Device for preparing snow
View Patent ↗A device for working a snow surface, includes an endless flexible band, snow-working members arranged on the outside of the band, support elements for supporting and guiding the band, drive elements capable of moving the band around the support elements. Shaping elements are arranged and designed such as to be capable of changing the shape of the part of the band that is in contact with the snow-surface during work.
1. Device for working a snow surface, comprising an endless flexible band, snow-working members arranged on the outside of the band, a support structure for supporting and guiding the band, drive elements capable of moving the band around the support structure, wherein the support structure comprises a plurality of support elements pivotally linked to each other to form a linkage, shaping elements co-acting with said support structure and said linkage such as to be capable of changing the shape of the flexible band that is in contact with the snow-surface while the band is moving around the support structure, from a mainly convex form to a mainly planar form as seen in a direction transverse to the moving direction of the band.
2. Device according to claim 1 , wherein the shaping elements are capable of changing the curvature of the part of the band that is in contact with the snow-surface while the band is moving around the support structure, continuously and steplessly.
3. Device according to claim 1 , wherein the drive elements are capable of moving the band in both directions.
4. Device according to claim 1 , which further comprises an attachment means for attachment to a maneuvering means that it is maneuverable with at least one degree of freedom.
5. Device according to claim 4 , wherein the maneuvering means comprises a substantially vertical first arm in the form of a pillar, rotatably arranged around a turning axis substantially coinciding with its longitudinal axis, and at least a second arm in the form of a boom, rotatably arranged with one end to the pillar around a turning point arranged substantially perpendicular to the turning axis of the pillar, and a third arm comprising an outreach, rotatably arranged on the other end of the boom around a turning point arranged substantially horizontal and perpendicular to the longitudinal directions of the boom and the outreach.
6. Device according to claim 5 , wherein a guide means is rotatably arranged on the free end of the outreach and perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the outreach, and the guide means is arranged with an attachment member by which a working unit can be detachably attached.
7. Device according to claim 6 , wherein the guide means comprises a hydraulically maneuverable rotatable shaft to which the attachment member is attached.