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US-12618212-B2 - Snowgroomer and method for controlling a snowgroomer

US12618212B2US 12618212 B2US12618212 B2US 12618212B2US-12618212-B2

Abstract

A snow groomer vehicle comprising: a frame ( 2 ) extending along a longitudinal axis ( 70 ); a tiller assembly ( 9 ) connected to the frame ( 2 ) by a connecting device ( 21 ), preferably the tiller assembly ( 9 ) comprising a tiller ( 9 a ) and a finisher ( 9 b ); at least one control device ( 17 ) coupled to the tiller assembly ( 9 ) and configured to control at least two parameters of the tiller assembly the control device ( 17 ) comprising a memory configured to store at least two groups of values (N, M), preferably four groups of values (N, M, P, Q), relating to the at least two parameters (A, B), wherein each group of values (N, M) includes at least one value for each of the at least two parameters (A, B); the control device ( 17 ) being configured to receive the selection of a group of values of the at least two groups of values (N, M) and control the at least two parameters of the tiller assembly ( 9 ) according to the values of the selected group of values (N; M).

Inventors

  • Martin Kirchmair
  • Stephan Muehlsteiger
  • Andreas Silbernagl
  • Alberto Paoletti

Assignees

  • PRINOTH S.P.A.

Dates

Publication Date
20260505
Application Date
20210924
Priority Date
20200924

Claims (20)

