Ice resurfacing technology continues to advance. It integrates edging into the normal process of ice-resurfacing, by mounting a secondary pneumatically controlled blade on the side of the ice resurfacer, similar to the main blade. ![]() An ice edger does not alleviate ice that has an overall bowl or mushroom shape.Ī new edging system was introduced in 2000, the Continuous Edging System (Conti-Edger). An ice edger, a device similar to a rotary lawn mower, is used to cut down the edges of the ice surface that the ice resurfacer cannot cut. The ice around the edges has a tendency to build up as the conditioner blade does not fully extend to the outer edges of the conditioner and it is unwise to "ride" (drive while touching) the dasherboards. The use of a board brush can dramatically reduce the need for edging of the rink. The brush sweeps accumulated bits of loose ice along the kick plates below the dasher boards of the rink into the conditioner. Many ice resurfacers are fitted with a "board brush", a rotary brush powered by a hydraulic motor, extended and retracted on the left side of the machine on a hydraulic arm. Most ice resurfacers run on natural gas, propane or electric power, or less commonly on gasoline. The conditioner and dump tank are raised and lowered by hydraulic lifts, while the augers are powered by hydraulic motors. The "dump tank" holds the shaved ice picked up by the augers. The wash tank holds a supply of water for the optional wash function. The main tank holds clean water for making new ice. An engine or electric motor provides propulsion (four-wheel drive with carbide-tipped tire studs) and hydraulic power. The rest of the machine exists to support the conditioner. These chemicals and minerals would otherwise make the ice brittle or soft, give it pungent odours, or make it cloudy. This water in many rinks is filtered and treated before being heated to remove any residual minerals and chemicals in the water. Hot water (140☏ to 160☏, 60☌) is frequently used where available because it melts and smoothes the rough top layer to create a flat, smooth ice surface. At the rear of the conditioner, a sprinkler pipe wets a cloth towel that lays down clean water to fill the residual grooves and form a new ice surface. This washing process removes any foreign material that might otherwise become embedded in the ice surface. Behind the blade, wash water is often sprayed on the ice by nozzles at either end of the conditioner this wash water is confined inside the conditioner by the runners on either end and a rubber squeegee at the rear of the conditioner, and picked up by a vacuum nozzle to be filtered through a screen, and recirculated. ![]() A large, very sharp blade, similar to those used in industrial paper cutters, shaves the surface off the ice, and an auger in front of the blade sweeps the shavings to the center of the conditioner, where a second auger (or, in early models, a paddle-and-chain conveyor) picks them up. The heart of an ice resurfacer is the "conditioner", a large device dragged behind the vehicle. Zamboni is a federally (U.S.) and internationally registered trademark, though the term is often used as a generic colloquialism for ice resurfacing vehicles. and other companies manufacture ice resurfacing machines. Zamboni in 1949 in the city of Paramount, California. An ice resurfacer is a truck-like vehicle used to clean and smooth the surface of an ice rink, originally developed by Frank J.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |