Ice resurfacer

A resurfacer ( Zamboni ice machine or also ) is a vehicle that is used on artificial ice rinks to smooth the ice after skating.

Was invented in the resurfacer in 1949 by Frank J. Zamboni, whose firm Frank J. Zamboni & Co., Inc. has become a leading manufacturer of resurfacers. Zamboni has become even in multiple languages ​​into a generic name, the term is often called preferred resurfacer.

Operation

An ice resurfacing machine is usually a rectangular four-wheeled vehicle that is driven by a motor. It consists of the following components:

  • At the rear of the machine, the carriage in which the entire width of a sharp knife is inserted transversely, which abhobelt the uppermost layer of the ice. A worm shaft carries the snow in the middle where it is transported by a further auger or a conveyor belt up in the snow reservoir. The snow tank can be tilted to discharge as a dump truck or it is emptied by opening the fuel cap snow on an inclined chute.
  • Behind the blade wash water is applied to the ice to dissolve remaining powder snow and wash deep furrows, allowing them to be subsequently filled without trapping air with hot water (see below). After washing, the remaining washing water is drawn from a rubber lip and extracted by suction nozzles. The wash water is filtered in the unit and reused.
  • Under the snow tank contains a hot water tank. The warm water, about 30 to 60 ° C heat is applied behind the carriage as the last step of the processing on the ice and spread with a cloth, to compensate for small irregularities in the ice and give the surface a new shine. Due to the heat the underlying ice thaws in something, so that the new layer of ice sticking together firmly with the old ice. Hot water also contains compared to cold water less air, which would make the ice cream soft.
  • Under or next to the machine there is often a swing- and rotary broom with which the ice surface in the band and the lower part of the band itself is freed of loose snow and ice.
  • Because the edge of the ice can be difficult to reach from the machine where the ice is thicker over time. In order to keep the edges smooth, an additional Crusher of frozen blocks is used either (about like a lawn mower ), or the resurfacer has a pivoting additional knife, which extends to the edge.
  • Most gas fueled engines (natural gas or propane ), or electric motors are used for driving, but also gasoline engines are in use. About one in internal combustion engines usually hydrostatic all-wheel drive which partly occupied with spikes wheels are driven. The carriage, the rocker or the lid for the container and the snow brooms are moved hydraulically.
  • The driver sits on the left rear, above the cleaning unit.

Manufacturer

  • Frank J. Zamboni & Co., Inc. ( Paramount / USA)
  • Resurfice Corp.. ( Woolwich / Canada)
  • Icebear electric GmbH (Osnabrück / Germany )
  • Engo (Italy )
  • WM Mulser (Italy )
  • Dupon (France)
  • Derol (Czech Republic)
  • Icecat (Finland )
  • FICO (Finland )
  • Züko ( Switzerland )
  • Fuji (Japan)

Trivia

In the computer game Plants vs. Zombies ( Plants Vs. Zombies ), there is a character, the Zomboni, a zombie who drives a resurfacer with a big Z on the hood. In plant and zombie lexicon in the game is drawn to the approval by the company Zamboni and on their website.

Frank Zamboni Cuboid Petrol engine Hydraulics
299899
de