  1. 1 . A snow groomer vehicle comprising: a frame ( 2 ) extending along a longitudinal axis ( 70 ); a tiller assembly ( 9 ) connected to the frame ( 2 ) by a connecting device ( 21 ), the tiller assembly ( 9 ) comprising at least a tiller ( 9 a ) and a finisher ( 9 b ); at least one control device ( 17 ) coupled to the tiller assembly ( 9 ) and configured to control at least two parameters of the tiller assembly ( 9 ), the at least two parameters selected from a group consisting of parameters of the tiller assembly ( 9 ): speed and/or direction of rotation of a shaft ( 9 d ); depth and/or cutting angle of the tiller ( 9 a ); position of the tiller assembly ( 9 a ) along a vertical axis ( 71 ); and a mode for adjusting the position of the tiller assembly ( 9 ) along the vertical axis ( 71 ), selected from: a mode wherein the tiller assembly ( 9 ) is in a fixed position, a mode wherein the tiller assembly ( 9 ) exerts a certain pressure on the snowpack ( 72 ) in addition to the tiller assembly's own weight or by subtraction from the tiller assembly's own weight and said pressure value exerted, and a mode wherein the tiller assembly ( 9 ) is in a floating position, and the floating position follows the snowpack ( 72 ); position of wings ( 9 e ) open or closed; volume of a working chamber of the tiller ( 9 a ); position of the tiller ( 9 a ) in relation to a horizontal plane ( 73 ); mode of adjustment of the position of the tiller ( 9 a ) in relation to the horizontal plane ( 73 ) wherein the mode of adjustment is between a mode wherein the tiller assembly ( 9 ) is in the fixed position, and a mode wherein the tiller assembly is in a floating position; and position of the finisher ( 9 b ); the control device ( 17 ) includes a memory ( 19 ) configured to store at least two groups of values (N, M), relating to the at least two parameters, wherein each group of values (N, M) includes at least one value for each of the at least two parameters; the control device ( 17 ) being configured to receive a selection of a group of values of the at least two groups of values (N, M) and control the at least two parameters of the tiller assembly ( 9 ) according to the values of the selected group of values (N; M).
  2. 2 . The snow groomer vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein each group of values (N, M) includes a first value (N′, M′) and a second value (N″, M″) for each of the at least two parameters; wherein the first value (N′, M′) is associated with an upward movement of the snow groomer vehicle ( 1 ) and the second value (N″, M″) is associated with a downward movement of the snow groomer vehicle ( 1 ).
  3. 3 . The snow groomer vehicle according to claim 2 , wherein the control device ( 17 ) is configured to receive information regarding the upward movement of the snow groomer vehicle ( 1 ) or the downward movement of the snow groomer vehicle ( 1 ) and control the at least two parameters by using a first or second value (N′, N″; M′, M″) for each group of values of the at least two parameters according to information received regarding the movement of the snow groomer ( 1 ).
  4. 4 . The snow groomer vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the snow groomer vehicle ( 1 ) includes a user interface configured to receive information from a user regarding downward or upward movement of the snow groomer ( 1 ); and wherein the control device ( 17 ) is coupled to the user interface to receive the information and control the at least two parameters by using a first or second value for each group of values (N′, M′; N″, M″) of the at least two parameters based on the information received from the user interface.
  5. 5 . The snow groomer vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the snow groomer vehicle ( 1 ) includes a first detection device ( 40 ) to detect upward or downward movement of the snow groomer vehicle ( 1 ) connected in communication with the control device ( 17 ) and to send to the control device ( 17 ) information regarding the upward or downward movement of the snow groomer vehicle ( 1 ), and wherein the control device ( 17 ) controls the at least two parameters by using the first or second value for each group of values (N, M) based on the information received from the first detection device ( 40 ); wherein the first detection device ( 40 ) includes an inclinometer and/or a satellite tracking device ( 13 ).
  6. 6 . The snow groomer vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein each of the at least two groups of values (N, M) is associated with a respective snow condition different from the other; the snow groomer vehicle ( 1 ) includes a second detection device to detect the snow condition, and is coupled in communication with the control device ( 17 ) to send information regarding the snow condition, and wherein the control device ( 17 ) receives the information regarding the snow condition and selects one of the at least two groups of values (N, M) according to the detected snow condition; wherein the second detection device ( 41 ) for detecting the snow condition includes at least one device selected from the following group of devices: snow temperature sensor; ambient temperature sensor; sensor for the water percentage of the snow; ambient humidity sensor; light sensor; a camera framing a snow surface; a thermo-camera framing the snow surface.
  7. 7 . The snow groomer vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein each of the at least two groups of values (N, M) is associated with a respective snow condition different from the other; the snow groomer vehicle ( 1 ) comprising a user interface coupled to the control device ( 17 ) and configured to receive a selection regarding a snow condition; and wherein the control device ( 17 ) receives the information regarding the snow condition and selects one of the at least two groups of values (N, M) according to the snow condition received.
  8. 8 . The snow groomer vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein each of the at least two groups of values (N, M) is associated with a respective snow condition different from the other; the snow groomer vehicle ( 1 ) includes a radio frequency communication unit ( 18 ) configured to receive data regarding weather conditions and/or the current calendar date; the communication unit ( 18 ) being coupled in communication with the control device ( 17 ) to send information regarding weather conditions and/or current calendar date, and wherein the control device ( 17 ) receives the information regarding the weather condition and/or current calendar date and selects one of the at least two groups of values (N, M) based on the received data regarding weather conditions and/or current calendar date.
