CA2158424C

CA2158424C - Pressure regulated pebbling can

Info

Publication number: CA2158424C
Application number: CA 2158424
Authority: CA
Inventors: Darren Gress
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1995-09-15
Filing date: 1995-09-15
Publication date: 2005-04-26
Anticipated expiration: 2015-09-15
Also published as: CA2158424A1

Abstract

Apparatus for pebbling curling ice comprises a pressure can divided into two compartments one of which has an inlet for air under pressure and the other of which includes a screw cap opening so that it can be filled with water. A pressure regulator controls the supply of air from the air compartment to the water compartment so that the air is supplied under constant pressure allowing water to be discharged under constant pressure through a hose to a bulb shaped pebbling head.

Description

PRESSURE REGULATED PEBBLING CAN
BACKGROUND OF THE INV NTION
This invention relates to new and useful improvements in the pebbling of curling ice. Pebbling cans have been around for a century in curling ice. The pebbling can is hooked around the arm and shoulder of the ice maker. As the can is tipped, water is gravity fed out to a pebbling head that has small holes in it to give the pebbles. The water is dispensed in an upward direction forming an arc and then falling down onto the ice in a pattern of water droplets.
The newer pebbling cans are used now with a backpack sprayer tube where air is pumped into the tank as the pebbling is carried out which gives an inconsistent pressure to the pebble.
Using the gravity fed can, this has to be tilted more and more as the water runs out. Also as the water runs out, the water pressure that comes out of the pebbling head is gradually reduced. In addition, as you are pebbling you swing your arm from side to side as far as you can reach to get the pebble out to the sides. As you are losing water pressure it gets harder to get the pebble out to the sides and the height of the pebble changes because of the pressure lost. What happens is you end up getting an uneven pebble across the sheet of ice, mostly getting more pebble in the middle of the sheet creating a high center line. This prevents the rocks from curling into the middle. Also as the height changes from the pressure loss there is a different temperature of pebble water hitting the ice. When there is a different height of pebble there is an inconsistent temperature and size of pebble on the ice.
Ice makers heat the pebble water up to a certain temperature to change the size of the pebble and to create a harder pebble. When the pebble is not a consistent height at the top of the arc of movement _~21~8424 throughout the sheet, you get a different temperature of pebble water coming to the ice, with the higher the height the colder the pebble water will be hitting the ice. A colder pebble water creates a higher peak pebble and a warmer pebble water Greater a more rounded pebble. The problem is if the temperature is not consistent, a colder pebble will freeze from the top down to the ice as well as it is freezing from the ice up creating an air pocket in the pebble, so then when impacted by a stone, the pebble will smash off creating a different pebble. So now if there is a different temperature and size of pebble on the ice, you would create an inconsistent sheet of curling ice just from the pebble, not to mention inconsistencies in swinging the pebble head when pebbling.
Now the newer pebbling cans out are the pump type using a chemical sprayer backpack filled with water, in which the can is continually pumped up as pebbling is carried out down the ice. This, however, generates an inconsistent pressure because as you are pebbling the water is going down and you have to pump faster and faster to keep the air pressure up in the tank. Now every time you pump a stroke in the tank when it is full of water you get a different height of trajectory or arc. And you keep getting a different height on the pebble trajectory, because the air pressure is not consistent in the tank. Also it is physically difficult to pebble the ice as you are trying to-pump up the can. As the pressure system has these difficulties, it is not commercially successful and many ice makers prefer to use the gravity fed can.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
My invention is a regulated pressurized pebbling can and it will give new improvements in the pebbling of curling ice.

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2.58424 The regulated pressurized pebbling can will have a cylinder body with two separate compartments, one compartment containing the pebbling water, the other containing air. The tank is of proper proportion, actually holding more water than most gravity fed cans. it is made of proper material to withstand proper water temperature and pressure of air.
It is non-corrosive as well.
So once you have put air into the air side, you adjust the regulator to how much air you want to go into the water side to give you the consistent height of arc that you desire for pebbling. Now there will be no inconsistency of height because the regulated air will push all the water out at a regulated pressure. There is a valve at the end of the hose before the pebbling head to shut the water off or turn it on. With this regulated pressure can you get a consistent temperature of pebble water, a consistent size of pebble and an even spray of pebble so you don't have to try to swing your arm like a pendulum to set an even spray. You will have no more high center lines. You will have an easier time scraping the ice because the pebble will be so even as well. There is also a filter put in on the hose to stop particles from going to the pebbling head if any. With this pressurized regulated pebble can you will get a constant and consistent level curling sheet to play on. The one good thing is that anybody can use this.
Ice makers won't have to teach pebbling or worry who is going to pebble if they're not there because whoever uses it will get a perfect pebbled sheet of curling ice.
One embodiment of the invention will now be described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a schematic side elevational view of the pebbling can of the present invention.
Figure 2 is a schematic isometric view of the top and one end of the pebbling can of figure 1.
In the drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different figures.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The water compartment 1 of the regulated pressurized pebbling can is welded and made to proper proportion holding approximately four gallons of water, or more or less. It is made of proper material to withstand the proper pressure. In is made of a non-corrosive material such as stainless steel, aluminum or suitable plastics material which can withstand the required pressure of up to 80 Ib. It includes a top inlet bushing 3 with male thread and cap 2, a bottom outlet bushing with male thread, and one blow out bushing 4 with female thread, all pressure welded to proper pressure.
The threaded female cap 2 is provided to close the top inlet 3 for refilling the tank.
The spindle blow out valve 4 is threaded to a tee then threaded to the female bushing pressure welded to the tank.
A shut off valve 5 is provided to shut the air off or on.
A pipe 6 is made of proper material for the right pressure that travels from the regulator to the water tank.
A needle valve 7 is provided so you can fill up the air side with air.
A regulating valve 8 is provided so you can adjust the air flow to the water side.

