destructively detecting the thickness of the ice.

Even more preferably, the sensor 6 has an ice thickness measurement accuracy equal to one millimetre or less in a measurement range of ten centimetres or less.

Alternatively, the sensor comprises a laser sensor.

Advantageously, a sensor based on laser technology is capable of non-destructively detecting the thickness of the ice.

Alternatively, the sensor 6 could be of another type, for example a LIDAR (Light Detection And Ranging) sensor and/or a Radar sensor and/or a PMD (Photonic Mixer Device) distance sensor.

In accordance with an alternative embodiment illustrated in figure 5, the machine 1 comprises two sensors: a first sensor 6a is configured to detect the distance between the first sensor 6a itself and said bottom surface C of the skating area A and to generate a corresponding primary detection signal; a second sensor 6b is configured to detect the distance between the second sensor 6b and said frozen surface G and to generate a corresponding secondary detection signal.

The control unit is operationally connected to said sensors 6a, 6b and is configured to: receive said primary detection signal and said secondary detection signal during the movement of said vehicle 2; combine the data contained in said primary and secondary detection signals to calculate the distance between said frozen surface G and said bottom surface C.

In particular, the control unit is configured to calculate the difference between the distance between the sensor and the bottom surface C and the distance between the sensor and the frozen surface so as to obtain the distance between the frozen surface and the bottom surface C corresponding to the depth or thickness of the ice.

In this embodiment, by way of example, the first sensor 6a can comprise an ultrasound sensor and the second sensor 6b can comprise a LASER or LIDAR or RADAR or PMD sensor. However, it is possible to use other types of sensors not expressly described herein.

Preferably, the first sensor 6a and the second sensor 6b have respective emission zones of the mechanical or light wave aligned with each other according to a horizontal plane so as to be arranged at the same distance from the ground.

In accordance with an aspect of the invention, the sensor 6 is preferably arranged at a front portion of the vehicle 2.

In accordance with an alternative aspect of the invention, the sensor 6 is arranged at a rear portion of the vehicle, near the slide 3. Preferably, the sensor 6 is fitted on the slide 3 and faces the layer of ice.

Advantageously, the arrangement of the sensor 6 at the slide 3 allows to minimise the distance between the same sensor 6 and the frozen surface G of which to detect the ice thickness.

In the case of the alternative embodiment having two sensors 6a, 6b, both sensors could be fitted:

- on a front portion of the vehicle 2; or

- on the slide 3; or

- the first sensor on the front portion of the vehicle 2 and the second sensor on the slide 3 or vice versa.

Furthermore, it should be noted that the sensor 6 or said sensors 6a, 6b are preferably arranged on said machine 1 so as to be spaced apart from (and not in contact with) said frozen surface G by a predefined distance, preferably comprised between 5 cm and 150 cm.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the cutting device is configured to be moved towards and/or away from the frozen surface G in function of an ice thickness to be resurfaced so as to resurface more or less ice to more or less reduce the ice thickness in function of a reference value.

Preferably, the control unit is configured to move the cutting device relative to the frozen surface G in function of the thickness value of the frozen surface G detected by the sensor 6 (or by the sensors 6a, 6b).

That is, the adjustment of the cutting device is performed in function of the comparison between the ice thickness value detected by the sensor 6 and a preset desired thickness value. If the detected thickness value is greater than the preset thickness value, the cutting device 6 is moved towards the frozen surface G by a distance equal to at least the difference of the aforesaid values so as to resurface an excess amount of ice and, therefore, bring the ice thickness to an effective value equivalent to the preset desired value.

Even more preferably, as illustrated in figures 2 and 3, the control unit is configured to operate at least in a first operating mode or in a second operating mode. In the first operating mode, illustrated in figure 2, the cutting device is moved so as to obtain a levelled frozen surface G (all at the same level relative to an underlying base on which the ice rests). In the second operating mode, illustrated in figure 3, the cutting device is moved so as to obtain a frozen surface G having a constant thickness or depth thereof (ice thickness independent of the level relative to the bottom surface C).