  9. 9 . The snow groomer vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein each of the two groups of values (N, M) is associated with a respective snow condition different from the other; wherein the control device ( 17 ) includes a counting unit ( 42 ) for counting calendar dates; wherein the control device ( 17 ) selects one of the two groups of values according to the calendar date provided by the counting unit ( 42 ) for counting the calendar date.
  10. 10 . The snow groomer vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the snow groomer vehicle ( 1 ) includes a radio frequency communication unit ( 18 ) configured to receive data, the communication unit ( 18 ) being coupled in communication with the control device ( 17 ) to send the selection of the group of values (N, M) to be used, and wherein the control device ( 17 ) receives the selection of the group of values to be used and controls the parameters of the tiller assembly according to the at least one value of the group of values selected and received through the communication unit ( 8 ).
  11. 11 . The snow groomer vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the control device ( 17 ) is configured to record, in a first operating mode, an operator's selections via a user interface and associate them with one or more of the following parameters: a position of the snow groomer vehicle, temperatures and/or humidity of the air and/or snow, and weather data received; the control device ( 17 ) being configured to select, in a second operating mode, one group of values from the at least two groups of values (N,M) based on the data recorded in the first operating mode and one or more of the following parameters detected: a position of the snow groomer vehicle, temperature and/or humidity of the air and/or snow, and weather data received.
  12. 12 . The snow groomer vehicle according to claim 1 , comprising a user interface ( 4 ) configured to allow an operator to set each at least one value of the at least two groups of values of at least one parameter; wherein the control device ( 17 ) is configured to record, in one operating mode, at least one value entered by the operator through the user interface and associate the at least one value with one or more of the following parameters: a position of the snow groomer vehicle, temperature and/or humidity of the air and/or snow, and weather data received; the control device ( 17 ) being configured to set, in another operating mode, the at least one value, set in the first operating mode, of each group of values based on data recorded in the first operating mode and on one or more of the following parameters detected: a position of the snow groomer vehicle, temperatures and/or humidity of the air and/or snow, and weather data received.
  13. 13 . The snow groomer vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the control device ( 17 ) is configured to store a plurality of user codes and enable sending of data to other snow groomer vehicles and/or the operating mode of the snow groomer vehicle among manual, semi-automatic and automatic and/or the setting of the values of each group of values according to user codes entered by an operator through a user interface when starting the snow groomer vehicle.
  14. 14 . The snow groomer vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the tiller assembly ( 9 ) includes another tiller ( 9 a ) connected to the tiller ( 9 a ) via a universal joint; wherein the group of parameters of the tiller assembly ( 9 ) includes: a mode for adjusting a relative position of the two tillers ( 9 a ) in the tiller assembly ( 9 ) among: a mode wherein the relative position of the two tillers is free and consequently the two tillers are free to move independently of each other; a mode wherein the position of the two tillers is fixed so that the two tillers ( 9 a ) form an angle of 180° towards the snow groomer vehicle ( 1 ); a mode wherein the position of the two tillers is fixed so that the two tillers ( 9 a ) form an angle of less than 180° towards the snow groomer vehicle ( 1 ); and a mode wherein the position of the two tillers ( 9 a ) is fixed so that the two tillers ( 9 a ) form an angle of more than 180° towards the snow groomer vehicle ( 1 ).
  15. 15 . The snow groomer vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein parameters controlled by the control device ( 17 ) are at least the following: speed and/or direction of rotation of the shafts ( 9 d ); depth or cutting angle of the tillers ( 9 a ); mode for adjusting the position of the tiller assembly ( 9 ) along a vertical axis, among: a mode wherein the tiller assembly ( 9 ) is in the fixed position, a mode wherein the tiller assembly exerts a certain pressure on the snowpack ( 72 ) in addition to the tiller assembly's own weight or by subtraction from the tiller assembly's own weight and said pressure value exerted, and a mode wherein the tiller assembly ( 9 ) is in a floating position, in in the floating position it follows the snowpack ( 72 ); volume of a working chamber of the tillers ( 9 a ); and position of the finisher ( 9 b ).
  16. 16 . A snow groomer vehicle according to claim 1 , comprising a display screen ( 4 ) coupled to the control device ( 17 ) and configured to illustrate: values of the group of values of the parameters in use, and an optimal travel speed ( 101 ) associated with the values of the parameters in use, and an optimal configuration of a set-up ( 102 ) of the suspensions, of the snow groomer vehicle ( 1 ) associated with the values of the parameters currently in use.
  17. 17 . A snow groomer vehicle according to claim 1 , comprising a display screen ( 4 ) coupled to the control device ( 17 ) and configured to illustrate the user-selectable snow conditions ( 100 ) associated the different groups of values and the values of the parameters associated with each different snow condition and with an upward or downward movement of the snow groomer vehicle ( 1 ).
  18. 18 . A ski resort comprising a snow groomer vehicle in accordance with claim 1 and at least one artificial snow gun, the control device ( 17 ) being coupled in communication with the artificial snow gun to receive information regarding the activation or not of the artificial snow gun, the control device ( 17 ) being configured to select one of the groups of values based on information received from the at least one artificial snow gun.
  19. 19 . A tracked vehicle fleet comprising at least two tracked vehicles according to claim 1 , wherein the tracked vehicles ( 1 ) are coupled in communication through their respective radio frequency communication units ( 18 ); the control device ( 17 ) of one of the tracked vehicles is configured to send the selection of the group of values and/or the values of the group of values to the control device ( 17 ) of the other tracked vehicle ( 1 ) and the control devices ( 17 ) of the other tracked vehicle ( 1 ) control the parameters of the tiller assembly according to the group of values and/or the values received.