A pressure gauge 9 is provided to tell how much air you have left in the air side tank and how much to fill the air side up with air.
A pipe 10 is provided of proper material going from the regulator to the pressure gauge.

5 A pipe 11 of proper material is threaded into a female threaded bushing in the tank to the regulator.
A relief valve 12 is provided threaded into a female bushing of proper relief pressure.
A pebbling head 13 is provided which is formed from copper or other suitable material into a shape similar to a light bulb with a narrow neck at one end connected to a pipe 14 from a shut off valve 15 and opening out into the bulb shape. In one side of the bulb shape is drilled a series of water exit hole selected in size and number to achieve the required water droplet size and pressure escaping from the head. In a normal head there can be up to 60 holes but in the present head this number is reduced in view of the more consistent pressure. A pebbling hose extends from the tank to the valve 15. A pipe 16 connected to an elbow 20 connects to an inline filter 19 and can to the pebbling hose and is supported by a support 18.
The pressure air compartment 22 has two female pressure welded bushings in the front. The tank is cylindrical with domed ends defining a horizontal axis when placed on a surface for filling and is supported on two legs 23 on the underside and has a hook or bracket 24 at one end for a strap to carry the can.
The device of the present invention has the following advantages:
1. It will hold more water than the other cans.
2. It has a separate compartment for the air.
3. It has a regulator to regulate the air.

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4. It has a pressure gauge to see how much air to put in and is left.
5. It has an in line filter to catch particles.
6. There is a relief valve for pressure.

7. There is a blow out valve on the water side.

8. There is a needle set to fill the air tank.

9. There is a valve at the end of the hose to turn on or off the water.

10. There is a special pebbling head for this can.

11. You will get an even spray of pebble across the sheet.

12. You will get a consistent pebble size across the sheet.

13. You will get a consistent temperature of pebble across the sheet.

14. You don't have to swing the pebble head out from side to side. Less work to pebble.

15. Anybody will be able to use it and get a consistent pebble.

16. There will be less work in scraping the ice trying to get it level because the spray will be even so the ice will be even.

17. You will be able to pebble the ice faster or whatever speed you want.

18. You will be able to pick the desired height of the pebble.
Since various modifications can be made in my invention as herein above described, and many apparently widely different embodiments of same made within the spirit and scope of the claims without departing from such spirit and scope, it is intended that all matter contained in the accompanying specification shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense.

Claims

1. Apparatus for pebbling curling ice comprising a pressure can having two compartments defined therein, means for filing one of the compartments with water, means for filling the other of the compartments with air, a communication duct for transmitting air from said other compartment to said one compartment, a pressure gauge for detecting pressure in said other compartment, a regulator in the duct for controlling the air pressure in the air supplied and maintaining at a constant pressure, a pipe for releasing water from said one container and a pebbling head attached to the pipe for discharging the water under a pressure generated by the air communicated to said one compartment, the pebbling head comprising a hollow body with a plurality of holes therein for discharging the water in a spray pattern.

2. The apparatus according to Claim 1 wherein the means for filling with water comprises an opening having a screw cap on the opening for sealing said one compartment.

3. The apparatus according to Claim 1 wherein the pressure can be substantially cylindrical.

4. The apparatus according to Claim 3 wherein the pressure can includes a pair of legs projecting outwardly from one side of the can so that the can will rest on the legs with a longitudinal axis of the can horizontal.

5. The apparatus according to Claim 3 or 4 wherein the can includes a bracket adjacent one end for attachment to a strap by which the can will be suspended from the shoulder of a user by the strap over the shoulder, the legs being presented away from the user.

6. The apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the pebbling head defines a hollow body of bulb shape with the holes in one side of the bulb.