Advantageously, the creation of a perfectly levelled frozen surface G (figure 2) is particularly suitable for races/sports competitions and other events which must be conducted on the skating area A. On the contrary, the creation of a constant frozen surface G (figure 3) allows to reduce the processing costs of the frozen surface (in particular, thanks to the invention the energy consumption of the cooling system and the ice quality - hardness - are more constant). Therefore, the second operating mode is advantageously applicable for performing the processing of the frozen surface during the training of skating or hockey teams.

In accordance with an aspect of the invention, the ice resurfacing machine 1 comprises a position detection system configured to detect, preferably in real time, the position of the same ice resurfacing machine 1 with respect to a map of the skating area A.

That is, the position detection system, for example a GPS or Lidar module, is advantageously capable of tracking the movement of the ice resurfacing machine 1 .

Even more advantageously, by preloading on the control unit a more or less schematic representation of the skating area A, the position detection system is capable of mapping the movement of the ice resurfacing machine 1 on the map of the skating area A. Alternatively, the schematic representation of the skating area A can be generated by the control unit from the detection signals recorded by the sensor 6. In such a case, the control unit is advantageously configured to deduce from such detection signals also the relative spatial position in which they have been recorded, so as to be able to correctly combine them with each other.

Preferably, the position detection system comprises a LIDAR device and/or an IMU device. Advantageously, the laser element of the LIDAR device is configured to measure the distance between the ice resurfacing machine 1 and the perimeter of the skating area A, where delimiting bulkheads P are usually arranged (visible in figure 4), so as to deduce the position of the same ice resurfacing machine 1 . The IMU device is instead advantageously configured to define the absolute position of the ice resurfacing machine 1 .

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the control unit is configured to map the thickness of the skating area A. In particular, the control unit is configured to associate with each zone of the skating area A the relative thickness value of the frozen surface G detected by the sensor 6 (or by the sensors 6a, 6b).

That is, by preloading on the control unit a more or less schematic representation of the skating area A, the same control unit is capable of associating with each zone of the skating area A the relative detected ice thickness value. Preferably, such an association is also assisted by the presence of the position detection system configured to track, preferably in real time, the position of the ice resurfacing machine 1 during its operation (i.e., during its movement, and/or during the detection of the ice thickness and/or during the resurfacing cutting). Alternatively, the schematic representation of the skating area A can be generated by the control unit from the detection signals recorded by the sensor 6 (or by the sensors 6a, 6b). In such a case, the control unit is advantageously configured to deduce from such detection signals also the relative spatial position in which they have been recorded, so as to be able to correctly combine them with each other.

It should be noted that the mapping of the ice thickness inside the skating area A allows to obtain data which can be used by the ice resurfacing machine to adjust the cutting device which resurfaces the ice according to two alternative modes:

- real-time resurfacing adjustment (in function of the data detected by the mapping);

- post-resurfacing adjustment.

In accordance with a preferred aspect of the invention, the ice resurfacing machine 1 comprises a data display screen 7 connected (directly or by means of wireless technology) with at least the control unit and/or the sensor 6.

Thereby, the display screen 7 is advantageously capable of showing the user of the ice resurfacing machine 1 a series of data, including: the relative and/or absolute positioning of the ice resurfacing machine 1 , and/or the detected ice thickness value, zone by zone of the skating area A, and/or further operating data of the ice resurfacing machine 1 .

In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, the control unit comprises a data storage module in which at least one or more detection signals are recorded so as to create a history of the detected ice thickness values and, if possible, also their association with the relative zone of the skating area A.

The invention further relates to a process for resurfacing the frozen surface G of a skating area A.

In particular, the aforesaid process comprises the following steps: providing an ice resurfacing machine, preferably the previously described ice resurfacing machine 1 having any combination of the features described above; moving the ice resurfacing machine 1 along at least part of the frozen surface G of the skating area A; detecting the thickness of the frozen surface G of the skating area A by means of a sensor 6 arranged near said frozen surface G; performing an ice-resurfacing cut at the frozen surface G of the skating area A so as to smooth the frozen surface G, in which the detecting step is performed during the moving step of the ice resurfacing machine 1 .