  20. 20 . A control method for controlling a snow groomer vehicle; the snow groomer vehicle comprising: a frame ( 2 ) extending along a longitudinal axis ( 70 ); a tiller assembly ( 9 ) connected to the frame ( 2 ) by a connecting device ( 20 ), the tiller assembly ( 9 ) comprising a tiller ( 9 a ) and a finisher ( 9 b ); the method comprising the steps of: controlling at least two parameters of the tiller assembly ( 9 ), selected from a group consisting of parameters of the tiller assembly ( 9 ): speed and/or direction of rotation of a shaft ( 9 d ); depth and/or cutting angle of the tiller assembly ( 9 ) tiller ( 9 a ); position of the tiller assembly ( 9 a ) along a vertical axis ( 71 ); mode for adjusting the position of the tiller assembly ( 9 ) along the vertical axis ( 71 ), from among: a mode wherein the tiller assembly ( 9 ) is in a fixed position, a mode wherein the tiller assembly ( 9 ) exerts a certain pressure on the snowpack ( 72 ) in addition to the tiller assembly's own weight or by subtraction from the tiller assembly's own weight said pressure value exerted, and a mode wherein the tiller assembly ( 9 ) is in a floating position; position of wings ( 9 e ) open or closed; volume of a working chamber of the tiller ( 9 a ); position of the tiller ( 9 a ) with respect to a horizontal plane ( 73 ); mode of adjustment of the position of the tiller ( 9 a ) in relation to the horizontal plane ( 73 ) between a mode wherein the tiller assembly ( 9 ) is in the fixed position, and a mode wherein the tiller assembly is in a floating position, in the floating position the tiller assembly follows the movements of the snow groomer vehicle ( 1 ); and position of the finisher ( 9 b ); storing at least two groups of values (N, M), relating to the at least two parameters, wherein each group of values (N, M) includes at least one value for each of the at least two parameters; receiving a selection of a group of values of the at least two groups of values; and controlling the parameters of the tiller assembly ( 9 ) according to the values of the selected group of values.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This patent application claims priority from Italian Patent Application No. 102020000022564 filed on Sep. 24, 2020, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a snow groomer vehicle and a method for controlling a snow groomer vehicle. BACKGROUND ART As is known, the preparation of ski slopes requires ever-increasing care, both for safety reasons and because modern tools can be much better used on surfaces which are regular, without marked roughness and as homogeneous as possible. The snowpack is processed by snow groomer vehicles, which are equipped with special tools for this purpose. In particular, a snow groomer vehicle generally comprises a shovel or blade at the front, and a tiller and a finisher at the rear. The rear tool with the tiller and the finisher allows the desired finish of the snowpack surface to be achieved. However, the quality of the preparation of the slopes is currently largely entrusted to the skill and experience of the operators of the snow groomer vehicles, who have almost complete control over the working tools. The obtainable results, which are obviously affected by a non-negligible subjective component, are therefore scarcely repeatable and cannot be easily optimized. This results, on the one hand, in uneven conditions, beyond what the objective environmental factors would allow, and, on the other hand, in a greater expenditure of time and resources because the processing steps are not carried out optimally. Instead, more uniformity of results would be desirable, especially to make up for the more limited capabilities of less experienced operators. DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION The object of the present invention is to provide a snow groomer vehicle and a method for controlling a snow groomer vehicle, which allow the limitations described above to be overcome, or at least mitigated. Therefore, according to the present invention, there is provided a snow groomer vehicle comprising: a frame extending along a longitudinal axis; a tiller assembly connected to the frame by a connecting device, preferably the tiller assembly comprising at least a tiller and a finisher; at least one control device coupled to the tiller assembly and configured to control at least two parameters of the tiller assembly, preferably five parameters, selected from a group comprising the following parameters of the tiller assembly: speed and/or direction of rotation of the shaft; depth and/or cutting angle of the tiller assembly, preferably of the tiller; position of the tiller assembly along a vertical axis; mode for adjusting the position of the tiller assembly along a vertical axis, preferably among: a mode wherein the tiller assembly is in a fixed position, a mode wherein the tiller assembly exerts a certain pressure on the snowpack in addition to its own weight or by subtraction from its own weight and said pressure value exerted, and a mode wherein the tiller assembly is in a floating position, in particular in the floating position it follows the snowpack; position of the wings, open or closed; volume of a working chamber of the tiller; position of the tiller in relation to a horizontal plane; mode of adjustment of the position of the tiller in relation to a horizontal plane, preferably between a mode wherein the tiller assembly is in a fixed position, and a mode wherein the tiller assembly is in a floating position, in particular in the floating position it follows the movements of the snow groomer vehicle; and position of the finisher; the control device comprising a memory configured to store at least two groups of values, preferably four groups of values, relating to the at least two parameters, wherein each group of values includes at least one value for each of the at least two parameters;the control device being configured to receive the selection of a group of values of the at least two groups of values and control the at least two parameters of the tiller assembly according to the values of the selected group of values. Thanks to the present invention, the use of said snow groomer is simpler for an operator and the result of the processing is better even for less experienced operators. In addition, the control device is configurable so that it can automatically select one of the at least two groups of values based on the detection of other parameters via sensors or on the position of the snow groomer vehicle in a ski resort or on a command received from remote or on a pre-set setting. Therefore, the group of values can be automatically selected without the intervention of the operator and, consequently, further simplifying his/her work. This ensures a better snowpack processing result that is less dependent on the experience of the snow groomer operator. According to a further aspect of the invention, there is also provided a control method for controlling a snow groomer vehicle; the snow