That is, the aforesaid process envisages moving the ice resurfacing machine 1 along the skating area A and, at the same time, performing a measurement of the thickness of the ice of the same skating area A with a sensor 6 capable of performing a non- invasive measurement while being arranged spaced from the same frozen surface G. Preferably, the detecting step is performed with an ultrasound sensor.

Advantageously, ultrasound technology is capable of performing the detection of the ice thickness non-invasively, i.e., without having to perform coring or other processing of the frozen surface G which could compromise it.

In accordance with an aspect of the invention, the process comprises the step of adjusting the distance of the cutting device from the frozen surface G in function of the detected thickness value. Thereby, the positioning of the cutting device relative to the frozen surface G is adjusted automatically and in real time at each variation in the detection of the ice thickness value. Therefore, it is thereby advantageously possible to perform a resurfacing cut of the correct amount of excess ice thickness.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the adjusting step envisages adjusting the distance of the cutting device so as to make a levelled cutting surface or so as to make a cutting surface having the same thickness value for each zone.

That is, as can be seen in figures 2 and 3, the ice resurfacing machine 1 is capable of processing the frozen surface G so as to obtain a levelled surface (figure 2), i.e., the frozen surface G is perfectly smooth and levelled, or a homogeneous surface (figure 3) in which the ice thickness value is constant.

Still in other words, the creation of the levelled frozen surface G envisages that the thickness of the frozen surface is variable in function of the shape of the bottom surface C. In figure 2, it can be noted that the thickness, or the distance between the same frozen surface G and the bottom surface C, varies between a minimum length "d" and a maximum length "D".

The creation of a homogeneous frozen surface G instead envisages that the thickness of the frozen surface G is constant and, therefore, that the distance between the frozen surface G and the bottom surface C does not vary and is equal to the value "h".

Preferably, the execution of the first operating mode for creating the levelled surface requires a sub-step of measuring the thickness of the bottom surface C of the skating area A. That is, the sensor 6 is preferably configured to also detect the height of the upper surface (i.e., that facing the frozen surface G) of the bottom surface C of the skating area A.

Advantageously, the creation of a perfectly levelled frozen surface G (figure 2) is particularly suitable for races/sports competitions and other events which must be conducted on the skating area A. On the contrary, the creation of a constant frozen surface G (figure 3) allows to reduce the processing costs of the frozen surface (in particular, thanks to the invention the energy consumption of the cooling system and the ice quality - hardness - are more constant). Therefore, the second operating mode is advantageously applicable for performing the processing of the frozen surface during the training of skating or hockey teams. In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, the process comprises a mapping step of the skating area A in which the relative thickness value of the frozen surface G is associated with each zone of the skating area A.

Thereby, it is advantageously possible to obtain a map of the skating area A divided into several zones, each of which has a relative ice thickness value. It is thereby possible to create a history of the ice thickness values detected over time, zone by zone, and/or to evaluate the zones of the skating area A in which the erosion/alteration of the frozen surface G most often occurs and, therefore, in which it is necessary to intervene more often.

Advantageously, the present invention allows to obtain an accurate detection of the ice thickness directly using an ice resurfacing machine and, preferably, adjusting the cutting level in function of the detected data with respect to preset values to be reached.

It should also be underlined that the present invention makes it possible to optimise the energy resources necessary to make and maintain the frozen surface. In fact, it should be noted that, for the correct execution of sports activities, it is preferable that the top of the frozen surface is kept below zero (for example -5°C for ice skating or - 7°C for hockey). Therefore, a layer of ice very often needs to be cooled more (as it has a larger volume) with a corresponding considerable expenditure of energy. On the contrary, thanks to the present invention, the control of the ice thickness allows to manage only the thickness necessary for the activities, without waste, thus minimising the ice cooling costs.